HC Deb 16 May 1808 vol 11 cc285-9
Colonel Wood

rose to offer to the house the motion on the subject of the Log Book of the Royal George, while in the Dardanelles, which motion he had deferred from a former night. The house had already on its table the Instructions of the Admiralty to lord Collingwood; and also the Instructions of lord Collingwood to sir John Duckworth, directing that not more than half an hour should be consumed in negociating with the Porte. Sir John Duckworth, in his letter of the 6th March, alledged in excuse for his non-compliance with these orders, the contrary state of the winds, which would not permit him to come close to the city of Constantinople. It was essential to a just investigation of the causes of the failure of the Expedition, to have full and particular evidence on all the facts bearing upon it, and with this view he moved, That there be laid before the house, a copy of the journal or logbook of the Royal George, capt. Dunn (sir J. Duckworth's flag-ship), from the 19th Feb. the day she entered the Dardanelles, to the 22d Feb. both inclusive.

Admiral Hervey

had communicated the substance of this motion to sir John Duckworth, who with the manliness that always distinguishes him, was only anxious that the fullest light should be thrown on his conduct in the case in question, as in every other instance. He thought it due, however, to so meritorious an officer, to state particularly the nature of any charges that it might be in the hon. mover's contemplation to bring forward against him, in order that his friends might be properly prepared to meet them.

Colonel Wood.

At the time, sir, when I gave notice of my intention to move to be laid on the table of the house, an extract of the journal of one of his majesty's ships, whilst employed upon the Expedition against Constantinople, during the very short period of four days, it was impossible for me to foresee, that there could be, from any quarter, the smallest objection for the production of this paper, but more particularly from the quarter from whence the objection has since come. We were called upon to consider and to determine upon the failure of one of the most important Expeditions that ever sailed from England, and in comparison with the success of which, the loss of every ship of the squadron would have been a trifling and inconsiderable national calamity. Upon the success of this expedition hung suspended the fate of not only Russia, but of England, and of the whole civilized world. Immediately after the passing of the Dardanelles, had our fleet carried the intelligence of this exploit, as well as of the destruction of the Turkish fleet, to Constantinople, within 12 hours after it had happened, (which, from every information I have been able to obtain, I am of opinion, might easily have been done), the confusion and consternation would have been so great, that I am satisfied the English admiral might have prescribed any terms he pleased. The delivering up of Sebastiani, the occupation of the forts of the Dardanelles, and the renewal of the ancient alliance betwixt England and the Ottoman Porte, I am satisfied, would not only have been the immediate consequence, but the Russians and Turks would once more have been friends, and general Michelson, with 60,000 Russians, have been set at liberty, and have been enabled to have taken part in the battles of Friedland and Eylau, which decided the fate of Europe. This country, in place of being, as at present, shut out from every port of the Turkish empire, would have had the aid and intercourse of upwards of 30 millions of people, which would, in some measure, have com- pensated for other difficulties.—This is my view of the subject, and that it is totally impossible for the house to form any opinion, how far the failure of this great and most important expedition had been owing to the defect of the plan, to that of the instructions, to the inadequacy of the force, or to the unfortunate state of the winds and weather, unless the necessary documents are laid before us. We have seen the correspondence betwixt the English ambassador and secretary of state, explaining the complete ascendancy of the French at Constantinople, and suggesting by what means this unfortunate circumstance was to be surmounted. We have also seen the Instructions for the lords commissioners of the Admiralty to lord Collingwood; lord Collingwood's orders to sir J. Duckworth,—as also sir J. Duckworth's letter to lord Collingwood, after the total failure of the expedition, assigning as the cause—'the unfortunate state of the winds, and currents,' which from the day of his entrance into the Dardanelles, until that of his leaving it, he states to have been such, as to prevent his being able to obey lord Collingwood's orders. Under such circumstances, sir, I would ask the hon. admiral who has stated that sufficient grounds have not been laid for the production of the papers asked for, how the members of this house can possibly discharge their duty, without enquiring into the state of the winds and weather during the time that sir J. Duckworth was in the Dardanelles, or whether this can be seen in any manner more fair or more equitable than the captain's log of the admiral's own ship. I have not the smallest objection to our having copies of the other ship's logs, excepting a wish not to give any unnecessary trouble, and upon that account I have only asked for a copy of the captain's journal of the admiral's own ship, and only during four days, in place of the eleven days, during which time sir J. Duckworth was within the Dardanelles.—If the hon. admiral will have the goodness to suggest any more unexceptionable mode of ascertaining the state of the winds, and transactions on board of our fleet, I will gladly adopt it. I cannot avoid remarking upon the rather uncandid manner of proceeding on the part of the hon. admiral, to whom, previous to my moving for the production of the papers, I had not only shown a copy of the paper which I meant to ask to be laid upon the table of the house, but understood from him, that there could not be the smallest possible objection to its production. I likewise showed it to two other admirals, and they did not see the least objection to its being produced. After this, had any circumstances happened to induce the hon. member to alter his opinion, I think common candour ought, at least, to have induced the hon. member to have made some communication to me, and not to have left me to suppose no opposition was intended, when, on the contrary, the hon. admiral came down dressed to make a set speech upon the occasion, and to oppose the production of the paper, to which he had given me reason to suppose he felt no objection whatever.—I have already stated to the house, that having in my possession an accurate copy of captain Dunn's journal during the four days, which I now asked may be placed upon the table of the house, it is to myself very immaterial, in what manner the house may be pleased to dispose of the motion. Although I have no doubt but that the house will give me credit for what I assert, yet still for the regularity of our proceeding, it appears to me that it would be desirable to have the copy of the Journal upon your table. The notice of motion has now stood in your order book during several weeks, and therefore the hon. admiral with his friends, have had ample notice. I have further done much more than was either incumbent on me, or could have been expected.

Admiral Hervey

in explanation, expressed the greatest readiness to give facility to the examination of the charge preferred, which was in substance, that he had not, under all the circumstances, made the sort of attack he ought to have made. He had no doubt that the gallant admiral would be found to have done his duty to the utmost, on that, as on every other occasion.

Mr. Yorke

expressed great unwillingness to have these papers laid before the house. Though he did not doubt that those who proposed such investigations, were actuated always by patriotic motives, he did not think it right to institute inquiries into the conduct of naval and military commanders in that house in the first instance. If there was ground for a charge of neglect of duty in any case, the proper course was to represent the matter to the admiralty; and if the charge appeared founded, it would be brought to trial before the proper tribunal, a court martial. He expressed a high respect for sir John Duckworth's character, without having the honour to know him, and declared his intention to take the sense of the house on the motion, if it should be persisted in.—After some further conversation col. Wood agreed to withdraw the motion.