Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

cluded a speech of extraordinary length with a series of resolutions, which might serve as a pretty copious, as well as faithful abridgment of his speech, if even these could be brought with propriety within the limits, or were in any tolerable degree proportioned to the scale of our narative. But of these resolutions themselves, forming two close printed pages of double columns, let it suf fice to give the substance or spirit-That the house were convinced that peace, so anxiously desired by his Majesty's loyal people, would be best promoted by proving to the world, that we possessed the means of permanently supporting the honour and independence of our country against every species of attack by which the enemy might hope to assail them; that for this purpose it was necessary that his Majesty's government should henceforth adopt a wise and systematical sysstem of policy, regulated not only by a just estimate of our present difficulties, but by a prudent foresight of the probable exigencies of a protracted warfare; that the house entreated his Majesty to Bee * the necessity of adopting such measures as might deprive the enemy of all hope of success from a failure of our national resources; that he will therefore actually concur with his parliament in giving effect to economic and systematic arrangements for the conduct of the war, in providing for a recurrence to the true principles of a free commerce and cir

culation both at home and abroad; in endeavouring, by a wise and liberal policy, to unite in the bonds of a common interest all classes of his Majesty's subjects, of whatever religious persuasions; and lastly, that he will be graciously pleased to countenance the temperate consideration and deliberate adoption of such timely reformations, both economical and political, as might satisfy his loyal people, that the sacrifices required of thein were strictly limited, and faithfully applied to the real interests and safety of the public; and that, both for preventing the growth of any dangerous abuses, and for controlling the conduct of his Majesty's advisers, they [the public] continue effectually to possess those securities which had been the boast of the British government, and were essentially inherent in every free constitution." In short, the substance of both the speech and the resolutions might be summed up in one short proposition, that measures ought to be adopted in all respects of importance the very reverse of what had been pursued by the. present administration.

The Earl of Liverpool contended, that a favourable change had taken place in the posture of our affairs. Our commerce and revenue, he said, had increased in a. most unexampled manner; the number of vessels taken from the enemy, and those of our allies rescued from their grasp, was inmmense; the numbers of our army were greatly increased; the French

* Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates, June 13, 1810; in which Lord Grey's speech, authenticated, it is presumed by the author, is given in the first person, at full length.

had

an

had been for the first time in any war driven entirely out of the West Indies; the French and Dutch flags were suffered to wave in that hemisphere no more advantage which had rever been gained before, not even in the the war of 1756. The family of Braganza had been removed from French influence and French ag gression to the Brazils, whence advantages of importance might be expected to result to this country. Portugal, which had been overrun by the enemy, had seen that enemy expelled by British valour. Spain had been encouraged to struggle with her oppressors by our example. The port of Lisbon was now free; and Cadiz and Ceuta were at present occupied by British, in conjunction with Spanish troops. Such was the real state of things at the period when the noble lord had thought proper

to move a censure so severe.

[ocr errors][merged small]

they deemed the right of trial by jury, and the preserving the liberty of the subject, as indispensable." The Earl of Suffolk supported the amendment; so also did the Duke of Norfolk. The privileges of parliament, the duke admitted; but only those privileges that were consistent and salutary; among which he could not class that privilege, the recent discussion of which had caused so much discontent and alarm. Other fords spoke on the subjects of several of the resolutions. The necessity of some reform in the House of Commons was much insisted on. The question on the amendment was negatived without a division. The question was then put on the original address, and the house divided for the address 72; against it, 134.

On the 21st of June the royal assent was given to several bills, a speech in his Majesty's name was delivered by the Lord Chancellor,* one of his Majesty's commissioners, and the parliament prorogued to the 21st of August.

• Vide State Papers, p. 432.

L4

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Address of the Supreme Junta to the People of Spain after the Battle of Ocana.-Means used for the Defence of the Sierra Morena.-Passage of the French over this Chain of Mountains into Andalusia. General Sebastiani marches against Grenada Marshal Victor against Cadiz.The City and Province of Grenada reduced under the Porear of the French.- Manifests of King Joseph Buonaparte to the Spanish Nation. -Seville surrendered to the French without resistance.-Address of King Joseph to his Soldiers. The Supreme Junta retire to the Isle of Leon. Timid and treacherous Conduct of not a few Individuals of this Body - Miserable Intrigues among the Junte-Character of the Junta. -They become Objects of general Hatred and Contempt.-Forced to dissolve themselves - Cadiz saved, even in defiance of the Counteraction of the Junta by the Patriotism and Military Conduct of the Duke of Albuquerque.--Potriotic Ardour and Exertions of the People of Spain, particularly the Inhabitants of Cadiz. - Junta appointed for the Government, ad interim, of Cadiz.---Selfish and paltry Views of this Junta, and shameful Conduct towards the Duke of Albuquerque.---This Duke deprived of his military Command in the Isle of Leon, and sent Ambassador to England.---Recalled by the newly-appointed Regency.His Death-Funeral in London-and Eulogiums on his Character.--Blockade and Defence of Cadiz.

T

HE great battle of Ocant, fought on the 19th of November, 1809, by which the main army of the Spaniards, amounting to 50,000 men, was destroyed or dispersed, * was considered by Buonaparte as decisive; and he hastened at last to plant his eagles on the ramparts of Cadiz and the towers of Lisbon. The grand French army which was concentrated in December, 1809, in the territory between Madrid and Toledo, about the middle of January, 1810, drew near to the foot of the Sierra Morena.

