Why is our sky with clouds o'erspread ?
Why droops Britannia's mournful head ?→→→
Have British heroes filed, appall'd ?
Or have not rush'd where Glory call'd?
Or has some triumph, bought too dear,
Wrung from thine eye the bitter tear ?—
Yes, on Iberia's mountains high
Our trumpets sound, our banners fly :-
Alas! in vain the generous aid!
Spain sees her glorious hopes betray'd;
And while astonish'd nations view,
Her sons their ancient fame renew,
With Gallia leagued, a traiterous band,
Seek to enslave their native land-
Too well their cruel arts succeed,.
And British warriors vainly bleed!
Oh! had but faithful Chiefs combin'd,
With constant loyalty of mind!

-It might not be Th' auxiliar host
Reluctant seeks the distant coast.
Whilst countless myriads strive in vain
To bar their passage to the main;
And tho' retreating, still the foe

Bleeds from the British sabre's powerful blow.

So, in old Homer's deathless song,
Ajax repell'd the Trojan throng;.
Beneath the Telamonian shield,
Last of the train he quits the field;
But if some venturous wretch too near
Provok'd the terror of his spear,

Pierc'd, on the blood-stain'd field he lies,
And death's cold slumbers seal his eyes.→→→
So MOORE, beneath thy sage command,
Sternly retires thy warrior band;
And still the Gallic squadrons feel
The fury of their vengeful steel, }
And still Britannia's banners fair,1
Triumphant, float upon the air;—
Till last, upon Iberia's strand,
In phalanx firm thy legions stand.
Then, ecchoing from the rocky shore,
Was heard thy vollied thunders' roar ;
Glow'd every breast with proud delight,-
They charge, the Gauls recede in flight!--
Alas! Those sighs which load the gale
Speak the sad sequel of the tale.—
Oh! tell not to th' insulting foe,

The cause that bids these sorrows flow ;~
Reveal it not to haughty Gaul,

best she should triumph in our hero's fall,

Illustrious Chief! tho' at thy grave,
No requiem sounds, no banners wave,
Yet Britain o'er thy lowly tomb,
Shall weep her warrior's early doom;
Shall place thee in the rolls of fame,
With WOLFE's, with ABERCROMBIE's name;
With those, whose deeds in every age,
Shed lustre on th' historic page.
Thine was the cautious chieftain's meed,
Mid dangers skill'd thy bands to lead;
And victory twin'd her brightest wreath,
To crown thee in the arms of death.
When thro' the ranks thy fall was known,
They felt the shock ;-the loss they own;
And the stern soldier's rugged cheek
Reveal'd the woe he could not speak ;-
For thee those tears unwanted fall,
The father, and the friend of all!
The father, and the friend no more,
For ah! What tears can life restore!
Yet did not flight, or wild dismay,
Cloud the fair glories of the day,
But each upon the hated foe,
Strove to avenge the fatal blow;
'Till shouts of exultation rise,
And Gallia's routed army flies.
-The conflict o'er,-the victory won,-
Thy bright career of glory run,-
Serene thy valiant spirit fled,

And Moors was number'd with the dead!-
And shall not Britain drop the tear,
O'er her lamented chieftain's bier,
Who fought, who conquer'd,—and who died
for her?

Yes, in a grateful nation's praise, Thy fame shall live to future days.— The spirits of the warrior dead, Shall glide around thy lowly bed, And with parental fondness, see Their ancient fame reviv'd in thee; Shall mark, along th' ensanguin'd plain, The triumphs of thy warlike train, And in thy victories live again. Tho' now the din of war's alarms, No more shall rouse thy soul to arms; Tho' low within thy narrow cell, On thee shall memory fondly dwell; When sending forth our sons to fame, Pointing to MOORE's illustrious name, "Be thine," the anxious Sire shall cry, "Like him to conquer, and like him to die.'

Heroic Chief! Belov‍d,—tever'd, By every tender thought endear'd'; Forgive, if on thy native plains, A shepherd lad, in artless strains, With rustic pipe, and ruder lay, To sing thy warlike fame ess y. 234

Sir H. Burrard's name, since he himself had disclaimed any share in the battle.

