The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-02-27 00:00:00

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PAPERS AND COR,
L4TING 7V POR'

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No. I.—Extract of s
tart' (LIMNING. to
CHARLES VILLIERS, _
November 291 1808.
As it is extremely important that the levies of Portugeese
force, if in other respects capable of being carried forward'
with advantage, should not standstill for want of ismediste
pecuniary vigilante, I am to direct you, in the evept !Iran'
awn opinion and that of Sir John Craddock concurring as to
the utility of tech a iseasare, to urge the Portuguese Govern.
went to proceed as rapidly as possible with thee aline
of tbearmy, and to engage, on .his Majesty's part, larbet pay
and cloth* of a force of 10,000 men I stating at the same
time, that so soon as that amount of force shall be reported
here to be actually on foot, his Majesty will be prepared to,
exited his eugagessena further.

No. 9.—Extract of a Dispach from Mr. Secre-
tary CANNING to the lion. JOVN CHARLES
FrLLrissts, dated Forekn Office, Fehruary2B,
1809. • . •
As nothing has yet been heard from you of the progress of
any levies in Portugal, nor any bills drawn by yon on that
accOnot received here, it would be premature. at present, to
specify the particular Jimit to which it is proposed to extend
your authority to furnish pecuniary supplies.
But should the first ten thousand men have been raised,
either at this time, or when you transmit the information,
you are not to comider yourself as restrained from proceed-
ing, until you shalt receive an answer from me to your com-
mUnication ; but may engage at once, is the con6d.•nee of
such engagement being approved by his Majesty, for de-
fraying the expellee of an addition of another ten thousand.
It would, however, be very desirable th.it your estimate of
the expence should be transmitted with as little delay as pos-
sible; in order that Parliamentary provision may be made for
so much of it as can be precisely ascertaiued.

No. 3.—Extracts of. a Dispatch from the Right.
lion. J. C. VILLIERS, (No. 80.) to the Earl
BATHURST, dated Lisbon, Dec. 16th 1809.—
With two Enclosures.
Enclosed is a list of the regiments separately paid and
maintained by Great Britain. Tbey are taken from the charge
of this country; their accounts are kept separate. under Bri-
tish inspection ; and in no respectdoes the aid of Great Britain
go to any other regiment, to soy Wow part of the army, the
militia, or the defences of ape country.
I insisted upon this arrangement when I tint came.
Enclosed is likewise the euthiale of the expence of these
regiments, independent of an sod clothing, or of the Gene-
ral and Statf Otbcers which may be supposed belonging to such
an army. An estimate made out conformably to your Lord-
ship's letter sjsail be seat as moans it can be made out.
It was necessary, for the Fake of keeplug,these accounts se-
parate, rather to take a number of distinct regiments, which'
would perhaps commonly be under the number of men allowed
to he paid for, though by possibility, if complete, they
might a little exceed it; and I must do justice to the Porto;
guese Government and to the Paymaster-General (if I may so
term his nfrsee) in saying. that they adopted and liked tide
plan, though at some lam to this country, ns being the only
simple and practicable way of carrying into effect the priori-
pie which was laid down.
Accordingly, not a shilling has been ever advanced for any
man wino was not in existence as a soldier.

•
Enclosure (A.)
Abstraci from the Monthly Returns of the twelve
Regiments of Portuguese Infantry, and three
Battalions of Chasseurs, paid by Great Bri-
tain ; shoeing their credive strength on the
30th day of September, 1809.
Mem.
. Efective strength nt the 12 regiments . . 14,314
Three batudieen of chaseurs ', 1 736

• Total w 16,050
'Note—By the lisTft of the 14tk October, 1806, a regi-
ment of infasitti • Milli -moist of 1,550 men; at which
strength
The 1 l regiments, whoa complete, is
And tke three hottalions of Cibillklllo, at 648 each •

• 18,800
1,884

Total 20,484
The effective Portspese troop', paid by Great Britain, on
the SOth Septeatber last, being as above 16,0:10 Alen ;
It falls short of 20,000 mini by - 9,950

90,000
(Sigurd) JOHN BELL, •
Deputy Superintm#nt of British Aids.
Lisboa, Dec. 16th, IVOR
Enclosure (C.)
Memorandum. • • Liaises, Dee. 16th, 1909.
Mr. Bell informs use that by a re6ret►ce to Jouspiim de
Costa E Silva's estimate for 20,000 sea•in August, 1809, the
expeoce is stated at 648,9004 per asummow the amiably ex-
pastes, within a fowtioa, 5.1,35111.
(Signed) J. O. VILLIERS.

