After the evacuation of South Beveland, no military event of importance occurred. On the 14th of Septem ber, the earl of Chatham embarked and set sail for England, leaving Sir Eyre Cootc, with 15,000 men, for the defence of Walchcren. Lieutenant General Don was afterwards appointed to succeed Sir Eyre Coote, and he arrived at \Valcheren on the 24th of October. During the whole of this time, it was uncertain w limber our troops were to form a permanent establishment on the island or not. A month was wasted in hesitation and delay ; and, extraordinary as it may appear, the greatest activity began to be displayed at the time when it became doubtful whether we intended to maintain or abandon our conquest.
About the middle of November arrived the order to evacuate the island, and demolish the works and naval basin of Flushing. On the 23d, the island of Walchcren was completely evacuated by the British army. The land fortifications of Flushing, the defences of Veere, and the fort of Rammikins, all of which had been improved at considerable expense, were left in a much better state than when they first came into our possession.
While the tremendous and concentrated power of France was overwhelming the centre of Europe, it may be questioned, if all the disposable force of Britain could have availed in co-operating against her, had it been even pointed to one quarter ; but, if solid and undivided co-operation was insufficient, much more was a desul tory system of diversion likely to be fruitless. Besides the expedition to Walcheren, an attempt was made, during the summer, to invade Naples. Sir John Stuart embarked from Messina in June, from the island of Sicily, with 15,000 British troops, and a small force of Sicilians. A brigade, which was detached to the Calabrian coast, took possession of a line of posts which the French had erected opposite to Messina. The island of Ischia was the first point of attack of the main army : its fortified and rugged shores were possessed by the gallantry of the troops ; and, in a short time, two garrisons and a flotilla of gun boats surrendered, 1500 regular troops were made prisoners, and 100 pieces of ordinance were taken. So far our arms were suc cessful ; and it appears that the diversion occasioned the recal of some of the French troops who were to have joined the army of Italy, as well as of a portion who were to have marched into the papal territories. But the attempt on the continent and city of Naples was abandoned ; for, besides a regular force which king Joachim had assembled, a large body of national guards had been embodied. Of the natives, there was now sufficient time for many to be personally interested in the new dynasty, by sharing in the powers and rewards of office ; and there was a still greater number paralysed by fear of the usurper, or neutralised by distrust of the real value of their ancient government. But, though
disappointed in his views upon Naples, the British commander detertnined to occupy Ischia, and to take possession of Scilla Castle. While operations were rigorously proceeding against the latter place, the enemy suddenly appeared in superior force, and obliged the besiegers to sail for Messina. They disappeared in a short time, and the British renewed the attack ; but the French again presented themselves as suddenly as before, and the British, after four clays possession of the fortress, were forced to abandon it, with all their other conquests.
The failure of the expedition to Walcheren was fol lowed by no scrutiny that could satisfy the public mind ; but it brought to light a personal dispute in the cabinet. On the 22d of September, a duel took place between Lord Castlereagh, secretary for the colonial department, and Mr Canning, the secretary of state for foreign affairs. The grounds of Lord Castlereagh's challenge were, that Mr Canning having conceived his lordship inadequate to the duties of his high station, had clan destinely obtained a promise of his removal from the duke of Portland ; and during six months that the plan of his dismissal was in agitation, had disingenuously concealed the circumstance from his lordship's know ledge, It appeared indeed undeniable, that Mr Can ning, who had denounced the other to the premier as an incapable war minister, far from disclosing this opinion to Lord Castlereagh himself, hacl treated his lordship as if he still possessed his confidence, and had allowed Lim to plan and to carry into execution the most ex pensive and formidable armament that ever sailed from the British shores. The affairs of Spain called for a vigorous minister to he sent from this country : Lord Wellesley was accordingly gazetted to that appoint ment ; but he delayed from May till August, till the \Valcheren expedition should sail ; while the interests of Spain were neglected, that he might succeed Lord Castlereagh as war secretary. Even Lord Castle reagh's removal was not to take place, unless it could be reconciled to his lordship's feelings. It appeared, that such had been the clashing of personal interests, such the indecision, of our councils, that four different arrangements, respecting the business of the war de partment, had been resolved upon in the space of as many weeks ; while Bonaparte was subverting the last independent empire in Europe.