Lord Castlereagh ,in pursuance of the notice which he had yesterday given, wished to call the attention of the house to the important subject, which he trusted the house would allow that he was justified in having postponed to the present moment. He meant the transcendant victory gained by lord Nelson, and the glorious victory subsequently obtained by sir R. Strachan, of both of which he felt his complete in adequacy to speak in terms in any degree commensurate with their merits. He would preface his address to the house on this occasion by a short history of the naval campaign, if it might be so called, that preceded these brilliant actions. The operations of this campaign commenced with the sailing of a French squadron from Rochefort to the West Indies, which was immediately followed by admiral Cochrane. This squadron only gave an opportunity to the brave admiral Prevost of shewing how an infinitely inferior British force could defend itself from hostile attacks. A squadron of 18 sail of the line then sailed from Toulon, which was instantly pursued by the immortal Nelson; and although they were considerably, superior in numbers, and in strength, they quitted the West Indies without having attained any object of the least importance. And here it was impossible for him to forget the gloomy apprehensions, that were at that time entertained by 98 some individuals of this house. There was no disaster that could befal the country, which they did not predict, as the probable consequence of what they were pleased to term the shameful neglect of his majesty's ministers. But not only were these prophecies of irreparable injury to our commerce and colonial possessions, completely falsified by the event, but, owing to the able arrangements made by the noble lord at the head of the admiralty, the country had been enabled to avert the apprehended danger, and to heap destruction on the enemy. No sooner had advice been received from lord Nelson, that the French squadron had left the West Indies, on their return to Europe, and that it was his intention to push for the Streights' mouth, with the hope of intercepting them, than the admiralty ordered the Brest squadron to suspend ordered the Brest squadron to suspend the blockade of that port, and the Rochefort squadron to proceed off cape Finistrerre, to reinforce admiral Calder's division. Thus, there were three squadrons, which, by the able management of the admiralty board, were placed in situations in which they were likely to meet with the enemy. This event happened accordingly, and the result was, the engagement with the squadron commanded by sir R. Calder, which terminated in considerable success; two sail of the line having been captured from the enemy. Immediately afterwards the French fleet meeting with that from Ferrol, retired to Cadiz to the amount of 34 sail of the line. Not many days clapsed, before a British force was stationed in the bay of Cadiz, adequate to the blockade of the enemy's fleet; and towards the conclusion of the month of Sept. lord Nelson assumed the command, previous to the great action then approaching. Lord Nelson detached a division of this fleet to the Mediterranean. Fortunate, indeed, was it for his fame that he had done so, for it was indisputably apparent, that nothing but the knowledge of this reduction of lord Nelson's force, and the supposition that it amounted only to 21 sail, instead of 27, would have induced the combined fleets to come out and offer battle. Their object was to form a junction with the division in Carthagena, and then to have appeared in the Mediterranean with a fleet approaching to 50 sail, which, in the existing circumstances of Europe, they imagined would have excited a sensation considerably favourable to their views of ambition and aggrandisement. When he contemplated the 99 glorious engagement which had been the result of this attempt on the part of the French, he felt it difficult to select any feature on which to dwell with peculiar praise. Never was there a more complete victory by a superior force over an inferior; never was there such a victory by an inferior force, when contending with a superior force. In every view of the subject, which even professional men could possibly take, they scarcely could suppose it in the power of one fleet to capture from another, not stationary, but under sail, the great number of 19 sail. It was a new species of success in our naval annals, and went practically far beyond what theorists had conceived it possible to accomplish in their speculations. The wonders attending this most brilliant action, were not confined to the day of combat. He should feel that he had fulfilled but half his duty to the brave men who shared in that engagement, if he did not assign to them the praise which was their due, for the firmness and perseverance with which, after having contended with the enemy, they proceeded successfully to struggle with the elements. Then was it too, that that generous spirit of self-devotion to the benefit of their fellow-creatures, those exalted principles, which it had been the glory of ancient France to cultivate, and which it has been the endeavour of modern France to extinguish; then was it that those feelings which it became every man to entertain, and every man to exercise, were proudly manifested.