. which it boasted as equal in importance | took the most effectual method to avoid all to the most decisive victory, departed in appearance of delay, and to accelerate, if every conference more and more widely possible, the favourable issue of the negofrom its own offers and engagements. Not ciation. The confidential intercourse which only did it take upon itself to change at he had constantly maintained with Russia, its own will the basis of the negociation enabled his majesty to specify the terms on with Great Britain, but violated, in points which peace with that power might be obstill more important, every principle of tained; and his minister was accordingly good faith with Russia. The chief in-instructed to state to France, in addition ducement offered to that power as the to the king's demands, those of his ally, price of all the sacrifices extorted from her to reduce them into distinct articles, and minister, had been the preservation of even to conclude on those grounds a proGermany. Yet, before the decision of visional treaty, to take effect whenever Russia on this treaty could be known, Russia should signify her accession.-This France had already annihilated the whole form of negociating was, after some obframe and constitution of the German em- jection, acceded to by France; terms were pire; had reduced under her own yoke a now offered to his majesty more nearly apJarge proportion of the states and provin-proaching than before to the original basis ces of Germany; and, not content with of negociation; but these were still far this open contempt of obligations so re-short of what his majesty had uniformly cently contracted, had, at the same time, insisted on, and was now more than ever instigated the Porte to measures directly entitled to expect; and the decisive rejecsubversive of her subsisting enagements tion of the just demands of Russia, as with Russia. While such a conduct was well as of the conditions proposed by his pursued towards his majesty, towards his majesty in behalf of his other allies, left allies, and towards all independent powers, to his majesty no other course than that of there appeared so little hope of any fa-ordering his minister to terminate the disvourable issue to the negociation, that his cussion, and return to England.-The foremajesty's plenipotentiaries demanded their going short and simple exposition of facts passports to return to England.-This de-stands in need of no comment. The first inand was at first eluded by an unusual and overtures which led to negociation were unexplained delay, and the French govern-made by the enemy, and they were acceptment afterwards, by some material con-ed by his majesty in the sincerest spirit of cessions, accompanied with intimations peace. Every opening which seemed to that others of still greater consequence afford the most distant prospect of accommight be the result of further discussion, modation has been anxiously embraced, procured a renewal of the conferences, nor was the negociation finally broken off, which were protracted from day to day, while any hope of a favourable issue could till at length it was announced at Paris that be entertained. His majesty's demands. the emperor of Russia had indignantly re- were uniformly just and reasonable; dijected the unauthorized and separate treaty rected to no objects of personal aggransigned by his minister.-In consequence of dizement, but to such only as were indisthis important event, the strongest assu- pensably required by the honour of his rances were given to his majesty's minister crown, his engagements to his allies, and that France was now prepared to make a due consideration of the general interests sacrifices to a great extent, in order, by of Europe. It is with heartfelt concern securing peace with Great Britain, to re-that his majesty contemplates the contiestablish the tranquillity of the world. nuance of those evils always inseparable The object of these assurances appeared from a state of war; but it is with his however to be, that of engaging his ma- enemies that this awful responsibility rests; jesty in a separate negociation, to the ex- and for the issue of the contest his majesty clusion of his allies; a proposal which his trusts, with confidence, to the justice of majesty had rejected in the outset, and his cause; to the resources and bravery of which he could still less admit of at a time his people; to the fidelity of his allies; when the conduct of Russia had imposed and, above all, to the protection and supon him an increased obligation not to sepa-port of the Divine Providence.-In conrate his interests from those of so faithful tributing to the great efforts which such a an ally. To these insidious overtures, his contest must unavoidably require, his faithmajesty steadily refused to listen; but he ful and affectionate subjects will not forget - and as tending to illustrate the position, that wherever the British troops had been equal in point of numbers to their adver that all their dearest interests are at stake; that no sacrifices they can be called on to make, are to be compared with the certain disgrace and ruin of yielding to the inju-saries, or even where they were not greatly rious pretensions of the enemy; that with the inviolable maintenance of the good faith and public honour of their country, its prosperity, its strength, and its independence, are essentially connected; and that in asserting the rights, and upholding the dignity of the British empire, they defend the most powerful bulwark of the liberties of mankind. HOUSE OF LORDS. inferior, that native and characteristic valour for which they were so eminently distinguished, failed not to display itself, and to secure the palm of victory. In this view, he knew not where, in all the military annals of this country, to look for a more signal or brilliant example than that which gave rise to his present observations. In viewing this operation, the