66 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



braced his counsels. No where 

 did an army present itself that 

 was not acting under his standard, 

 or inactive through a dread of 

 his attack. The world was di- 

 vided between England and 

 France, all the powers of the con- 

 tinent being the vassals or the allies 

 of the enemy. Under such 

 circumstances a spirit of resist- 

 ance was displayed in that coun- 

 try, where least of all it was to be 

 expected. In that country which 

 had for a series of years been the 

 active ally, or submissive depend- 

 ent of France, a resolution was 

 manifested to shake off the yoke 

 of French domination. As soon 

 as the resolution was formed, ap- 

 plication, was made to this coun- 

 try for assistance. Just before 

 the conclusion of the last session 

 the subject was brought under the 

 consideration of this house. No 

 one was willing to damp the spirit 

 that was responsive to that ap- 

 plication, provided a compliance 

 with it could promise any success- 

 ful result. But every reflecting 

 man recommended consideration. 

 Ministers, however, took their 

 own course, and we had witness- 

 ed the consequence. No state- 

 ment of any information received 

 from Spain was laid before parlia- 

 ment. The session was closed 

 before any deliberate opinion could 

 be formed upon the subject, every 

 thing was left to the discretion of 

 ministers. Parliament had no op- 

 portunity of interfering. The mi- 

 nisters were furnished with all 

 the aids they could desire from 

 the hearts, the purses, the arras 

 of the country. Every guinea 

 they required was most cheerfully 

 granted ; they had a vote of cre- 

 dit to the utmost limit of their re- 



quest ; there appeared but onC 

 mind, one feeling, and one senti* 

 ment on the part of parliament 

 and the country in favour of 

 Spain. No other wish existed but 

 that which was calculated to give 

 effect to the operation of minis- 

 ters : party spirit was quite sunk 

 throughout this country upon that 

 occasion ; and indeed in every 

 part of the empire the public voice 

 Was loud and ardent in desir- 

 ing that the whole power of 

 England should be put in motion, 

 if necessary, and at all likely to be 

 effectual in repelling the advances 

 of the enemy, and promoting 

 the liberty of Spain. Such was 

 the pulse of the country which 

 ministers had to direct. But it 

 became their duty to direct it 

 with judgment and efficiency. 

 Standing upon an eminence, it 

 was for them carefully to survey 

 the prospects before them. It 

 was for them to examine, with 

 precision and accuracy, all the 

 means within their reach to employ, 

 and how far those means were 

 adequate to the ends in view. 

 Before they attempted to involve 

 the country in the contest alluded 

 to ; before they ventured so to en- 

 gage its wealth and its power, 

 they should have taken care to 

 make this examination, and, above 

 all, to ascertain the real state of 

 Spain. The first object, therefore, 

 that claimed their consideration 

 was, the employment of proper 

 persons to inquire into that state; 

 and for that purpose they should 

 have sent some men of the highest 

 capacity to that country, men 

 well acquainted with both military 

 and civil affairs, men competent 

 not only to assist the counsels 

 of a cabinet, but to direct the 



operations 



