den the British commander had escaped in disguise from his all, without firing a single British musket. With respect to Spain, the ministers seemed to have no fixed plan of operations; they depended entirely on the chapter of accidents. Sir A. Wellesley was sent to Portugal without instructions-a sort of roving commission. He had taken advice of the junta of Gallicia: they might wish to act rightly-but they had been most egregiously mistaken. The disapproved parts of the convention of Cintra were not identified; but it appeared that the convention was rendered necessary by the want of every requisite for an army-particularly cavalry; and though time was every thing in this business, and though the convention was signed Aug. 30, yet it was near ten weeks before our troops reached Spain. The city of London had complained of the convention, and had been reprimanded for it.-He wished that ministers had availed themselves of the measures taken by queen Elizabeth, who when she assisted the united states of Holland, demanded cautionary towns. He lamented the situation of Sir John Moore's army of the king of Sweden-of our coneerns with North America.-He thought the increase of the revenue was not owing to the present ministers should not divide the house on the address; but should introduce the convention of Cintra, the conduct of the war in Spain, and the state of affairs with America, at an early opportunity. Lord Castlereagh was relieved by the declaration of Mr. P. from the necessity of saying much that he might have said.-Whatever want of vigour might be imputable to the present ministers, the country would believe that those who preceded them, (men of talents though they were!) would not have displayed greater vigour :-they would have stood still. Our expedition to the Baltic was extremely fortunate; for the marquis of Romana had informed him, that if it had not appeared the day it did, he, with his division of 9000 Spanish troops, was to have passed over into Zealand with the French general Bernadotte, to occupy and retain it. We had also kept Russia in check; and contributed to preserve the Swedish navy.. Only delicacy towards an ally induced him to conceal any part of the transactions in Sweden. He could not think of withhold ing assistance in men from Spain; or of sending arms and aminunition only. The only town the Spaniards possessed worth asking, was Cadiz but surely to have demanded that would have been to have thrown the apple of discord. To think of occupying the passes in the Pyrennees was absurd; our forces would have been surrounded by the French, and never could have come back again. He was desirous of giving the house our all possible information on the affairs of Portugal. Sir A. Wellesley did not sail without specific orders. His object was the Tagus; but an officer of merit should not be forbidden from using his discretion, or obtaining information. Floating armies might be excellent things: he thought Gen. Spencer had been of great service at Ayamonte, by stopping a part of Junot's force from ex tricating Dupont. It was not intended to send cavalry and what accompanied the army were cavalry accidentally coining from the Mediterranean. At Alexandria we had 150 cavalry (the French had 2,400) at Maida none. The temper of this country, at the time that armament sailed, regretted the smallest delay. The convention of Cintra might be an occasion of rejoicing, as Portugal was delivered from the French, while some parts of it were objectionable. There could be no intention of offending the city of London, by language used towards that body: but, as the question was becoming a party question, it was necessary to repress that party spirit. Mr. Whitbread feared that ministers had acted on false information from Spain that the Spaniards were less hearty in their own cause than had been reported that they were not unanimous. He thought the proposals from Erfurth were delusive, though he regretted that many fair opportunities for obtaining peace had passed away unimproved. Hoped the committee of finance would be revived. Condemned the orders in council: the dispute with America, &c. Mr. Secretary Canning admitted the great responsibility of ministers: stated, that the insurrection in Spain had broken out in different provinces, at the same time. To these several provinces assistance was sent in arms and amunition: but the British troops could not land till authorized by the central junta, that being the paramount authority, which did not meet till late in September. The Tagus was a proper point for action. Cautionary towns were out of the question. A landing at Bilboa, and attack on Pampeluna, would have been ruinous. The treaty with Spain gave an assurance and dignity to proceedings with that country. America was partial to France; as was proved from the proposal for taking off the embargo, by which