The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-01-27 00:00:00

1

' pie WHITBREAD afeataideit, that . had -the
Orders in Council been literally executed, instead
or produreig an iiicrement of the national exports,
h
i.roilnced &decrement. lie than*
t wouldilieve
that liceuces had vry iproperly been granted as
farours to person%e having votes to give, and he
bad heard rif an instance where a licence after it .
hid been obtained had sold so high as 10001.. He
Terollec ed the time when licences' to export bark
were refused, on the groped that it was an article
01' which the enemy stood much in want ; but he
afterwards heard that a Member of that House had
fur a licence a cuerthark, but whether
tic Ind oteeined one or no he would not say.
ROTE denied that any liecuce to export
bark hail been co granted.
alr. 11'11.13ERFORCE said, that he perfectly
undeDtood the argument at the period alluded to
wile that if the enemy would nut allow our
other commodities to he sold, they should not
lilac our bark. He admitted that licences would
b„v,.ry improper under any other circumstances
can those m which the country was at present
r.Ol, and that the House of Commons should
be Ter% j .alous of them ; but he could not see
;wit there was any room for suspecting that any
tot lir I reference had been shewn, when the ea.
hurtsezereded by so large a bum as seven mil.
Ii ois Owe of any fermer year.
r JOHN NEWPORT contended, that the
.if c.mcoi►
ed as a greaardship
spite
• ei.,seli merchantsoperat who resided at thet ouht.posth
• could nut obtain Dcences, while the mer.
rhanti residing in the vicinity of the metropolis
lad the means of gating them alnAst as they
slanted them, or at least could he riverned in
reefr specadatiens, whether they would be granted
•
or 110.
Mr. SIMEON thought no partialities had ever
been sheen in the granting of licences.
Mr. BARING said, that as the subject of com.
race was before the Mese, he could not reo
fain from delivering his opinion upon it. Ile
veld not view the situation of our commerce in
foourahlu a light as other Gentlemen were
disposed to bee it in.: The commerce of the court.
try was so shackled circumstances, that it was,
teresible for it to be in a very flourishing con.
dation, Th• Board of Tilde was filled OIL with
Sr, it lords, greet naturalists, .and other extra.
ordinary per,oneges ; but it was well knowa,
that its duties principally devolved upon the
with, floe. Gentleman who 'filled the situation
of Vice.Presiderit. AVhethes lie sr:te in the habit
of nbligin; his Calends with licences, he would
pot take upon hint to say. His commercial ideas
:sight seem old.fashioned ; but ho was free to
cinfess he did not draw them from the Custom.
filuie book of exports. While the rate of ex.
chew- pith foreign nations was so high against
us, and the bullion of the country was drawn from
it, he could not considey our commerce in a heal.
thy or flourishiug condition.
The :110.i.0i was them pot and carried, that on
Monday noir, the House would resolve itself 10.
to a Committee or Supply.
Mr. RO'E gave notice, that on Monday next
lie velidil move, That there be laid before the.
Theisen Account of the Imports and Exports of
the Country for the last year.
INQUIRY INTO TIIE EXPEDITIOI4 TO THE •
EC Et ELOT6.
Lord PORCHESTER ruse to call the attention
of the flimsy to this subject, and spoke to the fol.
lowing etiret." When on the first night of the
Session I gave • notice of a motion to be brought
foe ard on this night, it was my intention to
in at. for tie institution of a Committee, to whom
should he r. (erred the inquiry into the policy and
c induct of the %Jude campaign, and to this I was
Induced under an impression that it would be need.
less to examine th.. par separately, as the same
want of •ys• •in, and tite same imbecility contri.
heed to effect all those calamities and disasters
which were alone predominant. I have since, how.
ever, on recurs &liner ition, conceived that an
inquiry ludo ec•li transaction, separately, may be
elf•cted with greater facility, and that, by son.
