1 1 whence its ulterior operations were to as possible the progress of the transports commence is purely a naval considera through the Slough. tion," his position is certainly true in The subsequent news of the rapid ocwords, but as certainly incorrect in its cupation of south Beveland and of the implied meaning. It is obvious that the fort of Bathz, with a quantity of artillery army might have marched to Bathz in and ammunition in the other forts fv. the course of a few days, but it is also ob- Journal Army Proceedings, sir John Hopery vious that it could not be conveyed on adapted to our future operations; and board a fleet of 400 transports, besides also of the facility which might be afforded frigates, sloops and flotilla, through a very to our arrangements for crossing to Santintricate channel, without some delay. fliet, by a ford reported capable of being The difficulty of conducting such a fleet passed by some part of the army, further at all, through the mazes of such a navi- strengthened my opinion that the landing gation can only be appreciated by pro- in South Beveland with all the cavalry fessional men; it was very greatly in- and infantry would be the only means of creased by an adverse wind, blowing for rapidly approaching towards the ultimate some time with such violence as to render objects of the Expedition. the expedient of warping (the only means Accordingly, in my interview with lord of proceeding) totally impracticable ; Chatham on the 6th, I stated fully the such obstacles to our progress were only difficulties I had to encounter from the unto be overcome by great exertions and toward state of the weather, and from the perseverance, by a considerable but not intricacy of the channel in passing the as I trust an unnecessary expenditure of vessels through the Slough, as also from the labour and time. difficulties made by the pilots, who reI can only say, that I made every ar- fused to take charge of these vessels, or rangement by appointing the most active even to carry the line of battle ships into officers to every separate part of each the West Scheldt. service, and that I had every reason to be The strong impression I felt upon this satisfied with their zeal, activity and ex- subject induced me to deviate from the ertion. line of conduct I have always adopted in Having anticipated many of these dif- relation to military matters, of not interficulties, I attempted in a conversation posing any opinion ; and I ventured to with lord Chatham on the 1st of August, propose to his lordship to commence the to impress them on his lordship's mind, disembarkation by landing the cavalry and I inferred from his answers, that he immediately on South Beveland and intended to modify his future plans in marching them to Bathz, which might he consequence, and to proceed by South followed by all the infantry not occupied Beveland instead of the West Scheldt. in the siege of Flushing; stating that much Under this persuasion I directed admiral delay and difficulty would arise in getting Otway to take the command of the fleet our numerous vessels and transports through employed before Walcheren, that I might the Slough; that in addition to the frigates be at liberty to employ my whole atten. which were already under orders to protion in forwarding the different prepara- ceed into the West Scheldt, I should be tions necessary to facilitate the progress of able in a day or two to get a sufficient porthe army to the destination from whence tion of sloops and extra flotilla, consisting its ulterior operations were to commence of the transports I ordered to be armed I immediately directed sir Home Pop- and the launches of the fleet to be fitted ham to proceed through the Slough with with carronades, to encrease the flotilla several sloops of war, all the bombs, gun through the Slough to send up to co-operate brigs and gun boats, and use every ex- with the army at Bathz, and such a limited ertion in getting the flotilla into the West number of transports as might contain arScheldt, that it might in the first instance ticles essential to the first advance of the co-operate with commodore Owen in army. I also informed his lordship that completing the naval blockade of Flushing, every possible exertion was making to and to be ready to proceed to Batbz atine accomplish the passage through the Slough, shortest notice whenever its service on the nature of which exertions, being should be required there, for the purpose wholly technical, such as buoying and of prosecuting the ulterior objects of the anchoring small transports on the side of Expedition. the shoals, and making arrangements for I also instructed him to hasten as much warping, (the wind being still adverse) cannot be necessary for me to dwell. That lord Chatham fully understood the / anxious to pursue the line of conductnature and extent of the obstacles to most congenial to his lordship's wishes, our getting into the West Scheldt which I and consequently best adapted to promote described, is obvious from his letter of a cordial co-operation, I promised every the 7th of August, written after the inter- exertion in carrying his intentions into view in which I had explained them execution. and ventured to propose the remedy of Accordingly, on my return from lord landing the cavalry, &c. in South Beve- Chatham, I continued my arrangements land. for accelerating the various complicated To this letter I beg to call the most par- objects which were to be attended to. ticular attention, as it is very difficult to The first part of the flotilla which got reconcile the statement in that letter with through the Slough were applied to ibe the insinuations which it is my