No. 4.—Extraar of a Dispatch from the Marquis
WILLESLETI to the Right lion. J. C. Viz,.
Hans, dated Dosessing-street) January 52
1810.
It is his Majesty's Wailes teemploy itPositupg a British
force of thirty thesisad elective crass Tut farthor to furnish
in aid of Portugal the annual ism of 910,0001.
£601,000 for %000 troops already in Brill& pay. - I
250,00 a for 10,000 oddities.' troops. '
130,000 for escrowed pay of Portuguese Oaken.

• MAO
Tbisigresst 011 genemas elforttannot fail to confirm in the
Portniptamtaagetwasent and nation the just sentiments of at-
taclummt to the British alliance, nor to inspire additional
zeal aid amidence in the maintenance of the security and in-
depeadusee of the kingdom of Portugal. The sum granted
by his Majesty for increasing the pay of the Officers of the
Portuguese army, must be considered as. the strongest testi-
mony of a liberal regard for the interests and honour of his
Mrdesty's ancient Ally.
The policy of this measure has been repeatedly urged in
your dispatches, and 1 trust that his Majesty's Government
will derive from its adoption those advantages which you
have anticipated, and which it may justly be expected- to
produce. In return for these liberal supplies, his Majesty is
entitled to claim from the Portugum Gaverament every 'as-
sistance which can be afforded to the British Commanders and
troops, a faithful and judicious application of the funds grant-
ed•for the support of so large a portion of the Portuguese ar-
my, and every ell'Oes for the do, maintenance of that part of
the Portuguese force which mast be supplied from the exclu-
sive resivarees of Portugal.
In addition to these arrangements his Majesty will expect
to receive regular anonthls accounts of the expenditure of the
sums applicable to the military charges of Portugal, under
the orders issued to Lord Welliagton, as well as accurate re.
turns of the state and condition of the jieveral corps receiving
British pay t and you will he planed to direct your particu-
lar attintion to these objects.
It is also desirable that his Majesty should be acenaialed
with the state and cnodition of that pert of the Maurine
forces, which is to he maintaimd from the revenues of Irorti-1
gal. You will thevefore transmit to me such information as I
you may be enabled to obtain on that point, as well as upon
the general situation of the humors and resources of Portugal,
and particularly of the funds appliiable to use esaances of.ber
army.

M•1•1=•1

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE,
TAKEN BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE HOUSE, APPOINTED TO CONFIDER'
OF THE POLICY AN D 4iON DUCT OFTIIL LATE
EXPEDITION TO THE SCIIELDT.

; •
Lame 40° die Febnutrii, 1810. •
sf
Litigation-Cinema the eta is of HUNTLEY, and Major-
• - ()lateral Sir W. ERS KIN E,
Examined by the Committee‘
Th mom& of.Hantley delivered is his instructions from
Lord Chenhola to take possession of the batteries established
by diglimiprie thelsiapd of Cadsaad. _He had ooderstoon
that MOO as. mold be landed there at one rime t but from
the wait it sidlialemt boats, a altentbarkatiell to that amount
meld aid Oa aisesed; and be did not conceive it safe or pru-
dent to hid aad a detachment as 100 nen. la cone-

