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to oppose the papers moved for, because they tended to take the negociation out of the regular channel. Their lordships would not fail to perceive the very great disadvantage, nay the absolute mischief that was likely to arise from discussing this subject while it was under consideration elsewhere. He would admit that there were various communications on this very subject, during the period alluded to. The noble baron did not appear to understand the nature of the proposals which he supposed to have been made. If he did he would know, that it was possible the proposed basis of negociation might be so unjust as to render it inadmissible, at the very outset; or that it might be so objectionable in parts as to render previous explanation necessary. He considered the motion to be both very ill judged, and injurious in its consequences, if granted. It would have the effect of embarrassing, instead of facilitating the negociation. It would commit government on points of great delicacy, and would not attain the end proposed.

Lord Grenville could not consider the explanation given by the noble baron or the noble earl who spoke last, as any way satisfactory. It was deficient in frankness and candour. There was something behind, something concealed in it. We were now for the second time involved in a war, which it seemed was to be carried on, as far as depended on the determination of ministers, in horrible violation of the usual courtesies of that dreadful state. What had been the proud boast of this country up to this day? That it did on all occasions every thing to suspend the cruelty of war: that no opportunity was neglected to try to bring it back to the semblance of what it was in former times. This was the state to which it seemed his Majesty's ministers were averse to bring the contest between us and France. In the year 1797, a charge appeared in a French paper, respecting the improper treatment of the prisoners in this country. What was the conduct of that great man (Mr. Pitt) whose name was so often quoted on the other side, on that occasion? He proposed that the charge should be submitted to a Committee of the other House; not that he or any person in this country could entertain a doubt of the falsehood of the accusation, but for the purpose of satisfying all Europe by a Report and Resolution of parliament, that it was wholly unfounded. That Resolution was adopted by the

House, and an Address was voted to his Majesty, praying him to take the necessary steps to communicate a positive denial of the accusation to all the princes and potentates with whom he was in friendship and alliance. How did the government now stand? Here was a solemn charge, made in a paper coming from one of the highest official authorities in France, which charge was suffered to spread throughout Europe, unrefuted and uncontradicted. Instead of disavowing an imputation so unworthy of the national character, and so contrary to its practice in other periods, the person most interested rose with a levity ill-suited to the occasion, and eluded the charge, instead of meeting it fairly. The explanation of the noble earl was not less equivocal and evasive. They came to their lordships with the stale and hacknied pretence that any information on the subject would be productive of disadvantage. The noble baron and his colleagues might elude the motion for the present, but the information sought for must be disclosed, and if it was of the nature asserted, and that he had reason to expect, he hoped the vengeance of parliament would follow. A charge highly injurious to the humanity of the British government had been made, and not repelled, as it ought to have been. He hoped the motion would be agreed to.

Earl Grey could not conceive why the noble lords on the other side should hesitate to give a direct answer to the question so often proposed. Did it proceed from a consciousness that they could not answer it in a way that would acquit them of the imputation in the Moniteur? Instead of meeting it fairly, they sheltered themselves under the stale, old generalities of a pending negociation. And yet even on this point they could not speak out. What prevented the noble lord from stating whether equitable propositions had been made by the French government, and whether they had been entertained? This surely might be done without prejudice to the negociation. The noble earl here read the Resolutions of the Committee of 1797, to justify the interference of parliament. Hitherto he knew it was always the wish of government to obtain a reasonable principle of adjustment respecting the exchange of prisoners, which was always resisted by the enemy. But it was possible that this unjust pretension of the enemy might either be abandoned from imperious reasons, or removed from mo

tives of policy. He had, however, a pro- | upon the subject, it was rather a delicacy to posal to make, which would put the sin- themselves than a delicacy to the country. cerity of ministers to the test. Let minis- Lord Mulgrave resisted the communica ters either agree to the appointment of a tion of the dates, which he thought would Secret Committee, as in 1797, or consent lead to no useful purpose. He did not see to lay before their lordships the dates when how any motion could be grounded upon these propositions were received, and the the dates, even if they were before the answers returned. If they would consent House; and under the present circumto either of these proposals, he would re- stance, he did not think it would be right commend to his noble friend to withdraw to grant them. his motion.

Lord Holland said, that the dates might be in themselves of great importance. For example, if on the production of the dates, it should appear that an overture from the French government was for a long time unattended to, this circumstance might be sufficient to ground a motion on, even although the papers were not previously wanted.

