The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-03-30 00:00:00

.ak

THP. sTAr

create a diversion in favour of Austria when the
was at peace. It seemed as if the Ezvedition was
undertaken merely for the sake of doing some.
thing. At first Ministers adopted the idea of
•eteling an army by way of Ostend to the attack of.
Antwerp ; bat epee ea:stetting the elisions of
'Officers, the idea:was deprecated, and R was deter..
mined to make the attack with the
,army and navy
conjointly. So that here it was seep that Minis-
ters, if they had not coneulted Sir David Dumb's,
would have sent the army by way of Ostend—a'
plan which, it was declared by General Calvert,
General Brownrigg, and every other man of
tary information,COuld only arise in madness, and
a measure by which the army would nut only be
risked, but absolutely destroyed. In fact, if they
had dune so, there would have been no army at
all. Then, with respect to the second place,
what were the sentiments of Sir David Duntlas ?
Dd hsd.declared that it would be in vain to ap-
proach Antwerp by land. General Calvert said,
success was less improbable than if they had ern,
by Ostend—but he deprecated the attempt as acs-
perste. The upinion of Sir John Hope, too, and
'even of the Earl of Chatham, when they arrived
at Bevelaud, was, that there was no hope of sue.
cuss. As soon as they SAW the nature; of things,
aft prospects of carrying their point vanished, :old
it was declared timely impossible. Lord Rossiya
coincided With these Odieers. Some Gentlemen
attributed the fa lung to the lateness of the under-
taking, but he did not think the Expedition could
at any time hate u stiewes.fid. Sir Williata
Erskine had frequently pressed: on Ministers his
conviction that the project was not feasible nor
probable. In his report of the state of Antwerp,
he had declared that the town could be secured in
one week against the must powerful siege. He
was a very intelligent officer, and on his judgment
some reliance might be placed. !Pre then was the
(victim' of all the officers of the army, except Ge-
neral Brownrige an the Earl of Chathinie in the
very first outset, against the ExPetlitien.- -• What
did Sir Richard Strachan.say ? That he doubted
from the first moment he heard of the Expedition,
that it would be attended by success-41st -be was
borne down by the orders of the Admiralty. He
knew he was going into seas of as hich
.be knew
nothing—he doubted the extent. of intelligence re-
ceived by Ministers ; and in fact had no hopes of
attaining the desired result. in speaking to
Lard.Mulgrave on the subject, he told him the
Expedition would fail, and expressed a desire that
anther person should take the coeimand of. the
Naval 'Department. Here then was no cams-
ragmen, to Miaisters. W hat enceuragement then
had they received ? The intelligence they bad re-
ceived was this. They had read a meniorandeat of
the state of IYalcheren, written in 1800 ; they
had seen another, written hy Geneva! Don, sin
the 16th of December, 1803 ; another by an of-
ficer whose name was not known in 1805; another
whirls had no date ; and finally an account of:the
military state of Antwerp and ifs written
iu 1803, and found in the. poisks'iioe 'el a pri-
soner taken at Cadsand. All z these moieerred io
representing the paltry state of its defence ; but
observed, that although there was nt4rospeot of.
any assistance being obtained fr;tutiollasele
in one week, the most ample sirpplies could be
()Wanted (rola France. He woutt ask, were His
testers justified in seeding out an Expedition upon
such .intelligence? It was most ex!rautstinary,
most incomprehensible, and must unaccemitable,
that they blindly and pusillanimously roeld be in-
'
duced to adept such a measure. It might be very
probable that there were no troops at Walcheren,
Antwerp, or Fleshing, before the Expedition
sailed ; but there was nothing to prevent, as the
event proved, an abundance of troops ,being on
the spot on the Bth of August, to oppose the
British arms, and to frustrate their attemps. On
Lord Huntley's arrival at Cadsand, he found
seven thousand men ready to oppose him, and
heee, of course, was proved the falsity of the
intelligence reoeived by Government : and that
being the case, upon what ground were they justi.
lied in pursuing the. enterprize, or upon what
rational principles could they hope for success
Agein, his Majesty's Ministers, by their private
information, had heard that the fortifications of
Antwerp were dismantled and enfeebled; but in
opposition to this was to be stated the report of
Sir Eyrc Cuote, Sir David Datlae, and many
other officers, who all agreed that Antwerp was a
well fortified town, and could not be taken or
attacked but by a regular fore:: assisted by a co.
