Pollen, George Augustus, 60, 98, 332, 395, Spencer [George John Spencer], Earl, 110, 699, 1015, 1087. Pulteney, Sir William, 251, 337, 341, 345, Rawdon, Lord [Francis Rawdon Hastings, Rochester, Bishop of [Dr. Samuel Horsley] 202, 205. Romney [Charles Marsham], Earl of, 189, Rose, George, 91, 105. Rose, George, junior, 507, 1155. Russell, Lord William, 80, 791, 1421, 1497. Scarborough, Earl of, 122. Scott, Sir John [Attorney General], 338, 816, Secretary at War, see Windham. Sheffield, Lord, 1372, 1374, 1434, 1437. Simeon, John, 1151. Sinclair, Sir John, 325, 345, 787, 814, 988, Smith, William, 57, 165, 289, 331, 573, 594, 115, 135, 177, 191, 474, 764. Tarleton, Banastre, 574, 1358, 1562. Thornton, Samuel, 332, 358, 394, 779, 830. Tierney, George, 107, 363, 366, 785, 796, Townshend, Marquis, 137, 188, 205. Warwick, Earl of, 179, 188. Wigley, Edmund, 851, 1100. Wilberforce, William, 276, 345, 473, 569, Windham, right hon. William [Secretary at Yorke, Charles, 494, 508, 1101. Young, Sir William, 290, 575, 695, 903, 1402. PARLIA- Parliamentary History. 37 GEORGE THE THIRD, A. D. 1797. FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN. [Continued from Vol. XXXII.] admiral that tribute of gratitude and admiration which is due to his admirable conduct and his eminent services. Penetrated with this feeling, I shall conclude with now moving, "That the thanks of this House to be given to Admiral Sir John Jervis, knight of the most honourable order of the Bath, for his able and gallant conduct in the most brilliant and decisive victory obtained over the Spanish fleet, on the 14th day of February last, by the fleet under his command." Mr. Fox, in seconding the motion, said, he considered the victory as the most brilliant exploit in the annals of this country. DEBATE in the Commons on the Vote of Thanks to Sir John Jervis for the Victory over the Spanish Fleet.] March 3. 1797. Mr. Secretary Dundas said :-It was my intention this night to have given notice of a motion for Monday, not then conceiving the intelligence on which it is The motion was agreed to nem. con. founded had got abroad so generally as I Mr. Keene did not conceive that a mere find it has done. Perceiving, however, expression of thanks was a sufficient testhat the intelligence is as extensively timony of our sense of the merit of the known as it is matter of the highest ex- gallant admiral. He thought it our inultation, I cannot for one moment delay dispensable duty to follow it up with a affording an opportunity to this House, resolution that would substantially mark to express those sentiments of admiration the deep impression we felt of the disand gratitude which every British bosom tinguished service that had been rendered must feel on such an occasion. Waving to the country. He would therefore any detail, and satisfied that the general move, "That an humble address be preknowledge of the event will excite in this sented to his majesty, that he will be House the same rapturous sensations, graciously pleased to confer some signal which I understand have been already ex-mark of his royal favour upon Admiral Sir pressed by the public, it is only necessary John Jervis, knight of the most honourafor me to intimate, that accounts have this ble order of the Bath, for the important day arrived in town that a British admiral service rendered to his country, by the with fifteen sail of the line has fought, pur-gallant and glorious exertions of the fleet, sued, attacked and conquered a fleet of the under his command, consisting of only enemy, consisting of twenty-seven sail of fifteen sail of the line, and four frigates, the line, and as trophies of this victory, over a fleet of his Catholic Majesty, the most signal that ever was achieved in amounting to twenty-seven sail of the the annals of the British navy, has sent line, and nine frigates." into port as prizes two ships of 112 guns each, and two others, one of 80 and one of 70. Sure I am, that every British heart must be united to pay the gallant [VOL. XXXIII.] Mr. Secretary Dundas thought it was not necessary for the House to interfere with the reward which was so eminently due to the illustrious admiral, or to take [B] out of the hands of his majesty the task which peculiarly belonged to the royal office. It could not be suspected that in this instance, there would be any want of inclination on the part of the executive government, to do justice to the eminent services of the gallant admiral, and to meet the wishes of a grateful people. Sir C. Bunbury thought the House could not discover too great a promptitude in conferring on the gallant admiral the most signal and unequivocal proof of their gratitude and admiration. This brave officer by his conduct had stamped a reputation which would be as lasting as the annals of British glory. The name of Jervis would ever be dear to his country. One of the captured ships suggested a title appropriate to the character of the gallant admiral" Salvador del Mundo." Mr. Pitt said:-There can exist no difference of sentiment with respect to the extent and value of the services of the gallant admiral, or the feelings of gratitude and admiration which are due to his character. But even amidst those effusions of gratitude and admiration, which are peculiarly called forth by the brilliant exploit which engages our present attention, it is incumbent upon the House not to suffer themselves to be carried away by the impulse of their feelings, or, amidst the ardour of their acknowledgments, to confound those distinct functions which belong to the different branches of the legislature. I do not know that in any former instance, such a proceeding as that which is now proposed was sanctioned by the House. I can confidently refer to what took place with respect to the gallant services of Rodney, of Keppel, and of Howe; nor am I aware that any such proceeding was adopted with respect to the duke of Marlborough. Can it be supposed that the Crown can require to be prompted to pay the just tribute of approbation and honour to those who have eminently signalized themselves by their public services? On the part of his majesty's ministers, I can safely affirm, that before