•
•
•
$

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etteari:Chillid, bh Lordihie _made a ye-
., Illapeelag that he Preach
possessed
a diviiiollait a superior Preach corp.
into- that $ he did not think there si ere
...fli mold have.covired the re-embarkation..
'received op further instructions than those re-
= teltkng up tip
_odtion. in Cadsand.
...Maul F.rskioe spohn at the state of Antwerp it 1794.
The Citadel was capablesif sestailling a siege, and the town
might have bees put is *Perfect state to stand a siege, with a
soffielein number of hands.evaplorid, in the course He a week.
All the works had since that period bees put in a perfect
stale of repair. - The ritadei commanded the whole arsenal.
Ships of the line, with their gun, and stores out, might go to
Dendermonde; 20 miles above Antwerp; and with their guns
and stores in, ttS eithin abate a mile of Replemoude, nearly
five miles above Antwerp. Lille might base been maintained
by the enemy against oar troops for 23 dayi, and the whole
country round Liefkeushoelk might have been inundated.
He had received. several communications from quarters on
which be could depend, with respect to the account of the
enemy's force.
Whit was the substance of the first communication ? The
first commaniaitios .1 received was from a goat respectable
grader, In which I plated implicit confidence; it 'stated. as
pearly as I can recollect, as follows, the enemy's force on or
about the sth of Argast. At that period there were six bat-
talions of Dutch in Bergeo-op-Zootn, namely, four of infan-
try of the line, and two of guards. and five companies of or-
Jittery; there was a hfittalion of Dutch heavy infantry at
Tolen ; there were at Antwerp three battalions, one of which
was French; there were cantuned between Antwerp and
Bergen-up-Zoom, at CappeLiwo battalions of. French in-
fantry of the tine, and one battalion of Dutch light infantry,
together with ten sqoadroes of cavalry, namely, si x squadrons
of Dutch. four of which were hussars and two cuirassiers,
two squadrons of French cuirassiers, mid two ditto of dra-
goons; besid-s that forte, there were in Antwerp about 4510
men, the workolea is the dock-yard and arsenals; those mien
were formed into regular battalions, and had regular officers
-Placed over them, and had been disciplined for between two
and three years. The crews of the fleet at that period
amouuted to about 11,000 sett, including the flotilla; in each
.ship of war there were between 9 and 400 troops of the line,
'regular soldiers; there were, besides that force, some troops
in the places of Dutch Flanders, but I do not know their ex-
'act ex tent.
Were there any in Lillo, Leif kenshoeik, or Cadsand, at
tbat_period ? Lillo and Liefkenshoeik were garrisoned Enna
the feet; Lillo had a garrison of about one thunsaad men,
and Leif Lenshoeik five hundred; with respect to Cadsand, I
have already said 1 do not know particularly the force in
Dutch Flanders.
Was the whole of this force in these.statiom on the 6th or
7th of August? Not having my papers or. memoranda with
me, I cannot positively say whether it was the sth or 6th.
State whether, previously to the sailing of the Expedition,
you were consulted by any of his Majesty's Ministers as to
the state of the defence and fortifications of Antwerp ? I
never was consulted by any of his Majesty's, Ministers on
that subject.
Of the force which you state you were Informed the enemy
possessed about the sth or 6th of August, iti the neighbour-
hood of Ai/weep, how much du you suppose would have
been thrown into Antwerp in the course of two or three days ?
—Of the force 1 have stated, that at Cuppel might have been
thrown into Antwerp in a few hours; that in Bergen-op-
Zoom, if the enemy chase to tend it to Antwerp, might have
been seat in one day, or two days nt the Utmost.
Supposing the enemy, with 15,000 men, within the works of
Antwerp, and a British force besieging it of Sa,ooo men be-
fore that town, what would have been the fate of outman,
not supposing an exterior army to attack our besiegingnem
do you supposethey would have any probability of soc&ss.? '
believe that 90,000 mss might base taken the town of Ant weep
if they bad not been at all disturbed withouut and you had
given them plenty of time to do it in.
What time do you think it would require to take it, with
90,000 men,andlsAoo men to prrisun it ? I thinkt hat thesiorer,
and every thing necessary for the siege of Antwerp, sugar.
Owned, could not possibly have.bees brought up utuler twee-
ts-oar da unless there there was s peat quantity of horses
? indeed en oyed, so that, the batteries should open in the tint
parallel; t at ii,it would be2ldays to the opening of the batte-
ries in the first parallel; that is the shortest tassel think Possible
1 think that to attack a town so garrituneb, it would be ne-
cessary afterwards to proceed by a regular siege, by the ope-
rations of a second and third parallel, to have breached the
place, and filled the ditch before tee assault could he given ;
all which operations could not take up under 21 days at the
least; that is the lowest calculation 1 can put it at.
After the 25th of Augusts at that late period. what pro-
bability was there, is your !opinion, of success in any opera-
' tion against Lillo and Liefkenshoeik ?—I conceive that if
any operation had been attempted against Lillo and Lief-
keashoeik, it would have been at the utmost risk fur the safety
of the whole army.
Allowing for the possibility of those two forts being cap-
tured at that late season, would it have insured the capture of
the thwo and citadel of Antwerp ? —By no means; I deem
that may attack upon Antwerp niter the 4th of August,
would have been utterly impracticable by the British force
then there.
REPORT Or THE SECRET COMMITTEE RELATING TO
Tele EXPEDITION TO THE SCILELDT.

