GEORGE III. 1809—1812
Meeting of Parliament..... The Supplies, &c...... Charges against the Duke of York..... Parliamentary Corruption..... Motion for Reform..... Prorogation 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..... Petition 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 Discipline..... Lord Sidmouth’s Motion respecting Dissenting Preachers..... Affairs of the Irish Catholics..... Amendment of the Criminal law..... . Prorogation of Parliament..... Disputes with America..... Capture of Java..... Affairs of Portugal..... Affairs of Spain; Capture of Badajoz, &c...... Naval Affairs..... Affairs of France.
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
A.D. 1809
Parliament was opened by commission on the 19th of January. The royal speech stated his majesty’s reasons for rejecting the proposals made for a negociation with France and Russia, and spoke of the perseverance of the Spaniards in the cause of their legitimate monarchy and national independence, which would induce his 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 augmentation of our regular army inculcated. The addresses were voted without a division, but opposition at the same time were not wholly silent. They seem indeed to have hoped that the misfortunes in Spain, 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 Commons by Lord Petty, for directly censuring the convention in Portugal, and for attributing the whole blame of it to government, was negatived by two hundred and eight against one hundred and fifty-eight. A motion also, made by Mr. Ponsonby, for an inquiry 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 militia, 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 for the navy: the total amount of supplies for the year for Great Britain and Ireland was £53,802,000. 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.