We have very little to say respecting the East Indies during this year; the enemy was quiet in that part of the world; their naval operations were confined to the predatory excursions of their frigates and privateers. The Laurel, of twenty-two guns, commanded by Captain J. C. Woolcomb, was taken after a severe action by the Canonnière, of thirty-eight guns. Captain Woolcomb was cruising off the Isle of France, when he fell in with the enemy, and having no wish to engage a force so much superior, declined the action; but the Canonnière coming up, they fought for an hour and a half, when the Laurel being disabled, was forced to surrender. Her damage was confined to her masts and rigging, to which the fire of the enemy seems to have been chiefly directed, and in which he completely attained his object; while, on the other hand, the fire of the Laurel being directed to the hull, the French frigate had five men killed, and nineteen wounded. The character of Captain Woolcomb received no blemish from this misfortune, a court-martial having honourably acquitted him in his mode of fighting he appears to have adhered to the old English maxim, of firing at the tier of guns. In a case of this sort, where the opponent was of so much greater force, perhaps it would have been better to have directed the whole fire at the main-mast-head; that fallen, the ship might have become an easy prey to the Laurel.

In South America, we find nothing to remark in the year 1808.

CHAP. IV.

1. Meeting of Parliament-Address opposed by Earl St. Vincent.

2. Channel-Affairs of Sable D'Olonne, and Basque Roads— Defeat of Allemande's squadron-Courts-martial on Admiral Harvey, and on Lord Gambier-Capture of the Niemen. 3. Baltic-Various actions-Gallant cutting out of Russian gun-boats, and trade-North Seas-Expedition to Walcheren -Forces, naval and military-Object of the attack-State of Belgium-Disposition of our ships-Cause of sickness in Walcheren-Preparations of the king of Holland-Bombardment and surrender of Flushing-Sickness appears in the army-Evacuation of the island-Statement of loss of British

troops.

4. Spain-Retreat of the British army under Sir J. MooreShips employed there—Battle of Corunna-Vigo capitulates to the Spaniards and English-French evacuate Corunna and Ferrol-Mediterranean-Capture of Le Var-Capture of Pesaro of Cesenatico-of Lusin Picolo-Marquis Wellesley embarks in the Donegal for Cadiz, as ambassador to the Junta of Seville-His reception in Spain-Return to England -Character of the Spaniards-Affairs of Sicily-Sir John Stewart and Rear-admiral Martin take Ischia-Destruction of enemy's flotilla-Gallant action of Captain Staines-Other actions-Destruction of the French squadron under Rearadmiral Boudain, and capture of the convoy-Captain W. Hoste attacks Cortelazzo-Capture of Zante, Cephalonia, and Ithaca Destruction of enemy's trade in Adriatic. 5. North America-Action between Bonne Citoyenne and Furieuse-Case of the Deserters from the Africaine claimed at Baltimore.

6. West Indies-Capture of the island of Martinique-Bombardment of Fort Dessaix-Its surrender-List of ships and commanders-Barbarous treatment of British prisoners by the French-Capture of the Topaze-of La Junon-Commodore Cockburn proceeds with the garrison of Martinique

to Quiberon bay-Refusal of Bonaparte to receive the prisoners agreeably to capitulation-They are sent to England and confined-Capture of Cayenne by Captain James YeoCapture of Le D'Hautpoul-Surrender of the city of St. Domingo-Capture of La Junon, and death of Capt. Shortland. 7. East Indies-Attack on the Island of Bourbon.

8. South America-Revolution at Buenos Ayres-Reflections on the conclusion of the year 1809.

On the meeting of parliament on the 13th of January, his Majesty, in the speech from the throne, adverted to the overtures for peace made by Russia and France, who insisted on the abandonment of the cause of Spain as a preliminary to any negotiation: his Majesty declared his firm determination never to forsake the Spaniards as long as they were true to themselves; and while expressing his admiration of the conduct of his troops in Portugal, animadverted with severity on some of the articles of the convention of Cintra. His Majesty eulogized the noble conduct of Gustavus, king of Sweden, and recommended parliament to augment the military force of the country.

Strong opposition was made to the address in the House of Lords, where it was moved by the Earl of Bridgewater, and seconded by Lord Sheffield. The Earl of St. Vincent said that the address was such as no man, who had a veneration for his sovereign, or a love for his country, could ever assent to. Some parts of it, said his Lordship, which expressed a determined hostility to the common enemy, and a firm resolution to carry on the war, all must approve; but when he ad

verted to the manner in which that opposition had been conducted on the peninsula of Europe, it was wholly impossible not to express both sorrow and indignation. He would assert it in the face of his country, and in the face of the world, that it was the greatest disgrace that had befallen Great Britain since the days of the revolution; and this he openly declared, whether he took into consideration the manner in which the war was carried on in Portugal, or the way in which our troops had been sent there. Transports were hired, and great merit was to be attributed, forsooth, to ministers, in providing these transports; but the public ought to be undeceived upon that head: there was not a tittle of merit in the case; it was only going to market and offering a little more than the market price, and transports were to be obtained in abundance. He wished, however, to notice the important services to which these transports were applied. "Why, truly," said his Lordship, "they were at last employed to convey the rascally ruffians whom Junot commanded, to that part of France which was nearest to Spain, that they might as speedily as possible be again brought into action with more effect against our soldiers. So that those devils," added his Lordship, with an energy peculiar to himself, and with prophetic veracity, "are at this moment harassing the rear of our retreating army." The convention of Cintra could not be considered without feelings of alarm as well as indignation, especially when he

observed the cold-blooded treaty, that gave up a contest with the ships of an enemy upon a compromise so unworthy the national character. "There was a time," said the gallant Admiral, "when such old-fashioned words as sink, burn, and destroy,' were understood in their literal meaning; but now we are to negotiate, to become ships' husbands, to take possession by bargain and barter instead of battle, and not in right of conquest.” Having expressed himself in terms of much indignation against the surrender of the Russian fleet, his Lordship continued, "Whenever he looked at the terms of that convention, when he reflected on the decision of the court of inquiry, he could not help exclaiming that the decision was a blot upon the country: whenever he heard of councils of war being called, he always considered them as cloaks for cowardice. So said the brave Boscawen; and from him he had imbibed the sentiment, which time and experience had completely confirmed. At Vimeira we gained a victory, and at the moment our soldiers were flushed with conquest, recourse was had to a council of war. That, he presumed, could only have been necessary, or apologized for in the moment of defeat. Upon what principle, therefore, such an expedient was resorted to, he was at a loss to discover: they only who acted in it could explain it. Just the same opinion he entertained of the court of inquiry. It was a shield to ward off investigation from ministers themselves; but he