§ Earl Greyobserved, that, among the papers laid on the table, in consequence of a motion which he had on a former occasion submitted to the House, with a view to ascertain how far the compact between this country and the Swedish government had been executed, he found a return from Mr. Edward Thornton, dated the 6th of June 1813, in which it was stated, that Sweden had at that time about 30,000 men in readiness to perform its part of the contract. But as this return referred only to the commencement of the campaign, and as it was very possible that the king of Sweden had been since deficient in the performance of his engagement, he wished for a return of the troops furnished by that power, up to the latest period at which the same could be made out. Such information he thought necessary with a view to the motion which he proposed to bring forward on Tuesday. He saw from the papers on the table, that the several instalments upon the subsidy which this country had covenanted to pay to Sweden had been regularly discharged; and from this circumstance it might be concluded that the whole of the troops promised by the Swedish government had been supplied. But of this supply he desired information. From the papers on the table, he saw that Guadaloupe had not yet been surrendered to Sweden, although according to treaty it was to have been surrendered on the 1st of August last; and therefore he wished to know whether the non-surrender of this colony was the consequence of Sweden's having been deficient in the performance of her part of the treaty alluded to.
§ Earl Bathurststated, that his Majesty's government had not received any return of the number of troops which Sweden was to have furnished for the common cause, since that specified in the paper referred to by the noble lord. But government had no reason whatever to conclude, that the number of troops which Sweden engaged to furnish had not at all times been complete. With regard to Guadaloupe, the non-surrender of that colony did not proceed from any nonperformance of contract, or from any distrust whatever in Sweden; but simply from this circumstance, that the Swedish government had not made any application for its surrender.
§ Earl Greyconceived that it was the duty of ministers to have obtained that which our agent in Sweden was bound to furnish; namely, a regular account at different periods of the number of troops which Sweden supplied according to treaty. The information contained in the paper on the table stated the number merely ready to support the allies; but there was no information before the House as to the number which actually joined the allies.
§ Earl Bathurstrepeated, that the paper on the table stated the number of Swedish troops in readiness on the 6th of June 1813.
§ Earl Grey.—Still the House is uninformed, whether that or what number joined the allied army. From some information that has reached me, I am led to believe that the Swedish contingent was never complete.