—But, however our admiration might be excited by this illustrious action, it was impossible not to consider, with similar sensations, the achievement of the division under sir R. Strachan, in which that gallant admiral took from the enemy every thing that they presented to him. What effect the exertions of these brave men might have had on the affairs of Europe, under more fortunate auspices, it was impossible to calculate. They had withdrawn 25 sail of the line from the service of enemy, 15 of which were French, and ten Spanish. Of 25, ten had been transferred to the service of this country. The relative situation, therefore, of the navy of this country, and of the navies of our enemies, was altered by a difference of 35 sail of the line, being equal to nearly one half of the whole naval force of the enemy. This advantage, however, was not the sole result; but from the admirable superintendence of admiralty board, no interruption had arisen from the injury which 100 our fleets necessarily sustained in these severe contests. Other ships were prepared immediately to supply these deficiencies. It was not the least extraordinary circumstance attending these brilliant transactions, that after such a combat with the enemy, and such a contest with the elements, we had the heartfelt satisfaction to see every individual ship that had been engaged, brought back safely to a British port, and the enemy were thus precluded from the ostentatious self-congratulations, in which they doubtless would have indulged, had a single British vessel fallen a victim to their arms or to the fury of the elements. Every one must feel, that the security of the empire, so far as it depended on our naval strength, was placed on a firmer basis than ever. He could not refrain from mentioning, that the victory of Trafalgar had happened on a day which was calculated to make the head of the French empire feel, that there was yet a power in the world, capable of controlling his restless ambition. On that very day he had been declaring the designs which he meditated against this country, and on that very day he received, in the chastisement of his fleets, a lesson which, it was to be hoped, he would never forget, and which would teach him what he had to expect from the gallantry and determined bravery of Britons—But it was impossible that these exploits should be performed, and that the country should be satisfied with a silent admiration. He pretended not to do justice to that misfortune, in the loss of the noble hero, who commanded in chief, to which, however, justice had been done by the unaffected letter of the gallant Admiral who had succeeded him. Such indeed were the feelings of regret at the decease of the noble viscount, that it became a question, whether they did not exceed the exultation which his victory had occasioned. There was every thing to praise in the character of the noble individual be had alluded to, whose life from his veryt infancy had been a life of heroism. There was something apparently intuitive in his nature, which prompted him to the execution of grand schemes, which appeared to be out of the resources of his profession. He had the power of attaching individuals to him by his amiable qualities, he controlled them by the superior mind which he displayed, and his genius and his fortune conspired to enable him to lead them to successful enterprise. 101 In considering the whole of the victories which had shed lustre on his name, it would be found, that each was marked with traits peculiar and distinguishing. If the house reverted to the battle of Aboukir, they must recollect his daring and successful attempt to pass between the line and the shore. His conduct at Copenhagen evinced equal originality, and indeed his whole life was a series of brilliant achievements, which proved the magnitude and the variety of the resources of his capacious mind. In considering the loss, we should also consider every thing that could afford consolation. It too frequently happened that great souls were enshrined in feeble frames. This was the case with that illustrious character; and he contended with the various maladies by which he was assailed, with so little success, that the day might possibly have arrived when he might be placed in opposition to the enemy with diminished powers. It was therefore some degree of consolation, that the great history of his life had been wound up in honour, that his fame was out of the reach of misfortune. He was sure that he should disappoint the house, if he did not shortly advert to what his majesty in his beneficence had determined to do, to mark the sense which the crown entertained of his services. The individual was past gratitude, but the name remained; and he was convinced that the country was desirous that some signal mark of public acknowledgment should be bestowed on them. With respect to the quantum of that acknowledgment, it was impossible to measure it by those services. Without, therefore, looking to what was commensurate to the benefit derived from the noble viscount's services, it was rather considered what was fitting for the country to allow. He did not know whether those with whom he acted would have the power of conferring this acknowledgment, but he was sure, that from whomsoever it might proceed, it would be accompanied with that liberality which was characteristic of British gratitude. It was proposed to make a provision for his widow, correspondent to the rank which she held in society, and to the claim which she possessed on public gratitude. The sum in contemplation was an annuity for lady Nelson's life of 2000l. This was, of course, unconnected with the subject of the royal intimation, which recommended the affixing some splendid ap- 102 pendages to the present earl. It certainly was not necessary to make for that noble, man a provision so munificent as to remove him from the sphere in which he now moved. It had been thought expedient, that this provision should be made not as a grant to the family, but as national property, intrusted to their possession; that it should be invested in lands; and that though a magnificent palate should not he erected, yet that an edifice conformable to their public rank and estimation should be built for the family. With a view to these objects, it was in contemplation to appropriate the sum of 200,000l. to be vested in the hands of public trustees, the two houses of parliament, and other high characters, to be applied in the manner which seemed best calculated to obtain the end proposed. It had occurred to government, that this would be consistent with the rank which it was desirable that the family of lord Nelson should bear in the country, without going on too exaggerated a scale.