this last splendid instance of the good conduct of the gallant admiral, we have not been remiss in watching the uniform tenor of his professional career; we have witnessed in the whole of his proceedings, such instances of perseverance, of diligence, and of exertion in the public service, as though less brilliant and dazzling than this last exploit, are only less meritorious, as they are put in competi tion with the glory of a single day, which has produced such incalculable benefits to the British empire. I confess I should feel relieved by the consent of the hon. gentleman to withdraw his motion; but if he should persist in pressing it on the House, I shall meet it by moving the previous question. Mr. Sheridan said:-I cannot submit to the doctrine that this House has no right to interfere to express its marked approbation of a distinguished character, or to apply to his majesty to signalize the most eminent public services by a peculiar mark of his royal favour. If there was any chance that the present motion would be passed unanimously, it should have my warmest support. I cannot allow the proud boast of the right hon. gentleman to pass unnoticed, that in no instance has there appeared on the part of the execu tive government any want of promptitude to reward the claims of public services. The very mention of the name of the honourable admiral must forcibly recall the recollection of his former services, and the degree of attention which they experienced from the executive government No honour, no reward has hitherto fol lowed from his gallant exertions which ministers feel themselves compelled to no tice in terms of the highest panegyric While they have withheld from him, and other illustrious characters the just reward of their merit, on whom have they thrown away their honours? On persons, who have no pretensions to professional desert who can exhibit no claims of public ser vices. After The motion was withdrawn. which Mr. Dundas moved, 1. "That the thanks of this House be given to the vice admirals Charles Thompson and the hon William Waldegrave, rear-admiral Willian Parker, commodore (now rear-admiral Horatio Nelson, captain (now sir Robert Calder (knight), first captain to admira sir John Jervis, and to the several captain and officers of the fleet under the command of the said admiral, for their bravery and gallant conduct on the above-mentione most glorious occasion; and that admira sir John Jervis do signify the same t them. 2. That this House doth highl approve of, and acknowledge the ser vices of the seamen, marines, and sol diers, on board the ships under the com mand of admiral sir John Jervis, i the late most glorious victory over the Spanish fleet; and that the captains o I ard the several ships do signify the same to their respective crews, and do thank them for their gallant behaviour." Mr. Grey thought the extraordinary success which resulted from the conduct of sir John Jervis, ought to be marked with a distinction as great as it was possible to confer. Such a measure was not without a precedent. In 1704, an address was agreed to by the Commons, humbly praying that her majesty would take into her consideration the propriety of carrying into execution some measure that might perpetuate the memory of the success which had attended her arms under the command of the duke of Marlborough. The motions were agreed to nem. con. John Jervis has obtained, in an equal degree ought we to affix culpability for so glaring a neglect as that of leaving him with such a prodigious inferiority of force. We are told, Sir, that with 15 ships of the line sir John Jervis has defeated a Spanish fleet, which consisted of 27 line of battle ships, of which he has taken four. Fortunate and glorious as this action bas proved, we cannot but call to mind how dreadful would have been the fate of that memorable day, had victory declared itself in favour of the enemy. What, Sir, at this moment, must have been the sensations of the people of this country, if, in spite of all those superior abilities for which British officers and seamen are so eminently conspicuous, the reverse of the picture had this night been held up to us, and we had been told that sir John Jervis had been defeated, in consequence of the immense superiority of numbers in the fleet which the enemy brought into action against us? I have no doubt but the voice of the country at large would have called loudly and universally for an im Debate on Mr. Whitbread's Motion relative to the Invasion of Ireland.] Mr. Whitbread said: -I rise, Sir, to make the motion of which I gave notice. No man, Sir, can have a higher opinion than I have, of the courage, the gallantry, the skill and ability of the gallant admiral, and the officers and seamen acting under him, who have achieved an action so emi-peachment of the first lord of the adminently glorious. No man can be more ralty. I think this House would, in such desirous of conferring on him and them a case, have been ready to join the voice every praise, and every exalted distinction, of the people, and to second them in so I no which such brilliant conduct deserves. necessary a measure. The unparalleled yr At the same time, Sir, that I say this, I success which has attended our fleet, by must beg leave to observe, that such glo- no means alters the state of the question. rious annals of the events are by no means It was the duty of the first lord, and of unprecedented in the British navy. his majesty's ministers, to have taken care However, Sir, willing and desirous as I that our fleet should bear some proportion am to allow to this gallant action every to that of the enemy; and therefore, the possible degree of merit, I must beg leave inferiority being so very great, it is right to call the attention of the House to the that an inquiry into the conduct of micircumstances which have just been re- nisters should immediately take place. lated to us, concerning the situation and The mismanagement of ministers has benumber of ships with which this gallant come notorious. The cry of inquiry into houl admiral has acquired so brilliant and so their conduct is gone abroad, and is decisive a victory. The inequality