vering army and the navy. So here again Was the
Wu:elation wider which the expedition hal sailed
proved completely false. Sir Richard &name,
in his evidence, also proved that the authority on
which Ministers founded their expectations was
erroneous. He found Cailsand, Fort Lille-, and
every other place of strength, in a peifect state of
defence.. With respect to the opinion of General
Brownrigg, Num which Ministers could now only
rely, he would now say a few words. On that
gallant General being asked, whether he thou& •
it strictly correct to hazard the expedition ?
he answered, that ha conceived the project prac-
ticable, only, from the informatiou received
by his Majesty's Meister'. That information
before proved false, of course his opinion must
have been chenged. But even if that was '
not the case, there was nothing could justify Mi-
. eistcrs in hazarding an undertaking upon the single
opinion of General Brower*, in ceiposition to
that of every °Aster in the army. It was some-
' what extraordinary that this General, who stood.
so singular in his sentiments, and who was so firm-
ly convieced of the practicability of taking An-
twerp, that ho afterwards signed his name to the,
ILeolation which pronounced the measure impos-
sible. fleet, however, sailed, and every.
thing which was predicted came to pass. It sail-
ed at it period when that greatest of enemies, the
elements, began to work against it, as finetold
by Sir Home Popham ; after an armistice
been signed between Austria, in whose favour
the diversion was to be made., and France.
Had Austria .attempted to renew the war, in
consequence, that devoted country must. have
Owen hunk still deeper in calamity, and have
additional and more irretriesable risio to
lament. The plague, too, Which was in well

AN.

known to exist at that teased of the bears broke
out eith its expected violence. Under such a
cloud of disadvantages did this ill.planned, im-
politic Expedition sail from the shores of Oreat
• Britain, containing a force of 100,000 men, fes '
wham no other fate awaited but the dreadful any.
baleful embrace of horrible and ravaging disease
the Commander in Chief, the Admiral of the,
Fleet, the great majority of the Officers, all nna..
nimonsly concurring that there were no hopes of.
' esteem's ; and in direct and positive opposition to
Sir Richard Strachan, whose opinion was ratified
' by the conduct of Lord Mu!grave, who, by
refusing to. comply Allkh his request to be su.
perseded, and placing a confidence . in him,
notwithstanding his avowed hostility to the
measure, had given a convincing argument of his
own sense of ;he justice of the'assertions which
. Ihad been made. [Hear, hear!} There was no
plan of Antwerp or of Fort Lill(); the fleet had
no knowledge of the navigation of the Scheldt.
:1 There was tin arrangement for a co.operation of
. I the forces—for that was impossible, as they knew
nothing of the local circumstances of the country.
Caw, hear !] And thus they marched, after
having waited tor every preparation to be made
to Pthstrate them by the enemy, to du what ? To
take Ant werp by a coup.dc4nain ! [Hear, hear 1]
ilThe Expedition was completely discomfited ; in
, I fact it had died in its, birth. Here then, he would
stop n little, and ask the Muse, what they could
think of N 111164,11, who, with pretensions to eons-
. mon-sense, could act so diametrically opposite to ,
the common dictates of reason ? He had to re-
' gret, he was obliged to go further, and that the
painful task of stating still more disastrous occur-
reitres had yet to harrow his feelings and excite
his indignation. The first reason that was assigned
for not proceeding against Antwerp, was the ge-
neral sickness which prevailed amongst the army
in the pestilential Island of Waleheren. At this
period, a report was received by his Majesty's
Ministers, that there were three thousand four
hundred men stretched on the couch of disease;
the alarming 'progress of the disorder was com-
mented upon with becoming humanity, and from
the a;!counts subsequently received, it was seen,
that day after day, the horrid disorder Was increas.
jog, and new victims were sacrificed at the shrine
of Ministerial impotence. The spirit of British
troops was here wasted in despair, and those
men, at whose approach their enemies always
shuddered, Kith no groundless fears, were here
pining amidst the foul atmosphere of contagion
, and disease. On former occasions they had
only their old enemies the French and the
Spaniard, to meet—but herothe dreadful effects,
of 'the plague preyed upon their members, and
sunk them into that apathy, o hick the itiserable
sense of an approaching wretched and inglorious
death was so eminently calculated to impress.—
.For this, what excuse could be found for Minis.
ten ? • What jtistification could they urge, or wh.at
recompense could they make to the manes of so
many thousand of their fellpw.creatures ? On the
Ist of August Ministers were informed that-there,
were upwards of 10.000 sick ,and nearly one-third of -
the reinainirtfinces infected. Sir Eyre Conte re.
presented, in the most forcible language, the holm.
saint/ ut retaining the Wand. of Walchcren ; but
ienis not till the 27th of October any resolution
,was adopted for the evacuation of that horrid_ se.