fining the 'inquiry into the policy and conduct'
done, we shall not be precluded from attaining.;
full informati.in on the, state of Europe, and
the prospects of this country at the present
must eventful crisis. It is, therefore, my
determination to restrict the terms of my motion
to proposing a resolution for the formation of a
Committee of the whole House to inquire into
the policy and.conduct of the Expedition to the',
S.heldt. My object in this motion is to ascertain
whether the sentiments I have collected from the ;
speeches of Rick Hunoutable Gentlemen ire in;
favour of inquiring or out. Front their general
expressions, I am led to imagine they aro desirous
of investigation; but this has net been evinced
by their votes in favour of such a measure. I
am ready do admit that s Nohle lord has protest.
ad it is the duty of the House to enter into a se.
lento, minute, and substantial inquiry; but the
Justice of that Noble Lord's late colleagues does
nut seem to incline them to afford his Lordship
an opportunity of redeeming his pledge; sad
these Gentlemen who, with Roman virtue, die.
dained mercy, and even called down on their
brads a penal sentence, should their conduct prom
to deserve it, and professed their readiness to meet
inquiry in any shame, and even boldly chat.
'toiled a scrutiny of their measures, now seem in.
chned w throw every inipedimentia the way of at.
%nue; that investigation they before is heroically.;
called for. I shall now endeavour to anticipalll
my objections which may be made to granting del
object of my motion, as I am prepared to hair 4311
this, as the House has experienced on former oc.;
casions, some evasive plea, or some proposition, on
the part of his Majesty's Councils to thwart
that idt tuiry which will lead to their own condoms-
natirvi. It was to get rid of any objection of this
nature that 1 was led to propose, that &Committee
of the whole House should be formed, by which
Fiey would have an opportunity of exercising their
ingeisiteri.lfunctions, and this they could only do
in the form of a Committee. Was the matter refer.
red to a delegated few, without going into a Com-
mittee, to examine into the papers, the consequence
that a garbled accoar.` A odd be givens
sod a 2 satie;CtOrl Swag be foray;

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• likulibilitk...g. 11''1'''.,_ solo.:-,---7-4----7.--- :
sari .
mittee, toey esselt exam-741.1.11e brat eveiutence itttheir)lftrYr the."Cd abelefens..llre;lVOf proper
state
:.... rope
bar, if deemed requisite, attract their information- 4.411‘, = e Wee
from whatever search , they thought whit it ' wet said Bthat only one sixth
proper; aid 4 shot army had been: destroyed, that all the
be enabled to forth a deaths o n Air iOR. oille $ • • "3rtitlery, cavalry, and haggle had been saved
Gentlemen mity probablynaStz.:4 teat; will you and that nothing had. been kft tothe em savt►J,
move for *Committee before.the-pap Ma ers are before • yet, notwithstanding this
we flenndlis;
the House ? In answer to this I say, we are int. army was auk to resume active' service for six
periously called on by our dudes, and I due regard months. Id 4 .....iAt4isb to draw comparisons. 'be.
fur the interest of our constituents' and I Preeume tween other countries and this' morev especially
' Majest 's Ministers will not contradict me, .as I feel they 'cahoot be to our - dd
jl/4f
.;
seize the died opportunity for stultifying the in regarding the conduit of thea‘Coatiloatig‘er.ec yetOf
public cries indignation and it will be in the, the World, wosee his polka, extremely different.
power of the Officers of Government to submit The next apology that is made, is that transports
the necessary documents before *the subject' is could not be procured to *collie), troops to the
opened. It is absolutely necessary at this early; North of Europe. It was the duty, however, of
period of the Sessions, that in inquiry should be gintsters to have prepared a sufficient number of
instituted, and thcise who object to such i met, .transports to answer every purpose to which the ex.
