The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-13

they did not exceed 10000, If, then, our for
ces had been properly combined, we might
have brought into the field larger and bet
ter army than that which defeated Bona
parte.
AS to the expedition to the Scheldt, did
the honorable gentleman mean to deny the
losses, the disgrace, and the misconduct
which attended the whole of the proceedings,
as we'll before as after the capture of Wal.
cheren Had ministers he would ask the
honorable gentleman, displayed much wis
dom in the choice of a commander Had
they chosen general, whose name from his
former exploits would strike terror into the
enemy general to. whom the soldiers
could look up with confidence from his past
success !-No. an inauspicious Commander
was appointed one whose name. as mi
litary officer, was scarcely known, and one
who, for want of talents, had been set aside
by his own brother. Were not ministers
culpable in appointing such an officer to the
command of so immmense an expedition p
This armament was fitted out to make a
diversion in favor of our allies, yet it did not
sail from our ports till some days after it was
known they had lost the battle of Wagram,
a disaster which they could not retrieve
On the 10th July the expedition sailed. -
On the 18th August Flushing was taken,
returned, having previously given it as his
opinion that to accomplish the objects of the
expedition was impossible. Two days after
his return. though the plan was abandoned,
on the 18th. An order appeared in the GA
zette for every officer belonging to the ar
my at Walcheren to join his regiment i'm
mediately, as if the Interior objects of the
expedition were said to be pursued.-Did
the honorable gentleman know how long the
Island of Walcheren had been retained, af
tor the attempt on Antwerp was given up !?
Did he not know that it was not evacuated
till December? That our army had been
kept there three monthss and how were
they employed? why in perishing and vast
ing daily away. Had our army deserved
this; was it we'll that our gallant troops were
thus doomed to death in that presidential Is
land ought not the causes of such distress
sing calamities to be fully and vigorously
investigated There was hardly a man in
the country who was not anxious that an en-
quiry into these circumstances should be
forthwith instituted, and he trusted that
house would echo the voice of the people,
and insist upon such an enquiry being made
without delay. With respect to the affairs
OF Spain, ministers had displayed as little
wisdom. Lord Wellesley had been appoint
ed ambassador to Spain in April. This
month, of all others, was that in which mi.
nisters had INDUCED most in continental
schemes. and private intrigues at home
Lord Wellesley was Gazetted in April,
but did not sail till the Oath of July. Why
was this unreasonable delay? Why was the
boasted vigor of that noble lord thus display
ed on that occasion, in fastening to the as.
sistance of his brother Lord Wellington
in his despatch, dated Placentia, July IS,
complained that he could not pursue the enc
my for the want of means of transport for
his army, and on August 8, in his despatch,
dated Delcytoza, he states himself 70 be 90
liged to adopt retrogade movement from
the want of provisions. These circumstan-
ces, as connected with the delay of Lord
Wellington, called loudly for an enquiry
1t was essential that the enquiry should be
rigorous, as examples were now become ne
cessary to check the growing evil. After
some further observations on this subject, he
concluded by hoping that the house would
consider the feeling and tho burdens of the
people, and having the experience of 1909
added to 1903, do their duty by enforcing
an enquiry, ard thus do honor to themselves,
and gain the confidence of the people.
Mr.. Bathurst explained.
General Idrtton condemned the conduct
pursued towards Spain, & despaired of Por-
tugal panegyrized General Moore, and
animadverted upon the conduct of the mar
qus Wellesley, Lord Wellington, and Lord
Chatham, and called for general enquiry
into the circumstances attending the expo
dition to the Scheldt.
Mr.. Canning said, those who resigned
their Offices were not to be considered as
exempted from enquiry. which he doubted
not they were prepared to meet; for his
part, he put in his claim for his full part
OF the responsibility. Subsequent TO the time
when the intimation was given that the OBJ
jects of the expedition coud not be accom-
piished, he knew nothing. of what passed in
his ms1es,y's councils. lie knew of the in
umatiou being given. but of nothing posteri-
or to that circumstance. Could he have
been assured that the expedition would have
accomplished nothing more than tie reduc
ton of Walcheren, he certainly would not
have consented to sending out such force
with no other object in view. Flushing was
not an object of magnitude 70 call for such
an exertion. 1t was int nded to strike a
blow at the naval power of France, and this
was All object Of the creates. importance.
1t was true that Bonaparte would never be
induced to lOoso sight of the objects he nigh,
be immediately in pursuit of, whatever eff
forts might be made TO call off his attention
then il must be obvious that it would have
been equally useless to have sent them tc
| the North Of Germany or to Spain, and In
that base it should appear, that the best dl
version it was possible to make, was Gas a
great man once observed,) to keep your ar
mics at home, that the enemy may he ir
constant apprehension, from not knowing
where the danger Is likely to approach -
Had the object of the expedition been fully