Lord Mulgrave would not accept the alternative offered by the noble earl. He would never consent to take the negotiation out of the constitutional channel, and put it in the hands of a committee of that House. In answer, however, to the question so often put by the noble baron and his friends, he would state, that no propositions for the nomination of commissioners to repair to Morlaix, to negociate an ex-fairly to the sincerity of ministers, whechange of prisoners of war, had been made by the French government, or refused by his Majesty's ministers.

Lord Holland was not yet satisfied with the noble baron's answer. Would he consent to lay the dates of the negociation before parliament? These, surely, could not disclose any thing that might, by possibility, prejudice the negociation. They might, indeed, disclose the culpable neglect of one of his Majesty's ministers. The manner in which the proposition was received, convinced him that there was serious ground for the charge in the French papers. He had another proposal to make. He would agree to withdraw his motion, if ministers would consent to an Address to his Majesty, praying him to order to be laid before the House the copies of any communications from the French government relating to the exchange of prisoners of war, since September 1809, together with the dates of the answers thereto.

Lord Mulgrave having declined this proposal, the House divided. For the motion 27; against it 39; majority 12. On the re-admission of strangers,

Earl Spencer was speaking in favour of lord Holland's motion for an Address to his Majesty, praying for the dates of those papers. He contended that communicating the dates could not be attended with any inconvenience, but that it might convey most important information to that House.

The Earl of Essex also supported the motion. He could not see any inconvenience in such production; and he thought if there was a delicacy on the other side

VOL. XVI.

Lord King said, he would wish to put it

ther they intended, when the negociation was at an end, to produce the papers as well as the dates.

No answer was given from the Ministerial side.

The Earl of Derby said, that the country could never be satisfied if the question was evaded. He believed that it would appear to the gentlemen below the bar(a loud cry of Order, order!) On the noble lord repeating the expression,

Lord Morton moved that the House should be cleared. Strangers consequently were ordered to withdraw. We understand that afterwards the motion for dates was negatived by a majority of 37 to 29.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, March 22.

[VOTE OF THANKS TO SIR ROBERT WILSON.] Mr. Hutchinson began by observing, that after the angry and hostile discussions which had occupied a great portion of the present session, it was with much satisfaction that he rose to address them on a subject, upon the main point of which there was not likely to occur any difference of opinion; for he felt confident that there would exist but one, within and without their walls, as to the merit of the gallant officer, and the small corps, whose services it had fallen to his lot to submit to the consideration of the House. There were two questions of which he begged gentlemen, on the present occasion, if possible, to divest their minds:-the one, the perilous situation of Spain and Portugal at this moment; the other, the wisdom or C**

December, being apprized of the defeats which the different Spanish armies had sustained, and of the alarm which very generally pervaded Spain and Portugal, he decided upon advancing towards the frontier, and having crossed the Daneo, took up a position in the province of Salamanca, where the enemy shortly arrived with a corps, which at last amounted to about 12,000 men, and which, at all times, was more than double the force of sir R. Wilson, whose corps never exceeded 3,000. Without entering into a detail of operations in this quarter, one cannot avond admiring the boldness and judgment with which this forward movement was conceived and executed. The ever to be lamented sir John Moore had but recently sealed by his death his victory at Corunna; his brave troops had already reached the shores of Britain. The few scattered English regiments which remained in Portugal, had hastily been concentrated at Lisbon, expecting hourly to

impolicy of having at all (or in the man-bation of the government of Oporto. In ner in which we have) interfered in the war in these countries. We are not to undervalue the importance of military services achieved in the Peninsula, from their having failed in rescuing it from the grasp of the enemy-that is, from their not having succeeded in accomplishing that which no rational, certainly no military, mind could have expected from such means. Neither are we to consider ourselves as pledged to approve the principle of the war, because we confer the distinguished honour of the approbation of this House upon the troops employed in that service. There was nothing further from his intention than to depreciate, by invidious comparison, the merit of any officer, however humble or elevated his rank. He had long been greatly anxious to find this country disposed at last to make what might be considered a fair military exertion such as, he was sorry to say, he could not agree had been attempted, even since the commencement of the war in 1793. With this feeling, he had been de-be obliged to abandon the country, at the sirous to see at the head of the country, a government both willing and capable of calling forth and directing such energies. With whatever jealousy he should feel it to be his duty towards any government narrowly to examine into the policy of all such Expeditions, their objects, and the means employed to effect them, and certainly never more disposed to scrutinize than at the present moment; still entertaining a small esteem and regard for the profession of arms; estimating highly the zeal and value of our troops in both services; recollecting that they seldom or ever fail to accomplish their part in the most brilliant manner; being also ready to make due allowance for the embarrassments under which government plan and direct such operations-with this disposition, he had come to the consideration of such questions, but with the most anxious wish to applaud and reward. As to the present one, he hoped it will be decided solely by its own merits. -Sir Robert Wilson having arrived at Oporto in September, 1808, was enabled, by the December following, to raise, arm, and discipline a corps, called the Royal Lusitanian Legion, with which he took the field within the short space of three months, having previously obtained, for his zeal, alacrity, and talent in organizing this corps, and for his earnestness in the public cause, the confidence and appro

