Lords Sitting of 16 February 1809

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
Earl Darnleycalled their lordships' attention to the subject of the late campaign in Spain and Portugal. Impressed as he was, with a deep sense of the misconduct of ministers, and recollecting that they professed a disposition to put the house in possession of every information that might be requisite to enable parliament and the country to decide upon their measures, he felt it his duty to move for several returns, calculated to attain that object. He understood that the Spanish Juntas particularly solicited the assistance of a respectable body of cavalry. This was precisely that description of force which we could have best spared,

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as our cavalry establishment greatly exceeded what could at any time be requisite for the purposes of internal defence. But among the various features of the misconduct of ministers, one of the most striking was their tardiness in complying with the request of the Spaniards, and the very limited extent to which it was at last gratified. The official dispatches bore testimony to the injurious consequences of a deficiency of cavalry in the battle of Vimiera. He concluded with moving for a Return of the effective Cavalry in Great Britain on the 1st of July 180S, a Return of the Cavalry engaged in the battle of Vimiera, and a Return of the total of the British Cavalry in Spain, at the moment of the junction of the several divisions of the troops under sir John Moore.
The Earl of Liverpoolassured the noble lord and the house, that ministers felt not the least wish to oppose the motion just made. On the contrary, it had their hearty concurrence. He only wished to amend the motion, so as to include a return of the various arrivals of cavalry in Portugal subsequent to the battle of Vimiera, and up to the time of sir John Moore's march into Spain. With the view of still further promoting the purpose of fair and impartial inquiry into the conduct of ministers, he should move for additional papers as soon as the noble lord's motion was disposed of.
Earl Darnleyhad no objection to the amendment proposed by the noble secretary, provided the date of the various arrivals of cavalry in Portugal were added. This suggestion being acceded to, the motion was put and agreed to.
The Earl of Liverpoolthen said, that in order to explain, in the most ample manner, the line of conduct adopted by ministers in reference to Spain and Portugal, he felt it necessary to move for copies of the Instructions sent to our commanders in those countries, and the communications from them to ministers, with the exception of such parts as it might he injurious to the public service to publish. He wished noble lords to understand, that the passages he alluded to were such as related to services still depending. As to services completed, there was no intention of withholding any documents that, in the slightest degree, bore upon the discussion of their merits. All that he requested was, that nothing should be done to prejudge the question of what had been the conduct of ministers; and that whatever
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proceeding was adopted after the Papers were laid on the table should be such as would afford them a fair opportunity of explaining every part of their conduct; and this course being pursued, they felt not the least apprehension in submitting to the candid decision of the house. The instructions to sir T. Dyer and his communications to sir A. Wellesley, would, he thought, be found in the papers relative to the Convention of Cintra already moved for; if not, they might be called for on a future day. In answer to a question across the table from lord Darnley, his lordship said, that it was an admitted fact, that the Junta of Oviedo had made an application of the nature previously alluded to by the noble lord, and that sir T. Dyer communicated the same to sir A. Wellesley.
The Duke of Norfolkwished to know whether measures had been taken to prevent the French and Spanish fleets in Cadiz harbour from falling into the hands of the enemy. We had now here an ambassador from Spain, who held a high official situation, in that country: and one of the most important points to be arranged with him, was, in his conception, that of securing those fleets, by stipulating that they should be sent to Buenos Ayres, Minorca, or any other place for safety. When he looked to the rapidity of operation that characterized the man who was at the head of the French armies, he was not without apprehensions on this subject. His grace further expressed his hopes that ministers, whatever assistance they might continue to give the Spaniards, in money and supplies, would not rashly put to hazard any considerable portion of our military force.
No answer was given to the noble Duke, and the motion of lord Liverpool was put and agreed to.