popular voice, which is represented by the Cabildo, or City Council. The King's money, in consequence of the state of affairs, is not permitted to come to Buenos Ayres; and this, the principal source by which the Government has hitherto been supported, being completely done away, the Viceroy has proposed to open the ports to free commerce, as the only means by which an adequate revenue can be supplied to sustain his Government. CONDITIONS OF COMMERCE. All vessels must consign themselves to Spanish merchants. The Consignee must present a manifest of cargo, in Spanish, to the Administration of the Custom House, twenty-four hours after arrival. bringing into market their provisions and | manufactures, and that the duties on tobacco should be lowered. It was also determined that a battalion of Indians should be raised, under the title of Volunteers of the National Union.-July 20. The -Cabildo, on the proposition of the Deputies, admitted as associates, eight persons nominated by the people. Two thousand dollars were drawn from the Casa Real, to be distributed among the poorer classes of the populace; but the latter, with one voice, rejected the largess, calling out that the money should be expended in casting caunon, or in paying the troops. Orders were issued for raising a battalion of 500 stout negroes; for increasing the total of our military establishment to the number of 10,000 men; for fortifying the heights of the city with 100 pieces of All goods are admitted (except those cannon, and for casting a quantity of fly-probibited) and shall pay the circular ing artillery.July 21. The people assem- duty, agreeable to the Tarif; and such bled, as usual, in the grand square, and goods as may not be in the Tarif, shall be the Deputies proposed to the Cabildo a valued at the prices of Europe. -new system of government, with the view of for ever preventing the return of that tyranny and injustice under which they have hitherto suffered. The consideration of this important subject was, however, at the request of the Cabildo, postponed for the present. July 22. There was a general muster of the battalions in the presence of the Cabildo and Commandant; and orders were given for an official communication of the proceedings of the 16th to all the Governors of the kingdom.-July 25. All the vouchers of revenue debts were this day delivered up and burnt. A number of Caciques and Indian Chiefs waited upon the Cabildo, and assured them that they are ready to defend us with 200,000 warriors of their respective tribes. The important facts communicated in the above, have led to the material change in the commercial policy of the govern-ment of Buenos Ayres, announced in the following extract of a letter: Buenos Ayres, Sept. 27, 4809. I take the liberty to observe, that the necessities of this Government, not their good wishes towards Englishmen or strangers, are about to compel it to open their ports to foreign commerce. La Paz, the capital of the Audiencia of Los Charias, has deposed its President, and exiled the Archbishop, establishing a provisional government, at the head of which is the Royal Audencia, but governed by the Goods similar to those manufactured in the country shall pay a duty of 12 per cent. over and above the circular duties. Ox and cow-hides shall pay the war tax, ou clearance, of 12 per cent. As far as respects the patriotic duty, it shall be extinguished. Vieunier wool, bark, sheep's wool, tallow, cocoa, and hair, at certain specified prices, to pay a duty of 20 per cent. The exportation of either gold or silver is not allowed. All returns must be made in produce of the country, and to take away the same. Vessels may come in ballast, and may bring such goods as are permitted for the negro trade. The Spanish Consignee must become bound for the duties, and to pay a fourth in fifteen days after having made the dispatch, and the remaining three-fourths in the three following months, that is, onefourth in each month. All vessels, friends and neutrals, shall be admitted, and must receive a Customhouse Officer on board, as is customary with other vessels, and shall deposit their papers in the Secretario del Governor's Of fice, until a visit is past for sailing. The Spanish Consignee shall not sell by retail on account of any foreigner. The interdiction of wine, oil, vinegar, and aquardente, (spirits) except cara, [the rum of this place,] is prohibited. LONDON :-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough - Court, Fleet - Street Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :--Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall, VOL. XVII. No. 8.] LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1810. [Price 1s "I have not judged it to be necessary to direct any Military Inquiry into the conduct of my Com"manders by sea or land, in this conjoint service." KING'S ANSWER TO THE PETITION OF THE CITY OF LONDON, 20th Dec. 1809. 