[Ware, which had now become the grave of so
ninny brace men, whose lives had been wantonly,
uojuat iliably, criminally devoted to the accomplish.
mint of no other purpose fur their country than
disgrace, and whose fate more firmly impressed on
the taints of the people the consciousness of hav-
ing a set of men at the head of 'affairs, whose ig.'
norati6e and want of principle were only excelled
by the tenacity with which they clung to those of-
, (ices they had so grossly abused. It was still more
extraordinary, that at the moment those-horrid ca-
tastrophes had arrived at a climax, a letter was
received from the Emperor of Austria, desiring
the exertions of the king's troops might be di-
rected against Holland, while those troops were
lying in our hospitals ; and in a few days af-
terwards another letter was received from the
Britisii Minister, in another quarter, advising
an attack in the North of Germany. This was
another. proof or the want of that information
which. ought to subsist- between our Court and
others, 'and was of a piece with thezeneral emir
duct of Ministers. To the want of each know-
ing what the other was-about, might be attri...
buted the late calamities ;'as we never could have
thought of creating a diversion in favour of Aus..
tria, when she had at the very time that our Expe.
I ditioo was near leaving our shores, -Concluded a
peace with France. The Hon. Gentleman hero
declared that he should like to go on ; but he had
I already trespassed-too long on the attention of
the Ilouscire-ciFilicarn- It was impossible,
after the Expedition had Leen sent out against the
1 opinion of the nasal and other Officers, without
proper intelligence and authority,, the measure
i
filling of its great object, of a diversion in fa.
your of our Allies who had concluded a Peace,
that the conduct of Ministers could be exculpated
for retaining possession of a place in the vicinity
1 of nineteen fortified towns, and for leaving an
army, and that the finest army of the country,
' for' two months; to die by a hideous disorder,
upwards of 11,000 being already sick or dead.
—No excuse cbuld be made,. nought could
be urged in mitigation of - their offence, nor
nothing adduced which could screen them from
the deserved censure of that House—[Lour[ and
reiterated cries of hear, hear, front the Opposition
hendres)—inure espeCially •wneti we were reeeiv.
ing daily accounts of another army who were also
dying by huitdreds in Spain, and who were also re.
fused to be called home, although they could he
so ill-spared. There could be but one conduct
more reprehensible, and that would be, that Par.
liament who would excuse them.— Incessant cries&
ar m H e seconds. The tf hear I he !for some hatl-j
f
censored Lord Chatham, not for any misconduct in '
the Expedition—No ; his hehaiiour on that oc-
' ension Rae by no mails improper, and he had
binding Oman a: becoming spirit in nut himself to
wipe away that stain which now rested tut' his late
colleagtte. ' There was sonic reason fur tender-
nee, tuna As him, for he had laboured under a;

they
Wouldebree- them
greA deal or pbblic obloquy. Is was
Lord Chatham had'presented a paper pi, 1"
the King to obtaid secrecy' that he Was eatelLL°
if the Howie conld belnduced on the pee:
^casion to pronounce a sentiment of emir:hi
on his Majesty's MiniSters
aelvim in aten-fuld degree more guilty than
Earl of Cha
Mr. CANNING observed hit Hon. Friend kw
concluded expressing his opinion that the caw--
ties brought on the country should be visited--
the heads of those by whom it was plannol. 44;
rose not only to speak in its justificatioe,
prove that Ministers, in planning it,
ed by 'motives arising front a just sense of bli-
;
ditty—such as he would say, if he were not Patieir
ty concerned, entitled them to the approbation
ref
the country—such as might well bo recommended
to their successors, and such as no Admiuistrasoiwould blush for cherishing. Ile would not sono
der it as an insulated question, but "
as a part se
that system which had been pursued through°"
the present war, in the prosecution of whirls „,
had a double interest, first to preserve other it,"
dons (ruin the domination of France, and see*,
ly, to preserve our own integrity. To prove is
great interest we had in the latter case, needed
argument ; but he contended it was eephair on
duty to do the former. Standing high as Wed,
among the nations of Europe, it was Saeombeet
upon Etigiaed to assist weaker nations against/11,
pression, not only as far as we could do so roc.
