§ The Earl of Buckinghamshirerose, to bring under the consideration of their lordships the unpleasant situation in which sir John Craddock was now placed. Sir A. Wellesley had just been appointed to take the command of the British forces in Portugal, and that at a moment the most critical for the feelings and fame of the officer who now commanded them. Of the military talents of sir A. Wellesley, it was impossible for any man to entertain a higher opinion than he did. Neither could any man feel more admiration and esteem than he did for that gallant and distinguished officer. He still, however, could not suppress his feelings with regard to 30 the cruel situation to which sir J. Craddock must now be exposed. Every measure adopted by sir J. Craddock since his arrival in Portugal, had, he believed, received the fullest approbation of government. It was such as might be expected from an officer who had so ably conducted himself in India, in Egypt, &c. and who was distinguished by such flattering testimonials from lord Hutchinson, and the other distinguished commanders under whom he had served. As to the insinuations which had gone abroad, respecting imprudent measures on his part respecting the native troops, he took upon himself to assert, that in no one instance had sir J. Craddock acted in a manner repugnant to their feelings, or contrary to the customs of the native troops. There were documents which he might bring forward to prove these assertions, and he was certainly prepared to take every step for the vindication of the character of an honourable officer, which to him, on many accounts, was extremely dear. What was the present situation of Portugal? By the intelligence arrived this day it appeared that Oporto was now in the hands of the French. He had also information on which he could rely, that a large hostile army was now pouring into Portugal, and that they were already on their march against Lisbon; that such was the impression made by the idea entertained there of the numbers and strength of this hostile force, that it had been in agitation to re-embark the British troops in that country, and to leave it to its fate; that such, however, were the exertions made by sir J. Craddock to collect the British force and so to station it as to prepare a decided resistance to the enemy, that the resolution of abandoning the country was given up. After all these efforts on the part of sir John Craddock, and at a moment when such a prospect of adding to his military fame was opened to him, could any thing be conceived more cruel to the feelings of an honourable mind, than to be removed from a command under such circumstances, and to be superseded by an officer so much his junior? He hoped his majesty's ministers would not impute any blame to sir J. Craddock on account of this expression of surprize and regret, which was wrung from his friendship for sir J. Craddock. If blame was to attach to any man on such an account, it was to himself alone, and his crime could only be his attachment to a friend, 31 who, in every respect, was intitled to the exertion he could make in his behalf.
Tantum infelicem nimium dilexit amicum.
The Earl of Liverpoolcould not help considering the observations and the questions of the noble earl as an attack upon the prerogative of the crown, and as a refutation of all notion of the responsibility of ministers. The king had the command of the army, and to say, that for certain services, he should not propose certain officers recommended to him for such services by his confidential advisers, would be to take the command of the army out of his hands, and thus infringe on the prerogative of the crown. Ministers, besides, were responsible for the advice they gave his majesty on such occasions; but there would be an end to that responsibility, were they to be questioned upon the reasons why, on any particular occasion, they preferred one officer to another. He never should silently suffer such questions to be put, at least he should never answer them. With regard to sir J. Craddock, he, for one, had the highest opinion of his military character, and he believed the rest of his majesty's ministers entertained the same opinion of his services and merits; and he was happy to have this occasion of bearing the fullest testimony to the deserts of that gallant officer.
The Earl of Limerickwas glad to hear the honourable testimony paid to the merits of gen. Craddock by the noble secretary of state; for the character of that gallant general must be peculiarly dear to his feelings.
§ The Earl of Buckinghamshire, in explanation, said that he had no intention of putting improper questions to the noble secretary; his only wish was, to draw from him the acknowledgment the noble secretary had just made of the merits and good conduct of sir J. Craddock in Portugal.
The Earl of Liverpoolobserved, that he protested against such questions being addressed to ministers, lest it should be drawn into a precedent, and that upon occasions When it might not be in the power of ministers to speak of the commander then alluded to, as he was now able to speak of the character and conduct of sir J. Craddock.