Chapter IV: Introduction: V (3)

Under such circumstances I cannot but believe, and cannot fear to assure your Majesty, that the nation as well as individuals will come forward in support of the established laws of the realm, and that persons will be found able to carry on your Majesty’s business with talents and abilities equal to those of your present Ministers. If your Majesty should suppose that in the forming of such an Administration, I can offer your Majesty any services, I am devoted to your Majesty’s commands; but, while I say this, I feel conscious that my time of life, my infirmities, and my want of abilities are not calculated for so high a trust. I, however, can say that if, in this very momentous crisis, your Majesty calls upon me, I will serve you zealously and faithfully to the end of my existence.[11]

PARTY POLITICS (1807).

=Source.=--Extract from the Prospectus of _The Examiner_. By Leigh Hunt.

The great error of politicians is that old fancy of Solon, who insisted that it was infamous for a citizen to be of no party, and endeavoured by a law to make the Athenians hypocrites. This conceit not only destroys every idea of mediation between two parties, but does not even suppose that both may be wrong. Yet all history may convince us, that he who resolutely professes himself attached to any party, is in danger of yielding to every extreme for the mere reputation of his opinion: he will argue for the most manifest errors of this or that statesman, because he has hitherto agreed with him--an obstinacy as stupid, as if a pedestrian were to express his satisfaction with a tempest at night, because he had enjoyed sunshine in the morning.

The big and little Endians in _Gulliver_ have not yet taught us the folly of mere party: and one of the most ridiculous inconsistencies in the human character is that enjoyment which all ages have expressed in satirical productions, without receiving benefit from them: they drink the physic with a bold and pleasant countenance, and instantly prepare to counteract its effect; or rather, every man thinks the physic excellent for everybody but himself.--“Party,” says Swift, “is the madness of many for the gain of a few.” When _Scarmentado_ in Voltaire arrived at Ispahan, he was asked whether he was for black mutton or white mutton: he replied, that it was equally indifferent to him, provided it was tender. A wise man knows no party abstracted from its utility, or existing, like a shadow, merely from the opposition of some body. Yet, in the present day, we are all so erroneously sociable, that every man, as well as every journal, must belong to some class of politicians; he is either Pittite or Foxite, Windhamite, Wilberforcite, or Burdettite: though at the same time two-thirds of these disturbers of coffee-houses might with as much reason call themselves Hivites or Shunamites, or perhaps Bedlamites.

THE BERLIN DECREES (1807).

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester_, 1861. Vol. ii., p. 134.

_Tuesday, December 1st._--Received the following letter from Perceval:

DEAR MR. SPEAKER,

The Parliament will not meet till the Thursday after the birthday. I am culpable in not having sent you earlier intelligence, but the day was not fixed till Wednesday last, and, of the determination not to meet till near the birthday, unless circumstances particularly required it, you were apprised by me before.

* * * * *

The business of recasting the law of trade and navigation, as far as belligerent principles are concerned, for the whole world, has occupied me very unremittingly for a long time; and the subject is so extensive, and the combinations so various, that, even supposing our principles to be right, I cannot hope that the execution of the principle must not in many respects be defective; and I have no doubt we shall have to watch it with new provisions and regulations for some time.

The short principle is that trade in British produce and manufactures, and trade either from a British port or with a British destination, is to be protected as much as possible. For this purpose all the countries where French influence prevails to exclude the British flag shall have no trade but to and from the country, or from its allies. All other countries, the few that remain strictly neutral (with the exception of the colonial trade, which backwards and forwards direct they may carry on) cannot trade but through this being done as an ally with any of the countries connected with France. If, therefore, we can accomplish our purposes, it will come to this, that either those countries will have no trade, or they must be content to accept it through us.

This is a formidable and tremendous state of the world; but all the part of it which is particularly harassing to English interests was existing through the new severity with which Buonaparte’s decrees of exclusion against our trade were called into action.

Our proceeding does not aggravate our distress from it. If he can keep out our trade he will; and he would do so if he could, independent of our orders. Our orders only add this circumstance: they say to the enemy, if you will not have _our_ trade, as far as we can help it you shall have _none_. And as to so much of any trade as you can carry on yourselves, or others carry on with you through us, if you admit it, you shall pay for it. The only trade cheap and untaxed which you shall have, shall be either direct from us, in our own produce and manufactures, or from our allies, whose increased prosperity will be an advantage to us.

* * * * *

Yours, very truly, SP. PERCEVAL.

CORUNNA (1809).

I. BULLETIN OF JAN. 21.

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester._ Vol. ii., p. 164.

[_Jan._] _21st._--The annexed bulletin was circulated.

