of Tilsit, requiring Russia to close her ports against English vessels,
was the actual reason for the Czar’s declaration of war against
England. Lord Granville Leveson left St. Petersburg early in November
1807.
[312] Prince Stahremberg was Austrian Minister in London. Lord Holland
states that he did not consider his information reliable except where
it was substantiated by documents. Metternich was Austrian Ambassador
at Paris. The declaration of war of both Austria and Prussia was
entirely due to Napoleon’s instigation, as one step in his campaign
against British commerce. Both countries had the sense to give no
reason for their action.
[313] These letters, Mr. Fox asserted in a speech in the House of
Commons, were the origin of the rupture of the peace of Amiens.
Certainly they were the means of rousing Napoleon’s ire, for Coleridge
had to leave Rome in 1806 in all haste, after a friendly warning that
the Emperor intended his arrest. He was Secretary to the Governor of
Malta, Sir Alexander Ball, 1804–5, a post which was rather the result
of a chance visit to the island than an official appointment. He wrote
for the _Courier_ for several years at this period of his life.
[314] George, second Lord Kenyon (1776–1855), who succeeded his father
in 1802. Lord Kenyon seconded the Address, but his speech was delivered
in so low a tone as to be inaudible below the bar (_Hansard_).
[315] The British expedition to Copenhagen in September 1807, which
resulted in the seizure of the Danish fleet and the bombardment of that
city. Canning had private information of the secret clauses of the
Treaty between Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit. His refusal to produce
papers which would incidentally have brought his secret agent to light,
coupled with what they considered his shabby behaviour in joining the
Tory Government, caused him much odium amongst the Whigs.
[316] Milnes?
[317] Mr. R. Campbell came over in the _Revenge_, man-of-war, with
the deputies who had arrived to ask for English assistance against the
French. Napoleon invaded Spain late in 1807, and set up his brother
Joseph on the throne. This was too much for the _amour propre_ of
the Spaniards; they rose in arms, and in every town occupied by the
invader outbreaks of the most ferocious description took place.
[318] Solano was Governor of Cadiz. The French fleet consisted of five
ships of the line and one frigate, which had escaped to that port after
Trafalgar, and had lain there ever since. They were forced to surrender
a fortnight later to the Spaniards, as they were unable to leave the
harbour on account of Lord Collingwood’s fleet, which was waiting for
them outside.
[319] Don Gonzalo O’Farrill (1754–1831), Spanish General, who sided
with Joseph Bonaparte, and became his War Minister.
[320] At Madrid on May 2 Murat put a large number of people to death
without trial for supposed participation in riots which had taken place
there that day.
[321] The French General, Count Pierre Dupont, who was in command of
the French forces in Andalusia. He was defeated by Castaños at Baylen
in July 1808, and forced to lay down his arms with 18,000 men.
[322] The Duke of Infantado was implicated, as Lady Holland relates,
in the supposed plot of Ferdinand, Prince of the Asturias, against
his father, Charles IV, in October 1807. The whole conspiracy was
looked upon in many quarters as a device of Godoy’s to ruin his rival
Escoiquiz. The Duke accompanied Ferdinand to Bayonne the following
April, and after his master’s deposition offered his services to Joseph
Bonaparte. On the first favourable occasion, however, he turned against
him and was given a Spanish command.
[323] The picture was painted in 1763, and is now at Mount Stuart, Lord
Bute’s residence in the Isle of Bute.
[324] Second daughter of Alexander, Duke of Gordon, and sister of
Charlotte, fourth Duchess of Richmond.
[325] At Baylen.
[326] Afterwards better known as Count Torreno. He was a member of the
first Cortes at Cadiz, and had to leave Spain at Ferdinand’s return. He
lived in Paris until 1820, when he came back to Spain.
[327] Manuel Freyne (1765–1834), general, who served with distinction
throughout the war. He refused employment under Ferdinand.
[328] From Spain, where he went as Ambassador early in 1809. He
succeeded Canning as Foreign Secretary.
[329] John, second Marquess of Lansdowne, previously referred to in
these pages as Lord Wycombe.
[330] By a former family arrangement Lord Lansdowne was enabled, should
his brother die childless, to draw up a deed of appointment as to the
disposition of the property.
[331] Georgina Anne, who died in 1819.
[332] George, ninth Earl of Winchilsea, and fourth Earl of Nottingham
(1752–1826), who succeeded his uncle in 1769.
[333] Joseph Berington (1746–1827), an Englishman educated at the
College of St. Omer. He became a priest, and was one of the first of
that persuasion to wear black clothes in England, from which others had
up to then refrained for fear of persecution. He was the author of a
number of works, historical and philosophical.
[334] Canning’s statement was published in the papers on November 28.
It took the form of a letter to Lord Camden laying the blame on him for
the misunderstanding with Lord Castlereagh.
[335] Lady Elizabeth Foster married William, fifth Duke of Devonshire,
on October 19, 1809.
[336] For the Chancellorship of the University, rendered vacant by
the death of the Duke of Portland on October 30. Lord Grenville, Lord
Eldon, and the Duke of Beaufort were the rival candidates.