There were laid before your Committee, sixteen
Enclosures, contained in Lord Castlereagh's dis-
patch to the Earl of Chatham, Of the 18th July,
1809. •
Your Committee have also examined three En.
closures, the last of them bearing date, Holland,,
the 17th Jel7, 1809, which were communicated to
Mr. Cooke, and duplicates transmitted to the Earl
of Chatham previous to the sailing of the Expedi-
tion, the substance of which is u follows ;
On Saturday afternoon, the 15th of July, the
French squadron were lying at the same place
abreast of Kroningeu, about 26 English miles
from Fleshing; their numbers as before, l 0 ships
of the line, one frigate, two corvettes (which lie
nearer to Flushing), and 21 gun-brigs, and 40
'smal! loggers. It is believed they are to try for
Brest, but they will certainly not attempt it while
the English arc lying before the coast.; .they have
provisions for three months eft board. From
Lillo to the Flemish side they have sunk 10
heavy anchprs, and a strong iron chain to each
anchor, which is pissed through two stout ca-
bles, stretching each nearly half across the river,
and Made fast on each side of the shore with
chains; there are heavy timbers tacked round
them, about the site of a ship's main-mast, to float
them, and to prevent their being cut. Round
these timbers, in different places, there are heavy
oliaisalapped eennd,,so that they (OM two strong
booms across the Scheldt, leaving uuly an dpeningi
.for one ship to pass through at-a time, which 09-1
ing can also be shut by another bpom omit siinilar
construction. They are of ;opinion,
.timt iasith
this boom they will be safe from any attack made
upon them, covered by the batteries of Lilly and
the other side—certain it is,
,they• ave, much
afraid.
With regard to troops in Antwerp, there Is not
a soldier, except a few ship-carpenters ; the eiti,
:ens are obliged to keep watch and guard the
town • at Lilin thire are not 50 men ; on the
French side- of the Scheldt, there are uut 100
men ; at Zerkzee none ; en the whole island of
Tartoes, not above 20 men. It is believed that
it.Breskins there are nese, or if ang, very few ;
on the 'bleed 9( Walrberen, in all about 9,500
men, the gm*, part fprsigtters, and many sick.
This is tbenea: Matt at present, nor rani any.
men be spewed free Uoiland in cue of ip attack ;
and from France It is gertain ty eouli('aot mus.
ter any number for a week AK least. With ten
thousand British trooPs•there doe* that all
the places above-mentioned mil* be taken, pre-
sided a British sqiiadrUn attacks-them at she same
time in the Scheldt; dons never was a better ej).
portunity than the Oxon ; whit ip herein Stated
may be relied on.

