ball. So great was the bravery displayed by General Moore on this occasion, that his very antagonists erected a monument to his memory. After his death the command of the army devolved on Sir John Hope, who pursued a plan devised by General Moore, that of embarkation during the night, and who carried this plan into effect with complete success. The British quitted Spain in January, 1809, leaving the Spaniards to struggle with the French by their own prowess.

NAVAL AFFAIRS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Napoleon had not yet abandoned all hopes of assistance from his navy, or relinquished the fond wish he had entertained of diminishing the power of the British on the sea. Nay, he had recently declared that a true Frenchman could not rest till the sea was open and free. This year he had collected a large squadron at Toulon, to co-operate with his troops on the side of Calabria, in an attack on Sicily. Possessed of that island, he would have been able to injure our commerce effectually; and

in order, therefore, to counteract his views, measures were taken to fortify that part of the Sicilian coast where a landing could be effected; while Lord Collingwood blockaded the port of Toulon as closely as he could consistently with his efforts to second the Spanish patriots in their noble cause, which double duty was imposed upon him by the British Government. A considerable French fleet, stationed at Cadiz, surrendered in June to that people who had experienced so many insults and injuries from its flag. Collingwood wished these men-of-war to join his squadron, for the purpose of intercepting any French fleet that might be sent against the Spanish dominions in South America; but the supreme junta of Seville, instead of complying with his request, began to dismantle them. A want of confidence in the British government, and an overweening trust in their own internal resources, notwithstanding the serious reverses they had recently met with, still pervaded the Spanish

nation.

STATE OF THE CONTINENT.

During this year the Russian autocrat and the Emperor Napoleon pursued that system of aggrandizement, which they had contemplated in making the treaty of Tilsit. In February a Russian army entered Finland, which province had always been an object of cupidity to the court of St. Petersburgh, and on the accession of Frederic VI. to the crown of Denmark, that monarch declared war against Sweden. After several bloody battles, the fate of Gustavus Adolphus appeared inevitable; when, to avoid falling under the yoke of Russia, he entered into a convention which virtually left the granary of Sweden in the hands of his conqueror.

This year Napoleon affected great changes in the affairs of Italy. Having adopted his son-in-law, Eugene Beauharnois, as his own son, he settled that kingdom upon him in tail male, and incorporated with the legations of Ancona, Urbino, Macerata, and Camerino, which were the pope's dominions; stating in a decree as the sole reason for this act of undisguised despotism, "that the sovereign of Rome had refused to make war against England." Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, were also annexed to the kingdom of Italy, as were Kehl, Wesel, Cassel, and Flushing to France. To complete his domestic policy, Napoleon now instituted an hereditary nobility: princes, dukes, counts, barons, and knights of the empire sprung up like mushrooms on every hand, in order to ennoble his newly created empire. Napoleon likewise instituted an imperial university; but his school was rather calculated to train up agents of imperial despotism, than men of learning and enlightened minds. As the sworn enemy of liberty, he declared himself the head of this university, and decreed that all schools or seminaries should be under its control.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Meeting of Parliament-The Supplies, &c.-Charges against the Dake c York-Parliamentary Corruption-Motion for Reform-Prorocation of Parliament-Affairs of Spain- -Further Operations in Spain -Campaign of Napoleon in Italy- -British Expedition against Naples and Walcheren-Dissensions in the Cabinet-Meeting of Parliament -Debate on the Walcheren Expedition-Proceedings against Sir Francis Burdett-The Supplies- The Slave-Trade Question-Pection of the Irish Catholics. &c.-Prorogation of Parliament &c.Campaign in Portugal-Affairs of Spain--Foreign Conquests, &c. -The Marriage of Napoleon, &c.--Illness of His Majesty: Opening of Parliament, &c.--Opening of Parliament by the Regent-Debate on the Re-appointment of the Duke of York to the War-office-The Supplies The Bullion Committee, &c.--Subject of Military Disci pline Lord Sidmouth's Motion respecting Dissenting PreachersAffairs of the Irish Catholics- -Amendment of the Criminal LawProrogation of Parliament- -Disputes with America--Capture of Java Affairs of Portugal-Affairs of Spain: Capture of Badajoz, &c. --Naval Affairs Affairs of France.

