Mr. Fremantle, in consideration for the friends and families of those gallant men who had so unavailingly and lamentably fallen in the late actions at Toulouse and Bayonne, thought it right to ask what steps had been taken by our ambassador in France, by the British commissioners attached to the allied armies, or by the government at home, to send intelligence to our army under lord Wellington, of what took place at Paris from the 31st of March to the 12th instant.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerhad no doubt it would be found that no practicable steps had been left untaken either by the English ambassador, by the commissioners alluded to, or by the government at home, to send the earliest intelligence of the events at Paris to the army alluded to.
Mr. Fremantledid not consider the answer of the right hon. gentleman as satisfactory. He wished to know the date at which the several dispatches had been transmitted to lord Wellington.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerdeclared, that he could not at present precisely state the dates required; but the hon. gentleman might make a motion upon the subject if he thought proper.
Mr. Fremantlethought it proper to move for copies of any papers or documents transmitted by the English ambassador or military commissioners with the allied armies to the English army in France, from the 31st of March to the 12th instant, with regard to what occurred in France, together with the dates of the same.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersuggested an amendment, by the addition of "or by his Majesty's government in this county."
§ The motion with the amendment being read,
The Chancellor of the Exchequerexpressed his conviction that it would be found that every possible step had been taken to transmit that intelligence, the delay of which had occasioned the shedding of so much valuable blood. Nothing, therefore, remained for these melancholy events, but unavailing regret.
Mr. Fremantledisclaimed the intention of casting any imputation upon either the British ambassador, our commissioners with the allied armies, or the government at home; but he felt it due to the families of those who had so gallantly fallen, to shew that nothing had been left undone which ought to have been done, to prevent such wanton sacrifices. The consolation was small, but still it ought to be administered.
§ The motion was agreed to.