Star.
London, England, 1810-03-30 00:00:00

ent to a fleet lying exposed like the Eastern squa-,
jron, the wear and tear of the ships, the perpetual
damages, and perpetual repairs, would soon amount
to more than the sums which Might be expended on
the possecsicn of Flushing. By the testimony of ano-
ther gallant officer, the seizure of Flushing was
highly desirable ; it was the key of the Scheldt ;
no ships of war could escape while we chose to close
them up. It wits, said Mr. Rose, an object of
more value to seize Flushing, than to destroy the
entire fleet at Antwerp. Flushing could shelter in
its basin 20 sail of the line ; it was difficult to

sty of sheltering how many more it might be made
capable ; but this was certain, that if you destroyed
Clat basin, (and the most effectual destruction of it
for the uses of the enemy was its seizure by us,) a ser-
vice of more value was effected than the destruction of
any-number of French ships in the river.—(4 laugh.)
—He did not mean to undervalue the service that

might be done in the actual destruction of those ships,
but.even if they were destroyed, new ships might be
built in the same place ; the forests were not de-
strxled ; and until that was done, a perpetual suc-
cession of armaments might issue from those forests.
It was equally natural for Ministers to resolve to
keep Flushing after its seizure ; for, in that resolu-
tion, they were equally supported by authority of the
first order. The great Lord Nelson, to whom he had
so often alluded, was fully of opinion that it should
be taken, and when taken should be kept. Sir Richard
Strachan, in his letter of the 13th September (and when
be Mentioned that officer's name, he knew it was that
of i man whose knowledge in his profession, whose skill,
judgment, and distinguished bravery, could not be
doubted—(Hear,hear,from the Opposition.)-that emi-
nent Officer, in his correspondence, expresses his wish
to enter into a detail of the means of retaining a sta-
tion, which he considers of the utmost importance
to peep. He proceeds to say that every effort may be
well expended on the preservation of such a point ;
that though the troops suffered by the climate, their
numbers should be made up by drafts from the regi-
ments at home ; and that Flushing might even be
made a salient point for. further operations on the
Continent. But the feeling that pressed on his mind
was, that the harbour could contain twenty sail of
the line ready to start, and commence operations on
the most exposed and vulnerable quarter of this
country. Captain Cockburn, in his letter of the 29th
September, adopts almost the same ideas. In speak-
ing of Flushing, professing to decline all military
views, and considering it merely in a naval light, he
asserts, that a force in Flushing could lock up the
Scheldt fleet so completely, that not a ship of them
could steal to sea. It was true, that at the close of
his opinion he advised that they should be let out, that
the British fleet might have a fair opportunity of meet-
ing with and capturing them ; but this, though con-
- sonant to the habits of a brave British seaman, was not
suitable to the calmer views of a British Cabinet, and
- left an improper hazard. Next, as to the intention of
blocking up the river, this, ridiculed as it might have
been, was sanctioned by high advice. Sir Richard
Strachan, in his letter of the 14th of November,
speaks of it as perfectly feasible : he declares it
as his opinion, that the mouth of the Scheldt may
be blocked up and stopped ; that he had considered
the idea seriously, and that his mind was fully
bent on the material advantages to be derived
from that operation. Here, said Mr. Rose, Mini.
sters must have felt themselves justified in placing
full reliance, and consciousness that they were doing
their duty. But it was still echoed in their ear that
there had been errors and misconceptions ' • what
was this but that Ministers were not infallible? But
errors might be found charged on some other great
names, some even of those who had now survived the
sneers or suspicion of their cotemporaries, and were
handed down to posterity as models of foresight, de-
cisiou, and intelligence. He did not mean to throw
a shade on the enshrined virtue of those distinguish-
ed men ; but it was impossible to look into their his-
tory without finding that they had, in their zeal for
England and England's 'glory, attempted. projects
which they were unable to accomplish. 'He looked
to the celebrated attack on Toulon by an army under'
Prince Eugene, and a fleet under the command of a
great British Admiral. That attempt, concerted
with wisdom, and prosecuted with bravery, proved
abortive. An allusion had been made to the attack.
on Rochefort, and the force employed there stated as
holding no comparison in point of numbers to that
employed in Walcheren. But draw the comparison ,
on those separate forces from their proportion to the!
whole force of the kingdom as it stood at. the periods
of those two Expeditions, and they would be found
close upon an equality. The Rochefort Expedition
was undertaken with all advantages in its favour—
accurate information had been obtained. The Ex-
pedition itself bad originated in the memorial of a
most able officer, and yet the whole service done was
the capture of the little isle of Aix. Lord Howe, in
the Magnanime, with a pilot on board, better ac-
quainted than any man in England with the French
coast, was run aground within two miles of the
island. On the return of the Expedition the public
expre;sed no displeasure until a clamour was gradu-
ally excited.. Sir John Mordaunt, the Commanding
Officer of the Expedition, was brought to a Court
Martial. Much ridicule had been thrown on the idea
of taking Antwerp by a coup tie main, but, without
attempting to set himself up as a judge of military
matters, he had strong authorities for his belief of
what might be done by a coup de main. (He then
read some extracts from a military work, in which
General Ligonier's opinion was given on the nature
. and uses of the attack by coup de main, and a narra-
tive of the capture of Bergen op Zoom by General
Lawendall by a sudden attack.) It was, said he,
by a coup the .nain that this fortress, then the strongest
in the world, was taken. Ismael, with a large army
within its walls, was taken by the same rapid and
bold assault. But, to revert to the Expeditions of
which he had been previously speaking, Lord An-
son, when First Lord of the Admiralty,. sailed
with an army on board, commanded by the great
Duke of Marl'iorough, on an Expedition to the
coasts of the Bay of Biscay. That Expedition re-
turned, re infecia ; the Duke went to command in
Germany ; and General Bligh, at the head of the
farces, landed to destroy Cherbourg ; he Could there
lrn a few merchant ships,
off a few brass guns. He
up the country, and was
• shore was impeded, ane

d nothing more than burr
t destroy a basin, and carry ol
marched a short distance uF
attacked ; his return to the