DOWNING STREET, _Jan. 21st._

Brigadier General Stewart arrived this morning at Lord Castlereagh’s with despatches from Sir John Moore, dated Corunna, 13th inst., upon which place he had directed his retreat, and not on Vigo, as he originally intended. Sir John Moore had effected his retreat to Corunna with the loss of only part of his baggage; there had been repeated skirmishes with the rear guard, in which we had uniformly repulsed the enemy, and at Vigo Sir John Moore offered the enemy battle, but the French declined it. The enemy, when Brigadier General Stewart left Corunna, were in force in the neighbourhood, but it was trusted that Sir John Moore would effect his re-embarkation without much loss, as the transports which he had sent for from Vigo were entering the Bay at Corunna, when General Stewart sailed on the 14th.

II. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE AT CORUNNA (1809).

=Source.=--Charles Wolfe.

I.

Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O’er the grave where our hero we buried.

II.

We buried him darkly, at dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning;
By the struggling moonbeam’s misty light,
And the lantern dimly burning.

III.

No useless coffin enclosed his breast,
Not in sheet or in shroud we wound him;
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.

IV.

Few and short were the prayers we said,
And we spoke not a word of sorrow;
But we steadfastly gazed on the face that was dead,
And we bitterly thought of the morrow.

V.

We thought, as we hollowed his narrow bed,
And smoothed down his lonely pillow,
That the foe and the stranger would tread o’er his head,
And we far away on the billow!

VI.

Lightly they’ll talk of the spirit that’s gone,
And o’er his cold ashes upbraid him;--
But little he’ll reck, if they let him sleep on
In the grave where a Briton has laid him.

VII.

But half of our heavy task was done
When the clock struck the note for retiring:
And we heard the distant and random gun
That the foe was sullenly firing.

VIII.

Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone--
But we left him alone with his glory!

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC ECONOMY (1809).

=Source.=--_Diaries ... Right Hon. George Rose_, 1860. Vol. ii., p. 336.

_Lord Mulgrave to Mr. Rose._

ADMIRALTY, _Feb. 4th, 1809_.

MY DEAR ROSE,

It must be ever unpleasant to me not to accede at once to any measure proposed by you and by Canning; more especially as I find the Memorial is in the hands of the clerks of the Council before I had an opportunity of answering your note.

Since I came into office I have proceeded on all questions of augmentation of salaries, on a strong impression of the importance of public economy, and on a full conviction that the advance of any one salary does not rest there, but raises a cry of claim, founded upon relative duties and rank, with an air of justice from precedent; which involves either an excessive increase of charge to the public, or an imputation of harshness and injustice, against the person in authority, who rejects the authority of the precedent, and refuses the increase demanded. I feel how impossible it is for me to follow up the principle I have set out upon either with comfort to myself or advantage to the public, if I alone pursue it. Upon all the demands of clerks for increase of salary, I have consulted Perceval, to ascertain how far the general charges upon the funds of Government would be influenced by such increase; because I know that the advance in one department must be followed by a similar advance in every other. I relinquished, on the representation of Perceval, a most important, and almost necessary, measure of increasing the appointments of the _Naval_ Lords of the Admiralty. I rejected the recommendation of the Commissioners of Naval Revision for the addition of £200 per annum to the Commissioners of the Navy, because I did not think that increase necessary, whilst so many eager candidates were pressing for the situation. If the Paymaster to the Treasurer of the Navy has his salary raised, will not the Commissioners of Victualling and Transport Boards, whose duties are so constant and laborious, especially the former, have a claim to a similar advance? I have refused the advance to the Commissioners at the Cape as recommended by the Commissioners of Naval Revision; and in short I have consented to no increase of salary without being persuaded that proper persons could not be found without such increase; and therefore, as far as my consent is required, I cannot give it, but upon that persuasion, in any case. I am aware that I have created much dissatisfaction by holding the public purse-strings so close; but it is from an apprehension that without very rigid economy we can neither retain the goodwill of the public, nor hold out against the perseverance and resources of the enemy.

Ever yours sincerely, MULGRAVE.

RESIGNATION OF PORTLAND (1809).

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester_, 1861. Vol. ii., p. 200.

_Sunday, Sept. 10th._--Received the following letter from Perceval.

[_Most private and confidential._]

DOWNING STREET, _Sept. 9th, 1809_.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER,

I cannot let the week close without giving you some information (though I have delayed till now giving you any, with the hopes of giving you more than I am able, even at present) upon a subject of great importance.

_The Duke of Portland has resigned_, the King only desiring he would keep his office till some arrangement might be made for his successor. The story is a great deal too long for a note or a letter; suffice it to say, that it is mixed in some respects with the most painful considerations that it has ever been my misfortune to have felt.