distance of nearly 200 miles from sir R. Wilson, whose fate they awaited with the utmost anxiety, and whose daring conduct they could not but view with admiration. It was at a moment thus critical and appalling, that he came to the decision of affording a signal example of undaunted firmness to the Portuguese and Spanish nations, and at the most imminent risk interposed his small corps to the further progress of the enemy in that quarter; when, by a most judicious disposition of his troops, he was enabled effectually to deceive the enemy as to his great inferiority of numbers, and by frequent well-timed, continued sallies, as by the most gallant defence of posts, he kept him much on the alert-foiled his projects-withheld a part of a province abundant in resources, and kept open the communication between the northern and southern provinces of Spain. At the latter end of April, gen. Laplisse, who commanded the French corps in Salamanca, having moved upon the Aguida, in order to combine a movement with Marshal Soult, at that time advancing in another direction upon Oporto, was driven by sir Robert Wilson from the bridge St. Tipics, on that river, which he had occupied, as opening his march into Portugal. It happened, however, that this general, shortly after, abandoned his original plan of moving on Oporto, and proceeded to the southward to join Marshal Victor.

During his progress, he was pursued and harrassed by the legion with some loss; but the junction with Victor was effected. Sir Robert Wilson now received orders to join lord Wellington, which he did, hav. ing first placed his corps in a very strong position at Alcantara. And it is but justice to the corps to mention, in passing, that, commanded by colonel Maine, in the absence of sir Robert Wilson, it gallantly and successfully defended itself when attacked at Alcantara, by a very superior force under Marshal Victor-for this spirited conduct, colonel Maine and the corps received the thanks of Marshal Beresford. (Here the honourable gentlemen read the thanks from the Gazette.) Having joined lord Wellington, sir Robert Wilson was entrusted with the command of the van of Marshal Beresford's army, and although that part of the allied army had not an opportunity of coming up with the enemy, he received the thanks of the marshal for the manner in which he had conducted the advance. Upon the expulsion of Soult, sir R. Wilson again reassumed the command of his legion, and, with the rank and emolument of brigadier-general, composed the advance to lord Wellington's army on his march to Talavera. Here he should merely state, that at one moment of that advance, sir R. Wilson was within three leagues of Madrid, having had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, who by their own dispatches, appear to have been considerably alarmed by the movements of this corps. (Here the honourable gentleman read several passages from the Monitear, to the above effect.) From this point he was recalled, in consequence of the expected battle of Talavera, and by forced marches he was enabled, early in the action, to take up a position in the rear of the enemy a position of considerable risk to himself, as the whole of the French force intervened between his small corps and the allied army; but one from which he could have considerably annoyed them, had they retreated in that direction. After wards, by a movement along the enemy's right flank during the night, he succeeded in joining lord Wellington early in the morning of the following day. Gentlemen are aware that, by his lordship's dispatch, it appears that the enemy did not retire from the position which he had occupied after the battle of Talavera, till towards the end of the second day after the action, and his retrograde movement then may

be attributed to a manœuvre ordered by lord Wellington, and undertaken by sir R. Wilson at the head of his corps, by which in a masterly manner, he threatened the enemy's flank, as apears from the French accounts-(which the honourable gentleman here cited from the Moniteur). The importance to the allied army of this retrograde movement, on the part of the enemy, needs no comment. Immediately after, lord Wellington having retired from Talavera, in the hope of destroying Soult's corps, in which expectation he was disappointed by the advance of the French army under Joseph Buonaparté, sir R. Wilson being again separated from the allied army, and compelled to make a circuitous retreat through a diflicult country, fell in with (in the passes of Banos) one of the French divisions, where, though ultimately defeated, he very gallantly dis-, puted the passage of the enemy for several hours. The best commendation of the conduct of his corps, and of his own personal exertions in that action, will be found in the enemy's report of that affair. (Here the hon. gent. read the account of the battle of Banos, as given by the enemy, the duke of Elchingen.) This action it is material to observe, sir R. Wilson might have avoided, for he had already passed the road by which the French had to advance, and being apprized of his approach in this quarter, he retraced his steps, and interposed himself to the march of this corps. In this conduct the House will discover the same mind which actuated sir R. Wilson during the whole of his operations in the province of Salamanca. We knew he had not the means of giving effectual resistance to the enemy, but he felt also that he could embarrass and re tard him. That some estimation may be formed of the importance of the general services of this officer, he begged leave to state, that the government of Oporto made him a very liberal offer of a pension of 1,000l. a year, which, with great propriety, he declined, and of this circumstance the late secretary of state is fully apprized. By his advance upon Almeida and Rodrigo, he rescued stores and property to a considerable amount; and by his advanced position, contributed to prevent the speedy evacuation of Portugal. He (Mr. H.) had thus, with as much brevity as the nature of the subject would admit, put the House in possession of the services of this gallant officer and his corps. They have already received the unqualified approba