the British flag would have remained French flag was admitted. The orders in excluded from the American ports; while the council were not known in America when the embargo took place; therefore could not produce it. Nothing certain or official from Turkey. Mr. Tierney spoke; but said little that was new. Mr. Rose jun. explained how circumstan ces stood when he sailed from England, and arrived in America. Lord Henry Petty asked whether the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry would be laid before the house. Lord Castlereagh answered in the affirmative. Address carried nem, con. curred throughout the Peninsula, as throughout the world, renders it unsafe to entrust the manacled Spaniards, with the privilege of a free election. A free election!-Had the hangman of Madrid been the third candidate for the throne, not one of the other candidates would have obtained a single vote! Jan. 20. The papers relative to the pro-Stung by remorse, by the anguish of mind posal of peace from Erfurth, were laid on the tables of both houses. In the commons lord H. Petty moved for the report of the Board of Inquiry, also his majesty's disapprobation of certain parts of the convention of Cintra. Ordered. Mr Wardle gave notice of an inquiry into the sale of commissions, &c. POLITICAL PERISCOPE. resulting from a keen sense of hatred in all around; alive to the pangs of that worm which never dies, and which even here gnaws the most callous bosom; go, Buonaparte, and amid the forced splendour of Madrid, as amid shades of midnight darkness, conceal from the sight of man, the abhorred spectacle of guilt triumphant! Learn, that the victims of your ambition curse you every day you live; and, when you die—they will Panorama Office, Jun. 25, 1809. rejoice with an exultation founded on the Language sinks under every attempt to ex-persuasion, that to crimes which they were press that dignified veneration, that awful not allowed to punish on earth, an adequate. sentiment of profound respect, with which recompense is reserved in the regions of the dead. we contemplate another British hero, dying in the arms of victory! Be it known to all the earth, that the sons of Britain have not degenerated from the valour of their renowned forefathers! Accustomed to the enjoyments of social and endearing intercourse, to the satisfaction and the refinements of polished society, to whatever of delightful earth can afford, they know the value of lifebut, they relinquish all, when their country calls them to defend it, by deeds of arms. That nation only deserves refined enjoyments, which possesses sufficient energy to defend them: that nation only, which stems the torrent of oppression, and when others shrink from the contest, boldly lifts her terrific crest, and firmly places her deterInined foot, in fearless resistance to the tyrants of the human race! Go, Buonaparte, sneak back to Madrid; whence, protected by Frenchmen to the number of ten for one Briton whom they expected to meet, you advanced to within boasting distance of the British army.-Have you, then, fought the British army?—No! Have you heard the report of a single British musquet?-No! Have you seen the manly countenances and the steady steps of the British ranks?-No! But finding their General equally prudent as valiant, you have sent your myrmidons to encounter the danger, while the Tyrant in whose cause it is their hard fate to fall, stood aloof from the conflict; and he reaps the benefit without having witnessed the hazard. Go, Buonaparte, and secure the election of your brother Joseph to be king of Madrid. Wisely you gave the people no other choice than either him or yourself. But, remember at the same time, and bitterly, too, remeniber, that the hatred you have so justly in NELSON died at Trafalgar :-Died! NELSON then began to live. MOORE died at Corunna :-Died! MOORE could not die: he fell in the service of his country. His wound was in front: his honour was unimpaired : His glory is immortal: his name shall reecho among the sons of Britain; and every heart beat high, when his courage and his conduct are the theme of conversation. Nor are his honours confined to the eulogia of mortals: when he enters the Hall of Spirits, The warlike dead of every age, Shall leave their sainted rest: To hail th' heroic guest. Old Edward's sons, unknown to yield, And wish th' avenging fight. Nor shall the heroes that fell with Moorz be forgotten: to ANSTRUTHER, NAPIER and Mc. KENZIE; to officers of lower rank, and to every valiant Briton, shall be al lotted seats of exalted dignity, while the solemnities shall be heightened by the grateful conviction that Britons may be slain, but they cannot be dishonoured: they may be overpowered, but they cannot be dis graced they shall be admired, esteemed, applauded, by all the world; and to complete their triumphs-Buonaparte shall call them