General Instructions to Sir John Moore, before he set out on his March
to Spain. Plan of Leading a British Army into the Heart of Spain
-By whom formed.-The British Ministry deplorably ignorant both of
the French Force in Spain, and the real State of that Country-The
French concentrated behind the Ebro.-The whole of their Force in
Cantonments and Garrisons.-Exaggerated Accounts of the Enthusiasm
of the Spaniards.-Fond Credulity of the British Ministry on that Sub-

ject, and, in Consequence of this, the most romantic projects. The flatter-

ing Expectations of Co-operation held out to Sir John Moore utterly dis-

appointed. Central Junta of Spain. - Their Character, incredible

Weakness and Folly-Traitors among them.-False Intelligence of

the Approach of the French in great Force to Salamanca.-Measures

announced by Sir John Moore under the Impression of this to the Junta

of that Place. Amazing Apathy and Indifference to Public Affairs

and the Fate of the Country-Tardy and deficient Supplies to our

Army-The Situation of Sir David Baird, who had landed in Gal-

licia, materially affected by the Defeat of the Spanish army of the North.

-Design of Sir John Moore to take a Line of Positions on the

Duero-Frustrated by the total Defeat of General Castanos-By this

the British General determined to retreat on Lisbon-This Plan of

Retreating abandoned, and why-False and treacherous Intelligence

transmitted by the Civil and Military Junta of Madrid to the Com-

mander of the British Army-Warmly seconded and supported by

Dispatches from Mr. Frêre-Strange Infatuation, as well as Arro-

gance and Presumption, of that Minister-Means by which the false

Intelligence was happily counteracted.-The Force brought against

Spain by Buonaparte after the Conference of Erfurth.-The bold

Measures adopted by the British Commander for the Extrication

of

of his Army, draw the whole of the French Forces from their March

to Southern to the Northern Provinces.-The British Army

commences its Retreat-Closely pursued by 70,000 French-General

Orders by Sir John Moore, reflecting on the Conduct of both Officers

and Soldiers.Difficulties overcome, and dreadful hardships, priva

tions, and Losses sustained during the retreat to Corunna Which is

at last effected-Battle of Corunna Death and Character of Sir

John Moore-Embarkation of the British Troops for England 1

CHAP. II.

Meeting of the Imperial British Parliament-Speech from the Throne-
Address in Answer, moved in the House of Lords by the Earl of
Bridgewater, and seconded by Lord Shelfield-Opposed by the Earl
of St. Vincent-Some parts of the Address approved and some disap
proved by different speakers.-Animadversions on the Address, particu
larly in as far as it related to the Affairs of Spain and Portugal, by
the Earl of Grosvenor, Lord Grenville, the Earl of Moira, and the
Earl of Buckinghamshire.—The Address defended by the Earl of Li-
verpool-Agreed to in the House of Commons.- An Address moved by
the Hon. Mr. F. Rohinson, and seconded by Mr. F. B. Lushington-
Animadversions on the Address, particularly to what related to Spain,
by Mr. Ponsonby The Address defended in all its parts by Lord Car
tlereagh Agreed to....

CHAP. III.

Motion in the House of Lords for the Thanks of the House to Lieute
nant-General Sir A. Wellesley-Why was not the Commander-in-chief
-Sir H. Burrard comprehended in this Motion?-Different Opinions on
this Question.The Motion for Thanks to Sir A. Wellesley agreed to.
-The same subject brought into the House of Commons And the same

Question respecting Sir H. Burrard agitated.-The Motion for Thanks

to Sir A. Wellesley opposed by Lord Folkstone.-Testimonies in favour

of Sir A. Wellesley-Of Major-general Ferguson-And Brigadier-

general Anstruther.-The Motion for Thanks to Sir A. Wellesley

agreed to. Thanks also voted to the other Officers.-A Resolution of

the House in Approbation of the Conduct of the Non-commissioned

Officers and Privates.-Motion in the House of Commons for the

Thanks of the House for the Defeat before Corunna-Question put to

Ministers, why so heavy a Loss as that of Sir J. Moore, &c. had been

sustained, without the Attainment of any one Object?

48

CHAP.

