E 1710-11. agree. Experience has fo fully convinced me of my Difa- Anno e Anne, bility to procure that good Understanding amongst ourselves, which is neceffary for the Queen's Service, that I do, with the greatest Earneftnefs, renew my Application to you, that I may be recalled from a Station, in which I am perfectly ufelefs to her Majefty, and am ruining myfelf, being forced to live at much larger Expence than my Allowance will beart Your Favour in this Matter will be most thankfully acknowledged by him, who is, with the greatest Respect, Your most humble, and Moft obedient Servant, JAMES STANHOPE." Then the Clerk read also a Letter from Sir Charles Hara, (now Lord Tyrawley) to Mr. Secretary Hedges, of the fame Date, viz. January 15, 1706-7. The Title of a Letter from the Earl of Sunderland, to General Stanhope, was also read; but his Lordship not being then in the House, the reading of that Letter was poftponed, and the Opinion which Mr. Stanhope gave, in French, in the Council of War held in Valencia for an Offenfive War. Next to this the Clerk read the Opinion which the Earl of Peterborough delivered in writing at the faid Council, bee ing as follows: An Offenfive War is of Shew, and Reputation to the Generals and Troops, but the Defenfive is often of moft Utility to the Public. Our Circumftances require vigorous Efforts in Italy or Spain. In the laft, the Defenfive fecures us the Crown of Arragon, but the Troops in Italy can only give the mortal Blow, that is, enter France. Neither can it be doubted, if the French defift from their Hopes in Italy, but that the great Force in that Country will be usefully employed by the Duke of Savoy and Prince Eugene. No pofitive Opinions can be given, without knowing the Condition of the Fleet. Without the Affiftance of the Sea, the best Difpofitions in Italy are ufelefs. If that were wanting, all must be hazarded in Spain, the War there being of an inconceivable Expence to the Allies, but the Diffi culties of fubfifting Armies in Caftile are fufficiently apparent by the last Campaign: And the Dangers are evident of putting the whole upon the Rifque of paffing to Madrid, before an Army fo fuperior in Cavalry. The Tagus muft likewife be paffed before the Enemy, (if marching by Murcia) without Pontoons, or the neceffary Preparations for fuch an Attempt. The Precipices of that 1710-11, River 1710-11. Anno 9 Anna, River are natural Fortifications: If there are Plains near Aranjues, it is almoft equally impoffible to pafs them before. an Army in Batalia, without a great Superiority in Artillery; and nothing is more eafy to a Body of Horle fo numerous, than to cut off the neceffary Provifions, in a Country where they are fo fcarce. Earl of Peterborough. If the Troops advance into Caftile, towards Madrid, without taking the neceflary Precautions for the Defence of Catalonia, either Madrid muft fall into our Power, or all is loft. It is to be doubted whether the Poffeffion of Madrid (without the Defeat of the Enemy's Army) be decifive; but the Lofs of Catalonia is certain, if the Places there are not better fortified and provided, and if Forces are not fent into that Province or thofe Parts of Arragon, near that Frontier; which may ferve at the fame time for the Defence of the fortified Places of Catalonia, and towards preventing the Succours from the Side of Navarre. If we hope for a Maritime Force betimes in these Seas, which may be fuperior to the Enemy, there does not appear the leaft Neceffity for rafh Measures; and the least Difgrace, or great Fatigues alone, may give her Troops that Inclination to defert, which the Enemy will not fail to improve, when in a proper Situation. Above all things the Defence of Catalonia, and what we have, is neceffary. Our Intelligences affure us, that great Numbers of Troops affemble in Rouffillon, and that great Magazines are forming there for Foot and Horfe, and all warlike Neceffaries. But to conclude, what better-Opinions can be offered than thofe of the Duke of Savoy and Prince Eugene? Who have doubtless communicated them to the Emperor, the Queen, and his Catholic Majefty, where that Duke has Minifters.' The Earl of Peterborough having defired that fome of his own Letters might also be read, the Clerk begun with one from his Lordship to the Duke of Marlborough, (whom the Earl faid, he knew was not prejudiced against him) wherein amongst other Particulars, his Lordship faid, He had overcome all