for the restitution of his private letters, or at least that the contents of them should be concealed. After some correspondence, the Governor promised to comply with Sir Home's request: but this promise was fulfilled with the same fidelity that distinguished the other Spanish officers ;---Proclamations were immediately published by the Governor of Monte Video, by Pueridon, and by Liniers the Spanish officer who had broken bis parole---which Proclamations were addressed to the inhabitants of South America, deprecating any confidence in the assurances of Sir Home Popham, and describing him as the commander of a mere buccaneering expedition. These Proclamations teemed with extracts from the Ministerial newspapers of this country; in which extracts the character of Sir Home Popham was abused, the object of his expedition ridiculed, and the authority upon which he professed to act altogether disowned. Is it wonderful that such descriptions, seconded by the language naturally to be expected, under the circumstances of the times, from Lady Popham, and Sir Home's private friends--extracts from whose letters were inserted in the Proclamations---should have operated to produce a very serious impression upon the public mind in South America? This impression was indeed still further promoted by statements assuming the face of authority which were transmitted to America and circulated among the inhabitants, by means for

which it is scarcely possible to account; for it is almost impossible to suppose that the political prejudice which might prompt some men to seek the disgrace of an officer, could urge any Englishman to risk the destruction of an English fleet and an English army, with the loss of a valuable conquest*. It is, however, the fact, that, in consequence of the combined means I have alluded to, the affection conciliated by Sir Home Popham among the Spa nish people was considerably abated, while the terror inspired in the Spanish army was almost altoge ther done away. For the hope of English protection, and the promise of English reinforcements---which were held out by Sir Home Popham---being pro claimed delusive, the friends of England were ins duced to withdraw their confidence from that officer, while the Spanish army was encouraged to act against him; thus the alienated confidence of the people of America from Sir Home Popham, and the attack which the Spaniards ventured to make upon the English army, which attack terminated in the recapture of Buenos Ayres, may not unfairly be attributed to the operation of party spirit and private pique in England.

Such, indeed, has been the melancholy conse→ quence of a line of conduct which originated in

* To the value of this conquest, the late, as well as the present, Administration bore ample testimony, in the reinforcements they sent out, and the means they employed to retain it.

It can hardly be questioned by any dispassionate. man, that Sir Home Popham's prosecution was the effect of political prejudice, when one contrasts the treatment he experienced with the conduct observed towards Sir David Baird, who sent the troops under his command from the Cape of Good Hope without orders, and who was, of course, particeps criminis in minis the offence charged against Sir Home Popham. Inhe offence charged against Sir H

by taking a decided course in politics, subject himself in his professional pursuits to the operation of party resentment, it would be more magnanimous in those who raised the outcry I have referred to, at once to decree that naval or military officers should not be allowed to sit in Parliament.

In reviewing the whole history of Sir Home Popham's case, from the institution of the Committee of Inquiry against him (for the Report of which Committee, see note A. of the Appendix)---in contrasting the conduct pursued respecting this officer, with that of Mr. Pitt towards those officers who opposed his politics, and who became liable to the operation of party resentment had he thought proper to set it in motion---I cannot help expressing my astonishment and regret: I am astonished at and I regret the inconsistency between the conduct and professions of those who have so long pursued Sir Home Popham with such unremitting severity.

Sir John Jervis, who was a known and zealous Foxite, attacked Teneriffe without orders, failed in the attack, lost the lives of several men and the arm of Lord Nelson; yet Mr. Pitt instituted no prosecution against him and in that he acted wisely and liberally. He justly estimated the vital spring of the navy---he felt the absurdity of attempting to limit the spirit of enterprise by the standard of discipline: but, had he been disposed to indulge political