Lords Sitting of 10 April 1811

SPANISH ARMIES.
Lord Boringdoncalled the attention of their lordships to a subject which he deemed of considerable national importance. In the course of the discussion which took place on the occasion of the Thanks of the House being moved to general Graham, it appeared, that that part of the events of the memorable day on which the action was fought,

which justly gave rise to sensations of regret, and to feelings of a stronger nature was to be attributed, in a great degree, to the present state and organization of the Spanish armies. This was a topic evidently of great national importance, and on which the House and the country had a right to expect some information from his Majesty's government. Under this impression, he should, after the ensuing recess, submit a motion to their lordships for an Address to his royal highness the Prince Regent, requesting him to order that copies of such correspondence and communications as had taken place between his Majesty's government and that of Spain, on the subject of the actual state and organization of the Spanish armies, be laid before the House. He was fully aware, that although this was a topic of considerable public interest, in consequence of the particular and evident relations between this country and the Peninsula, yet he felt it was also one of a very delicate nature; and it was more than possible that the exposure of such communications might be productive of some degree of public inconvenience. In that view of the case, if his noble friend the Secretary of State should express a decided opinion, that in the present circumstances a degree of public inconvenience, from an exposure of the kind, would result, he should, on that important ground, though he felt strongly on the subject, decline pressing his notice
The Earl of Liverpoolbegged leave to observe that his Majesty's government were as fully aware as his noble friend or any other individual peer could be, of the great national importance of the subject adverted to. It therefore had engrossed a due share of their attention; and, as might be supposed, representations had been made, and communications had taken place between his Majesty's government and that of Spain, on the topic alluded to. They were fully aware of the advantages in a belligerent point of view, which would arise from the introduction of the principle and system, into the armies of Spain, which by their efforts had been so successfully introduced into the armies of Portugal. But his noble friend and the House would be aware, that the relations between this country and Spain were by no means of that favourable nature, for such an object, as they were with Portugal. The long, close, and ancient alliance, which subsisted between the two govern-

ments and countries, those of Great Britain and Portugal, naturally gave the former a degree of influence in Portugal, which, from circumstances, could not be expected with regard to Spain. In the former, from the causes to which he referred, this country was naturally looked up to in Portugal, and enjoyed a degree of influence and consideration, it could not as yet in other parts of the Peninsula. The apprehension of his noble friend, that the communications which had taken place, involved materially, points of equal, delicacy and importance, and would, under the circumstances of the moment, in their public exposure, be productive of considerable inconvenience, was just; and, under such a conviction, he thought his noble friend must be unwilling to press his notice
Lord Boringdon,under the assurance his noble friend had given, should decline pressing his motion