painful cutting off the communication between duty to answer. It is no less difficult to Cadsand and Flushing, because his lord. reconcile the admission, that “ the active ship had regretted (though without urging enterprize of the enemy and the rein- it as a subject of complaint) that supplies forceinent thrown into Flushing rendered had been so often thrown into Flushing. it necessary to land general Grosvenor's In fact, until after the 7th of August, the division” with the assertion in the state- weather continued sv bad with the wind at ment, that “ it is to be remembered that S. W. and S. S. W. that we were unable this was only done because his lordship to interrupt the communication of the enesaw no movement making to push forward my, as the only vessels by which we could a single vessel up the West Scheldt.” effect it were constantly driven in by the Upon the justice of the last observation, gales and could not keep the sea. "The after the conversation which had passed wind which was inost adverse to us was between us on the 6th, I dare not trust most favourable to the enemy, who could myself with making any comments. from Cadsand run before it into Flusbing I then thought and I still think that it without the possibility of interruption. the plan which I had presumed to sug- On the 7th we were able, by the weagest had been adopted, had the cavalry ther moderating, to establish the sea block. been landed on South Beveland and a ade of Flushing, avd on the 9th a consilimited number of transports been select- derable body of the flotilla, under the comed, that a delay of only a few days would mand of sir Home Podham, were carried have resulted from the adverse accident through the swatch-way of the Caloot-sand which had unavoidedly given a different at the entrance of the Slough Passage and course to the direction of our operations. proceeded to Bathz, where they arrived on Lord Chatham seemed to think it neces the 11th. At the same time a squadron of sary that all the men of war and transports frigates passed Flushing to join this flotilla should assemble in the Upper Scheldt at and proceeded on the following day up the Bathz. Scheldt. My opinion on this subject I have al- With respect to the line of battle ships, ready stated. It is to be remembered that great difficulty had occarred from the the French fleet had retreated above Lillo, objections of ihe pilots, but I regretted and were dismantled, so that the presence this less because I had considered these of our line of battle ships in the West ships, if in cousequence of my offer they Scheldt could not be necessary until the should be called for by lord Chatham, as army should have been assembled at Bathz, applicable to the co-operation in the atand even then, unless it should have been tack of the town. And having placed the deemed inexpedient for the army to have different divisions of the fleet employed in advanced upon Antwerp, until we should the various services in the East Scheldt, at have broken the boom of Lillo; I still think Bathz, in the Slough, and in the West that not more than four ships could have Scheldt, under the command of officers of been required for that purpose ; In the respectability, with directions to press mean time our flotilla would have been the passage of the transports through the amply sufficient to have protected the Slough, I remained in the vicinity of Walpassage of the army froin Bathz to Sandv- cheren for the purpose of communicating liet, as I should not have agreed to any with lord Chatham, as I conceived it my proposition for crossing the army unless í duty to do, until he should think it had been quite certain that I had the most right to proceed to South Beveland: The ample means of giving it the fullest pro- ships of ihe line, therefore, whose immetection. Being, however, particularly 'diate presence at Bathz did not for the rea saw sons which I have just mentioned appear | whom I had the honour to command, that to me at all necessary, did not pass Flush. the progress of a fleet which it was necesing until the attack on the 14th. The sary to warp, or in less technical language Courageux, which ship was intended to go to haul by human labour, through the up the river when the frigates did, pro- windings of a most intricate channel, and ceeded early in the morning of the 15th. often directly in the teeth of the wind, apI detained the other, as the anchorage at peared so tardy that lord Chatham“ Bathz was very confined, and at that time no movement making to push forward a extremely crouded, but they were only single vessel to the West Scheldt.” The a few miles lower down, and within reach exertions of the naval officers and men of going up in one tide whenever it should were not rendered less irksome by the perbe required of them to proceed up the suasion that the labour, which though inriver. cessant often proved unavailing, might The transports proceeded up the river have been spared to them at the expence in different divisions as fast as the difficul- of a short march across the island of South ties I have stated could be overcome, and Beveland. To impute to me or to the in consequence of the arrangements made navy, under the name of delay, the loss of and the exertions of the officers employed, time which was passed by me in constant with fewer accidents than I believe have solicitude and by the men in unremitting ever occurred to so large a fleet in such a toil, is not what I should have expected navigation. from lord Chatham. I trust I have now succeeded in proving It would have been more agreeable to the point with which I set out, namely, myself to have offered to their lordships that if the army was not