28 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



So little confidence did he place 

 in these men, that he was decided- 

 ly of opinion, that unless they 

 were removed, the country would 

 be lost. The convention of Cin- 

 tra could not be considered, with- 

 out feeling sentiments of alarm as 

 well as indignation, rising in the 

 mind : the more especially when 

 he observed the cold-blooded trea- 

 ty, that gave up a contest with the 

 ships of an enemy, upon a com- 

 promise so unworthy the nation's 

 character. There was a time, 

 when such old-fashioned words as 

 " sink, burn, and destroy," were 

 understood and exercised ; but 

 now we are to negociate to be 

 ships' husbands, and to take pos- 

 session by bargain and barter, in- 

 stead of by battles, by bravery, 

 and by balls ; we are to hold ships 

 in trust by contract, and not in 

 right by conquest. We had Princes 

 of the blood, all of whom are 

 bred to arms. Why, he asked, 

 were not some of these illustrious 

 persons employed to lead our ar- 

 mies ; they had made the science 

 of war their study from their child- 

 hood ! If they were not to be 

 employed, he was at a loss to as- 

 certain for what purpose they were 

 bred to arms. There was a dis- 

 tinguished person near him (Earl 

 Moira) who had the confidence of 

 the people, who had the love of 

 the soldiery, and who possessed 

 the esteem of his majesty: why 

 was not such a person as that no- 

 bleman employed? The reason was 

 evident — it was because manage- 

 ment prevented it. But was it to be 

 supposed that because a Court of 

 Inquiry had deemed no further 

 investigation necessary, that there- 

 fore there ought to be no investi- 

 gation? Whenever he looked at 



the terms of the Convention, 

 whenever he reflected on the de- 

 cision of that court, he could not 

 avoid exclaiming, that the deci- 

 sion so announced was a blot upon 

 the country. Whenever he heard 

 of councils of war being called, 

 he always considered them as 

 cloaks for cowardliness; so said the 

 brave Boscawen, and from him he 

 imbibed the sentiment which lime 

 and experience had completely 

 confirmed. At Vimiera we gained 

 a victory, and in the moment that 

 our soldiers were flushed with con- 

 quest, recourse was had to a coun- 

 cil of war : that, he presumed, 

 could only have been necessary, 

 or indeed apologised for, in the 

 moment of defeat. Upon what 

 principle, therefore, such an ex- 

 pedient was resorted to, he, for 

 one, accustomed toother methods, 

 could not account. They only who 

 acted in it could explain it. Just 

 the same opinion he entertained of 

 the Court of Inquiry ; it was a 

 shield to ward off investigation 

 from ministers themselves ; but he 

 trusted that their lordships would 

 not be prevented from making a 

 scrupulous investigation of it in 

 their own way. He knew the cha- 

 racter of the Portuguese exceed- 

 ingly well. They, excepting the 

 city of Lisbon, were as brave peo- 

 ple as any upon the continent of 

 Europe, and officered with Bri- 

 tish soldiers, would have presented 

 an undaunted front to Frenchmen. 

 Why was not that expedient made 

 use of? Ministers ought to have 

 known their value, and if they 

 did not, their ignorance was inex- 

 cusable. If that house did its 

 duty, they would immediately pro- 

 ceed to the foot of the throne, and 

 there tell the sovereign the bold 



truth 