[337] Martin Davy (1763–1839). He was elected Master of Caius in 1803,
and held that position until his death. He was a staunch Whig, and was
given a living near Cambridge in 1827.
[338] A town in Portugal, one of the sights of which is a magnificent
cathedral.
[339] Lady Anne Fitzpatrick, and her father, Lord Upper Ossory.
[340] An amendment to the Address was moved in both Houses, deploring
the ill-success of the late expeditions, and demanding an inquiry into
the reasons of their failure. Creevey says in his journal (_Creevey
Papers_, i. 123): ‘Notwithstanding Tierney’s calculations and
prophecy that we should be in a majority, we were beat by ninety-six.’
[341] The figures were 144 to 92, against the Amendment.
[342] His motion was, ‘To appoint a Committee to inquire into the
policy and conduct of the late expedition to the Scheldt.’
[343] William Frederick Eden, eldest son of William, first Lord
Auckland. He was born in 1782, and was, at the time of his death,
Deputy-Teller of the Exchequer.
[344] Domingo Antonio de Souza, Marquis de Funchal (1765–1832),
Portuguese Ambassador in England.
[345] William Windham died on June 4, 1810, from the effects of a
severe operation for a tumour on his hip. About a year before he had
sustained an injury from some falling woodwork, when engaged in trying
to save from fire a valuable library belonging to his friend the Hon.
Frederick North, and on this the disease fastened.
Windham’s father, Colonel Windham, married, after his first wife’s
death, Sarah Hicks, widow of Robert Lukin, of Dunmow. To a nephew by
this connection, Captain (afterwards Admiral) Lukin, Windham left his
property on condition he took the family name.
His diary was published by Mrs. Henry Baring in 1866.
[346] As Chancellor of Oxford University.
[347] Henrietta Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the Hon. Edward Bouverie.
She married, in 1790, James St. Clair Erskine, second Earl of Rosslyn.
[348] John Clerk, of Eldin (1728–1812), seventh son of Sir John Clerk,
of Penicuik. He lived about six miles from Edinburgh. He was the author
of _An Essay on Naval Tactics_, which he claimed had much effect
on the warfare of the day.
[349] Queen Mary’s remains were removed to Westminster in 1612.
[350] Holland House.
[351] General Fox was appointed Governor of Portsmouth in 1808, on his
return from Sicily, and died there three years later.
[352] General Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson (1773–1841), son of William
Ferguson, of Raith. He saw much service, and sat for many years as a
Whig in the House of Commons. The appointment, which he was obliged to
relinquish at Cadiz, was that of second-in-command.
[353] Charles Fox entered the Navy in 1809, but disliked the life so
much that he left in 1813, and entered the sister service two years
later.
[354] The whole building was restored and remodelled by Street in 1866,
and now forms the garrison church.
[355] Captain Graham Moore (1764–1843), afterwards Admiral Sir Graham
Moore, G.C.B., third son of Dr. John Moore. He was in command of the
English squadron which escorted the Regent of Portugal to Brazil, and
was for some years a Lord of the Admiralty.
[356] James Moore (1763–1834), second son of Dr. John Moore. He was a
surgeon, and wrote two books on his brother’s life and campaign.
[357] Dom John was appointed Regent of Portugal in 1799, on account of
his mother Queen Maria I.’s insanity. In conformance with Napoleon’s
orders he proclaimed in November 1807, that he was about to detain
all British subjects and property in Lisbon, upon which the British
Minister, Lord Strangford, at once went on board the fleet, and broke
off diplomatic relations. On consideration, however, the Regent
preferred to remain friendly with the English and move the Court to
Brazil; consequently Lord Strangford returned, but not till after the
Portuguese royal family had already embarked. This is the point here
insisted upon, for Lord Strangford was accused of inferring in his
despatch that the departure of the Court was chiefly due to his own
representations.
[358] Mariano Luis Urquijo (1768–1817), Spanish statesman, who acted
in opposition to the Prince of the Peace and was imprisoned by him for
two years. After the detention of the Royal family, he gave up hope for
Spain, and sided with Joseph, with whom he fled to France.
[359] Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk, G.C.B. (1771–1846), third son of
Aubrey, fifth Duke of St. Albans, and Catherine, daughter of William,
Earl of Bessborough.
[360] Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, Bart. (1746–1816), naval
commander-in-chief at Portsmouth.
[361] Ferdinand of Naples withdrew to Sicily in 1805, and there
established himself with his Court under British protection.
[362] Lord Amherst was Commander-in-Chief in Sicily.
[363] Attorney-General in Lord Grenville’s Administration.
[364] The French army of 72,000 men under Masséna invaded Portugal
early in September. Wellington had only 50,000 men at his disposal;
half of whom were Portuguese. He retreated before the invaders, but
was able to deliver a severe check to their advance, at Busaco, on
September 27, with but little loss to his own force.
[365] The critical state of the King’s mind was adversely affected by
the illness of Princess Amelia. After her death, on November 2, he
became permanently insane.