sure cue only do so with the ultlasite motile of igency of the times might require the
disposable
stifling it. The magnitude of the case is sum. forces of the country to be applied. If we looked
cient to establish the necessity of a minute' in. to the time when the Expedition was 'scut out,
quiry, in order that the' weans may be afforded we cannot but pronoupee it ill chosen' as its ob-
of extricating the country from the difficulties jest was declared to have been for the assistapce of
which oppress ft. If we covider this Expedition *used', which had almost ceased to exist, ere the
as connected with the whole campaign, we find troops left our shores. And as to the success, it
that although they all differ, the same departure was impossible it could stand beyond the first
from good policy, thesame imbecility, the same coup de main. Let us look a little to the man.
gross inefficiency, and the same 'ltisgraceful sa. ncr in which, it was conducted.. The first object
orifice of British lives and Prope. rtyls erident.— having failed, the nest important one (hat pre.
Similar objections may with sufticalie made to sented itself was the destruction of the Navel
every part of the veer;'' we recognite the same Arsenal at 'Antwerp. The Expeditiou atailesi.
impotency ,in every Expedition-which hat Jeft-out on the 28th of July, destined for the reduction,
I
shores. In fact, if we look to every event of the of Antwerp, and not Walcheren. And yet,'
campaign, 'we find nothing but disgrace and dig. would the House believe, that it was only on the
comfiture, every operation wasted, and every, 29th of August it was determined not to Mack'
exertion rendered nugatory by the wretched- de. Antwerp. If Antwerp was to be attacked, it
parture from all established national policy and should have been done without hesitation, and
wisdom in the plans and proceedings of .his Ma- that city once in our possession, the reduction of
.
jesty's Ministers. With respect to the Expedition the other fortresses must have followed. But
to Walcheren, which was of the first magnitude, did they do SO No; they frittered away their
I charge his. Majesty's Ministers in its conduct, time, and let the opportunity pass which might
with having departed from every military prin. have beets attended by success: The only means
ciple, and every established usage that experience that could be followed fur. gaining this object
has rendered palpable and incontestiblu. I wish moult have been by surprise; but I leave it to
not to prejudge any man, but if I prove that the ingenuity of any gentleman to try what the
Gentlemen have acted?, witb the book of wipe. effect of surprise will be after a month's notice.
rtenee open before them, contrary to every prin. According to the common practice of military ca.
ciple of good policy, I think to them only can be binets, it is 'beat to gain some information of the
.imputed the inisfurtunes this unhappy country has destination of en army, ere it departs, more espe;
so deeply to deplore. On inquiry we have but daily when the point to be visited is near; but
one of two alternatives to adopt : if we find that the instead of obtaining information, they put Lord
measures of Ministers have been marked with sue- Chatham, one of th.tr own body, at the head of one
cess, and if we find that honour has marked their of greitest ..Expeditions that ever left the
career, then shall we with pleasure give them full country, comprising .a force of 40,006 men.
credit for their services : bat, on the other hand, ,Tow I come to the dosing part of the campaign,
,if we find that they have pursued an opposite which was the Mciat painful to advert be, the sa-
, course, and involved themselves in disgrace• by crifico of the firms of ,so many thousand men.
their shallow projects, then must our opinions be When Antwerp.wassbandoned, how did It.hap.
directly opposite. If they had only involved pen, when it was known toall the world that it
themselves in ruin, it would not be so material ; vim certain death to remota at Intshing 'at that
but when the interests of their country have beets season Of the year, that tho.troops (fere allowed
sacrificed, we can only regard them with the to remain/ Why did they not return ? Had they'
strongest sentiment of indignation and contempt. 'done so, thousands might here been saved from
To the discretion of the House,. however, I must the srosp..pf, pestilence and death. Why, when
leave the decision. When we look to the Ex- the'fate of Austria was ascertained, were they
pedition to Walcheren, we find they have set not vecalleo.ll.l,p to the very day of the cremation
principle at defiance; of the propriety of their meat, of Walcheren, *Mead of showing 'a disposition to
sures, however, we can only judge by the result. desert, knowing, as they must, the numerous mi.