his Enemies, but Lies, and thefe he had Papers enough with him to defeat. Another from the Earl of Peterborough to the Lord Treasurer, (or Earl of Godolphin) was read likewife, containing a Juftification of his Lordship's Conduct; expofing the rafh and abfurd Measures that had been purfued; and acquainting the Treasurer, that his (the Earl of Peterborough's) Projects were approved by the Duke of Savoy, Prince Eugene, and Monfieur de Belcaftel, though a Friend to the Lord Galway; adding, that whilft he had the 1710-11. he had the Honour to command in Spain, not one Party of Anno 9 Annæ, twenty Men were beaten, nor a Veffel loft. After this, the Clerk read the Earl of Sunderland's Letter to Mr. Stanhope, of the 14th of February, 1706 7, as alfo an Extract of King Charles's Orders to my Lord Peterborough, about an Attempt upon the Islands of Majorca and Minorca. Upon which the Earl of Paulett faid, 'That the Earl of Peterborough had given Earl Paulett. a fair and just Account.' To corroborate what the Earl of Peterborough had faid, Dr. Friend was called in: Whereupon the Duke of Devon- Duke of Devonfhire moved, that he might be fworn. This occafioned a fhire. Debate that lafted near an Hour, after which it was agreed that he should be fworn; which being done accordingly, he vouched for the Authenticnefs of the Papers inferted in his Account of the Earl of Peterborough's Conduct in Spain ;' the Copies whereof, he faid, he had received, either from the Earl of Peterborough, or from his Lordship's Secretary. Then the Earl of Abingdon read the Question that had been given in by the Earl of Ferrers, viz. Refolved, That the Earl of Peterborough has given a very faithful, juft and honourable Account of the Councils of War in Valencia. This Question occafion'd a Debate that lafted above an Hour, in which the most remarkable Paffage was this: The Bishop of Sarum having excepted against the Word Just, becaufe Bishop of Salif the Earl of Galway had declared he had fome Remarks to bury. make on the Earl of Peterborough's Recapitulation, but that he readily agreed to the Word Honourable. The Duke of Argyle took him up, faying, ' He knew no Difference between D. of Argyle. thofe two Expreffions; for all that is Honourable must be Juft, and all that is Juft is Honourable." At laft, the Quef tion being put about nine o'Clock at Night, the Lords divi ded, and Tellers being appointed, 59 were for the Affirma- Earl of Peterbo tive, and 45 only for the Negative; and the Houfe being rough's Account refumed, the Refolution of the Committee was reported, and voted juft, &C. agreed to. It was afterwards moved to adjourn to the Thursday following; but before it paffed into a Refolution, the Earl of. Paulett gave in the following Queftion to be debated in the next Committee of the whole Houfe; That the Earl of Galway, Lord Tyranuley, and General Stanhope, infifting at a Conference held at Valencia, fome Time in January, 1706-7, in the Prefence of the King of Spain, and the Queen's Name being used in Maintenance of their Opinion for an Offensive War, contrary to the King of Spain's Opinion, and that of all the General Officers and Public Minifters, except the Marquis das Minas; and the Opinion of the Earl of Galway, Lord Tyrawley, and General Stanhope being purfued in the Rrz Operations Earl Paulett 1710-11. Anno 9 Annæ, Operations of the following Campaign, was the unhappy Occafion of the Battle of Almanza, and one Cause of our Milfortunes in Spain, and of the Difappointment of the Duke of Savoy's Expedition before Thoulon, concerted with her Majefty.' Second Debate on the Affairs of Spain. E. of Paulett. The Earl of Paulett defiring that this Queftion fhould be entered in the Book, the fame was oppofed by the Earl of Wharton and the Lord Hallifax; but it was after a fmall Debate, agreed, That the fame fhould be entered: After which the Houfe adjourned to the Thurfday following. Accordingly, on the 11th of January, the Peers being fet, three Letters from the Earl of Sunderland were delivered in, viz. one to General Stanhope, of the 23d of December, 1706; another to the Earl of Galway, of the fame Date; and the third to the faid Earl, of the 27th of the fame Month. The Order of the Day being read, an Officer was fent to know whether the Earl of Galway attended, and the House being informed he did not, the Earl of Paulett made a long Speech, wherein he reprefented, That the Nation hav ing, for many