eistently with our' wn interests, but as fie no,
doing ao was not absolutely inconsistent with our
own security. Throughout the war it had Lem
I /stir constant practice to avid ourselves of thews.
tit of resistance manifested by other nations ag4iott
the encroachments of Frauce and cut I
s ant !to
tv to the succour of those who were assailed '
her ambition. It was much to be lamented thd'
the course of the war had been such, that se
might shortly have to contend,. single.ltstidetl, out
only against the ambitious Ruler of Franc:, lot
also against those Powers to whom our assistant
had been extended, who ranged on his side ia cue:
sequence of his successes, while their hearts Wm
for us, and who might be compelled to raise that
hands against us. We ought never to lose sight of
the policy of making all the Powers of the Conti.
;tent feel their interests aspirated from thesed
France; and he desired that the Expedition tole
Scheidt might be considered as Intended to lay the
foundation of such a separation. It did not
ginate in the Austrian war, nor did the LA*
don to the Scheldt originate with the present Go.
vernmeut ; it had been contemplated by sand
successive Administration!, and never was then
so urgent an occasion for such an Espadities Hat
that period at whit!' the last armament Suited
out. He hoped Gentlemen opposite weeliset
think he wished to recriminate anyemssweetity
might have bestowed-, on the enterprixe, when he
stated that such a one bad not always been ding.
proved of on that side of the House. It **alai
tram him so to recriminate, as he *litchi the AS
ject laudable, and the policy wise, that &Wel
such an effort. The Noble Lord Ise: bald nmeettled
in the office he had lately the homer Opium, oaos
ability and zeal could *not be doubted by aspen,
had, on his leaving that House (its a debate witicle
through some circumstance, he believe!, bad an
ver been made public), strongly reeentwetidell
such an Expedition to the itnecessors 6f that Adri.
nistration of which he formed a part. Hs had de
authority of that Noble Lord for such an eilen
prise at that time, and what was then the nreagdl
of Antwerp compared to its present state? Of
.what importance wits it then to what it is nee?
What bad we then to apprehend from its strength
to what we have now, from, the increard, dem'
lopement 'of the ideas of Bonaparte, when cir-
cumstances which might be considered as forebeit.
ings of what he would attempt imperiously calle4
on us to check, if possible, the growing pewees(
his navy. He said, we were called upon to en,
tempt this from a principle of economy; *teem
nomy which would enable us to dispense with tlat.
seivices of fleets at Yarmouth, and in the Dons,
and permit them to be employed elsewhere. Is
this point of view such an Expedition was 'gad
European question, and if the Austrian war had
never broke out, still would an Expedition larks
Scheldt have been likely to produce an suspicions
change in the affairs of Europe. On these
ciples it was that the Expedition was.plinned sad
undertaken. The war between France and AS9'
trig subsequently broke out, and then came apt&
cations from Austria GA. assistance in the might!'
struggle. There were but two modes of affording
Austria assistance, the one by direct co-operations
the other by making a diversion in her favor to
divide the attention of France. It would hardly
have been necessary for him to have argued.
had'
the dit.
fit:oy of ditietiy co-operating . with her srelicso
had it not seemed to be believed that:England pot-.
sussed the means of carrying a force to the butte*
of the Adriatic, and that we might have joined th
Austrians in Suabia, and 'taken a part in the 118. t;
tlo of Wagram. This monstrous ides had beta
entertained. Could it be thought that it was 11(*'
'sible for England to carry a force capable of pru'
diming any important effects through the (teas}
almost unknown Adriatic, and land it at Trieste.
It was i‘npracticable. Another place had bee!
named a ..ere it was said we might have co.operstak.
with the Austrian army—ltaly. It had been,
contemplation to afford assistance in that quarters
but it had been very properly desisted fruni, 00,
the retreat of the Archduke John. Austria 1!
