Lords Sitting of 4 February 1806

CONTINENTAL WAR.
On the order for summoning their lordships for this day being read,
Lord Mulgravesaid, he had hoped when he gave his notice for this day, that the arrangements in contemplation would have been completed, so as to have ensured a full attendance of their lordships, it having been his intention to enter into an explanation, respecting several points connected with the papers which he had laid upon the table, at the same time that he presented to their lordships, by his majesty's command, several other documents upon the subject of the late continental war. He had brought down the papers to which he alluded, and he could not let tins opportunity slip, of giving some explanation to their lordships, upon certain points
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which they involved. Had it been upon any ordinary occasion that the treaties were presented to the house, it would have been sufficient to have left them to speak for themselves. Their lordships would, in perusing them, have found that the first object of his majesty's government had been, to form a well-arranged plan, which, in its execution, might afford every reasonable prospect of effecting the deliverance of Europe; the next object was, that those means might be provided, which might give effect to the negociation, which was at that period expected to be carried on, or, in the event of that negociation terminating in war, might enable the allies to pursue hostilities with proportionate energy and vigour. They would have seen by these treaties, that 500,000 men were to have been brought into the field, 320,000 by Austria, and 180,000 by Russia, a number certainly amply sufficient, according to every calculation, for the purposes of carrying into effect those objects which it was sought to attain. It had been a matter of calculation, what number of troops France could have brought to act upon a certain point, in a given time, and what number of Austrian and Russian troops would be at that point by the time specified. He received official returns, by which it appeared, that 320,000 Austrians, and 180,000 Russians, were actually in the field, or on their march. The Russian troops in fact marched according to their engagement, and arrived at their destination, and were ready to take the field, two days earlier than the time specified for their reaching the point where they were to effect a junction with their Austrian allies. The plan thus prepared, the arrangements thus made, were unfortunately deranged by the precipitancy of Austria. The deviation of Austria from the plan agreed upon was not slight and trivial, but it was a complete and entire deviation, and to this must be attributed all the calamitous consequences that ensued. The object of this country was, either to promote a negociation for a general peace, upon a permanent basis, consistent with the welfare and security of Europe, or to establish an armed negociation, with a view of putting a period to the usurpations and encroachments of France; and, if war was the result, to support that war by means which, according to all human calculation, were adequate to the effect the object proposed.

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Austria had till the end of the year 1805, to negotiate, as the subsidies from this country were not payable, if she commenced hostilities before the end of the year. Unfortunately, however, from her precipitancy in sending forward her troops, the melancholy events of the campaign, and the calamitous day of Austerlitz, had resulted. It was the occurrence of these unfortunate events that had induced his majesty's ministers to obtain his majesty's commands, to lay before parliament every document that could in any degree elucidate the subject, or explain any of the points connected with the treaties, which he had, on a former day, laid upon the table. They had done this, in order that their conduct might be placed in that point of view, in which they wished it to be considered, convinced as they were, that it would be found free from the slightest blame, on account of the recent unfortunate events on the continent. He could not help also again expressing his anxiety that the character of that illustrious statesman, whose loss they now deplored, should be cleared from the imputations, which, on account of those events, had been so unjustly cast upon it. In attributing those events to the precipitancy of the emperor of Austria, and his deviation from the plan arranged by the allies, he must, at the same time, deprecate any imputations being thrown upon that monarch on account of his signing an armistice, and subsequently a treaty of peace with France. It was easy for those who were at a distance from the scene of action, to condemn the conduct of that monarch; but it should be recollected, that he did and suffered much for the common cause; that he gave up his capital to the enemy, and fought in person against them. If after this he was induced by the calamitous circumstances that ensued to give way and make peace with France, it should rather be lamented as an unfortunate circumstance than be made the subject of condemnation. As some noble lords had come into the house since he had risen, whom hey to hear his explanation, he would shortly recapitulate. He then briefly repeated his former statements, adding, that the negotiations between Austria and France, it was known, must be broken off in consequence of the annexation of Genoa to France, and that it was expected that when hostilities commenced, Austria would have acted upon the de-
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fensive in Germany and offensively Italy. He had observed on a former evening, that certain articles of the treaty with Russia were withheld, he repeated, that no other motive had induced his majesty's ministers to withhold them than a desire that no injury might result to certain continental powers from the publication of the recitals contained in those articles. This was their only motive, as those who were about to succeed them would soon be enabled to judge, from an inspection of the documents themselves. He was anxious that the subject to which the papers on the table, and those he was about to present, referred, should be fully and amply discussed. In the result of that discussion he had the utmost confidence; and he would repeat what he had Said on a former evening, with reference to that subject and the conduct of his colleagues and himself, that there was no measure which he could now wish had been taken, that had been omitted, nor any measure adopted, which he would now wish to retract.—The noble lord concluded by inttmating his majesty's commands to present certain papers; which, on his lordship's motion, were ordered to lie on the table. They consisted of extracts and dispatches from lord G. L. Gower and sir Arthur Paget to lord Mulgrave, the declaration of Austria, and some other papers, which will be found in the Appendix.