Star.
London, England, 1810-01-24 00:00:00

sive sessions, the topi c ofth eir declamation and invective.
The House, in their recent conduct, had an evidence
of their sincerity on that occasion ; and Ministers, of
all others, could not justify, on their own grounds,
the sending one half of out armies and fleets to a
point so distant from the scene of action, upon the
information of smugglers and contraband traders.—
They availed themselves of the absence of Bonaparte
on the Danube, to send oat an Expedition for merely
British insular objects ; to extract from the ruin of
Austria, the last power capable of resisting the am-
bition of France, the possession of a few ships,'and a
depot for contraband trade--(Hear, hearl—lle was
not disposed to condemn the policy of not sending a
British force to the North of Europe before the battle
of Ey lau, because he looked upon the cause of Prussia
at that time as desperate, and likely, as that of Spain
was likely to terminate now. But if an army was
to have been sent at all, it should have been sent to
Germany ; and the only reason why he could think
it better to have the Expedition sent to Walcheren
rather than to Germany was, that though it could
have no effect upon the Belligerents, it Placed two of
its authors in the relation of ,hostile powers. It was
a strange perversion of policy,. too, in his• Majesty's
'Ministers, to send an army at the most unhealthy sea-
son to the most unhealthy part of Europe. He
should not attempt to affect the feelings of the House
by a picture of the sufferings
.of our brave army. He
should only say, that 5000 had died, and that dou-
ble that number,. infected by the poison of the fever,
bad been rendered ineffectual to any military duty
for some time. Every circumstance proved that
the Expedition had been plainest in the most profound
ignoraiwe, and could not have been the measure of
rational men. Did they not know that the situation
of Walcheren was low ? Did they not know from
those whom they must have consulted, that the cli-
mate was. unhealthy ? Did they know all this, and
for the. glory of the operation, and the possession
of a few ships, did they incur all the consequences ?
—They are reduced to this dilemma, Either they
did not, or they did, know all this—if they did
not, they must be convicted of gross ignorance—
if they did, how scandalous their conduct in such
a waste of blood for such objeets.—(Hear, hear.)—
The manner of the evacuation, too, afforded another
specimen of their wisdom. Whilst for two whole
months they were unable to determine or agree upon
the measure ; whilst they were one day sending out
workmen and materials for building, and die next
sending out transportsto bring home the troops; whilst
they were in this state of indecision and vacillation,
our brave troops were exposed to the ravages of dis-
ease ; and it was not until at length its virulence was
exhausted, and the number of deaths had ceased, that
the army had been released from that charnel-house.
One would have tltiught, that some feeling of com-
passion for the thousands that had been sacrificed,
would have led to an immediate evacuation. It
might be supposed, that the General who commanded
the army, and who was the witness of its sufferings,
would on his return have demanded the withdrawing
of the army from that calaniitous situation—that he
would have applied to a gracious Sovereign to put an
end to the sufferings of his brave army. They had
heard much of the idle waste of men that attends the
progress of the French Emperor : but he had to 'sliew
for it, battles won, and provinces acquired ; but the
death of British :soldiers led to nothing but dis-
grace. He had thus adverted to the two principal ex-
peditions, and the manner in which they had been
conducted. There was another expedition, that to the
coast of Italy, which, though objectionable, he should'
not dwell upon. It-was at all events a consolation,
that its effects had not been such as to fill our houses
with mourning, or our families with affliction. This
expedition had certainly not diminished the number of
our troops, but had lowered the character of the nation.
AU the calamities and disasters he complained of
Were owing to that House: they were the consequences
of the measures of nien after their own hearts ; d7s-
gusted with a for mer government, they desired a change
of measures, ar.i'. n Government that would actively
employ the force of the country—that would fill up
the Peerage in reward of useless victories, and send
our forces to treacherous or unwilling allies, whilst
they exhaustc4i the means of our owiu defence at home.