Rester entertained the monstrous idea of oar hewC
.
able to assist her its the former place, but had t
pressed a hope that her cause Would he assisted
7
-us in Italy, in Spain, or in the North el if ir
many. In Spain we had Maintained
thus in some measure complied with her Ivor!
... the prin•
but the assistance iltaired elsewhere,
.„s„,rectios
on
cipk of our being averse to exciting
,
which, as we could not support thew, would
op
' impose those who took part itt vies' to gm„
`'misery.. Those who contended that on:ht 10
hase sent the Expedition to the North .1.10.
Expedition give our reertittue 111)101126
nplianiglY`atrladth,lerrtiettilS twol.!triadSeallVitd•wi' tbt's.ciauul9el4llLeg";
emanating from a ftifiail- priSS(4ol7,Cirfid app

ye'
Ed
of

T,
a

- ..
ke gre deal or public obloquy. ft was-1;s--
print
m- a Lord Chatham hadpresented a paper • tatlSe painl
prttatelt, , a cal
m- the King to obtains secrecy' that he was 14,.12
sat If the House conk! lielndneed on the tra---`• pear
prelim
'ere
foe 'easion to pronounce a sentiment of °e`
were se I
aellrobat,,, awl!.
nit on his Majesty's Minitters they would b th„..—
ieb; .selvoten-fold degree more guilty teitat;"'"th Ville
there
tht Earl of Chatham.
la. Mr. CANNING observed hie Hon. Friend 6.1 Aust
diate
of concluded expressing his opinion that the e 11.7 thinp
to ties brought on the country should be risked the heads of those by whom it was plannal H. Wed
jog si
by rose not only to speak in its justification
su- prove that Ministers, in planning it, shs ccet
semb
im, ed by 'motives arising front a just sense. ofTlwie-- and
the ditty—such as he would say, if he were note am;
his ty concerned, entitled them to the appruhato—.4 inter
ich the country—such as might well bo recommended to re
no to their successors, and such as no Administration &site
had would blush for cherishing. Ile would not ton.!.-
ids.of der
thatisty
sateema n insulated
wlih
i:d qbneeesnt ion,
pursuedbut atsbaruhun were
pros
up, 1
teen the present war, in the prosecution of whirls so Pew
ry. had a double interest, first to preserve Artier ni- was
ter dons from the domination of France, and second, retto
ade ly, to preserve our own integrity. To pse
To great interest we had in the latter case, n tet il
..ru Stets
as •
sa such
el] argument ; but he contended it was et sells, err self
in duty to do the former. Standing high as wed instil
old 1 among the nations of Europe, it was iaeofoloi von
arid upon Ettgialtd to assist weaker nations againtrop, an a
sm- pressiou, not only as far as we could do so cos. perii
to , eistently with our' wn interests, but as fat a, co have
re- doing so was not absolutely inconsistent with oar thro
the own security. Throughout the war it had Leto and
tar- 1 our constant practice to avail ourselves of then, apr
cite nit of resistance manifested by other stations agaiso
,swa;
ned the encroachments of )France, and consteelyto oble
ge. by to the succour of those who were assailed!ij own
'my her ambition. It was much to be lamented fiat 11161
this the course of the war had keen such, that oo of
ty's might shortly have to contend,• single.ltanded, out ado'
our only against the ambitious Ruler of Franc) tut dera
se; also against those Powers to whom our assistant yet
)m• had been extended, who ranged on his side in coo: Ear
'ow sequence of his successes, while their hearts Were of l
en, for us, and who might be compelled to raise thee CAW
.as. hands against us. We ought never to lose sightlf a.. 151
Joe the policy of making all the Powers of the Cele Ger
tisk ;sent feel their interests separated from timed ais
use France; and he desired that the Expedition tole her::
sys Scheidt might be considered as intended to lay is cue.