A. D.

1809.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

PARLIAMENT was opened by commis

sion on the 19th of January. The royal ing the proposals made for a negociation with France speech stated his majesty's reasons for rejectand Russia, and spoke of the perseverance of the and national independence, which would induce his Spaniards in the cause of their legitimate monarchy majesty to support them so long as they should prove true to themselves. Satisfaction was expressed at the liberation of Portugal; a continuance of aid to the King of Sweden was recommended; and a speedy addresses were voted without a division, but opposition augmentation of our regular army inculcated. The indeed to have hoped that the misfortunes in Spain, at the same time were not wholly silent. They seem and some mistakes which had been made in the Portuguese convention, would lead to the dissolution of the cabinet. A motion, however, moved in the Comvention in Portugal, and for attributing the whole mons by Lord Petty, for directly censuring the con

blame of it to government, was negatived by two hunmotion also, made by Mr. Ponsonby, for an inquiry dred and eight against one hundred and fifty-eight. A into the conduct of the late campaign in Spain, was rejected by two hundred and twenty against one hundred and twenty-seven. In reviewing the principal incidents connected with this campaign, Mr. Ponsonby drew no very favourable picture of the capacity and judgment of the cabinet. He remarked:-"With so many opportunities and resources at command, they had instituted no proper inquiry into the state of the Peninsula, the bent of the public mind, the inclinations of the higher ranks, the views of the middle classes, and the probability that effective resistance would be made to a vigorous and mighty foe. Extraordinary indecision and unnecessary delays had injured the cause which the king pretended to support. Several Spanish armies were routed before the British troops were prepared to act, and when they became engaged in the contest they were in danger of total ruin." The character of Sir John Moore, however, does not seem to have been called into question by any member of opposition. Almost his last words were, "I hope the country will do me justice;" and the general feeling of the public mind from that day to this is, that he exhibited great skill and bravery, although circumstances compelled him to retreat before his enemy.

THE SUPPLIES, ETC.

No time was lost in taking that part of his majesty's speech into consideration which had reference to the augmentation of our military force. By two acts greater activity was given to enlistment into the mi litia, and that force was carried to its full number. The vacancies also, left by the bill of last session, for allowing the militia soldiers into the line were filled up, and from 20,000 to 30,000 regular troops were added to the corps disposable for foreign service. Additions were also made to the navy. Above £27,000,000 were voted for the army and ordnance, and about £19,000,000

big with importance to all Europe. From the highest
to the lowest members of the community, these trans
actions formed the leading topic of conversation.
It has been well observed that "this affair was not
without its beneficial results. A striking proof was
given to the world, that under our constitution, no
rank, however elevated, could shelter abuses from
detection, or screen those concerned in them from the
effects of public displeasure. The king's second and
favourite son, a prince so near the throne himself, had
been driven from office by a member of the house of
commons, who was unheard of before this transaction,
and who possessed neither the influence of character
nor the influence of talent. It had been proved to the
conviction of the country that the Duke of York was
so far culpable as to render his resignation proper;
that resignation had taken place in consequence, and
public opinion had thus obtained a most signal triumph.
When the duke had thus incurred punishment and
disgrace, individuals of less rank and influence could
not expect that their official delinquencies or irregula-
rities should escape: the fate of the prince was an
example and an admonition not easily to be forgotten.
Until the time when there will be no more war, and
when men will no more want commissions in armies,
or profitable places under government, it will be in
vain to expect perfection in anything, vain to hope
that the distributors of patronage will not occasionally
yield to favouritism and other influences, besides that
great parliamentary influence over appointments, which

destroying the constitution. But notwithstanding the occasional interference of friends, wives, sisters, cousins, and other connexions, which may possibly be as mischievous though less indecorous than that of a mistress, we believe it is admitted by all candid and properly informed persons, that since the investigation in 1809, patronage at the Horse-guards, as well as in the other offices of government, has been distributed with more attention to the public service than any time preceding that inquiry.”