first consideration that presented itself was the great disparity in the number of troops on Monday, December 22. the side of the British: these were consi[MINUTES.] The earl of Aylesford stated, derably less than 5000 men. Of the enemy that his majesty had been waited on with there were certainly many more. What the Address of that house, to which his was the result? that the number of killed, majesty had been pleased to return a most wounded, and taken prisoners, either in gracious answer, thanking the house for the action at Maida itself, or in its aptheir determination to concur in every mea-proximate consequences, considerably exsure which the exigency of affairs might re-ceeded the number of the victorious army! quire. Lord Grenville presented, by his He knew of no occasion which could majesty's command, the Papers respecting more forcibly call upon them for the testithe late Negociation. In moving, his lord-mony of their thanks, by affording which ship said, to fix a day for the discussion, it the assurance would be held out to them, was his wish, with every regard for their lordships' convenience, that, on the one hand, sufficient time should be given for the consideration of this very important subject; whilst, on the other, that no longer delay should take place than was absolutely necessary, in the expression of the opinion of that house, with respect to the result of the negociation. His lordship concluded by moving, that the papers be taken into consideration on Friday the 2d of January. -Ordered. [BATTLE OF MAIDA-VOTE OF THANKS TO SIR J. STUART, &c.] Lord Grenville rose for the purpose of moving the Thanks of the House to sir John Stuart, and the officers and soldiers by whose valour the victory of Maida was obtained. His lordship said he had ever been of opinion that the high honour conferred by a vote of thanks of that house, ought to be reserved for great occasions; for deeds of valour of a superior description, for actions which tended to throw a lustre around the British name, or materially to benefit the interests of the country. Of this general description and character he conceived the instance to be on which he should presently move their lordships to come to a vote of thanks; and on that principle he proceeded. -The case before them was most distinguishable for its display of heroic valour, that while his majesty's troops were risking their lives and combating for their country, no part of that country was insensible to their merits, or would hesitate to express its grateful sense and approbation of them. Upon these grounds it was, that he then moved, 1st, "That the thanks of this house be given to major-general sir John Stuart, K. B. and also to the hon. brigadiergen. G. Lowry Cole, and brigadier-gen. W. P. Ackland, for their gallant and meritorious conduct in the action with the French troops at Maida on the 4th of July last, and to the officers under their command. Secondly, That the Thanks of this house be given to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers serving under the same, for their bravery and good conduct, and that this vote be signified to them by the officers of the respective corps."-On the question being put, these motions were voted, nem. diss. and the thanks were ordered to be communicated to the general officers in the usual way.-The house then adjourned for the Christmas recess till Wednesday the 31st instant. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, December 22. [MINUTES.] Lord Ossulston stated, that his majesty had been waited upon with the Address of this house upon his majesty's most gracious speech, as delivered by the convinced, that as no motion of this delords commissioners, when his majesty was scription had ever been agreed to with pleased to return for answer, that he thank- more perfect unanimity than this would, ed his loyal Commons; that their zeal and so none had ever more completely carried attachment gave him the greatest satisfac- the feelings and approbation of the country tion; and that they might be assured, with it. The action to which his motion nothing on his part should be wanting to referred was one of the most distinguished the maintenance of the honour and prospe- exploits that ever appeared in the annals of rity of the country. Mr. P. Moore pre- this or any other country. Every man must sented a Petition from Mr. Bowyer of the be so thoroughly impressed with its chaHistoric Gallery, Pall-mall, for leave to racter and importance, that it was altoge bring in a bill to enable Mr. Bowyer to ther unnecessary to dwell upon its value. draw by a separate lottery, in case the next If he ventured to say any thing upon the State Lottery should not contain a sufficient subject, it was purely from an impulse to number of tickets for his purpose. The give indulgence to his feelings. The chahon. gent. observed that Mr. Bowyer had racter of the exploit itself, and the advanconcluded to draw his lottery, and given it tages that flowed from it, must present out to the public, that it should certainly themselves to the sober reflection of every take place by the state lottery which was man; and, indeed, that house and the drawn in October last; but unfortunately country at large had already, by their for Mr. Bowyer, that lottery containing admiration and gratitude, pronounced only 20,000 tickets, he was of course pre- upon the value of the glorious achievevented, and which delay, the hon. gent. ment. There was not a single one, of the observed, had been attended with a consi- various views in which this exploit could derable loss to Mr. Bowyer.-Mr. Grant be considered, that did not rank it with presented the Third Report of the commis- the proudest achievements of our ancessioners of Military Enquiry.