We have been told, with reference to this Expedi.' series. that must Opentailet by itareteutionialmy-
lion, that it is a matter of congratulation. rot- of Were- hinedtifed in Strengthening Its walls
the utmost service and serious importance to the erecting new fortifications. Supposing that you,
interests of the country, that we have 'perfUrmed held it, by way of feint, could you for one me:
wonders, demolished a basin! blown up a sluiCe l' went conceive that. such a measure could mite
and destroyed a dock. But we have heard the preatrate Austria once again•to attempt her resits.
accounts of our enemy: they have the insolence ration to hulependence; or that Bonaparte, from,
to declare, that all these irreparable tfatnages are a mere impatience to attack you, would leaves
but trifling ; that they can be remedied in a little Austria in such a situation as to enable her to
time, and restored to their former advantageous rally ? Did he not know that .you had accom.
state. But then, in answer to this, our wise plished all that wasin your power, and would be,
Ministers queition whether it would be. rho po- dispute with you the possession of a place
.
licr.of France to do so ? When we turn our . " Where nature sieketid, and each gale was death?"
eyes towards the affairs of Austria, we find, We know not what our real loss is, nor can we
that although that unhappy country was making form a judgmeuffur six months to come, accord.,
its latest struggle, there was not a single attempt ing to the time Sir Jelin Moore's army took to
to give them assistance, except the boasted de. be in an effective state; , what numbers may pine
! struction 'of an arsenal ! -Its order to decide, toddle in our hospitals, the victims of disease en.
)however, on the real merits of this Expedi_ gundered in that baneful glimate, or how many'
tints, arising with those eccentric Ministers, it will be fit once again for actual service. Having
is necessary to see what was its objoct. They gone thus far, I confess, I cannot speak but with
have told us, the first object was to give aid to displeasure of his Majesty's Ministers. Their
Austria ; and the next, to consult the interests choice of a Commanoer to, conduct such an Expe-
of Britain, by destroying the °lisippitig In the dition was another mark of-their departure from
Dock of Antwerp anti in the Scheldt. Before I policy—they should have chosen some hardy ve.
, „
go further in the detail of the subject, if may be toren who in the camp and fighting field was tried!
necessary to call the attention of the Home to he who had the confidence of the grmy, and where
the events of the Austrian war. It was 'Mori. valour and experience might render him a fit con.
ous long before the war commenced, that the ductor .for so great an Expedition.; 'wit not one
Austrians were preparing to make one bold at. who on the stay of experiment had to form
tempt for the redemption of their iadependence. his military character. I confess, however, I
This, then, was the favourable time to afford should be extremely sorry that a brave man should
thew assistance, and which should net have been tarnish his fame on such. a miserable occasion.
wasted. On the Bth of April the war cOrnmenced, As the project originated amongst his Majesty's
and on the 22d of May the battle of Aspern Council, no man was more fit than one of their
was fought, which balanced the power of Maria own body to conduct it. There is ono other paint
against the Emperor of France, and re-Militated which.eacaped me in making the detail of thoie
the hopes of Europe.. Front that period, to the melancholy events, which, if. possible, adds to
6th of July, there was an awful pause, and the,the terror of the picture I have drawn—while the
Conqueror of the World, so long victorious, *is tinforittnalp troops were dying in all. the misery
obliged to rest on the defensive. Then was the ,et virtkleor disease, they were not completely des.
time to render effectual service, and, by an et thole of that medium which was necessary, to al-
tinges assault in some distant quarter, alarm the leviate the pangs of their disorders. I sine
pride of Bonaparte, and induce him to with.. cerely hope this assertion may be refuted ; but
draw part of his force from that focus, to. nothing but. .inquiry can Clear the character of
wards which he was collecting his utmost strength.' Ministers_ from that black stain 'Which involves
The opportnnity was neglected, and the battle ' every Other consideration.. if ever there was
er.Wagrans was fought on the 6th, which do. a period when it was necessary for the House
cided the fate of Austria. On the 12th fol. to exercise its inquisitorial functional it is the
lowed the Armistice, and the 28th of July the present moment.. The period' is , most sty.