—It was unnecessary for him to trespass any longer on the attention of the house. Any thing, indeed, that he could say, would be far from enough to manifest the sense, which he, in common with the country at large, entertained of the services of the illustrious hero. Great, however, as was the national loss in this instance, he could not but think that it was attended by a national advantage. He could not but think, that he would serve as a model for his profession to study. He did shewn, through the course of a long life, what determined perseverance, and unshaken devotion to his country, could accomplish. It was a great object, in any service, to know what could be done in that service. The life and achievements of lord Nelson would continue to animate the British navy to the end of time. He certainly did not mean to say, that our navy required any thing to render it more courageous in presence of an enemy, but still the example of lord Nelson would shew them what skill and enterprize, combined with bravery, was capable of effecting. He had thought it an act of his parliamentary duty not to pass over (to do justice to, was beyond his power) the splendid character whom all had so much reason to lament. He trusted that he should not be supposed insensible of the merits of the gallant officers under lord Nelson, of the merits of lord Collingwood, lord Northesk and sir R. Strachan; never, indeed, was 103 there an instance in which every man had done his duty so completely as in the occurrences then under the consideration of the house. He must therefore hope to stand acquitted, of having allowed the absorbent merit of one character to induce him to withhold his gratitude from the rest.—The noble lord concluded with moving; 1. "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, that his majesty will be graciously pleased to give directions, that a monument be erected in the cathedral church of St. Paul, London, to the memory of the late ever-to-be-lamented lord viscount Nelson, who fell gloriously in the moment of the most brilliant and decisive victory, obtained by his skill and enterprise over the combined fleet of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21st of October last; and to assure his majesty that this house will make good the expence attending the same." 2. "That the thanks of this house be given to vice-admiral lord Collingwood, for his able and gallant conduct in the most glorious and decisive victory obtained by the late vice-admiral lord viscount Nelson, over the combined fleet of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21st of October last."
Lord Castlereaghtook this opportunity of observing, that it was meant hereafter to propose, that some provision should be made for lord Collingwood and sir R. Strachan.
§ Mr. Sheridanenquired whether or not any reward was intended for the earl of Northesk?
Mr. Bakerobjected to this second resolution; that it did not come up to the services of the noble lord, as it merely stated them generally under the term "able and gallant conduct," without that distinct enumeration to which, in his opinion, they were indubitably entitled.
Lord Castlereaghanswered, that this had not escaped the attention of his majesty's ministers. On an ample consideration of the subject, however, whatever might be the high sense entertained by them of the gallant lord's conduct, it had been deemed adviseable, to prevent the establishment of a precedent which might create confusion in some future case where differences of opinion might exist, to conform the resolution to the words usually adopted on similar occasions. The noble lord then 104 moved, 3. "That the thanks of this house he given to rear-admiral the earl of Northesk, and the several captains and officers in the fleet under the command of the late lord viscount Nelson, who, by their bravery and good conduct, contributed to that most glorious and decisive victory; and that vice-admiral lord Collingwood do signify the same to rear-admiral the earl of Northesk, and the several captains and officers." 4. "That this house doth highly approve of, and acknowledge, the services of the seamen and marines on board the ships under the command of the late lord viscount Nelson, in the most glorious and decisive victory over the combined fleet of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21st of October last; and that the officers commanding the several ships do signify the same to their respective crews, and do thank them for their good behaviour." 5. "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, that his majesty will be graciously pleased to give directions, that monuments he erected in the cathedral church of St. Paul, London, to the memory of capt. George Duff, and capt. John Cooke, who fell gloriously in that signal victory; and to assure his majesty, that this house will make good the expence attending the same." 6. "That the thanks of this house he given to rear-admiral sir R. Strachan, bart, for his able and gallant conduct in the defeat and capture of a French squadron, on the 4th day of Nov. last." 7. "That the thanks of this house be given to the captains and officers in the squadron under the command of sir R. Strachan, bart. who by their bravery and good conduct contributed to the success of that day; and that rear-admiral sir R. Strachan, bart. do signify the same to the several captains and officers." The above resolutions were put, and carried, nem. con.