257] -[258 evidence, are printed by order of the WALCHEREN INQUIRY. House, and, as far, I suppose, as it has MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.It is hardly been practicable, they are published in the necessary to remind the reader, FIRST, Daily news-papers; but, as this matter that, when (on the 20th of December last) comes out in such masses, it is impossible the City of London petitioned, in the most for any daily paper to insert the whole of submissive manner, to cause an Inquiry to it, without excluding almost every thing be made into the causes of our failure and else from its columns. Of course it is not losses in the late Expedition to Holland, in my power to insert, in the Register, a the king was advised by his ministers to tenth part of this matter; the whole of tell the suppliant Londoners, that he, for which will, however, be inserted in the his part, had not judged it necessary to di- Parliamentary Debates. But, there rect any such Inquiry to take place, and that are particular parts, which I am (in the it would be for his parliament, in their wis-way of analysis, at least) able to lay bedom, to ask for such information, or to fore my readers, one of which parts is the take such measures upon the subject, as Correspondence, the never-to-be forgotten they should judge most conducive to the correspondence, relating to the MEDICAL public good. SECONDLY, that, when the DEPARTMENT. This part of the subject is, parliament met, on the 23d of January, of itself, a complete point. We here see they were told, in the SPEECH (See p. the rise of the sickness amongst our un113 of this Volume,) that his Majesty had happy countrymen; we hear their calls given directions that such documents and for medical aid; we see the measures papers should be laid before them as he trusted taken at home, in consequence of that would afford satisfactory information upon call; we see the space of time that elapsed the subject of the expedition.-THIRDLY, that between the date of the call, the date of this intimation on the part of the minis- the lamentable cries of the sick, and the ters, that they would lay before the parlia- date of the actual sending off of the mediment such documents and such only as they cal aid that they called for; and, from a thought proper, which was, in fact, the pur- full and fair view of the whole, we are port of this part of the Speech, did not enabled to form a correct opinion of the satisfy the House of Commons.-FOURTH- character of that ministry, under whose LY, that, on the 26th of January, LORD sway the nation was at the time, and still PORCHESTER, in a very eloquent speech, is; we are enabled to judge in what deurged the necessity of an Inquiry in a gree, if in any, the nation has to ascribe Committee of the whole House, and, hav- its loss in valuable lives to them.--I ing concluded with a specific motion to shall do very little more than quote and that effect, his motion was opposed by the analyse. Few remarks will be necessary; ministers, who still wished the House to be and, if the documents themselves were satisfied with the papers they intended likely to find their way into the hands of to lay before them: but, that, upon a my readers, I should think it wholly undivision, the ministers were defeated, and, necessary to make even an analysis of their accordingly, the House resolved to go contents, which speak so plainly as to into the Inquiry themselves. These render it almost impossible that they things are fresh in the reader's memory; should be misunderstood. I shall pursue and he has heard enough of the cause the chronological order, as being the best which has prevented the public from calculated to show clearly the degree of hearing, day by day, as in the case of dispatch which was used in sending off Mrs. Clarke and the Duke of York, what medical assistance to Walcheren.The has transpired as to the Inquiry.The reader will keep his attention constantly documents, laid before the House upon fixed upon the dates; and, I can assure the subject, and also the minutes of the him, that, such is the manner, in which the papers have been kid before the House of From Mr. Webbe to Sir E. Coote, dated "Sir, I do myself the honour of representing to you, that the divisions of the army, which are in