sooner assembled a simple journal of the daily transactions of at Bathz, the delay was in no shape impu- the fleet, as that course would have afforded table to my misconduct; the particular me the opportunity of paying a just tribute line of operations which had been sug- of gratitude to the numerous able and gested to the commander in chief of the zealous officers, by whom I was aided in forces and to myself, as most likely to in the different branches of the service, under sure the attainment of the ultimate objects my directions, and who may possibly conof the expedition, was departed from, is sider themselves as unjustly subject, tonotorious; but I have endeavoured to shew gether with myself, to some imputation, that the failure of the attack on Cadsand from the marked and perhaps invidious was not owing to any defect in the orders accuracy with which the particular days and instructions issued by me, and it was of arrival of different divisions are specified evidently impossible, that while Cadsand in lord Chatham's Statement. and Flushing remained in the hands of the But I am convinced that it was not the enemy, I could carry such a naval arma intention of his lordship, in collecting ment as was assembled under my orders such a multitude of dates, to attribute any to the point of general rendezvous. No blame to those officers. He has closed bis precautions of mine could secure the fleet report by pointing me out as the only oband army against the fury of the elements, ject of his animadversion. or enable us in spite of the adverse gales He leaves me “ to account for the difto reach by the shortest course our proper ficulties which prevented the investment of destination. Flushing, as well as to shew the obstaIn conveying the fleet to a secure place cles which presented themselves to the of refuge, and one where the disembark- early progress of the armament up the ation of the troops took place with little West Scheldt.” loss of time and without any loss of lives, He was not aware, it seems, that the I trust I shall not be accused either of a first point was rendered impossible by dereliction of my duty or of any inatten- | the state of the winds : he was not even tion to the interests of the army. aware that the circumstances of his being From this period I considered myself blown into the East Scheldt bad impeded bound implicitly to accede to the wishes his early progress up the West Scheidt. of the Commander in Chief. With him Concerning lord Chatham's opinions I alone was there an option between a march have now ceased to be solicitous, but I am of 36 hours and a voyage of an indefinite and ever shall be sincerely anxious that length. I trust that it was owing to no their lordships should not see cause to defect of zeal on my part, and I am sure it regret the confidence with which they was owing to no want of exertion on the have been pleased to honour me upon part of the many excellent naval officers I this occasion. R. J. STRACHAN, Rr. Adm. 1 1 INDEX TO DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Army, the, 11 Foreign Troops in British pay. Offices in Reversion Bill, 1063 9, 24, 630 Poor Clergy, 830, 967 Prisoners of War, 26 King's - Answer to the City of Revenue Criminal Laws, 453 London, respecting the Ex- Roman Catholic Petition, 11, 14 pedition to the Scheldt, 2 Duke of Brunswick, 790 Spain, 305, 373, 451 State of the Country, 846 INDEX TO DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Admiralty Court, 12 Farquharson, Mr. ; his Petition, Portugal, 15 Prisoners of War, 833 Privately Stealing Bill, 762 746, 957 Privilege, Breach of; Newspaper, Parliamentary Reports, 689 Privilege, Breach of ; Mr. Joha Gale Jones, 14, 548, 691 Burdett, 136, 237, 454 Property Tax, 832 Reading Petition respecting the Jones, Mr. John Gale, 14, 548 Commitment of Sir F.Burdett, 949 Reform in Parliament, 932 Lincoln's Inn Benchers, 27 specting the execution of the specting the reception of the 194, 306, 388 Securities Bill, 657 London, Livery of : their Pe. Sicilian Subsidies, 758 specting his Letter and No. mittal of Sit F. Burdett, 885, Slave Trade, 12 Staff Officers, 39 Metropolis ; the late Distur- Transport Service, 835 Tythes in Ireland, 658 lease of Sir F. Burdett, 780, Vote of Thanks to Licut. Gen. 791 Sir S. Cotton, and Brig. Gen. Anson, 11 son, 18 Wellington, Lord; his Answer to the Vote of Thanks, 388 Westminster Petition, for the Ordnance Department, 648 West India Dock Company, Matic 12**** to, 18 INDEX OF NAMES.-HOUSE OF LORDS. Athol, Duke of, 1038 Grenville, - Lord, 8, 11, 305, Liverpool, Earl of, 3, 11, 12, 306, 630, 633, 635, 790, 849, Grey, Earl, 7, 24, 32, 384, 451, 1076 Lord Chancellor, (Eldon). 882, 884, 968, 1068 Melville, Viscount, 1070 Mulgrave, Lord, 5, 7 790, 791, 830, 884, 967, 968 Redesdale, Lord, 882, 1077 Rosslyn, Earl of, 4, 5, 630, 634 Sidmouth, Viscount, 1075 Lauderdale, Earl of, 14, 88%, Wellesley, Marquis, 379, 451 Westmoreland, Earl of, 6 INDEX OF NAMES.-HOUSE OF COMMONS. Abbot, Rt. Hon. C. see Speaker 921, 995, 1029, 1033, 1043, 1063, 1090 594, 722, 855, 863, 917, 994 1006 Combe, H. 742, 783, 870, 889 Cooper, A. 15, 639, 649 Craufurd, Gen, 2, 205, 747, 960 1034 13, 30, 298, 610, 770, 920, 720, 821 Curtis, Sir W.874, 885 Curwen, J. 10, 265, 593, 624, 721, 1083 Dundas, R. 23, 300, 420, 797, Elliot, W.935 Ellison, R. 812 Fitzgerald, W. 15, 316, 656 Fitzgerald, M. 684, 806 175, 180, 182, 190, 292, 440, 463, 698, 877, 917, 972 Foster, J. 820 Foster, L, 11, 682 Fuller, J. 697 538, 715, 732, 736, 740, 776, Gibbs, Sir V. see Attorney Ge. neral (Right Hon. S. Perceval) 7, Grant, Sir W. see Master of the Lambe, W. 758, 786, 1080 264, 300, 545 750, 957, 966 Grant) 302, 705, 769 1093 |