Lord Erskine thought the omission invidious, and injurious to the character of Sir H. Burrard. It had always been customary to notice the commander-in-chief.

Lord Mulgrave gave due credit to Sir H. Burrard for his manly and liberal conduct toward Sir A. Wellesley, whom he might have superseded on the field; but the thanks to be voted were exclusively for the action; and Sir H. Burrard, so far from assuming any merit for the action, had even desired Sir Arthur to write the dispatches describing it. Several other lords spoke, desiring unanimity on this subject. Lord Moira's amendment was negatived without a division, and thanks were ordered.

Lord Darnley moved for papers relating to

the convention at Cintra.

Wednesday, Jan. 25.-The Earl of Liverpool moved the thanks of the house to lieut.gen. Baird, and the officers and army under his command in Spain. The battle of Co, runna displayed the courage, perseverance, discipline, and cool determination of British troops. The French had rushed on our warriors in full confidence of destroying them, from their superior numbers, from the exhausted state of our troops, and from the additional disadvantages arising from the act of embarkation; but the undaunted resolution of British soldiers had baffled all the fury of the Gallic legions. The foe had been completely repulsed. The British general had never exerted superior wisdom, courage, or skill, although there had scarcely been an action or expedition of importance for some years past, in which Sir John Moore had not borne a share. His example would form new heroes and future generals. To the public grief, his lordship added the sympathies of private friendship for that great man.

Lord Moira most warmly approved of the motion; attributed to the ministry the occasion of every evil, and the ruin of our expectations: by their ignorance, our countrymen had been immolated. The matter demanded inquiry, &c.

Lord Mulgrave regretted the introduction of topics foreign from the subject: would rather have borne the whole burden of the noble earl's indignation himself, than have heard such allusions on this occasion. Compared Sir John Moore to geu. Wolfe.

Lord Sidmouth considered the defeat of the French as truly glorious to the British army. The enemy had all the advantages of time and place of attack; and this upon troops not freshly landed, but exhausted by fatigues and privations. It had impressed him with the conviction of the superiority of British troops in every branch of military service. The infantry, the cavalry, the artillery, all had

proved themselves superior to the French. Such troops would prove the safety of Britain; but they must be directed by a wise, not an imbecile ministry. In the latter case, we should too truly be found, as a noble lord (Moira) had described us, a sinking nation!

Lord Erskine enlarged on the same ideas ; with the addition of our conduct toward America. Were we not a sinking people? and we should continue so, while the present men guided the helm of the state.

Lord Grenville admitted that no encomia could surpass the merits of Sir John Moore and his army; but condemned the ministers for sending these troops into such a perilous situation. Their success was impossible. The country must sink, if she should patiently endure a continuance of those destructive measures to which our present misfortunes were owing, &c.

Motion agreed to.

Lord Auckland moved for a return of the value of exports and imports to and from America.-Ordered.

Thursday, Jan. 26.-The Earl of Liverpool opened the subject of the Negociation proposed by Russia and France, being confident that no objection could be started against the proceedings of ministers. They had the voice of the nation with them. The real intention of the Despot of the Continent could not possibly be peace; yet, not to crush the overture at once, his Majesty's ministers acted on the supposition that his intention might be sincere. Indeed, there was an appearance of fairness in proposing the uti possidetis, as the basis of an agreement. The ministers knew the preparations made by Buonaparte against Spain; knew that the people of Spain were making every effort to meet those preparations; knew that the feeling of every heart among us was in favour of the brave Spaniards, and that the whole country was indeed fired with enthusiasm in their cause. To termis nate all evasion, and to prevent the protraction of the negociation, which could have been profitable only to the enemy, and was calculated to diminish the confidence of the Spaniards in this nation, his Majesty's government thought it was best to bring the matter to a single point, to ascertain whether the Spanish government, acting in the name. of Ferdinand VII, was to be admitted as a party. However great the blessings of peace were to Britain, they could not be purchased by the sacrifice of its honour, and by defeating the expectations of a generous nation, which placed its hopes of liberty on our assistance. Had the Spanish Juhta been admitted, ministers intended to have named plenipotentiaries. But the Spaniards, strug gling against lawless power, were deemed