for the navy: the total amount of supplics for the year for Great Britain and Ireland was £53.862,000. Among the ways and means was a loan of £11,000,000, which loan was contracted for at a lower rate of interest than money had even been borrowed for on the public account. Ministers quoted this as an instance of prosperity; but the opposition contended that money was lent to government at a low rate of interest because capitalists could not employ it in any other way, foreign trade being almost annihilated by the Berlin and Milan decrees, and by our own orders in council. CHARGES AGAINST THE DUKE OF YORK. Early in this session a subject was introduced which excited extraordinary interest throughout the whole nation. This subject was, that a paramour of the Duke of York had made military patronage a medium of infamous traffic. On the 27th of January, Mr. Wardle, a Welsh gentleman, and colonel of militia, affirmed in the house of commons that everything was wrong and rotten at the Horse-guards; that the Duke of York, the commander-in-chief, suffered himself to be swayed by a low-born mistress, one Mary Ann Clarke, who had been carrying on a traffic in commissions and promotions. Several cases were instanced in which money had been paid to the said Mary Ann Clarke, and Colonel Wardle insisted that the duke was a partaker in the benefit of her traffic. He concluded with moving for the appointment of a committee to investigate the charges, and it was finally-fatal as it often is-can hardly be destroyed without agreed that the inquiry should be carried on by a committee of the whole house. This committee sat for the first time on the 1st of February, and the inquiry occupied the undivided time and attention of parliament for seven weeks. In the course of the investigation Mary Ann Clarke and one or two others of the same class of females were examined; but though it seemed clear from the evidence adduced that Mrs. Clarke was guilty of taking money from expectants, it was not proved that the duke had any knowledge of her practices. Mrs. Clarke herself sought to involve the duke in her guilt; but that he had participated in her gains, or had even any knowledge of her transactions, were circumstances which depended on her veracity alone. And her credibility was somewhat shaken, because the duke quarrelled with her and parted from her, and she was at the time of her examination living under the protection of Wardle, the duke's accuser. Some there were, however, who believed her testimony, which was made manifest in the several divisions that took place on this subject. Colonel Wardle moved for an address to his majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to dismiss the Duke of York from the command of the army, on account of the corrupt practices which had been proved against him this was rejected by three hundred and sixty-four against one hundred and twenty-three. Mr. Bankes moved an amendment to the effect that abuses had existed, which could scarcely have existed without exciting suspicion in the mind of the commander-in-chief, and suggesting the propriety of his removal from office: this was negatived by a majority of only ninety-five. Afterwards a resolution, proposed by Sir T. Turton, declaring that grounds for charging the duke with a knowledge of the corrupt practices of Mrs. Clarke rested on good evidence, was thrown out by three hundred and thirty-four against one hundred and thirty-five. Subsequently Mr. Percival made a motion declaratory of the duke's innocence, and this was carried by a majority of only eighty-two. It is evident, therefore, that many members deemed him not wholly innocent of the charges against him; and the duke seems to have felt this, for he soon after took the opportunity of resigning his official situation. The subject seems to have engrossed the attention of the public for a long time, and this too at a period when unore important events were taking place daily: events

It had been hoped, on the resignation of the Duke of York, that the office of commander-in-chief would be put in commission; but General Sir David Dundas was appointed successor to his royal highness. One of the early consequences of this investigation to the country, was the enactment of a law declaring the brokerage of offices in the army, church, or state to be a crime highly penal. This bill was brought in by the chancellor of the exchequer, who observed that the practices lately disclosed consisted not in the sale of offices by those who had the power to give them, but in the arts of those who had pretended to possess influence over such persons. In the case of Mary Ann Clarke, however, there was no pretension in the matter; for there can be no question that she did possess too much influence over the mind of the duke, and that she obtained promotion for several of whom she took money. On the other hand it was proved that she had successfully exerted herself on behalf of meritorious individuals who did honour to the service, and who, being in distressed circumstances at the time, could not have paid her for the commissions which by her influence she procured them. Guilt, therefore, was attached to the duke in suffering this woman to gain an unbounded influence over his mind: public men should hold themselves free from favour or prejudice.

PARLIAMENTARY CORRUPTION

"Examine well

His milk-white hand; the palm is hardly clean-
But here and there an ugly mu ch appears.
Feh! 'twas a bribe that left it: he has touched
Corruption. Whoso seeks an audit here
Propitious, pays his tribute, game or fish,

Wild fowl or venison; and his errand speeds."-COWPER.