-Lord Ho-tors; that did not raise it to a level even wick presented the Papers relative to the with the memorable days of Cressy, Poilate Negociation with France. They tiers, and Agincourt. In mentioning these would be ready, he said, for circulation scenes of British fame and valour, he could this evening. It was desirable that as lit-not omit to state one peculiar character tle time as possible should elapse before which belonged to this distinguished serthey were taken into consideration. But vice, namely, the accession it produced as they were very voluminous, it was ne- to our stock of national glory, the most cessary the members should have full time valuable possession of a great nation. to peruse them. He did intend that they Other services might cut a greater figure, should be discussed on Wednesday se'n-in relation to their effect in adding to nanight. But he did not think it would be so tional importance, by acquisitions of likely to procure an attendance then as on a strength, resources, or territory, though subsequent day, and as he wished the at- not of a character to call for the sort of tendance might be as full as possible, he honours and distinctions merited by a would propose that day fortnight, beyond chievements of this kind. In this respect which day the discussion would not be the value and importance of the exploit postponed. The papers were then order-was highly augmented, even in the midst ed to lie on the table; (see p. 92.) of those splendid and brilliant triumphs to [BATTLE OF MAIDA-VOTE OF THANKS which this country had been so much acTO SIR J. STUART, &c.] Mr. Secretary customed. The glory acquired in this acWindham rose in pursuance of his notice on tion had not often been equalled, and neFriday, to move that the thanks of the house ver had been surpassed in the records of should be given to general sir John Stuart, military renown. Of what value it was and to the officers and men engaged under to keep up this high character for military him, in the glorious battle of Maida. He spirit; how necessary it was to encourage did not conceive that any thing more would it with every honourable distinction of be necessary to be said, on his part, in order to obtain the unanimous concurrence of the house in his motion. There had been so very general, so very lively, and so very proper a feeling manifested through out the country on the subject, that he was public approbation and gratitude; how impossible it was for any great country to preserve its character and independence without the possession of such feelings; these were topics upon which it was unnecessary for him to dwell, But if ever there had been a period of the world, writings avowed the opinion, that the troops when a strong military feeling was wanted of the enemy were superior to British for the preservation of the greatness and troops. The opinion was flattering to the glory of a country, it was the present. It enemy, but he trusted it had not gone far was this period, when the whole world had in the country, and was convinced, that it become, as it were, one universal camp; had not made any impression upon the when all nations were occupied with mili-people or the army. British soldiers were tary views, military fame, and military ser- strangers to any feelings that would previces; when these military pursuits were vent them, whenever they came in contact substituted in place of the civil arts of life; with the enemy upon nearly equal terms, when no country could be safe that did from making British valour as conspicuous not cultivate them, and when any country, by land as by sea. It was a general opinion, that did not cultivate them, could no longer that all our naval exploits had been achie hope to continue its independence. We were ved by a superiority of experienced discome to that state of society when, as had cipline and skill; but he could not subbeen well said, the soldier was abroad; scribe to such a position. Many of those when, in the language of the poet, 66 man heroic achievements which raised the and steel, the soldier and the sword," glory of our navy to the highest pitch, had were the only productions of a country been effected by the naked valour of that could be looked to with confidence Britons, without the aid of skill or discifor its protection and security. It was pline. Of this description were the exploits not because we had lost any part of performed in boarding ships, in cutting out the military spirit or character of the coun- vessels from under the protection of battetry that he dwelt with such pride upon the ries, and in various other operations pervalue of this exploit; certainly not. This formed by British seamen on shore, in country had never forfeited its just cha- every one of which the native valour of racter for military superiority. Yet, our countrymen was uniformly triumphant. from the circumstances under which the There were no such instances to be found war had hitherto been carried on, and the recorded in the military annals of the enepre-eminence of our great and glorious my. The enemy, however, had persuaded naval exploits, we had not had the same other nations, that they were as superior to opportunity of distinguishing our arms by us by land, as we are to them by sea; and land as by sea. The nations of the conti- the delusion seemed to have prevailed on nent too, as if they derived consolation in the continent. But the battle of Maida had their humiliation from the impression, broken the charm. Every circumstance of seemed to have been brought over to the its progress; the conduct of the officers, and opinion, that our military power, in the the bravery of the men, had established the largest sense of the word, was wholly confi-ascendancy of British valour, and mainned to naval operations. They seemed to think, that this country, was, he should not say proportionably weak, but that it was not proportionably strong by land as by sea. Now, the immediate tendency and effect of the glorious battle of Maida was, that it would meet these opinions, and correct the error in which they originated. It was impossible to