The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-08
SIR HOME porMAm's cAsg-Coxiiuued.

The evidence OF Lord Melville, firf Lord of the
Admiralty, follows The te0imony of feveral fubor-
ans'e officers of the governmet is added, ali in con
hrma'ion Of tina, Of lord Melville.
Lord Melville the firn witnels who was call
ed and was examined by Sir Home Popham
g Will your lordhip have the goodnefs to relate
all the circumstances in your recollection refpeaing
the eonveriaon that held with Mr.. Pitt and your
'prdhiP' collectively or individually, as relating to
nyielf, on the iubjea of the expedition to South A
merea!
After an understanding tina, no queaon touching
ary fate iecret ihould be put, the noble lord rep
Cd.
A. Soon after came to the head of the board of
admiralty, had location to that the adminiflra
ton preceded that Of which had formed part
bad communication with General Miranda relative to
lone profess he entertained relative TO South Amer
ca. J did not immediately give much attention to
that fahjetf, becauie, being then at war with
SPAIN did no, occur to me how, confidently with
thar htuation the government of this country could
take any active part. In the funlmer of 1904 ar3
particularly towards the autumn of that year had
l'tie doubt in my mind, from, the official infor
nation had location to receive at the board of ADM
ralty, and rom the communication with the heads
OF other public departments, had little doubt that
iuch w3r mutt icon take place. | therefore though,
IL my duty to fee fir Evan Nepean, fir H. Pophsm,
and a.hers, who had reafon think, were aequant
ed with the particulars which had paHet under for
mer administrations, to Inform myfelf more imme
diatey relative to the views and proiees of general
~liranea l;kewife had more than one confidential
Conversation with general MIRANDA hinfelf The re
iut was an opinion, that although it NIGH, not be
wne or expedient, or perhaps, within the means of
this country at that time commit themfeve, fully
TO the extent of this project it ofthe utmoft i'm
Portancc to,the ueres ofhs country 70 fai to watch
the progreis of his operations and to make ufe of
'hem' they could be made fubfervient to the pur-
pole oil opening the South American market 10 the
trade and manufactures of this country ana upon
hat principle had as on every other public fubiea
almoh daily communication, both in town and a,
wimbledon, with Mr. Pitt, at the time of the govern
n,ent with which was converfant. The lnbie9 was
more familiar to my confederation, becaue for many
years pait, particularly in 1906, | had location to
eonhder 1t very maturely, with view of preparing
IN concert with the then board CT admiralty operati-
ons againt South America on a very extenlive rcale
was at tat time Secretary of lfate for the war de-
PaFsn.snt la coniequence of conversation had
win Mr. Pitt, as already mentioned about the month
oil October or November, ISo4, or about the tim.
the war broke cut with Spain, | tleGred fir Hon.
Popham TO attend, in orderthat he might be at hand
TO attend Mr. Pitt and myfelf at any time w . mould
have location talk to him and, think. about ,b.
lame time lhiP, the Diadem I believe (tiere the
noble lord read letter, addreIed by his lordlhp to
iir tiome PoPman, during his attendance in town \
Oh riome fopham came 10 town, and had commu. |
nicatlons with him, i'll confequence of I'll. variops
communications had with MIR. Pitt and tbefe com,
muneati'ns continued during the remaining period
remained at the admiralty | ceaf.d to he in Ma,
ituation Immediately after the 9Th of Apr; lso5-
had many interviews with MIR. Pitt after thar ne !
rcd and indeed during the whole period of his life
'i our Enal ieparaton at Bath, the beginning of the
year isoC-but from the time Iceafed to be his col
league in office, Imade i; invariablesrule TO avoid
AL eonvsriati0n with him upon fubjetis of pnbc
OF CONFIDENTIAL nature 10 that from my own know
ledge can ipeak to nothing after the 9Th of ApriI
1906. 1t occurs to at this moment, az nor i'm
probable that the coat of South America, in the vi
entity OF Trinidad, probably at one time locke
upon as a probable icene of operations
=. Upon hearing of the capture of Buenos. Avre,.
did your iordihiP confder it acquiftion materially
advancing the great oLjea which Mr. PITT and vour
ca /?
A. No doubt; Buenos-Ayres appeared 10 ma as
highly beneficial for the object had ALWAYS had in
view but | am by no means certain if NAV pot |
have taken that imPrefIion from the crcumaance /
Of BuenosAy having been one Of he fpecc obie
!" VIew' "hen the armament was in contemplation !
in 1896.
Q. Can you recollea of my having been eons5e,- |
tiay employed OIL various oh;eefs both in the late
and Preient war, Ivy Tome of the members of the ca
Oinet, by your lordlbip and lord Crenyillel
~ u 1t IS merely to anf-er that general quefliop
ihall have hefitaton to anfwer I car,,;nI,,
<uo" that liz II. PoPham was employed confden,ialy
BY the members OF the cabinst at the time alluded
g. isit IN your lorihip'S recollection that in the I
Execution oil the various confidential fervices circu,n
RANGES aroic, which were not at the moment of writ,
ne my neruetions provided for, nor indeed could !
hey be. But ], unGer thofe circumstances. exereiC I
I'd very enlarged dicretion obtain the great OBJ
ea upon which was employed. particularly allud.
I'd to one ofmy millions to the court Of Peterfbury
Mr.. Jervis objected to the qaelion as irrelevant
o the cafe, but waved it.
a. ihould with to Rate, that Mould be embar.
allied in this qucAon can give general anlver.
'st avn afraid Imay be led to dleIofures that NAV
,e improper.
Lord Melville anfwered. i am ready to nate GEN.
.Fs!y, that on all occaons when he was eon6Jent;av
Employed, his conduct received tie APPRECIATION Of
government in the execution of it; but fruG, will
lot he called upon to into more particular expa
iatOns.
Prelident fir T. Cover. Does your lorJhip re.
ollett, at what time il was that fir Home Pspham
vas appointed to the Dadem
4. ! cannot reeOlied the precif. time, ezcspt
rom the letter have already mentioned, ! Dec.
8Oi, when there.
Q. Does your lordnip recollc9, whether the ne
,ot1tion this government was carrying on with the
curt OF spain tor amieable Adjustment of the dil-
erences between her and this country, had no, ter.
minated uniuecefsfulIy before that
4. cannot from memory FIX the pretife time
'ut make no doubt it fhort time after tine dat.
4 this letter. I rrmerber fha a-ro,rte e.,,. |