Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-29
FOREIGN.
One day later. from LONDON

ceived there by the Skoenteu, from Gotten
burg-This paper contains nothing ON the
subject of the battle fought on the 3lst of
October; butt will be seen below that, ac-
cording to French official accounts, Bona.
parties army obtained a victory on the 30th.
In the Courier of the l1th, we find de-
bate in the House of Commons, on motion Of
MT. w. Dundas. for navy supplies, &c. in
winch he stated. S3.235,00 sterling would
be wanled. 2 -
touching that part of the Navy on the A
MEXICAN COAST. Mr. Barring observed.
tnat = AS to the conduct of the naval ADM
n'stf alton during the hast year, it must be the
OPINION OF every gentleman who had kept
ms eye on the transactions of that period.
mat this country had been extremely scan
oanzed and, disgraced by it. On the coast
On. On america, torexampie, they had done more
'oy having 100000 men under Their courroui
than IT only $50 600 had last year been voted
ftoweyer, he did not wish, at present to po IN :.
TO any elaborate opposition to the PROPOSED
vote, Dat merely to insist, that under oar
present political prospects, no inconvenience
Whatever could result from postponing the
grant. AS to the necessity of extending our
uaVai operations IN the ensuing year gen
uemen Could exercise their own Judgment ON
ms point; tor his part he could see no
ground whatever for such extension. unless
nc were to afford more amusement TO the
commanders and captains on the coast of
America. In that quarter we had seen tw o
irlgates go in and out Of the Chesapeake A.
often as they pleased, while, to the disgrace
Oh the service, between 80 and 10 BRUSH
snips OF war were sailing up and down the
pay. ti the who're of this petty warfare il
Could not be denied, thatsone third of the
iorCe employed tn ere would have been quite
snincient. hut there was another part O, A.
hnerica where the naval service had been e.
quaiiy disgraceful. He alluded to the nf.ie,
var on me Lakes. On this point, nava
war was even more essential than a land
war, as 1t protected Canada against the noe
turnai irruptions of the enemy and yet
what had been effected He mad observed
that many officers had been appointed To
commands and nevertheless the Americans
mad driven us before them. Sir James Yen
had been driven from Lake Ontario. and
we Could not on ths whole boast of any naa
ticai success worth naming 1t was there
1ore worthy OF consideration, what irnpor,
tant Changes could be effected in thi. Quar-
Ter before we were called on TO provide the
means OF extending QUIZ naval operations m
others. -
Mr.. w. Dundas followed, against the re-
duction OF the main arm of their strength.
ana gave his reasons why 10000 seamen
Should be continued in employ.
Lord Ca-tlereah followed, and obseryei
that " the demand on the American station
had been prodigious." But he was Opposed
TO a sudden discharge of any of the sea linen,
and 1t would be difficult, in case of an emer
gency, to recall them /; and that it was the
duty OF Parliament 10 proceed with prudence
and foresight.
Inc Chancellor of the Exchequer was all
so IN favor OF continuing the naval force as
formerly, on the ground, that France had
not lost sight of he, marine.
MIR. A. Barring said. 20 the 80 or DO vessels
IN the Chesapeake which he had alluded to.
mad disgraced the Country by their ineffec-
tiveness, or rather by their injurious mode
OF warfare. All the arguments used on the
opposite side, would apply as we'll to the
extension OF our naval force to 100000 sea
men. Surely the feet in the ScheIdt could
not be in state of such perfect readiness
tor sea and he doubted much whether tina,
az Toulon was. The question with him
was. whether, at present, greater exertions
could not be made by land, thro' retrench
ments at sea- Next year he thought that
France could not be able to do much at sea:
all her resources would be wanting to meet
her dangers by land. Our means should be
directed to great ends, and not filtered a.
way.
Mr.. Croker observed, I" AS to the naval
war with America, he should only say that.
whenever the honorable member might
~ axe any proposition on the subject, he
lMr. VI would give him every assistance !;
a. ana ne was convinced that any enquiry into
of II II
TO their Eonor, while it would prove that the
charges Of the honorable gentleman were
entirely unfounded. He could not tell why
Sir J. Warren had 80 pennants in the Che
sapeake; but the honorable member might
De Better admiral than Sir j. WARREN
mat admiral was responsible for his con-
drce. he had done what he tn ought pro.
per in his situation With 100 pennants he
migh hare had sc in the Chesapeake he
did not know he had, and he thought he
had not. He wished to put in his plea for
those brave officers and men who had been
oiockadirg that coast during dreadful wea-
Their, that their characters might NOT he
limited away they had performed all the
country had right to expect from British
seamen. and what it had a right to expect
from them. They we're therefore entitled to
the thanks and gratitude of the nation.
Mr n Daring SAID, that the enemy's fleets
might not require to be watched by a Ree
equal to theirs, but our numerous force on
the American coast had done nothing essen
uai. and service appeared to have been much
neglected. This was his decided opinion
from all ne heard respecting it, which had
been from many quarters. Whoever was
IN fanit. the navy had been neglected. 1t |
did not follow from what he said that he was
a good admiral.
All he pretended to say was, that the
force employed had been very i'll employed
tor its objects.
Lord Caatlereaoh rcrc,rLsd H.. a. y