Their measures were the sequel of those which had
produced the disgraceful capitulation et the Helder;
the carnage of Quiberon, the waste of St. Domingo,
and the ludicrous exhibition before Ferrol; all of
which were types of the calamitous operations of
last year. He should then put it to the conscience of
Gentlemen, whether the present was a question of 1
fidence or no connience. He requested the House, !,
therefore, not to suffer it,.elf to be ltd away 'from this
point by either sophistry or argument. He calk,:
upon them to recollect the circumstances of the for-
mation oldie present A chninistration, which was born
in disgrace, ands cripple in its infancy. He desired
that they would bear in mind how the great cakes
el state had been hawked about—(H-Ir, hear, hear)"
but. above all, tip keep in view thoacri;ic:-./ state 'of
;,.. ~.matey at hoMe, and the formidable situation or
world abroad. At this moment the whole power
ci France, which engrossed the whole means and re-
scurces Europe, was at the command'of that great.
aqd consummate General and Statesman, who - cot-
tained in himself all the shining. qualities of those
inen, who, at any time, by their talents, rendered
France formidable to this country—who 'united . the
policy of Richelieu with the military *genius of Tu-
t-mine, and added the inordinate ambition of Louis
XIV. to the enterptize mei activity of Cond.
they reflected upon all this, tily must be sensible of
the infatuation of trusting to any ti;ing bit: the com-
bination of all the ability and wisdom in the -nation
for a successful resistance to the great and extraordi-
nary power against which we were opposed. In his
heart, and without *the slightest party feeling or par-
tiality, he looked to the Gentlemen btiow'him (on.the
Opposition Ben:hfs) for that combination of wisdom
and experience, which alone could be effectual for
the salvation of the country in its present critical cir-
cumstances. He was convinced that, in coming into
Office, they would be influenced by no unworthy mo-
tives. They would succeed to shattered means, to
to unsuccessful armies. They
and difficultics, which would.
:s—dangers and difficulties,
office, or pride of party-
, or at all compensate. The
when the last trial would be
conjured'the House not to
by omitting to make provisit

• should not attempt to affect
• by a picture oldie sufferings
should only say, that 5000
hle that number,. infected 131
had been rendered ineffeett
for some time. Every ci
the Expedition had been pial
ignorahee, and could not h
rational men. Did they no
of Walchercn was low ? D
those whom they must hay
mate was. unhealthy ? Dit
for the. glory of the opera
of a few ships, did they inc
—They are reduced to th:
did not, or they did, kr
not, they must be convict
if they did, how scandalo.
a waste of blood for such
The manner of the evacuat
specimen of their wisdom
months they were unable tc
the measure : whilst they s
workmen and materials fo
• sending out transportsto brn
they were in this state of
our brave troops were expo
case ; and it was not until a
exhausted, and the number
the army had been released
One would have thought, t
passion for the thousands
would have led to an in
might be supposed, that the
the army, and is ho was de
would on his return have d,
of the army from that cal::
would have applied to a gr:
end to the sufferings of his
heard much of the idle .vas
progress of the French Em:
for it, battles won, and pre
death of British :soldiers
grace. He had thus advent
peditions, and the niannei
conducted. There was :not
coast of Italy, which, thous
• eot dwell upon. It-was al
i.
that its effects had not beer
with mourning, or our fam
expedition had certeinly not
our troops, but had lowered
AU the calamities and d
Were owing to that House: t
of the measures of nien afi
gusted with a for iner govern!
of measures, ane a Covert
employ the force of the co
the Peerage in reward of u
• our forces to treacherous o
they exhaueta the means of
Their measures were the se
produced the disgraceful c:
the carnage of Quiberon, tl
and the ludicroes exhibit:
which were types of the
last year. He should then
•
Gentlemen, e !tether the pre
fidence or no emir:knee.
therefore, not to suffer
point by either sophistry
upon them to recollect the
mation oldie present A dine
in disgrace, ands cripple i
that they would bear in mi
ef state had been hawked
but. above all, ie., keep in
eee 'nuntry at home, and t
• world abroad. At this
ci France, which engrossed
retirees of Lump:, was at ti
aqd consummate General ;
• tained in himself all the
men, who, at any time, b
France formidable to this
policy of Richelieu with f
ienne, and added the inor
XIV. to the enterptize awl
they reflected upon all di's,
the infatuation of trusting t
bination of all the ability a
for a successful resistance e
nary power against which 't
heart, and without the sligl
tiality, he looked to the Gei
Opposition Benthfs) for that
and experience, which alor
the salvation of the country
cumstances. He was cony
office, they would be influei
tives. They would suet:cc,
uhausted resources, and to
. would succeed to dangers an
appal the firmest hearts—
v hich no emoluments of c
victory, could adequately of
time was not distant wile
:o be essayed, and he co
sl t 7114 its cwasafety, by
. .
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