Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-20

command of Sir John Moore; ignor.
ant alike of the state aud disposition
ofthe Spaniards, and the force and de-.
signs of the enemy, this army being
'sent into the interior of Spain, was in
imminent danger of Being captured
in this CRITICAL emergency, and state
OF agonizing pcrplexity, abandoned to
his own resources, this hapless but
meritorious officer at length discovered
that he had no; safety but in fight
with the loss Of his ammunition, hor-
|ses, specie, and harrassed and assail.
ed on all sides, he secured the retreat
of his gallant followers by the sacrifice
of his own Invaluable life.
&C Deriving no benefit from expert.
ence, a third we'll appointed army un.
der the command OF Sir Arthur Wei.
lesley, was hurried into the interior of
l'Spain, alike ignorant of tn. force and
! movements of the enemy where, af..
ter an Improbable display of British
valor, and dreadful slaughter, this
army like the former, was compelled
to seek its safety by precipitate re..
treat before (what we were led to be-
lievc) 4 vanquished foe, leaving thou
sands of our sick and wounded coun.
trymer in the hands of the enemy.
Fnis loss, like Others has passed with
[out inquiry, and, as if IMMUNITY had
| placed the Servants of the Crown a.
bove the reach of justice, your Ma
tjesty has been advised to confer titles
of honorable distinction on the Cen
eral display of Improbable bravery.
So After these multiplied errors, and
in defiance ofreiterated experience we
have seen another expedition yet more
expensive, more disgraceful, and more
calamitous than the former. This ar.
mament, delayed until the fate of
Austria was decided, landed on the
unwholesome shores, of the Scheldt,
where after an uuaccountable state of
inaction thousands of our brave SOL.
diers have miscrably and inglorlously
peri,hed by p.stilence, privaiion, and
disease, without having accomplished
one national object. On such an ex.
! petition, planned and conducted By a
Minister, who it is now known had
been pronounced unit for his Office by
his colleagues an expedition thai
touches all minds with shame, and
fills all hearts with agony, it is too
painful to dilate.
/ We cannot refrain from represent
ting to your majesty, that, while the
4 affairs OF the nation have been so shame
fully misconducted abroad, the most
4 scardalous waste, profusion, and mis-
management have prevailed at hom e,
Z and your majesty,s confidential advis-
ers, destitute of all those qualities es-
senrial to good government, and re-
| gardless alike of the suHerings of the
people, and OF the honor of their Sow.
creign and ms -nsible, or Indifferent
to the surrounding dangers aud the
impending fate OF the country, have
been engaged In the most disgraccfuI
squabbles, intrigucs, and cabals, that
ever degraded the Councils of any Ma.
ton and which cannot but be as dis
!. reputable TO your Majesty's Govern.
mrnt, as they are ruinous and dishon-
orablc TO the Country.
w nut VIC OtSCldlif dll litCi CSt III
the views of contending parties from a
firm conviction that we cannot look for
reformation in the abuses of the
STATE, from any persons or parties, in.
terestcd in the preservation of them
I'VE cannot bat express our ardent hope
that your majesty W II be fortunate in
the choice OF the men to whom you
may hereafter con6de The conducting
of affairs and thas your councils viii
be no longer embarrassed, nor the
country insuited or dishonored, by
tiiese disgraceful occurrences, which
while they have exposed us to the
ridicule Of surrounding nations, may
emoolden the enemy to look forward
With confidence to the subjugaiion o.
nation SO distracted in her councils
and SO imProviGenIly governed.
That, while we forbear enumera
ting a long train of internal grievances
we cannot Ert attribute such a serie:
OF failures and disasters to the abuses
and corrupsions Of the state, and tn,
consequent want of constitutions
eentroel over the public expenditures
and he Servants of the Crown, where.