After the disasters of Ocana,

the Supreme Junta published an address to the people of Spain, for the purpose of animating their patriotism, quieting their apprehensions, and encouraging their hopes. ↑ "If," they said, "good fortune and military skill have ravished the victory, they have not deprived us of that valour which ultimately prevails over skill and subdues fortune. The brazen wall raised by the perfidy and injustice of the French betwixt us and them, can never be overthrown by transient misfortunes. Where is the Spaniard,ho, even amidst the difficulties to which he is

Sce Vol. LI. (1809) MIST. EUR. p. 196. + Seville, December 20, 1809.

doonet

1

were appointed, and had already set out on their mission, with full powers to remedy the disaster of Ocona, and to prevent the recurrence of the like in future."

The Spaniards selected the best positions in the Sierra for defence,

ino-amthat presented by the Sierra Morena, availe but little, as host been repeatedly proved in our times, by the passage of the French over the mountains of Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It is easily overcome by the improved instrumentality and operations of modern warfare.

doomed by the rigour of fortune, would dare to proclaim a wish to become a Frenchman? The Supreme Junta, the organ of the wishes of all good patriots, has taken measures suitable to the dangers of the moment. The Supreme Junta has come to a resolu-formed entrenchments, erected tion, according to a decree of the batteries, intersected the roads by 4th offpril last, that all the efdeepicus in some places, and fects of whe churches, not necess plantedominese for blowing them sary to the performance of divine i upin there But the species of service, shall be imimediatelienternatural defonce, conso extended a to the mint at Seville with the utmost exactness; that there shall forthwith be opened a forced doan of half the gold and silver possessed by individuals; thatam extraordinary contribution be lotted on all classes of the state; that all sinecure and useless places shall be abolished as they become va cant; that there be opened in Spain si millions of dollars, and forty millions in America; that a tax be imposed on all carriages of luxury; that our armies be reinforced by 100,000 men; that 100,000 lances be formed, and ast many poiguards, to be distributed in the provinces, that the whole Sierra, from Santa Ollala to the kingdom of Grenada, be inspected by able engineers; that all the companies of the different corps of the army shall be commanded by officers properly qualified, and in sufficient numbers; that besides the measures taken for furnishing the army with arms and other articles in place of those they have lost, the Junta will make every exertion for recovering the muskets distributed among the peasants. Three commissioners

The French army, on the 20th and 21st of January, infantry and cavalry, forced their way through the mountains, chiefly by the passes of Puerto del Rey, Col de Muladar, and Despenna Perros. But it was necessary to send the heavy artillery round by Aranjuez. The Spaniards scarcely made any resistance: they were driven from their entrenchments with the bayonet. The intersections of the roads, and derangements occasioned by the explosion of the mines, did not retard the march of the French a quarter of an hour. Six thousand Spaniards, of whom a considerable portion were officers, were made prisoners; the rest fled, or were dispersed. The greater part of them escaped to Sierra Susanna, in the province of Jaen.* Their magazines and ord

* Lettre de Marescal Duc de Dalmatia Paas Prince de Neufchatel, Major General. Baylen, 22 Jan. 1810.

nance

nance fell, of course, into the hands of the victors; who, having crossed the Morena mountains, directed their march on Baylen, Jaen, Cordova, Carmona, and Seville. Detachments were sent into various quarters for overawing the country, keeping open their communications, collect ng provisions, and raising contributions. At Jaen and Cordova the French found great quantities of ammunition and stores; at Jaen, 44 pieces of orduance, and 6000 muskets; at Cordova, 6000 mus`kets and an arsenal. The pieces of different calibres that fell into their hands at these two cities, together with those that were found here and there in the mountains, amounted to not fewer than eighty.

From Jaen, Sebastiani was ordered, by Soult, the general in chief in this expedition, January 27, to march with his division to Grenada. The wrecks of the Spanish army, after the battle of Ocana and the passage of the Sierra, re-united under the generals Ariesaga and Frère, to the number of 7000 foot and 3000 саvalry, were also on their way to throw, themselves into Grenada. Sebastiani came up and attacked them on the other side, that is to say, the side next Grenada, of Alcala Real, whither the park of artillery at Badajoz had been removed, and where some divisions that had filed from the Sierra Morena bad rallied. Two hundred of them fell: about an equal number was taken. The infantry was dispersed. Ariesaga abandoning his artillery, retreated with the remains of his cavalry to Murcia.

Grenada, alarmed at these

events, on the 28th of January opened its gates to the French general. He was greeted by the universal acclamation of an immense multitude of people. No one fled. All in the public employments of the state, and all men of rank and property, were ardent in their professions of attachment, and eager to take an oath of allegiance to King Joseph. At Grenada was found a battalion of troops, one thousand strong, all of them strangers, and most of them Swiss, formerly belonging to the army of General Dupont, who had gone over to the patriots. They were terribly afraid of punishment, but were offered pardon, on the condition of entering into the service of the Emperor; which they accepted. Plentiful stores and provisions were found at Grenada. General Sebastiani, to secure peaceable possession of both the capital and the whole province, threw a garrison, from 12 to 15,000 men, into the fortress of Alhambra, which was put into a proper state of defence, and provisioned for six months.

It was among the instructions of the commander in chief, at this period, to General Soult, to Sebastiani to proceed from the reduction of Grenada to that of Malaga. This city was in a state of great commotion; a circumstance which determined the French general to march against it sooner than he intended. An old colonel, of the name of Aballo, had seized on the governme-t of the town, and shipped off the old authorities, civil and military, as well as such of the principal inhabitants as were suspected of favouring the French nsurpation.: A number

« PoprzedniaDalej »