insurgents," and debarred from all and every consideration! His lordship lamented

the degraded situation of Russia, now subservient to the Tyrant of France. &c.; and moved an address of thanks to his Majesty for his gracious communication of the papers, &c. Lord Grenville was sorry that the vote of thanks was drawn up in terms from which he must dissent. He was convinced that the period at which these proposals were made by the French government rendered a successful negotiation impossible. He perfectly agreed with every thought of the noble earl, and every epithet he had applied to the French Usurper: a despot who had no respect for justice; who exulted at that moment in the idea of destroying the army of Britain then in Spain. In the situation of Spain and Europe at that time, the hunger of his ambition was ungratified; and, unless his temper had been suddenly changed, he could not have been sincere in his overtures for peace. He thought himself sure of seizing on the peninsula, in another month or two; and what was already in his grasp, he was not of a disposition to forego. But, his lordship thought that ministers had conducted this business like ideots. They ought to have placed the Spanish interests after the British; and having first shewn what Britain was willing to part with for peace, they might have induced their antago nist to admit Spanish plenipotentiaries. His lordship also thought, that his majesty's engagements with the Spaniards were unknown to that house, and indeed to the constitution; as parliainent was ignorant of them, and, therefore, they were not binding.

The Lord Chancellor vindicated the conduct of ministers; proved, that, during the discussions to which such a conduct would have led, the Spaniards might have been ruined. By such an act the accession of Joseph Buonaparte to the throne of Spain would have been acknowledged. The sincerity and openness of ministers were infinitely better than such covert proceedings.

The earl of Suffolk praised the present state of discipline of the army: which he attributed to the duke of York.

The duke of Norfolk was astonished to hear that his majesty had contracted engagements with the Spanish patriots.

House of Lords, Feb. 1.-The earl of Liverpool laid on the table the papers relative to the negociation with the American ministers.

Lord Erskine, submitted to the house á series of motions, the object of which was to obtain an account of the losses sustained by our army in the last campaign in Spain.

The duke of Norfolk requested to know when the treaty concluded with Spain, would be laid on the table.

The earl of Liverpool answered, as soon as the ratifications were exchanged. He observed, that no event had happened since the treaty was negociated, which in his opinion, ought to make any difference in its stipulations; or to cause a difference in the exertions which it would have been proper for this country to make in assisting Spain. The treaty had been signed about a fortnight ago.

Sir Arthur Wellesley's letter of acknowledgment read by the lord chancellor.

House of Lords, Feb. 3.-Copy of papers relative to the proceedings of the board of officers at Chelsea, presented at the bar.

Committee of privileges, on the claim of the Banbury peerage, appointed.

On lord Erskine's motion for information as to all departments of the army returned from Spain.

Lord Liverpool thought accurate returns were impracticable at present.

House of Lords, Feb. 6.-Lord Boringdon's divorce bill introduced: witnesses heard. Several East-India papers presented.

Lord Auckland thought the answer to the proposition was injudiciously framed: Spain should not have been mentioned, except under the general term, our allies." Motion passed nem. con.

House of Lords, Jan. 31.-Sir David Baird's letter of acknowledgement read by the lord chancellor.

Earl Grosvenor moved for a committee of the whole house, to consider the late campaign in Spain and Portugal; also the state of the nation. He largely discussed a variety of topics, and acknowledged that if his motion succeeded he should move an address to this majesty to dismiss his present ministers. His lordship alluded to the French revolution, and the miseries it had brought upon Europe. We had happily escaped the ravages that desolated other countries, yet we had been engaged in war 17 years, and had no hope of peace but by reducing France to distress. The wicked policy of Buonaparte enfeebled the

minds of monarchs and people before he attacked their power: he had done so with the emperor of Russia. He had led him to behold with complacency scenes at which he would formerly have revolted;-even the stagnation of his maritime commerce, to which may be attributed most of the calamities which had befallen Switzerland, Spain, and Sweden. His lordship adverted to affairs of Sweden; to late events in Spain; to our treaty with the junta; &c. &c.