It had been for some time reported by opposition that government had made, and was making, a regular

remained were generally disinclined to enter upon this momentous question. On a division, therefore, Sir Francis was outvoted by seventy-four against fifteen. His scheme of reform divided itself into three parts: by the first article it was proposed that all freeholders, householders, and others, who paid direct taxes to the state, the church, or the poor, should have votes; by the second, that a convenient division of places entitled to send representatives to parliament should be marked out, each division be again subdivided, and each subdivision to return one member, the elections being conducted in the several parishes in one day; and by the third, that the duration of parliaments should be reduced to the period of time most agreeable to the British constitution. The merits of this scheme may have been great; but one thing is certain, that the period at which it was introduced was not the proper one for its consideration. This forms the best excuse which can be made for the defence of manifest abuses made by such men as Perceval and Canning, and who said they saw no reason whatever to enter upon the subject of reform. There was evident reason for taking this subject into consideration; but while the nation was engaged in a contest for its national existence, it would have been unwise to have tampered with the machinery of government; especially as that machinery was acknowledged by all parties to work well for the prosecution of the arduous contests in which we were engaged with Napoleon and his allies.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

The session closed on the 21st of June, when the speech from the throne was again delivered by commission. It dwelt chiefly upon the resistance of Spain against the tyranny of the French government, and upon the successes which had recently crowned the arms of the Emperor of Austria, under the conduct of the Archduke Charles,

traffic in East India appointments. A select committee of the house of commons was appointed to inquire into this matter; which committee reported that it appeared many places had been disposed of in an illegal manner. One source of corruption brought another to light. In the course of the examinations it was discovered that Lord Castlereagh, as president of the board of control, had placed a writership at the disposal of Lord Clancarty, which writership Clancarty was to give to one Mr. Reding, as the price of a seat in parliament for himself, the said Mr. Reding meaning to sell the said writership for 3000 guineas. Lord Archibald moved that Lord Castlereagh had been guilty of a violation of his duty, of an abuse of his influence and authority as president of the board of control, and also of an attack upon the purity and constitution of parliament. The noble lord's defence was that when this transaction took place he had no notion that such a person existed as a trafficking-broker for places; that Reding had represented to him that a member of the house of commons, who intended to vacate his seat, had a nephew whom he wished to send out to India as a writer, and would favour the election of any friend of his. His lordship remarked:-"I perceived no impropriety in the case, considering it perfectly fair for one friend to serve another at an election." The house acquitted Lord Castlereagh of any intention to do wrong; but this exposure enabled Mr. Curwen to carry a bill for better securing the purity and independence of parliament, by preventing the obtaining of seats through corrupt practices, and also for the more effectual prevention of bribery. While this bill was pending, Mr. Maddocks brought forward a charge against the treasury of corrupt conduct in the purchase of parliamentary seats, which were filled by members attached to the interests of ministers, and bound to support all their measures; but a motion for a committee of inquiry was negatived by three hundred and ten against eighty-five. During this year, also, the commissioners of naval inquiry and revision presented another report, which brought to light many more abuses in that department. Moreover, the commissioners of military inquiry, who still After the battle of Corunna, the cause of Spain continued their labours, presented several reports, seemed wholly lost. The Austrian war, however, which showing that large sums of money, and large powers broke out when Napoleon was in pursuit of Sir John in money transactions, had often been entrusted to Moore, operated as a grand diversion, favourable for various persons, without the necessary securities, the Peninsula, inasmuch as it distracted his attention, checks, and precautions; that in the West Indies a and obliged him to withdraw his imperial guards from regular and unchecked system of peculation had been Spain, and prevented him from sending re-enforcements carried on in the most unblushing manner; that the to that country so quickly as he otherwise would have paymasters, the agents of the commissary-general, and done. In the meantime King Joseph had, on the 23rd of others in our West India islands, had been in the January, re-entered Madrid. His party was increased habit of committing great frauds, &c., for a series of by a considerable number of the Spanish people, who years. Corruption, in fact, pervaded at this time all thought that a new order of things was necessary to orders of public men, and this was the more inexcus- resuscitate the Spanish monarchy. After the departure able, because the war necessarily imposed heavy bur- of Napoleon seven divisions of the French forces redens on the people. These burdens were made heavier mained in Spain; Marshal Jourdan having the chief by the extravagance which prevailed in the expendi- command, under the auspices of King Joseph. The ture of the country, and which had been augmented war was continued with success, although with less since last year by the enormous sum of nearly eight vigour; but the Spanish nation only became more exmillion pounds sterling. The extravagance of govern- asperated by every defeat, so that it was not subdued. ment was attacked in the month of June by Colonel On the other hand, the French, enraged by obstinate reWardle, who seems to have set himself up for a re-sistance, and more yet by the stratagems and assassiformer of abuses; but, though from his statements many came to the conclusion that great saving might be effected, there were few who thought that he had pointed out a proper mode of retrenchment. Moreover, many of his statements were incorrect or unfounded, so that he failed to sustain the character he had assumed. He who wishes to reform public abuses should prove their existence to all the world, and be able to point out how they may be remedied.