,~

Respecting the ctrick-yards and basin, the fol.
lowing account was received from the iime
quarter
The Dock is situated betveen the town and is
Citadel, about a hundred yietli from the latter, by
which it is comm:iniled. The Dock-yard was be.
gun since the commencement 'of the proem war,
Its extent is sufficient to admit of nine 'sail of tla
Tine being constructed 'at the same times tad that
number was actually on the slips. There wee
no dry-docks of masonry for repairing or recut.
. .
ing ships.
The fort of Lillo,Mbout twelve miles helm,'
twerp, was viewed from the water. It appeed
to be in a strong slate of defence, with pm
mounted, and pallisades; Liefkenshoeick is mew.
site to it. Of the two, the site of hullo appears!
to be the most elevated. The informant did sot
believe it to be bomb-proof.
A strong boom was thrown across the river, oar
hullo, early in June, with a view to•defend tee
shipping from an enemy, and to protect it from
the drifting ice in winter. At that time the enemy
appeared. to entertain considerable apprehensions
of an attack upon their fleet in 'the Scheldt, but
were not supposed to be in expectation of an at.
tempt upon Autwcrp.
Of the state of the enemy's force previous toil
sailing of the Expedition, the following intellb
genre had bccu transmitted to Government d
different periods, and from the same quarter:—
From June to the middle of July 1809, Ow
were from 200 to $OO Dutch troops in Bergeo-op.
Zoom.
In Tholen, Rosenthal, and South Bevelu
no troops, excepting a few gunners at Baths.
In Williamstadt about 150 Dutch troops...
There appeared to be no troops in Lillo or Lids
kenshocick.
In Flackee none, and but 25 men in Goree.
In Walcheren there were in June aboetlOtß
men, of whom 1000 were the French Col • '
Regiment, 400 the Irish Battalion, about 1401
the Prussian Battalion, and from 70010 8004 s
sth Dutch Regiment, besides a few Preach si
Dutch gunners.
It was rumoured by some Officers, that Om
were only a few Prussians in Cadmus!.
-In June 1809; there were, in Antwerp, AO
1500 French troops of the line, some of wham
were invalids returns's! from Spain.
The burgher guard consisted of from 400 16
500, who were of the nature of a police OA
and were not, at that time called updu to OM*.
s..
litary duty.
There were from 600 to 700 ships' carpenters
cloathed like soldiers, and disciplined as a
though not usnally performing garrison duty.
There were besides from 600 to 800 Oil
slaves chained together, and not trained to U.
On the 10th of July the garrison of Aotilett
consisted of about 400 regulars, among wholi
were some invalids. Of- the 1500 who were al
in June,
.a part were serving on board the men".
war as marines ; part of the 48th regiment of do
line had marched to Flushing, where they Au'
'wards surrendered; the ships' carpenters bad bas'
.sent to the Danube.
In June and July, according to this iiitelligons
there, were from 2,000 to 3,000 men in 641
of Harden, which in September were itierealuil
8,1300 or. 0,00. '
the months cif June and July there wrre.
othyr campsat Leyden, near Rotterdam. ve ,_
where;, but there wcro sonic troops at Lai'
a
at Boulogne.'
This, with-the exception of the forcer,'
Nardi.**

at .in September, was the arnoatit t"
information *Lich Government had derived fro,
this source previous to the sailing of the Eifol''
tion.
On the Ist of Anglist troops were marching
u.
AntWerp from all quarters, but none lied yet ar'
rived there.

Clit the sth, the garrison of Antwerp rePswu
of conscripts, donnish. rs, and volunteers• j
On the 5111 and • 6th, troop, from Caleic
Boulogne were marching to Cadsand aad
kens.
On the 9th and 10th, 'there were at Irsil,4
and Bergen..op-Zootn, franc 5 to WO 07
-- . -m. Lev -

Pd luld
lA, 0

-.

Your CoMmittee then proceeded to exa...
'time
1 Edward Cooke, Esq. and the Right Honourable
WillianiWellesley Pole, respecting the nature 04
!substance of the confidential communicatioas 1
which GoYernment had received respecting ell i
elate of tho enemy's force, and preparations in the
&Wilt and its -vicinity. '
No alterations had been made in the fortifieL
tiohs of Antwerp, since the French had become
its possessors, with the exception of two batteries
began to be erected early in the simmer of mg/
both of which were in a very unfinished state ini
the middle of the month of July.
'Of the citadel less detailed information ass
transmitted than of the town of Antwerp, as n 4
strangers were admitted within its gates, and 411
information respecting it is derived from a tics 4
its external appearance, or from report.
On the ramparts of the citadel the guns were
I
always mounted ; there were no pallisades (14,
cernable from wit limit ; the citadel is more ele•
vared than the fortifications of the town, but Kw • i
represented, in conversation by some officers, I.
be in a weak state of defence. No attestant
was uuderbtood to have been made in it by 04 '
French.
The ramparts of the town were in many on%
out of repair, and were in no part palisaded.
• There were but eight or nine guns niontittli tip,*
• them ; but many were lying dismounted on the
grass in June 1809. 1
Such, according to this report, was the state it
which the fortifications of Antwerp remained it 1
the middle of July. Respecting the Tete de Pau
tiers, a work on the opposite bank of the Scheldt,
the information is less positive ; but it was no
known to have received any additions or reedit
repairs. It is is work open to the river, but bides.
MI on its 'front and flanks. The breadth of ist
river opposite to . Antwerp was supposed to be
I about half a mile. -

• • . -
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. .
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any petitions which
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