ere foundation of such a separation. It did not op. ease
ion ginate in the Austrian war, nor dial the Expedi. Tea
tad tion to the Scheldt originate with the present G. apa
the vernmeut ;it had been contemplated by semil whe
cts, successive Administration!, and never was then Ellat
and sta urgent an occasion for such an &iodides Mt hes
ble that period at whit!' the last armament Was. fieta eau
7UII out. He hoped Gentlemen opposite *mildest In 1
think he wished to recriminate anytemeste thee dim
iis. might have bestowed-, on the enterprise, aka In elk
hat stated that such a one bad not always been dine. nut
so proved of on that side of the House. It wash/ duc
the tram him so to recriminate, as he thought tinge the
ere, ject laudable, and the policy wise, that dietatal the
lof - such an effort. The Noble Lord Ise bays succeeded wbi
re. in the office he had lately the bosom lOWA, ereass imp
us. ability and zeal could .not be doubted by *semi for
Jut had, on his leaving that House (in a debate whiele elm
ion through some circumstance, he believed, had as. but
se. ver been made public), strongly recommended dot
so such an Expedition to the Successors 6f that Adai. mu
ly, nistration of which he formed a part. 'Rebid& of
sh. authority of that Noble Lord fur such an cater: ten
ran prise nt that time, and what was then the Wag* bad
on of Antwerp compared to its present state? Of lie
tv. what importance wits it then to what it is aced ahl,
ig.' What bad we then to apprehend from its strength pla
led to what we have now, from, the increased, dem' sue
of.. lopement 'of the ideas of Bonaparte, when at. tier
.
are cumstances which might be considered as forefeet. may
:a- ings of what he would attempt imperiously calk4 len
rds on its to check, if possible, th‘growing red.( ratj
ing his navy. He said, we were called upon to at., din
di- tempt this from a principle of economy; (hated.. cur
ere nomy which would enable us to dispense wititle wli
if- services of fleets at Yarmouth, and in the Dons, nee
the and permit them to be employed elsewhere. Is sal
ing this point of view such an Expedition was egad Fr
ias European question, and if the Austrian war had tha
on never broke out, still would an Expedition to the vii
on Scheldt have been likely to produce an aoseiciase in
air change in the affairs of Europe. On these pria• em
w-. ciples it was that the Expedition waspkbasnned sad .
ri. undertaken. The war between France and Ao9' no
ire irk subsequently broke out, and then came apple'on
Is., cations from Austria far assistance in the mighty an
se. struggle. There were but two modes of affording Ar
a Austria assistance, the one by direct co-operation, a y
:re the other by making a diversion in her timer to cal
ad divide the attention of France. It would hardly po
of have beets necessary for him to have arguer the dif* En
le, faculty of ditietiy co.opeeating . with her erreirS Tie
lie had it not seemed to be believed that:England po!. be
.ue sessed the means of carrying a force to the butts for
pre of the Adriatic, and that we might have joined the foe
Fa. Austrians in Suable, andtaken a part in the 111 l • chicc,
cc, tlo of. Wagram. This monstrous idea hod hell At
!ed entertained. Could it be thought that it scan pugpugll
ity lible for England to carry a force capable of ere' Ge
thi •
an diming any important effects through the (II) as}
.y, almost ise'known Adriatic, and land it at Trieste? of
or, It was impracticable. Another place had been. Ae
eta
act
lid stills the Austrian army—ltaly. It had been n''
id. named u ...ere it was said we might lieveco-opersted:
lor 6.
contemplation to afford assistance in
.61 9Harter, EI
ere' be,
)rn but it had been very properly desisted frum
nd the retreat of the Archduke John. Austria hod' to
'on i sts.ver sottertained the tortust rests isle* of oar being the
too bads -',. tai
iv. able to assist her in the former place,
sit
Iso pressed a hope that her cause would he assisted M'
Ti
re. us in Italy, in Spain, or in the North 91 V
)4
he many. In Spain we had Maintained ourselves. ,and'
eel
ttr
act thus its some measure complied with her linshrecin:
ar. but the assistance desired elsewhere, on the
triorns th
Me ciple of our being averse to exciting insurrl.,
oh( re
tad- which, as we could not support than, wne'..o fit Cl
tin' impose those who took-part in teem to '7, to
lie
uc. 'misery. Those who contended teat we 0":"' .
ur
er rtb a us"
sad hale sent the Expedition to the -- "
.1
th
Ti
and Arsenals we had a view to Wilt. venn
Ivl
attoe npsiansgiyrather than to •the Scheldt, baautethLiitw'r, .
01
er. Expedition gave our isi: rtiestts. the! app °& , lli
r a; emanating from a svlbsts.pritsciplevngrtnnt