MOTION FOR REFORM.

On the 15th of June Sir Francis Burdett made a motion for a sweeping parliamentary reform. Nearly all the country gentlemen had left town, and those that

AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

nations compassed by the Spaniards, became daily more severe and cruel.

The spirit of the Spanish people is well exemplified in the siege af Saragossa. This siege had been formed anew before Napoleon returned to Paris, and it was carried on by the third and fifth corps, under Marshals Moncey and Mortier. The citizens of Saragossa prepared an internal system of defence, far more effectual than that of external fortification; transforming the city itself into one huge fortress, and coalescing with the troops in one energetic garrison. The French made but little progress until Marshal Lasnes took the command, and then the external defences of the city were quickly demolished. Saragossa itself, however, still defied all the efforts of the French. The war-cry

was heard in all her streets, and every house became a | fortress, and every church and convent a citadel, garrisoned by heroic men, resolved to die for its defence. The French had laboured and fought without intermission fifty days; they had crumbled the walls with their bullets, burst the convents with their mines, and carried the breaches with their bayonets; fighting above and beneath the surface of the earth, they had spared neither fire nor sword; their bravest men were falling in the obscurity of a subterranean warfare; famine pinched them; and Saragossa was still unconquered. Lasnes, however, persevered in his attempts to take the city, and at length he was successful. Discovering that a pestilence raged within the devoted city, that the living were unable to bury the dead, he ordered a general assault; and then, when one quarter of the city was laid waste, Saragossa was captured. The garrison were allowed to march out with the honours of war, to be sent prisoners to France, while the possession of their property and the exercise of their religion were guaranteed to the inhabitants.

plete. He had lost everything, cannon, ammunition, baggage, and military-chest. The mountainous road through which he passed was indeed covered with dead horses and mules, and with the bodies of French soldiers, who were put to death by the peasantry before the British could come up to their rescue. The cruelty of the Portuguese peasantry, however, was provoked by the conduct of the French themselves. Sir Arthur Wellesley writes: "Their soldiers have plundered and murdered the peasantry at their pleasure; and I have seen many persons hanging in the trees by the sides of the road, executed for no other reason, that I could learn, excepting that they have not been friendly to the French invasion and usurpation of the government of their country; and the route of their column on their retreat could be traced by the smoke of the villages to which they set fire." These horrible scenes occurred in all the subsequent retrograde movements of the French: before them, the countries through which they passed were lovely as the garden of Eden-behind them they were desolate as the wil

FURTHER OPERATIONS IN SPAIN.