Whether it will be possible for us to form any arrangement, or what it will be, I really cannot at present state to you, as I do not know myself. According to present appearances, Castlereagh _cannot_ stay with us, from a sense of what is due to himself; and Canning _will_ not. Conceive me then, and my situation in your house, under such circumstances, and judge whether, if these appearances are realised, it would be just by the King or by the country in me, to affect to be able to remain either without them or some other _strength_, where how to acquire it is not very easy to imagine.

I wished you not to know this subject from any other quarter but myself, and I feel that I have only whetted your curiosity, and it would take a volume to communicate it fully. Possibly, therefore, till a personal meeting, I must defer the full explanation. The result, whatever it may be, you shall hear as soon as I can tell you. The cruel thing upon Castlereagh is, that though this is entirely independent of the late expedition, it is next to impossible but that the public impression will connect the two together.

I am, my dear Mr. Speaker, Yours very truly, SP. PERCEVAL.

DUEL OF CANNING AND CASTLEREAGH (1809).

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester_, 1861. Vol. ii., p. 209.

_Letter from Mr. Perceval._

DOWNING STREET, _Sept. 20th, 1809_.

DEAR MR. SPEAKER,

I have had so much to say that I have no time to say it; but I might have found time to have thanked you for your kind and ready answer to my former letter.

You have judged me _perfectly right_. If you had asked my advice I could not have been so dishonest as not to have given it for the decision you have made. Castlereagh and Canning have been fighting. Thank God Canning is not severely hurt, and Castlereagh is not touched. Terrible, all this, for public impression. What we are to do is not finally settled. It must end in an attempt to form an united Government with our opponents. But it is a bitter pill to swallow for more than one.

When I can tell you anything positive, and can get a moment to tell it, I will.

Yours very truly, SP. PERCEVAL.

MILITARY EXPENSES (1806-1809).

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester_, 1861. Vol. ii., p. 239.

The military expenses of the last four years have been:--

1806.--Army £16,605,000
Navy 15,448,000
Ordnance 4,366,000
-----------
£36,419,000
-----------

1807.--Army £16,661,000
Navy (Expedition to Copenhagen) 19,673,000
Ordnance 4,464,000
-----------
£40,798,000
-----------

1808.--Army £17,365,000
Navy (Expedition to Spain and
Portugal) 18,156,000
Ordnance 3,980,000
-----------
£39,501,000
-----------

1809.--Army £17,459,000
Vote of Credit 2,500,000
----------
19,959,000
Navy (Expeditions to
Spain and Portugal,
and Walcheren) 18,986,000
Vote of Credit 500,000
Additional 1,291,000
----------
20,777,000
Ordnance 5,275,000
-----------
Total £46,011,000
-----------

TALAVERA: PROTEST BY LORDS (1809).

=Source.=--_Protests of the Lords._ Vol. ii., 1741-1825, p. 423.

_January 26, 1810._--The thanks of the Lords were voted to Lord Viscount Wellington for his services on the 27th and 28th of July, 1809, at the victory of Talavera. The title of Viscount Wellington of Talavera was conferred on the 4th of September, 1809. The motion was made by Lord Liverpool and opposed by Lords Suffolk, Grosvenor, and Grey. The following protest was inserted:

1st. Because in the battle of Talavera, though eminently
distinguished by those splendid proofs of discipline and valour
which his Majesty’s troops have never failed to display, we cannot
recognize those unequivocal characteristics of victory which can
alone form an adequate title to the thanks of this House. On the
contrary, that the British army appears to have been improvidently
led into a situation, in which the repulse of the enemy, effected
with a great loss, produced neither security from a subsequent
attack, nor relief from the distress under which our brave troops
were suffering, and was immediately followed by the necessity of a
precipitate retreat, whereby our wounded were left to fall into the
hands of the enemy.

2ndly, Because, by voting the thanks of this House on such an
occasion, we diminish the value of the most honourable reward we
have it in our power to confer, whilst we indirectly sanction the
propriety of that elevation to the honours of the peerage, with
which his Majesty, without inquiry, was advised to mark his
approbation of the commander of his army in Spain, at a time when
his ministers were informed of the unfortunate consequences which
might be expected to follow, and in fact did follow, that
dear-bought success.

CHARLES GREY, EARL GREY. JAMES MAITLAND, LORD LAUDERDALE (EARL OF LAUDERDALE).

WALCHEREN EXPEDITION (1810).

A.--A SQUIB ON THE EXPEDITION.

=Source.=--_Diary of Lord Colchester_, 1861. Vol. ii., p. 232.

The following squib was published in the papers at this time on the Walcheren Expedition:

EXTRACT FROM THE GRAND ROMANTIC DRAMA LATELY PERFORMED FOR THE
AMUSEMENT OF THE EMPEROR OF FRANCE.