The duke of Montrose described the speech of the noble earl as the most desultory he had ever heard: it was impossible to comply with it; in his opinion. The disposition of our military affairs in Spain had been good and beneficial; witness the opening of the Tagus, and the diversion in favour of our allies.

Lord Darnley could not conceive on what ground the motion could be resisted.--England could never send an army into the heart of Spain adequate to the expulsion of the armies of France.

Lord Grenville expressed great surprize at any opposition to the motion; a motion so important and so fairly stated. The ministers had challenged inquiry; why not meet it? Was astonished at the language held by the noble duke, as if the interference of the house with ministers was improper. The house had so done during the American war: such interference was its right. The transac tions in Sweden, Spain and Portugal demanded explanation: which this motion would procure.

The lord chancellor said, he had been acquainted with parliamentary proceedings twenty-five years, and had never known such a motion adopted. It embraced too much. Ministers would willingly answer specific questions: but such a mass was too complicated for examination.

Lord Erskine supported the motion; considered the increase of the public burdens as an object of great solicitude.

Lord Liverpool contended that the motion was so vague, that it was not even parliamentary. That when similar motions had been made on occasion of misfortunes at Dunkirk, at the Helder, &c, the noble baron (Grenville) then in administration, had been completely adverse to them, they were calculated in fact to obtain no valuable purpose-but to baffle, and to confound.

Lord Moira adverted to the state of Spain, of Sweden, of America, to the difficulties under which trade labours, to the danger to the linen trade of Ireland, occasioned by want of flax-seed, &c. As individuals he highly esteemed many of his majesty's ministers, but, as a body he considered them as incapable, &c. Lord Harrowby thought the, sentiments expressed by certain noble lords (Grenville and Moira) were calculated to extinguish the spirit of the people.-This lord Grenville

denied: and applauded the spirit of the nation, the greatness of the navy, &c. Motion negatived without a division.

House of Lords, Feb. 9.-Council heard on Campbell's divorce bill: to prove the marriage, offered the testimony of Miss Sarah White, who, when very young, had seen a ceremony take place in the island of Jamaica, between the parties, which she was told was a marriage-council stopped by the lord chancellor, who said the house would not acquiesce in such a proof: allowed time to procure better evidence.

Lord Boringdon's divorce bill passed.. Lord Auckland hoped all the correspondence with America would be laid before the house.

Lord Liverpool answered, that the American government had not given publicity to every paper: therefore thought himself justie fied in following the same course.

Lord Moira moved that the house resolve itself into a committee, on the subject of imprisonment for debt. Anciently in England, before any arrest took place, the debtor was summoned before a committee, in which the existence, the cause, and the circumstances of the debt were investigated: this laudable institution had fallen into disuse among us, and now a debtor was at the sole mercy of his creditor: hence enmity, rivalship, or other base passions, might send a man to jail, where he might languish years before the cause of insolvency were proved. His lordship wished that the effect of caprice in a creditor should be annulled; did not mean wholly to remove arrest for debt, but to regulate it. Requested lord Walsingham to take the chair. Lord Walsingham excused himself. Lord Moira said, rather than experience delay, he would take the chair himself: agreed.

House of Lords, Feb. 10.-Lord Auckland moved for the imports and exports of Ireland; for the last three years; also, between Ireland and America, so far as could be made up :~ His lordship also desired that the instructions: of the American government to its represen tatives in England and France should be laid on the table: his intention was, to shew the offers of retracting the embargo were similar to both countries.

Lord Liverpool presumed that such papers, would appear: the existence being notorious

Lord Grenville moved for lord Grey's note on the order in council, dated Jan. 1, 1807.