The first burst of popular enthusiasm in Spain, how-derness. ever, was followed by a withering lethargy. Even with the assistance of Lord Collingwood and his fleet, with arms from Malta and Sicily, and with the regiments that had been released by the convention of On the departure of Soult for Oporto the Spaniards Cintra, and which had by this time joined the patriots, again rose in arms, and several places in the Asturias the Spaniards were unable to prevent the capture of and in the Biscayan provinces had been recaptured. Rosas. After the fall of this place everything seemed to After his return, urged by the importunities of the go wrong. Though in considerable force, the Spaniards Spanish government and generals, Sir Arthur Weldispersed whenever the enemy appeared, and although lesley determined to advance into that country against they were continually making application to the the French. His projected route was by the way of English for money, arms, and ammunition, they made Plasencia and Almaraz, and his design was to cono use of them when they were supplied. Their very operate with the Spanish general Cuesta, who comnavy was left to rot in the harbours of Cadiz and Car-manded the army of Estramadura. A junction was thagena, although money was advanced by the British formed between the two armies at Orepesa on the government, and the assistance of its seamen offered 20th of July; Sir Arthur's army amounting to about to fit them out for sea. But for the co-operation of the 23,000, and Cuesta's to 30,000 men. At this time the British fleet Spain would have been, after the cap- French forces were thus disposed:-Marshal Victor ture of Saragossa, easily conquered, for the Spaniards, was in Estramadura with the first corps, amounting to though lions in their fortresses, acted like women in 35,000 men; General Sebastiani, with the fourth corps, the field. consisting of 20,000 men, was in La Mancha; General Dessolles, with a division of reserve and Joseph's guards, amounting in the whole to 15,000 men, was in Madrid; Kellermann and Bonnet, with two divisions of 10,000 men, were in Old Castile; Soult had collected the second corps of 20,000 men in the northern provinces; and immediately dependent upon Soult were Marshal Mortier, with the fifth corps of 16,000 strong, and Ney, with the sixth corps of about 16,000 men under arms. Besides all these forces there were

It was not the English fleet alone that defended Spain from the arms of the French. While that nation was thus on the verge of ruin, Sir Arthur Wellesley arrived in Portugal to take the command of the British army, which by re-enforcements amounted to 30,000 men. At this time, in April, the French had obtained possession of Ferrol, Bilboa, and all the most important places on the northern coast of Spain. Soult had even advanced into Portugal, and had taken possession of the city of Oporto. Sir Arthur Wel-50,000 Frenchmen in Aragon and Catalonia, under lesley's first business was to dislodge the French Suchet and Augereau; and 35,000 more were scatgeneral from this place, and on the 11th of May tered over the surface of Spain, to maintain the many Oporto fell into his hands. Soult retired by Amarante, posts and fortresses the French had captured in Spain, with the intention of passing through Tras-os-Montes and to keep open the various lines of communication. into Spain. He left behind him all his sick and It was agreed upon by the British and Spanish comwounded, with many prisoners, and much artillery and manders to march themselves against the French under ammunition. Sir Arthur wrote to him, requesting Marshal Victor, while at the same time Vinegas adthat he would send some French medical officers to vanced against Fuente Duenna on the Upper Tagus, take care of his sick and wounded, as he could not in order to draw Sebastiani thither, that he might spare his own army-surgeons, and as he did not wish not aid Victor; or if that general refused to move, to trust to the practitioners of the town of Oporto. It Vinegas was to march on Madrid from the south-east, does not appear, however, that Soult was able to while Sir Robert Wilson menaced it from the opposite respond to his request, for there was murmurings and quarter. The combined armies of Sir Arthur Weldiscontents, arising from defeat, among his troops; lesley and Cuesta attacked Marshal Victor's out-posts and besides this, the Portuguese peasantry mercilessly at Talavera on the 22nd of July, and drove them in. attacked the French in their retreat, cutting off great On the 23rd, the British again formed for the attack numbers of them. He was followed in his retreat by of the French position; but Cuesta "contrived to lose Sir Arthur Wellesley, and on the 16th of May he was the whole of the day, owing to the whimsical pcrovertaken at Salmonde, and a great many of his rearverseness of his disposition." Sir Arthur wished to guard were either killed or taken prisoners. More defeat Victor before he could be joined by Sebastiani, would have been lost, but night favoured the retreat and his disappointment was great when, on the 24th, of the fugitives, and Soult finally gained the frontier he discovered that the enemy had retreated towards of Spain. Sir Arthur Wellesley stopped his pursuit at Torrijos, in order to form a junction with that general. Montealegre, a few miles from the frontier, and re- Atter Victor's departure, Sir Arthur occupied Talaturned by Renairs, Braga, and S. Terso to Oporto. vera; and finding that the Spanish general did not According to his letters, the rout of Soult was com- cordially co-operate with him, he resolved to return