Speeches

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1816 Excerpt: ...negligence of ministers all this had happened, and he was ready to prove it had, was that, or was it not, matter for the inquiry of that house? Most assuredly it was; but how were these things to be inquired into before the proper documents were on the table of the house? Here Mr. Sheridan took a general view of what happened with respect to Admiral Christian's squadron, and contended there was much and very culpable neglect on the part of ministers. But instead of allowing an inquiry, they resented the idea of it. This was the modern practice of administration. It was illustrated completely in the conduct of the Secretary at War the other day, when the letter of the Count de Sombreuil was called for. He said, we would not consent to lay it before the house, because it was called for under an idea that an injurious opinion had been said to be formed of him (Mr. Windham), in consequence of that letter. Thus the resentment of the right honorable gentleman, and his unwillingness to indulge the house VOL,, IV. B with any information, had made him forget the-whole tenor of the letter. He had said it was intirely a private affair, whereas it contained not one word on any but public affairs. Here Mr. Sheridan condemned, in a very severe manner, the conduct of His Majesty's ministers towards that brave and unfortunate officer, whom, he said, they had totally deluded, else he would not have proceeded on the service in which he was sacrificed. Should the Eroper information be granted him upon this point, e would pledge himself to make out such a charge against the minister as would justify an impeachment against him. He did not now say he could prove where the whole of the misconduct lay, bufr there was prodigious misconduct somewhere with respect to this expedition ...