of echoed back upon us from every corner ships on our part, under the command of of the kingdom. Though this inquiry, sir John Jervis, is very great, almost in a therefore, has been so often refused, I proportion of two to one. While, there- think ministers cannot much longer keep fore, we view the splendour of this victory it off; and as a preliminary or harbinger with every degree of admiration, it be- to that inquiry on a large scale which I comes us seriously to consider, whether have just now hinted at, I trust that the the circumstance alone does not loudly House will this night agree to the limited call for an inquiry into the conduct of the inquiry I have now in view, as to the confirst lord of the admiralty, for his neglect duct of ministers, with respect to the late of reinforcing the squadron which was in attempt of the French to invade Ireland. a service so distant as that of the Medi-It is almost incredible to relate, but it is terranean. when he knew that the Spaniards were added to the list of our naval adversaries. In my opinion, in the same degree of proportion in which we praise and admire the glorious victory which sir thei ser ir the not less strange than it is true, that with a fleet, consisting of upwards of 500 vessels of war of various denominations, the captures, within the last three months, of our merchant ships, have been more numerous than in any three months which had ever preceded them. Of this immense number of ships of war, no less than ninety ships of the line are in the European seas. With such a force, how those captures could have been made, except from the culpable neglect of ministers, I am at a loss to imagine. The fact, however, is but too well ascertained to admit of a doubt. I now come, Sir, to speak of that particular neglect and misconduct which more immediately gives rise to the present motion. The first information on authority which this House received relative to the intention of the enemy to invade this country, was conveyed to us by his majesty's Speech on the opening of the present session. Measures were in consequence adopted by ministers, in order to repel this threatened attack upon us. Several bills were passed for putting the country into the best possible posture of defence. Information had been received through various channels, that Ireland was one object of the meditated attack. Had any measures been taken towards the defence of Ireland when the attempt to invade it was actually made? I believe not. From the letter of the commander in chief in that quarter of it, general Dalrymple, it appears, that instead of any effectual measures having been previously taken for an efficient defence, every thing remained to be done. He says, after mentioning the appearance of the enemy in Bantry Bay, that he will immediately proceed to put every thing into the most speedy and proper train, for the purpose of frustrating the design of the enemy. Is this being in a proper state of defence against such an active and enterprising enemy as we have to contend with? If it is, I am no judge of those matters. But, Sir, it appears by the most authentic information received from thence, that there was not any thing like an adequate force for defence in that part of the country. There were not at the time more, if so many, as 3,000 regular troops to oppose the whole force of the French. The city of Cork was, therefore, in the most imminent peril of falling into their hands, had not that God, who has so often favoured and protected this country, prevented it. In that city were contained stores and provisions of various kinds to the amount of nearly, if not quite, a million and a half sterling. Among those stores, were the provisions intended for the use of the British navy for the next year; so that had they been taken or destroyed, the navy, splendid as its achievements have been at all times, when called into action, would have been for a year to come altogether annihilated. I must now, Sir, entreat the indulgence of the House while I go through a regular statement of the motions of the French fleet, and those of our own, from the time of the enemy quitting the harbour of Brest, and a short period antecedent thereto. Admiral Colpoys, with a fleet of fourteen or fifteen sail of the line, was lying off Brest harbour for some weeks. The French fleet, however, in defiance of this, sailed from Brest on the 15th of December. On the 20th of that month they arrived off the coast of Ireland, and some of them dropped anchor in Bantry Bay. I have here to observe, that previous to that, and during the time that admiral Colpoys was with his squadron lying off Brest, admiral Richery, with six French ships of the line, passed the squadron of admiral Colpoys, and got safe into Brest. On the 21st, the enemy cast anchor in Bantry Bay; so that they were at sea, and on the coast of Ireland, from the 18th of December to the 6th of January. On the 20th of December news arrived in England, that the French fleet had quitted Brest. From the 23d to the 25th, the wind was favourable for the squadron under the command of lord Bridport to have sailed. It continued fair on the 26th and 27th, after which it came a-head, and the fleet could not sail for some days. On the 31st, intelligence came to this country that the French fleet was off the coast of Ireland, and on the same day, admiral Colpoys, with the fleet under his command, arrived at Portsmouth. The reasons given for his return with this squadron are various and contradictory. One was, that his force was not sufficient to encounter that of the enemy. If that was a true reason, it furnishes an additional cause for inquiry into the conduct of ministers! What when they had received information of the extensive preparations going forward at Brest, shall we be told, after the large sums consumed in secret service money, and with the immense navy in our possession; that they ought not to have sent out fresh ships to reinforce that squadron ? It is absurd on the face of it. Admiral Colpoys, however, must have received in telligence of the sailing of the Brest fleet Did he sail in pursuit of them? Did he sail towards the coast of Portugal after |