South Beveland and "in Walcheren, are becoming so extremely sickly, and the medical officers both "of the regiments and of the staff are sufOn the 20th of August Mr. JOHN WEBBE,"fering so severely from the effects of the Inspector of our hospitals at Walcheren, "climate, and the excessive duty they makes the first communication upon the "have to perform, that it is with the utsubject of the sickness in the army. This "most difficulty, that we can have the he does in a Letter to the SURGEON GENE"sick of this island properly attended to. RAL in England, whom he informs of the "A pressing requisition was sent from appearance of the fever, which has attack- Flushing, yesterday, for medical aid, but ed from six to eight men in each regi"it was not possible to comply with it. ment upon an average, and requests him, "Surgeon Liddendale, who is stationed at the same time, to send back all the "here, was instructed, however,' to make medical officers who have gone to Eng"such arrangements as will enable him land with the wounded, because their pre"to carry on the service for the present sence is urgently wanted in Walcheren. "without injury to the men.-I have Mr. Webbe, under the same date, sends "this moment received a positive order for the additional aid of 2 Physicians, "from the adjutant general, desiring that 4 Surgeons, 1 Deputy Purveyor, and 12 "one physician, one staff surgeon, and one Hospital Mates. hospital mate, should be sent forthwith "to South Beveland. It is with concern On the 27th of August, MR. WEBBE Writes again to the SURGEON GENERAL, informing him of the rapid progress of the sickness. He tells him, that the number of sick is very considerable; that it not only daily increases, but, from the information he has got respecting the season of the sickness, it must be expected to go on increasing; that foresceing, as he did, that the army would be very sickly, he begged leave to amend his former application for additional aid, and, instead of 2 physicians to call for 4, and also for 20 hospital mates instead of 12. On the 31st of August, SIR EYRE COOTE, then having the command in the island of Walcheren, writes home to Lord Castlereagh, enclosing a letter from MR. WEBBE, applying in the most urgent manner for medical assistance; and, Sir E. Coote adds, from himself, that the sick of the army is increasing daily to a most alarming degree. The letter of MR. WEBBE to Sir E. Coote I will insert at full length, it being of great consequence that we should have before us the exact representation, which was made to the ministry of the state of our unfortunate countrymen, very soon after the breaking out of the disease. We shall, then, see what they did; how they bestirred themselves; what dispatch was used in consequence of the lamentable alls from Walcheren. ty of sending express to England for medi"cal aid, and of applying that a fast sailing "vessel should be appointed to bring out the "assistance that is so urgently required.” Well, reader, now let us see what was done at home, in consequence of this pressing letter. Let us now see, what was done by the ministry, in answer to this call on the part of our dying countrymen. Let us see, whether the ministry, whose fiscal agents, whose inspectors of taxes are so alert; let us see, whether this ministry, who claim so much upon the score of vigour; let us see, whether the vigorous ministry did send off a fast-sailing vessel with medical aid. On the 2nd of September, at latest, SIR EYRE COOTE's letter to Lord Castlereagh was received in the famed Downing Street. Oh! that Street!-There, bowever, on the 2nd of September, at latest, the Letter of sir E. Coote, together with cumstances. With Tax "ture of the disease prevalent in Wal cheren, and to forward the medicines in "sufficient quantities, which may be "deemed sufficient for the cure and coun"teraction of the disorder there preva "lent. You will also be pleased to con"sider whether there are any other comforts necessary for the troops which can be "furnished from hence.' the above-inserted letter of Mr. Webbe," the Medical Board to consider the namust have been received; because, as we shall presently see, on that day, Lord Castlereagh wrote to the Commander in Chief (Sir David Dundas) in consequence of having received those letters.