tion both of the Spanish and Portuguese | With this impression deeply engraven on governments, as also of our ministers, both my mind, I feel it to be iny duty, not in the Peninsula and at home; and he more towards the gallant officer than to begged leave to add, as a most flattering the empire, to make the statement with and decisive proof of their merits, that it which I at present trouble the House, and has fallen to their lot to make prisoners of which, when gentlemen recollect the times French officers, upon whom had been con- in which they live, will, I trust, not be ferred brevets of the legion of honour, for considered inopportune. Mr. Hutchintheir conduct against sir R. Wilson and son then concluded with moving" That his corps.-I hope, said Mr. Hutchinson, sir R. Wilson and the troops under his I shall not be told, that there is no pre- command, by their advance into Spain, in cedent for what I ask. I answer that the December 1808, at a moment of great petimes require we should make one. Whyril and alarm; by their resolute persevehave you thanked for the victories of Vi-rance in remaining in presence of a very miera, Corunna, and Talavera? Not be- superior force until the month of May folcause they beat down the power of France, lowing, and subsequently while formor rescued your allies from her grasp. ing a part of the British army in which Neither did you send forth these small corps sir R. Wilson served as brigadier general comparatively to the force with which they under the command of viscount Wellinghad ultimately to contend, most inade- ton, having hereby rendered important quate, with the hope of expectation that and distinguished services; Resolved, they could have restored the balance of that such services have merited and do power, or driven France within her proper hereby receive the thanks of this House, limits. It was for the example that you and that Mr. Speaker be requested to sent forth your chosen few. Sir R. Wilson communicate this resolution to brigadier felt this, and admirably well acted up to general sir R. Wilson accordingly." your own principles. I have not called the attention of the House to the services of an officer young in campaigning, or inexperienced in the toils and perils of war; for though yet young, sir R. Wilson has passed seventeen years in almost constant, certainly very active and distinguished service, which he has ever ardently sought, even in the most distant and unfriendly elimes. I entertain no prejudice; I join in none of the vulgar calumnies against the great ruler of the French nation, who I consider as the greatest statesman, and the ablest general of ancient or modern times; and I highly esteem the nation at whose head he has had the good fortune to be placed. I make this declaration, in the hope that the opinion which I am about to give may not be ascribed to that besotted illiberality, unfortunately too prevalent. I have little doubt, then, that should it please providence to continue Buonaparte a few years longer, in the possession of that power which he has hitherto wielded, but to the destruction of his enemies, and which power is every hour increasing in a most alarming degree, we shall have to contend with him for our very existence as a nation. I am therefore convinced that it is our first duty, and consistent with our best interests, to cherish and encourage, nay, studiously to seek out talent and military enthusiasm, wherever they shall manifest themselves.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer expresed a most anxious wish that the honourable gentleman would see the propriety of withdrawing his present motion; that gentleman had himself confessed in the course of his speech, that the measure was altogether unprecedented. He was afraid that that objection was in itself insurmountable. The merits of sir R. Wilson's services could not for a moment be disputed; as far as they went they were deserving of every encomium, as evincing, in no ordinary degree, zeal, skill, enterprize, conduct, vigour, promptness, valour, perseverance, and, in short, every military excellence; and would the hon. gent. put the House under the unpleasant and distressing necessity of putting a negative upon a vote of thanks to so meritorious an officer? Great as the services were in themselves, he was apprehensive that their scale was such as to debar them from the honour proposed. Of all the successes in Spain, Talavera was the only one which was thought worthy of the distinction of the thanks of that House, and even with respect to that splendid service, there had been a differ ence of opinion with respect to the justice of its claims. He trusted that the hon. gent. would be prevailed on to withdraw his motion, otherwise he would be reluctantly compelled to give his vote in the negative.

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