Lord Castlereaghthen moved, 8. "That this house doth highly approve of, and acknowledge, the services of the seamen and marines on board the ships under the command of rear-admiral sir R. Strachan, bart. in the victory obtained over the squadron of the enemy on the 4th day of Nov. last; and that the officers commanding the several ships do signify the same to their respective crews, and do thank them for their good behaviour." On the speaker putting the question,
§ Mr. Foxbegged leave to offer a few words. He had made no reply to the speech of the noble lord opposite, because 105 he was anxious that the motions proposed should have the reality as well as the appearance of unanimity. There were two points which seemed to him to call for comment. The one was the liberty which the noble lord had taken, in introducing into a speech of the nature of that which he had just delivered, a panegyric on the admiralty board, for which any other time would certainly have been preferable to the present. The other was on the omission of any mark of his majesty's gratitude to lord Northesk. He believed that if we looked back at the whole history of our naval victories, we should not meet with a single instance in which, in such a large fleet, the third in command had not received some distinction from the royal favour. The earl of Northesk was the only person whose merit had passed unnoticed.
Lord Castlereaghdeclared that he felt it impossible so speak on the subject which had this evening been the theme of his commendation, and separate that subject from some mention of the conduct of the admiralty board. He trusted he did not go farther in this respect than what he was warranted to do by the occasion. Certainly, if he had felt entitled to express his full sentiments of the laborious services of the distinguished individual at the head of that department of government, he should not have confined his approbation within such narrow limits. He had never the pleasure of knowing that nobleman until he came into office, but the manner in which he had conducted himself, had shewn him eminently worthy of the situation. He had not only been assiduously attentive to the military operations of our navy, but had been indefatigably engaged in digesting and modifying the practice in the civil department; and if he were now to quit the high office which he held, he would quit it after having planted deep the roots of the naval strength of the empire. With regard to the earl of Northesk, he had no difficulty in saying, that though no intimation of that nature had been made to the house, his majesty certainly destined for that gallant nobleman a strong mark of his favour, which was to create him a knight of the bath.
§ Mr. Foxthought there was no reason assigned for the delay. He begged it to be understood, that he had not the least intention to convey an idea of any disrespect present first lord of the admiralty; he only objected to the mode in which 106 praise had been introduced, and which ought to have been confined to those who were the objects of it. He should have made the same objection to the praise, as not belonging to the subject before the house, even if lord Spencer or lord St. Vincent were at the head of the admiralty, were they to be made the objects of praise when the real subject related to officers whose skill and courage had achieved a victory. Nay, so unconnected was that idea with the might be a contrast to the other, and borrow some of its excellence from the defects of the other. Here again he must repeat, he had no intention to say one word against the present first lord of the admiralty; but praising government when naval officers were alone the objects of praise was a bad mode of doing things; it was uniting two subjects which had no connection with each other. It was not usual neither, and would be a bad precedent. It was not attempted, when thanks were voted to lord Howe or lord St. Vincent.
§ Mr. Grey ,conceiving that some part of the noble lord's observations alluded to remarks which had fallen from him on a former occasion, respecting the conduct of the admiralty, and the unprotected state of our West-India Islands, said, that he saw nothing in the speech of the noble lord to induce him to alter his opinion. If the evils which he apprehended had not come to pass, it was owing to Providence or the bad conduct of the enemy. He accused his majesty's ministers of a culpable delay in conferring a reward on rear-admiral lord Northesk.
Lord Castlereaghdenied that there was any unnecessary delay; and affirmed that the allegation was highly disrespectful to his majesty.
§ Mr. Greydenied with warmth, the charge of disrespect to his sovereign, which he should be the last man to be guilty of. He persisted in accusing the ministry of culpable neglect, in omitting to reward lord Northesk. Were the merits of that noble admiral doubtful? Was not a peerage immediately sent to admiral Collingwood? Why was not the same promptitude shewn in respect to lord Northesk?
Lord Castlereaghexplained, that the delay was solely occasioned by a wish to consider maturely of the best method of conferring a reward on the noble lord who was the subject of debate.
General Grosvenorobserved, that admiral Harvey, who commanded the Temeraire, had also distinguished himself most honurably in one of the engagements, which gave a foundation for the thanks of the house being voted. Having been an old companion, and an old fellow-member in that house, he would have been glad if that honourable and gallant officer's name had been also mentioned in the vote of thanks. He should, therefore, conclude in the words of the song—
How' twould cheerOur hearts to hear,That our old Companion he was one.The resolution was then put and carried, nem, con.