COWARDS! Yes, Buonaparte, SUCH COWARDS the British islands produce in thousands : cowards, whoin YOU (with all your slaves) dare not behold; cowards, who would rejoice to meet you Man to Man; but, who think ten to one is an odds honourable only to adepts in Corsican heroism. We are mistaken, if this event at Corunna have not a lasting influence on the inflated boastings of the would-be great man of the Continent. The remembrance of this conflict with a small division of the British forces, (5,000 to 50,000) will be of eminent use to his officers, and they, with their emperor and king, will stand aghast at the thought of heading fettered conscripts to meet SUCH COMBATANTS on the British shore ! What may be the feelings of the British Parliament, on this occasion, we know not; we pronounce infamous, whoever can hesitate a moment in eulogising the valiant dead; and if no other solemnity be appointed, and no other monument be erected, we shall do our duty; and transmit to posterity the honoured memory of a great military commander who has fallen at his post: a commander whose contemporaries will recollect his talents with regret: whose magnanimity will be an object of applause and imitation to late posterity. The assemblage of the British parliament is a subject of great interest. The members are not met to sanction (were it possible) a Buonapartean usurpation; to hear language importing if you will not have brother Joseph for your king, I will put the crown of Britain on my own head!"-That head which wears the iron crown! That head which has plotted the blackest treasons against unoffending mankind! That head, which in malignity and craft, in perfidy, and cruelty, is only to be matched by the heart The following authentic anecdote, which we received from one of the parties concerned in it, we insert, merely to prove that Napoleon Buonaparte has not lost any part of his original character. As the parties are living, and the one denoted by stars is near his person, it is not safe to mention names. which can bear to execute its determinations! And Heav'n's high arbitrator sit secure Some advantageous act may be achieved curse Their frail original, and fatal bliss. Such sentiments befit Beelzebub and Buonaparte! In truth, we do not despair of accommodating brother Joseph with a kingdom, when Madrid shall be as it will be in summer time-" too hot" to hold him. Our readers have seen what accounts have reached us (there are no later in town) of the last revolution at Constantinople; and we most respectfully recommend that capital, as being the prettiest place, for bloody revolutions, that is within our recollection. It is further recommended, too, by the consideration, that the sovereign is a friendly prince, in amity, and alliance, the representative of a long line of ancestry, the descendant of many established sultans. Whether he will quit his country, at command, is not certain; but a little dextrous iniquity inay be advantageously employed to deprive him of his dignity, and as the achievement is GREATLY GUILTY, that still farther enhances the delight of the undertaking. Álmost immediately after the amnesty had We know, too, that this advice is coincident passed, which was granted to the Terrorists with the intentions of Napoleon; and who after the death of Robespierre, in which our so proper to accomplish it? For is he not alhero was included- then a terrorist of the lowest class, as of the deepest guilt, notwith- publique c'est un terroriste tout pur; et, standing his late vapouring address to Morla, malgré qu'il est amnistié, il ne faut pas avoir which he has registered in his own bulletin affaire avec lui. The valiant hero on rehe applied to a friend of ours, soliciting his ceiving his Mémoire back from our friend's recommendation to the war minister for em- servant, presented the most hideous picture of ployment, remitting him for that purpose La dejection and despair. Compare Panorama, Mémoire du Citoyen Buonaparte. Previous Vol. III. p. 106 107. The rise of his fortune to making the application desired, our friend after this was his accepting a command, of enquired of ****** *** whether he the artillery under Barras, in the sanguinary knew such a person?"Oh, yes," said he, expedition of Vendémiaire 13, when he fired "heis marked as one of the greatest rogues in grape shot down the streets of Paris, without the republic: have nothing to do with him, mercy or remorse. Barras knew, from his " or you will lose your character, if known previous character, that he would execute this to be of his acquaintance."Il est connu commission heartily. Barras is in Eaile, by pour un des plus vitains sujets dans la Ré-order of his Corsican protégé the Emperar!!! : ready the greatest Turk in Christendom | parte will recover that continent to Spain: no ALI MOHAMMED-NAPOLEON-BONAPARTE? other country will affect to assume dominion Has he not professed a boundless zeal in sup- over it. The treasures it contains will come port of the Mahommedan faith?