Years, been engaged in an expenfive War, it was neceffary to give the People the Satisfaction to let them know how their Money had been fpent, and who deferved Thanks, and who to be blamed; that it appeared, the Service of Spain had been very much neglected; that many Officers upon that Establishment looked on their Employments as Sinecures, being Favourites of the Party; and that the Council held in Valencia, being the Spring of all our Misfortunes, the Lords ought to cenfure those that in fluenced it; concluding, that the Motion he made on the Tuesday before might be read.' Hereupon the Duke of D. of Bedford. Bedford delivered in a Petition of the Earl of Galway, which was read, importing, that, being informed that Matters which very much concerned him, were inferted in the Journals of the House, he prayed their Lordships to give him Time to put in his Anfwer, before they came to a DeMarq. of Dor termination. The Marquis of Dorchefter delivered alfo a Petition of the Lord Tyrawley, to the fame Effect; which being read likewife, the Earl of Orford moved for adjourning, and appointing a Day to confider of these Petitions: L. North and To which the Lord North and Grey said, The Lords GalGrey. chefter. D. of Bucks. way and Tyrawley ought to have put in their Answers to the Earl of Peterborough's Paper, inftead of prefenting Petitions for Time, which looked like a Delay.' The Duke of Buckingham faid on the fame fide, That it must be a Miftake; that the Petitioners might think themselves accused, which could not be; for the Peers never accufe, but only give Orders to the Attorney General to profecute: That although 1710-11. every-body may have Access to their Journals, because they Anno 9 Anna, are a Court of Record, yet no Inqueft can take Notice of any thing that paffes, or is depending in the Houfe; that, at this rate, any body might put a Stop to their Proceedings; that he did not, however, blame Men that were under the Apprehenfions of being accufed, for presenting fuch Petitions; but that they ought to take no Notice of them, and proceed according to the Order of the Day, to the Confideration of the State of the Nation, in relation to the Affairs of Spain." To this the Duke of Devonshire answered, That as a Cen- Duke of Devonfure might enfue upon a Motion made the Tuefday before, fhire. the Lords Galway and Tyrawley had Reafon to petition for ter. Time to make their Defence.' But the Earl of Rochester Earl of Rochef replied, That he never heard of a Petition of that nature: That the Petitioners defired, in effect, to be heard upon the Debate of the Lords, which was improper: That no body yet knew, or could tell, what the Queftion was; but that after it was known, it might then be proper for them to put in their Petitions; concluding, they ought not now to be received.' Hereupon the Lord Somers faid, That the Peti- Lord Somers. - tions were neither improper, nor given in at any improper Time; that it would be too late for the Petitioners to apply to the Lords, after they were come to a Refolution; that he hoped it would never be found in the Book of that Houle, that when the Lords were going to proceed to a Cenfure, they refused to hear thofe that were to be affected by it; that the Lords Galway and Tyrawley had a Right to be heard, and clear the Matters of Facts as Subjects of GreatBritain; that the Lords ought befides to be cautious, how they proceeded in Enquiries of Things done before the Act of Oblivion and Indemnity; concluding, it was but a natu ral Juftice, that Men in Danger of being cenfured, should have Time to justify themselves.' To this the Duke of Duke of Argyle, Argyle answered, That he did not know what Services it would do the petitioning Lords to have Time, and to tell the Houfe that they differed from the Houfe; that it had already been put to them, whether they had any thing to fay to that Point, and that two Days had been allowed them to answer the Earl of Peterborough's Recapitulation; that, as to the A&t of Indemnity, his Grace did not care how little Ufe was made of it; that the faid Indemnity hinders not Enquiries; that the People of Great-Britain ought to know to whom their Misfortunes are owing: But that, however, he defired no body should be punished. Hereupon the Lord Cowper faid, That the Debate about Lord Cowper. the Affairs of Spain was adjourned to that Day; and there fore it was improper to take notice of the Earl of Paulett's Motion |