great Expedition sailed from England which was ful. The hand of distraction is" held sus.
to assist Austria, that Austria .whicb had fallen, pendcd over the destiny Of . a great nation,
never to rise again. But setting all principle at ' the welfare of which has been too long trusted
defiance, the Honourable Gentleman chose to to Os heeds of Ministers who have brought on
administer medicine to the dead. We were told it all these misfortunes, which are so muck and
we had not a navy to go to Trieste, because so deeply to be lamented. It becomes the duty of
we had not specie to pay them, and yet wel every Member of this House, as far as he is able
bad a navy to go to Holland, as If lellaisterS by his vote and voice, to support its character and
wanted to make a Jewish bargain, whisk the indepoodence.., It isiapsential for our owe exist
Ehstch were fully calculated to. accomplish-; and ence and ibitc;if AltecOuntry. The eyes of the
although we could not Seed a navy to Germany, world aredivted toward* us. To us they look for
we found one to send to' a neighbouring river.: the re-establishment of their independeuce,.and on
If money was necessary,f bow came Ministers not' ha they rest their hope; of being rescued from
to prepare bullion fur ths purpose? for.in ear. their perilous situation. I wish I could say, they,
that was as necessary 'as could look to ios with as much reliance as in
thentmen. yingonlytehewcaerempao,
told, that we hid not an (hogged old time of our ancestors. Let us now
OM thl rust of Sir Julia Hoop's' retrieve oug lost character, find Ist us no
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longer 'be ditackled by the Impositions of iMpo.
tent inters. We may yet reitiptate our country
on as firm a basis as ever, and place England!
Jilin. in an enviable situation; and this may be
dune by ilitreffeci of our vote this night. We can.
not any longer uphold enfeebledWten ; and let ee
no., by attempting to do so, Jost/iv...our owe
and our country's duwnfal. Let us vote for th•
inquiry,. and relive again the vital spark of all
expiring world. My object for moving for the
Committee, is to put this plain question, whether
it is intendod to grant an inquiry, or to refuse it I
if the inquiry is determined uu, I shall be regn.
lated at to the time for moving for the Cutionitteej
by the production of papers necessary to dud.
dare the facts to be considered, and for the prs •
sent shall content myself with submitting the fol.
lowing Resolution
That the Rouse do resolve itself into a Committee of
the whole ltnusei in consider of the cundoct tad policy if
the late Eipcclitlou to the Scheldt."

The Hon. Mr. QUIN, in a very neat speech,
stated his reasons for setunding this motion.—.
Among other faults which occurred in the eon.
duct, or rather the arrangemenls fur this Ex.
pe..alition, the Honourable Gentleman anentioned
that a division of hOOO men, under the corn.
!nand of the Marquis of Huntley, which was
appointed to land at C.idsand, was unable to
comply with the order, boost the. Naval
Commander Criwitf-ftfrhish heals 'efficient only
for the disembarkation of 600 men, which it
was thought unsafe to risk, and therefore, that
Part of the plan was abandoned. Now what wall
the consequence ? Why, that after our army cues-
menced the siege of Flushing, aye, four er five
,nights afterwards, 3000 men were conveyed aeon
frem.Cadsand to reinforce the garrison of that for.
trees. Who, be would ask, was responsible for
the gross fault which led to such a consequence ?
and did not that alone furnish a snfficieist ground
tojestifyikedernand for inquiry ? But every part
of the treltsactimi sersed to enforce the demand.
The Honourable„lifettibel animadverted in,forcim
bit: terms epoe the estrawdinary ignorance of
Minister arith.tespect to the state of Antwerp,
and the absniality of supposing that Bon.tparte
would have left, ht any thinglikea nefenceless state
fortress which so long notoriously attracted his
particular attention. After observing upon the
want of judgment betrayed in the supposition,
that our force could make its way to assist
Atistria, through a Country biistled with rower:way
the Hottout4ble ;Number begged to be understood,
that the motion did not propose to prejudice in guy
'degree, but merely to given distinc. pledge, for
the sake of the character of the douse, and for
the satisfactipo of the country, that that irsquir?
should take place, which, from his lvigjestyse
Speech, and still more from the Answerle the
;Address df the Corporation of London, 'bete WI.
two much reason to suspect Ministers smut tat
eradv.
