188 
na. Five hundred English horses were also 
taken still alive, 16,000 muskets, and a 
great deal of battering cannon, abandoned by 
the enemy. A great number of magazines 
are full of preserved provisions (munitions con- 
fectionnés), which the English wished to carry 
off but were oblized to leave behind. A 
powder-magazine, containing 200,000Ibs. 
weight of powder, has also fallen into our 
hands. The English, surprised by the issue 
of the battle of the 16th, have not had time 
to destroy their magazines. There were 300 
English sick in the hospital. We found in 
the port, seven English ships—-three loaded 
with horses, and fcur with troops. They 
could not get out. The fortress of Corunna 
is of an extent which secures it from a coup de 
sain. It wastherefore impossible to enter it 
before the ZOth, in virtue of the annexed ca- 
pitulation. In Corunna we found above 200 
pieces of Spanish cannon. ‘The French Con- 
sul Fourcroy, the General Quesnel, and his 
staff ; M. Bougars, Officer ot Ordnance; M. 
Taboureau, auditor; and 350 French soldiers 
or seafnen, who had been made prisoners ei- 
therin Portugal oron boardtheshipAtlas, have 
been delivered up. They express great satis- 
faction at the conduct of the officers of the 
Spanish navy. The English have gained 
by their expedition the hatred of the Spa- 
Miards, shame, and dishonour. The flower 
of their army, composed of Scotchmen, has 
been either wounded, killed, or taken. Ge- 
neral Franceschi has entered St. Iago de Com- 
pestella, where he found some magazines and 
an English guard, which ke took. He march- 
ed immedia tely upon Vigo. Romana appear- 
ed to have taken this route with 2500 men, 
all that he could rally. The division of 
Mermet marched on Ferrol. The air about 
Corunna is infected by the carcases of 1200 
horses, «hom the English killed in the streets. 
The first care of the Duke of Dalmatia has 
been to provide for the restoration of salubri- 
ty, ayes d important to the soldiers and the 
inhabitants. General Alzedo, Governor of 
Corunna, appears to have taken part with the 
insurgents only from the constraint of force. 
He took the oath of fidelity to king Joseph 
Napoleon with enthusiasm. The people 
wianifest the jov they feel at being delivered 
from the English. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
The attention 6f the nation has been 
drawn during the Jast month to asubject 
ef the highest consequence to its honour 
and prosperity. No topic has excited for 
several years solively and universal an in- 
terest, and we cannot-do more justice to it 
than by preserving the able speech made 
in the House of Commons, byMr. Wardle, 
when he first brought it forward in that 
assembly. 
Wardle, Member far Cabimpton, rose 
and spcke as follows :— 
#* Fully aware, Sir, of the great importance 
Duke of York and the A ry. 
On the 28th of January, Mr. - 
[March ty 
of the subject lam about to cubmit.dtthe 
consideration of the House, I most sincerely 
lament that my abilities are uneqnal to do it 
complete justice. But yet Itrast that an ar- 
dent zeal for the welfare of my country, sup- 
perted by facts strong and incontrovertible 
will enable me to surmount eyery difficulty, 
and eventually to rescue the state from the 
baneful influence of a power which has long 
been exercised for the worst purposes, and 
which, in fact, tends to endanger our ulti- 
mate security.. To stand forward the public 
accuser of a man so high in rank and so strong 
in influence as his Royal Highness the 
Commander-in Chief, may very naturally be 
deemed no less a bold than an arduous under- 
taking. But, however bold, however ardu- 
ous it may be, being determined that no con- 
Sideration of that nature shall ever induce 
any hesitation or wavering in the perform- 
ance of my duty, either upon this or upon 
any other occasion, my mind is fully made up 
for perseverance. In the resolution] have 
formed, it is but reasonable for me to caleu- 
late upon the concurrence and co-operation of 
this house and the country. For, at a crisis 
of peculiar peril, when the great if not the 
only means of our safety may depend upon 
the judicious organization and able direction 
of our military force, every man in the com- 
munity must feel a lively interest in the ob- 
ject which my motion has in view. 1 trusts 
therefore, his” Royal Highness the Duke of 
York, will this night find, that however exalted 
his rank; however poweriu! his influence, the 
voice of the people, through their representa= 
tives, will prevail oyer corruption, and justice 
will be doneto thecallsofa long-suffering and 
meritorious body—to the best, the vital inte- 
rests of the people. Inthe course which lam 
pursuing, I teel conscious of nomotive but that 
of a desire of serving my country, and I am 
confident that none other can be fairly ascri- 
bed tome. The conviction of my mind is, 
and for some time has been, that unless the 
system of corruption that has so long prevail- 
ed in the military department be done away, 
this country may fall an easy prey to the ene- 
my. Consistently, therefore, with any ra- 
tional feeling of swulicitude for my country, 
which involves my own connections and my 
family, it isimpossible that 1 should sit-si- 
Jent and allow the practices which have come 
to my knowledge to be any longer concealed 
from those who are so much interested in 
their character and tendency. It is upen 
these grounds, Sir, that I am urged to offer 
myself to your attention. 
The first point in the casé which I have 
to state, relates to the half-pay Fund, which 
is an establishment under the direction of the 
commander in chief. This fund arises out of 
the sale of commissions vacant by death; by 
the promotion of officers not allowed to sels ; 
cr by dismissions from the service. The 
power of the commander in chief over this 
fund, was constituted, and intended, for the 
° rewasd 
; 