Campaign in Portugal Motion in the House of Commons, by Lord

H. Petty, for a Resolution of the House, declaring that the Con-

vention of Cintra, and a Maritime Convention concluded nearly at

the same Time off the Tagus, had disappointed the Hopes and

Expectations of the Country-And for a Second, declaring that in

the Opinion of the House of Commons, those Conventions had, in a

great measure, arisen from the Misconduct and Neglect of His

Majesty's Ministers.-Opposed, and the Conduct of Ministry explained

and defended by Lord Castlereagh.-Lord Petty's Motions supported

by General Tarleton.-Views and Motives of Sir Arthur Wellesley

throughout the Expedition to Portugal explained by himself-Speech

of Mr. Windham in Reply to Lord Castlereagh-Lord Petty's

Motions negatived.-Campaign in Spain-Inquiry into moved in the

House of Commons by Mr. Ponsonby.-Mr. Ponsonby's Motion

supported by Mr. Windham-Opposed by Lord Castlereagh, Mr.

Canning, and other Speakers.-Negatived

CHAP. V.

54

The Proceedings and Debates in Parliament, either retrospective or pros-
-pective-The prospective arranged into general Heads.-The House
of Commons in a Committee of Ways of Means.-The Budget.-The
Irish Budget.-Proceedings of the House of Commons on the Fourth
Report of the Committee of Public Expenditure: which related to the
Misconduct of the Commissioners appointed for the Disposal of Dutch
Captured Property--Resolutions on the Subject of Finance moved by
Mr. Vansittart-Agreed to.-Abuses brought to Light by the Tenth
Report of the Commissioners of Nuval Revision-Resolutions moved
thereon in the House of Commons, by Sir C, Pole-Negatived.-
Reports of the Commissioners of Military Inquiry-Enormous Abuses

and Frauds.

Measures for the Augmentation of the Regular Army-Militia. Comple-
tion Bill-The Effects of Lord Castlereagh's Plan, for this purpose,

3 compared with, that of Mr. Windham's-State of the Regular Army

at the present moment.-Deficiency of Numbers in the Second Batta-

lions-To-Supply this deficiency, the Object of the Militia Completion

Bill-This Bill Passed.-Marine Mutiny Bill. The Corps of Ma-

rines recommended to Public Notice and Favour, by Sir Charles

Pole

107

CHAP.

CHAP. VII.

Inquiry by the House of Commons into the Conduct of the Commander.

in-Chief, His royal Highness the Duke of York.The Inquiry into the

Conduct of the Duke not confined to his official Acts.-The Lord Chan-

cellor and the Duke of Portland vindicated against false Insinuations by

Mrs. Clarke. Many corrupt Practices unveiled-Of the Reverend

Mr. Basely, Chaplain to the Bishop of London-Of the Reverend Dr.

O'Meara and, in favour, though alledged to be without the Know

ledge, of the Reverend Mr. G. H. Glasse, Rector of Hanwell.-Cha-

racter and behaviour of Mrs. Clarke on her examination before the

House of Commons.-Deep Interest of the whole Nation in the Inquiry

into the Conduct of the Duke of York.-Reflections

CHAP. VIII.

117

Inquiries arising out of that into the Conduct of the Duke of York.-4

Bill to prevent the Sale and Brokerage of Offices.-Abuses of the Pe

tronage of the East India Company.Charges of the Abuse of Ministe-

rial Influence and Power against Lord Castlereagh

CHAP. IX.

149

Charges of Corrupt Practices in influencing the returns of Members to -

Parliament against Mr. Perceval and Lord Castlereagh, by Mr.

Madocks.Motion of Mr. Madocks on this Subject.-An Amendment

proposed by Lord Milton.-Another by Mr. Davy Giddy-The avowed

Object of Mr. Madocks's Motion, a Reform in Parliament.--Both

Amendments negatived-As well as the original Motion by Mr. Ma-

docks.-Plan and Motion of a Reform of Parliament by Mr. Curwen.

-Long Debate on the Bill proposed by Mr. Curwen, with Modifica-

tions so great as, in the Opinion of some Members, to reverse its ori

ginal Tendency and Object, entertained by the House and passed.

A Plan for Parliamentary Reform proposed by Sir Francis Burdett

-His Motion for taking this Plan into its future Consideration nego

tired. Mr. Whitbread's Motion for limiting the Number of Persons

holding Seats in the House of Commons, together with Places, Pen-

sions, Sinecures, and Places under the Crown-After a Debate, nega-

tired.-Mr. Wardle's Plan for Public Economy and Motion for the

production of Papers for the purpose of justifying his Statement on

the Subject. After many Observations or Strictures on those State-

ments, this Motion agreed to.-Attention of the House of Commons

directed to the Improvement of both the Criminal and Civil Law of the

Country-Motions respecting the former by Sir Samuel Romilly-

Agreed to.--Scotch Judicature Bill. Relief afforded, and intended to

be