—(Faith! direct to Britain: and the free intercourse of we mean unbelief :)-and could he not force its inhabitants with the nations of Europe the Pope to grant him a dispensation, as easily will contribute to raise them much higher as he forced him to put the crown of France than ever they have been in the scale of on his head and so convey to him a property, political consideration. We hope, that this in which he who gave it had no share. change will be for the benefit of the human -To be sure he could: Buonaparte race: a mere change of sovereignty, without has lately intimated something like this, augmentation of felicity, is little desirable by on his part, in an hint given to Austria; the real philanthropist. The progress of which power understands extremely well, knowledge, of arts, of real religion, also; that the road from Paris to Constanti- is extremely desirable; and we trust that the nople lies through Vienna. This is all the present confusions which trouble the world notice we shall take of Austria. The revo- will be overruled to such happy effects: lution at Constantinople has been a serious though the mean for that purpose may jusufy affair we presume, as much so as any that the adage "trial before triumph."capital ever saw. But how does this accommodate brother Joseph-why truly, the next most famous city for revolutions, (witness a late one) is Algiers and we humbly do propose that if Joseph should lose his election for king of Madrid, that he be put up for the Deyship of Algiers. That city is charmingly situated; has both land-breezes and sea-breezes; and the population would be happy, very happy, being composed of pirates, renegadoes, and assassins of all countries and descriptions, to see at its head a member of the family of Buonaparte: as no member of the family of Buonaparte could long be a stranger in a place so commodious for renewing of old acquaintances. The French and Spanish inhabitants of the island of St. Domingo, have come to blows. The French general Ferrand, it is said, led out a body of troops in whom he supposed he could place coufidence, against his Spanish assailants: but, when the Spaniards under French command found that they were called out to fight against their countrymen, they refused: and Ferrand in despair shot himself. The Spaniards are now besieging the city of St. Domingo. We are sorry to have occasion to add, that ever since the determination of the British legislature on the subject of the Slave Trade, there has been a latent heart-burning among the inhabitants of the British West India islands. We hinted at the existence of this, Having thus settled as pretty a pair of many months ago. It has very recently disTurks, as ever swore fealty to the green stan-played itself in the conduct of the House of dard of Mahomet, we turn our attention for a moment to the north; where we hope and trust the work of death is suspended. Sweden has an understanding of some kind with Russia and Denmark. Prussia is relieved by the absence of French marauders, now called to desolate the provinces of Spain. Holland is frozen: its canals, its patriotism, its sensibility, its honour:--but when was avarice susceptible of public spirit? A prominent object on the political horizon of Britain is America, at this time. The situation of that country will be understood, from an article we have already introduced. We have no later intelligence to communicate. To what heights civil dissentions may rise, among those provinces, we know not. What we foresee is little favourable to permanent tranquillity. The reader has also seen the reasonings of America in reference to the supplies it affords to the British empire. The public efforts of America will meet disappointment: the private efforts of some of her not too conscientious citizens, may meet with success. South America is lost to Europe, as a dependency. No effort in the power of Buona Assembly in Jamaica. At the close of the month of May ast, an insurrection broke out in one of the negro regiments. Two of its officers were killed by the mutineers: and after inquiry made by the military power, the bodies were buried, without any process by coroner's inquest, or the civil power. The House of Assembly, in November, ordered an inquiry into this business, and summoned before them General Carmichael, commanderin-chief of the forces: but this officer refused to obey the summons, conceiving himself not answerable to that authority, but to his superiors in Britain. He also forbad his officers from giving testimony on that subject. The house manifesting intentions to arrest the General, the Duke of Manchester, governor of the island, has been under the necessity of proroguing the assembly till he can receive directions from Britain. The duties paid on the importation of negroes from 1796 to March 1808 amounted to £514,095. The deficiency occasioned by the loss of this tax, must be made good from other revenues of the island. A duty for this purpose has been laid on the imports from Amer rica: but what are they, during the embargo? Tuesday, London Gazette Extraordinary, Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is a copy. Ville de Paris, at Sea, Jan. 18, 1809. My Lord.