airs of Spain; Capture of Badajoz,
&c...... Naval Affairs..... Affairs of France.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

{A.D. 1809}

Parliament was opened by commission on the 19th of January. The royal
speech stated his majesty's reasons for rejecting the proposals made for
a negociation with France and Russia, and spoke of the perseverance of
the Spaniards in the cause of their legitimate monarchy and national
independence, which would induce his majesty to support them so long as
they should prove true to themselves. Satisfaction was expressed at the
liberation of Portugal; a continuance of aid to the King of Sweden was
recommended; and a speedy augmentation of our regular army inculcated.
The addresses were voted without a division, but opposition at the same
time were not wholly silent. They seem indeed to have hoped that the
misfortunes in Spain, and some mistakes which had been made in the
Portuguese convention, would lead to the dissolution of the cabinet.
A motion, however, moved in the Commons by Lord Petty, for directly
censuring the convention in Portugal, and for attributing the whole
blame of it to government, was negatived by two hundred and eight
against one hundred and fifty-eight. A motion also, made by Mr.
Ponsonby, for an inquiry into the conduct of the late campaign in
Spain, was rejected by two hundred and twenty against one hundred and
twenty-seven. In reviewing the principal incidents connected with this
campaign, Mr. Ponsonby drew no very favourable picture of the capacity
and judgment of the cabinet. He remarked:--"With so many opportunities
and resources at command, they had instituted no proper inquiry into the
state of the Peninsula, the bent of the public mind, the inclinations of
the higher ranks, the views of the middle classes, and the probability
that effective resistance would be made to a vigorous and mighty foe.
Extraordinary indecision and unnecessary delays had injured the cause
which the king pretended to support. Several Spanish armies were routed
before the British troops were prepared to act, and when they became
engaged in the contest, they were in danger of total ruin." The
character of Sir John Moore, however, does not seem to have been called
into question by any member of opposition. Almost his last words were,
"I hope the country will do me justice;" and the general feeling of the
public mind from that day to this is, that he exhibited great skill
and bravery, although