contemplate this glorious exploit in all its circumstances, and not give way to a feeling of triumph at the superiority of national valour displayed in tained that superiority, which this country possessed in all ages. In proof of this he could appeal to the determination, as appeared by the gazette, of sir John Stuart, to advance with his inferior force to the attack of the enemy, even in the strong posi tion he occupied, if the enemy had not ad vanced to meet him. The issue of the action that ensued would prove to the chief of the enemy, and to his troops, who arrogated to themselves a superiority over all other troops, that they are not invincible, as they would represent themselves, that they could not withstand the valour of British troops when fairly committed against them in action. And yet, from whatever causes, certainly not from want of courage in their adversaries, the events of the late wars had contributed to countenance this opinion of their being invincible. They conquered because they thought they could conquer: "Possunt quia posse videntur." This were wounded by the bayonet.-He had to victory, however, had dissolved the spell. It apologize to the house for having trespassed was obtained in the face of Europe, in the so long on their attention; but really view of the nation for whose interest the the theme was so pleasing, that he could expedition was undertaken, and had proved not refrain from dwelling upon it with peto the world, in a manner not to be dis-culiar satisfaction. The detail of the acguised or concealed, that French troops are tion exhibited merits of all sorts, equally inferior to British troops. And here it was honourable to the skill of the officers, and necessary for him to take some precaution the firmness and valour of the soldiers. to guard against any possible misconstruc- Having been led thus far by the natural: tion of his meaning. Nothing could be pleasure one felt in speaking of so gratefarther from his intention, than to repre-ful a subject, he should not detain the sent this exploit as exclusively glorious for house longer than whilst he could state the reputation of the British arms. The some circumstances respecting the action, whole of the campaign in Egypt was equal- which were not generally known. By these ly conspicuous for the lustre it cast upon circumstances it would appear, that the victhe military character of the British nation. tory had been more decisive, and the deThis achievement condensed into a single feat of the enemy more complete than was action, all the same merits, that had been at first supposed. Sir John Stuart had displayed in every operation during that correctly stated the amount of his own glorious campaign. It was a lesson to this force as under 5000 men; but he had not country, to the enemy, and to the world, of the means of accurately ascertaining the the comparative value of British and French force of the enemy, when he wrote his distroops, and thoroughly confirmed the deci- patch. In that it had been stated at nearly sive superiority of British valour. There 7000, but it should have been stated at never had been an action so completely nearly 8000 men. This fact had been dis-> calculated in all its circumstances, so per- covered from returns found upon the perfectly framed, to establish that truth. He sons of some of the officers that had been could not more forcibly illustrate this fact killed. The next circumstance he had to than by adopting the eloquent language of mention respected the amount of the sir John Stuart on the subject: "It seems," enemy's loss. Sir J. Stuart stated the said the gallant general in his dispatch, numbers of the killed at 700; but it had "as if the prowess of the two nations was been afterwards ascertained, by observato be brought to trial before the world." tions made upon the spot, that the number Certainly no action, under any circumstan- of killed in the action amounted to 1300. ces, could be better calculated for such a Fifteen hundred prisoners had been the trial. If two sets of philosophers were immediate fruit of the action, and a consito have undertaken to make an experiment, derable number more fell into our hands by doing away every thing extraneous to from the consequences of the action. So their process, they could not have succeeded that thus a number, nearly equal to the whole more accurately. In the first part of the of the British force, had been disposed of action the two armies advanced against by this brilliant action. Another conse each other with the bayonet; an operation, quence of the exploit was, that it had set though much talked of, that very seldom the Calabrians free from the presence of the took place between great bodies of men. enemy, and had totally broken up the force Every circumstance, even in the most mi- of general Regnier in these provinces, which nute detail that had happened previously amounted to 13,000 men. It was not perto the shock, concurred to bring the cou-haps necessary to have dwelt so much on rage and intrepidity of the two rival nations the advantages that resulted from this to the trial. The contest was decided, not by any superiority of corporal strength, but by the predominance of personal intrepidity. Both armies advanced firmly to the charge, until within half a yard of each other. In this moment of perilous trial, British resolution and valour held out, and the enemy shrunk back with panic from the terrible contest.-It was not improper to state here, that hardly any of our men battle; but the glory that had been acquired in it, he considered of infinitely greater importance than any immediate benefits that had been derived from the action. This it was that would carry the effect of the brilliant exploit beyond the single instance, by restoring the military renown of this country, which had been called in question. He who gave glory to his country, gave that which was far more valuable to it than |