- -The reader will not only carry the dates along in his mind, whereby to judge of the dispatch that was made use of; but, he will bear in mind the pressing language of Mr. Webbe. He will see, that a knowledge of the existence of the disease and of its increase was officially communicated to the Surgeon General in England on the 27th of August; and that, in a very few days afterwards, the ministry were informed of the whole of the alarming cirWell; now, what did Lord Casti reagh, the war-minister, do, when he heard that our poor fellows were dyn in the swamps of Zealand; that the mdic ficers there were themselves suffer peso much from sickness, that it was st di feul y that the sick could be properly at ended to; when he heard that a pressing requisition for medical aid had been sent from Flushing to Middleburgh, which it was not possible to comply with; when he heard that the Adjutan General had given a positive order to Mr. Webbe to send to Beveland three medical officers, and that Mr. Webbe could by no means spare more than one; when he heard that the calamity was daily increasing and the means of meeting it daily diminishing by the sickness of medical officers; when he heard Mr. Webbe beseeching Sir E. Coote to send off express to England for medical aid, and to apply for a fast sailing vessel for the bringing of that aid; what, in this case, in this urgent case, in this case of unparalleled urgency, what did Lord Castlereagh, one of the vigorous ministry; what did he do? Why, he wrote the following letter, the effects produced by which it will afterwards be our business to trace. Copy of a Letter from Ld. Castlereagh to Sir D. Dundas, dated Downing Street, 2nd Sept. 1809. Well, what now? Why, on the 3rd of September, Sir DAVID DUNDAS, does does what? Why he commands" a person of the name of J. W. GORDON, his Secretary, most likely, to do what? Why, to write to another person of the name of FRANCIS MOORE, Esq. (who is, it would seem from other letters, a Deputy to the Secretary at War) desiring the said Francis Moore, Esq. to move his Lordship" (meaning, apparently Lord L. Gower, then Secretary at War) to order the Medical Board to send the medical aid and stores required, and further to require that a report may be made to Sir D. Dundas of the names of the persons and of the extent of the stores to be sent.-This report one would certainly have expected the next day at farthest. Indeed, why should not the aid have gone off that very night? Why not have hastened some aid away, at any rate, to the "fust-sailing vessel,” which poor Mr. Webbe was in expectation of seeing arrive upon the coast of Walcheren? Let the sequel answer this question. "Sir; I transmit to you herewith "Copies of a Letter I have received from "Lieut. General Sir Eyre Coote, and its "Inclosures, stating the want of addi❝tional Medical Assistance in the Island of "Walcheren; and I am to desire you will "take the earliest Measures for having the "Assistance required sent without delay."I am also to desire you will call upon On the 4th of September, MR. MOORE makes a "report" to Mr. COLONEL GORDON, agreeably to the latter's request; but what of? Not a report of the names of the medical persons who had gone off for Walcheren and of the extent of the stores sent thither: no, no: this was not what Mr. Moore had to report upon. He had to report to Sir D. Dundas, that the Secretary at War had received a letter from the Physician General (Sir LUCAS PEPYS, of whom we shall see a great deal anon) he enclosed to MR. GORDON, along with a upon the subject, a copy of which letter copy of another letter from the Surgeon General, MR. KEATE.Let us now see what these two gentlemen say. The latter, that is to say, Mr. Keate, says, under the date of the 2nd September: "I have the "honour to submit for the consideration I of the Commander in Chief and Secre tary at War, the inclosed copies and "extracts of Letters, received from Mr. "Webbe, Inspector of Hospitals with the | "army under the command of the Earl 66 The Physician General, SIR LUCAS PEPYS, writes thus to the Secretary at War, on the 4th of September, the same day that Mr. Moore's last-mentioned letter is written. "In the absence of my colleagues, and in answer to the honour "of your letter of this day's date, I have "the honour to inform you, that I have "directed two physicians to repair immediately "to Walcheren, and to report themselves "to Mr. Webbe, inspector of hospitals there. These, together with the return " of Dr. Wardell, and as many hospital "mates as can be procured, will be a con"siderable additional medical aid, and "such is now principally required." Well now, here we are arrived at the 4th of September and notwithstanding all kullang age of Sir E. Coote and the Mr. Webbe, not a medical man is yet gone Webbe, Inspector of Hospitals there." Letter from Sir D. Dundas to Ld. Cas tlereagh, dated Horse Guards, 5th Sept. |