-By the much lamented death of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, who fell in action with the enemy on the 16th instant, it has become my duty to acquaint your Lordship, that the French army attacked the British troops in the position they occupied in front of Corunna, at about two o'clock in the afternoon of that day. A severe wound, which compelled me to quit the field a short time previous to the fall of Sir John Moore, obliges me to refer your Lordship for the particulars of the action, which was long and obstinately contested, to the inclosed report of Lieutenant-General Hope, who succeeded to the command of the army, and to whose ability and exertions in direction of the ardent zeal and unconquer able valour of his Majesty's troops, is to be attributed, under Providence, the success of the day, which terminated in the complete and entire repulse and defeat of the enemy at every point of attack. The Honourable Captain Gordon, my Aidde-camp, will have the honour of delivering this dispatch, and will be able to give your Lordship any further information which may be required.I have the honour to be, &c. D. BAIRD, Lieut.-Gen. The Rt. Hon. Lord Visc. Castlereagh. Audacious, off Corunna, Jan. 19, 1809. Sir, In compliance with the desire contained in your communication of yesterday, I avail myself of the first moment I have been able to command, to detail to you the occurrences of the action which took place in front of Corunna on the 16th instant. It will be in your recollection, that about one in the afternoon of that day the enemy, who had in the morning received reinforcements, and who had placed some guns in front of the right and left of his line, was observed to be VOL. V. [Lit. Pan. Feb. 1809.] moving troops towards his left flank, and forming various columns of attack at that position, which, on the morning of the 15th, extremity of the strong and commanding he had taken in our immediate front. This indication of his intention was immediately succeeded by the rapid and determined attack which he made upon your division, which occupied the right of our position. The events which occurred during that period of the action you are fully acquainted with. The first effort of the enemy was met by the commander of the forces, and by yourself, at the head of the 42d regiment, and the brigade tinck. under Major-General Lord Williani Ben The village on your right became an object of obstinate contest. wound which deprived the army of your serI lament to say, that soon after the severe vices, Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, who feil by a cannon-shot. The troops, though had just directed the most able disposition, not unacquainted with the irreparable loss they had sustained, were not dismayed, but by the most determined bravery not only repelled every attempt of the enemy to gain ground, but actually forced him to retire, although he had brought up fresh troops in support of those originally engaged. The enemy finding himself foiled in every attempt to force the right of our position, cious and well timed movement which was endeavoured by numbers to turn it. A judimade by Major-General Paget, with the reserve, which corps had moved out of its Cantonments to support the right of the army, by a vigorous attack defeated this intention. the 95th (rifle corps), and 1st battalion 52d The Major-General having pushed forward regiment, drove the enemy before him, and, the left of the enemy's position. This cirin his rapid and judicious advance, threatened cumstance, with the position of LieutenantGeneral Fraser's division (calculated to give induced the enemy to relax his efforts in that still further security to the right of the line), quarter. ed towards the centre, where they were again They were, however, more forcibly direct-successfully resisted by the brigade under Major-General Manningham, forming the left of your division, and a part of that under Major-General Leith, forming the right of the division under my orders. Upon the left, the enemy at first contented himself with an attack upon our piquets, which however in general maintained their ground. Finding, however, his efforts unavailing on the right and centre, he seemed determined to render the attack upon the left more serious, and had succeeded in obtaining possession of the village through which the great road to Madrid passes, and which was situated in front of 2 N. |