[366] Yet Masséna represented to Napoleon some weeks later that the
frontal attack on the British position was only a feint, which had
developed from over-keenness into a general engagement. His dispatches,
however, captured after the action, made no mention of this fact (Sir
Herbert Maxwell’s _Life of Wellington_).
[367] Afterwards Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, and Black Rod.
[368] George Ponsonby.
[369] It is impossible to trace so extended an interpretation in the
report of the speech given in _Hansard_, though a veiled meaning
is possible in some of his carefully worded allusions to the royal
power.
[370] The ordinary composition of the Cortes was a three-chamber
assembly consisting of clergy, nobility, and commons. The Central
Junta, in whom the power of calling together the Cortes rested,
decided that as a compromise with the extreme party of reform, only
two chambers (the higher clergy and nobility sitting together in one)
should be summoned to assemble early in March. The advance of the
French, however, postponed the meeting, and the supreme government
was placed in the hands of a Regency of five. These took good care to
keep the power as long as possible, and when the Cortes was at last
found necessary, only one chamber could be elected, and that within the
boundaries of Cadiz, for the French were almost at their gates. See
Appendix B, p. 297.
[371] General Sir Robert Wilson (1777–1849), author of _The History
of the British Expedition to Egypt_. He served both in the British
army and in various continental corps. He was dismissed the service
in 1820 for his supposed conduct at Queen Caroline’s funeral, but was
reinstated by William IV.
His Lusitanian Legion was amalgamated with the Portuguese army during
its reorganisation.
General Drouet joined Masséna with the Ninth corps, forcing Wilson
across the Mondego, from fear of being surrounded.
[372] Sir Robert’s affair at Puerto de Baños was an attempt to check
Ney, at the head of a large force, with a number of Spanish and
Portuguese levies. He lost a thousand men in the attempt.
[373] Huskisson resigned his post at the Treasury in 1809, and followed
Canning into retirement. His pamphlet entitled ‘The Depreciation of the
Currency’ received much notice.
[374] One of the gentlemen in attendance on the Prince of Wales. ‘That
warlike scaramouch Macmahon,’ of Peter Pindar. He died in 1817.
[375] The Committee of the House of Lords was appointed by ballot, each
Peer having the right to send in a list of twenty-one names. That of
the House of Commons was named by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[376] The report of the Bullion Committee, of which Horner was
President, was that paper issues were liable to depreciation unless
convertible at any time into money.
[377] The appointment was not filled up till 1812, when Lord Hertford
accepted the post.
[378] Gustavus IV. (1778–1837), who succeeded his father as King of
Sweden in 1792. His tactless and inconsequent behaviour so irritated
his people that they deposed him in 1809, and gave the crown to his
uncle. After leaving Sweden Gustavus lived chiefly in Switzerland.
[379] Lucien Bonaparte’s second wife was Madame Jouberthon, the widow
of a stockbroker. He quarrelled with his brother over this marriage,
and after the Duc d’Enghien’s death went to Italy. He attempted to
reach America, but was captured by an English ship, and after a
detention at Malta, was brought to England. There he remained until
1814.
[380] William, fourth Duke of Queensberry (1724–1810), the celebrated
courtier and _roué_, known as ‘Old Q.’ The larger portion of
his money was left to Lord and Lady Yarmouth, the latter being Maria
Fagniani, whom the Duke always considered was his daughter. George
Selwyn believed that this lady was his child and not the Duke’s, and
also left her money.
[381] Henry, Duke of Buccleugh became fifth Duke of Queensberry; Sir
Charles Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry; and Lord Wemyss, Earl of
March.
[382] The Duke of York had been compelled to resign this post in 1809,
owing to the scandalous charges brought against him by Mrs. Clarke.
[383] See _Further Memoirs of the Whig Party_, p. 39.
[384] Grenville.
[385] Lord William Cavendish Bentinck (1774–1839), second son of
William Henry, third Duke of Portland, who saw much service in various
parts of the world and rose to the rank of major-general in 1808. He
was appointed Envoy and Commander-in-Chief in Sicily in 1811, and
for three years was practically governor of the island. His sudden
departure, after a stay of only ten days, had the desired effect of
alarming the Sicilian Court, which became much more amenable, after
his return, to the reforms he proposed to introduce. The King was
notoriously incapable of reigning, and the power was in the hands of
the Queen, who detested the English, and was intriguing with the French.
[386] They were imprisoned for a protest against the illegal taxation
which was being enforced by the Court, but were released and recalled
in January 1812.
[387] Hon. Frederick James Lamb (1782–1853), who was created Lord
Beauvale in 1839, and succeeded his brother as third and last Viscount
Melbourne in 1848.
[388] Afterwards Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772–1853). He took
Napoleon to St. Helena in 1815, and remained there for a year as
Governor until relieved by Sir Hudson Lowe.
The Commission was to attempt to mediate between Spain and her American
Colonies. The Cortes, however, proved intractable, and the expedition
returned to England in August 1812.
[389] See _ante_, i. 130.
Transcriber’s Notes:
1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have
been corrected silently.
2. Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as
in the original.
3. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same
words have been retained as in the original.
4. Italics are shown as _xxx_.