GENERALHISTORY. [5 



the detail of the preparations made pointed, had it not been for the 

 -for the several expeditions, and the admirable conduct of captain Row- 

 mode of execution; and after dis- ley. Thenextmeritattributedtohim 

 tributing his praise among the per- -Avas, that the time of the year ren- 

 sons principally concerned, he dering the success of the expedition 

 moved, «' That the Thanks of this against Batavia extremely doubtful, 

 House be given to therighthon. Gil- and admiral Druryhavingdespaired 

 ■bert lord Minto, for the wisdom of it on account of the lateness of 

 and ability with which the military the season, the governor-general 

 resources of the British empire in had made himself at Bengal so 

 India have been applied in the re- much more master of the subject 

 duction of the power of the enemy than that experienced naval officer, 

 in the eastern seas, by the con- that it was determined to proceed; 

 quest of the islands of Bourbon his praise, therefore, on this occa- 

 and Mauritius, and by the recent sion, would be so much detracted 

 successful operations in the island from the merits of admiral Drury. 

 of Java; and that this House doth He said, that he could not concur 

 attribute the brilliant and import- in the opinion delivered by the 

 ant successes which have crowned chancellor of the exchequer, that 

 our arms in that quarter of the the importance ofthe acquisition was 

 globe, to the vigorous system of not to be contemplated in a ques- 

 well-concerted measures so wisely tion of this nature; and he thought 

 adopted and steadily pursued by that when a vote of thanks was 

 Gilbert lord Minto." required from the House to the 

 Mr. Sheridan then rose, and planner of the expedition, there 

 said, that though he could not he- could not be a fitter time to in- 

 ^itate a moment respecting the quire whether the acquisition was 

 propriety of thanks as a reward for worth the lives it liad cost; whe- 

 the discipline and gallantry dis- tber we can quit it without leav- 

 played by the British army ; yet ing the natives to certain destruc- 

 he was not prepared to acknow- tion ; or whether certain destruc- 

 ledge the same claim on behalf of tion will not attend our troops it 

 lord Minto. In the first place, they remain ? Adverting again to 

 he thought an absolute necessity lord Minto's accompanying the 

 ought to be m.ade out for the go- armament, he said, he had a rooted 

 vernor-general to forsake his sta- dislike to any civil control being 

 tion at Bengal, and enter upon a exercised over the army or navy ; 

 voyage for six weeks or two moniiis it savoured too much of the French 

 to be present at the conquest of revolution, where a deputy from 

 Batavia. He then observed, that the convention always accompa- 

 much merit had been attributed to nied the troops, not to share the 

 lord Minto for having had every danger, but to participate in the 

 thing in readiness for the expedi- glory. 



tion against the Mauritius at the Mr. Yorke defended the claim 

 time he received the dispatches, of lord Minto to the thanks of tlie 

 authorising him to undertake it ; House. With respect to the im- 

 and yet upon the first check that putation on him tor leaving his go- 

 occurred, the whole object of the verninenl, be asked, what was to 

 armament must have been disap- prevent him ? Were there any 



commotion 