Mr. cRQ.K.Eft expressed his entire difference
of oPistioit .WitbliteNellle Mover of the keseletifts
116 hat}ft' complain, of this want of caftan*, with
which that Noble Lord hail stated h 6 arguments.
If such a , designation could 'be itimtsLeanmi.dias.
drensigne {emits' Ichititti4rs own assent ptiOne,
be Weald not go the length of saying, -that the
tacks assumed by the Noble Lord were untrue;
but. he could not suppreo, his ,cenvictioni that
they were much exaggerated. Whilst he, there.
fore, denied whXt the Noble. Lord WI inserted,
that circumstance itself was sufficient to justify the
postponement of the present . motion, until the
House was in possession of the.informatien upon
these points promised in.his Majesty's Speech. He
(Mr. C.) had not such confidence in his own opt-
nions, as the Noble Lord appeared to have ; (rik
lough) but where there was a question depending
upon mere assertions, ho also had his. claim to s
credence. As a proof of what he.must consider
uncandid in the statement of the Mover, he
begged the House to boar in recollection the points
which the Noble Lord was anxious to establish
frem'the Mate of the Continent, preview' tb the
sailing of the Expedition to Walcheren. In mnak.
lug his dedwetions, he wholly relict; uponlivhat
the situation of the Power, engaged io war watt
at the ti :me of the battles of Asperne and Wagrans,
and not what it was at the time when the in-
telligence of these transactions first reecheti
this country. It was a melancholy proef of
the bad taste of these firm.' when, be the waded!
of. Military Comm milers what it may, they. were
sure to be made the victims of unsparing ceopurn,
and unmerited ohloqpy., Be they cautious, pr be
they spirited, indiscriminate abuse was sure to ab..
tack them. In better periods of our Wilde?, -
such was not the general feelings ; on the mantra%
the actions of such, .men were viewed with ever,'
possible indulgence, and their errors forgotten '
the zeal they manifested to support the country's
character and interests. Rut, at esent,•let;•Ml.
n
litary Commander be co'nvicted of
,sibs original
sin of having, taken an, 'office .1,40, their; po.
tided opponents, and the ceneurCat the pekoe
party was sure to be levelled Ott ..his repine.
tient and servicas. He .perceived, from. the
engagement of the Noble Lord, that his (Mr.
Croker'a) observations. could make no impres-
sion. Having listened to hifi with attention, he
-conceived that he WA fair claim to have it,/
degree, bestune4 upon himself. However, from
the course now ppreentby the Noble Lord, he flit ~
himself, disenthrwiltal lawn the 'ilblitiAtion aPasi
any Adore occeiten.. WI was' the course, more.
mended that ajiliiii7ablainted to answer its avow.
ed purpose? ilk* Clairis of public juvtlee4a.
mended inquiry, opourd Ilea object be attained
by going into „fliounniikagagnd having witomell
examined at the Bar? 1141drtbeY not lately in.
(prides thus conducted/- end weretb• oblates of
public justice antwded N.-(4laugh, gad trice
of Hear!). He- never unit any Members op"
either side of thri.lionse,!•who were of vpi.
Won, that the, late Inquiry ,produce d such
.an effect. Ttip scc.onder (Mr.Quin)• had staed,
"'nougat other grounds for supporting the motion,
that there were not boats to land the troopsdes.
tineil for Cadsand, and that that circumstance was
one of the causes of the fail mire. This was a mat.
ter of fact, of the truth or .certainty of whiny' the
production
,9( papers wools; 'afford the. nether;.
..:,,may..:

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