Speeches of Henry Lord Brougham, upon questions relating to Publics Rights, Duties... Vol.1-1

Page 85

MILITARY FLOGGING.

69

afterwards through the campaign in Germany, when serving with the allied armies, he rendered himself celebrated by his skill and courage; as well as with our gallant army in Egypt. But not merely is he an ardent friend to the British cause; he is known throughout the whole of the British army as one of its most enthusiastic defenders. Far from being a friend to Buonaparte,—of whom and of his friends you have heard so much to-day,—nothing more distinguishes him than an implacable hatred to that enemy of his country. To so great a length has he carried this, that I believe there is no spot of European ground, except England and Portugal, in which he would be secure of his life; so hostile has been his conduct and so plain and direct his charges against Buonaparte, that from the period when he published his well-known work (containing aspersions against that person, which for the honour of human nature one would fain hope are unfounded) he has been held in an abhorrence by the ruler of France, equal to that which Sir Robert Wilson has displayed against him. From 1806, when the plans for the regulation of the army were in agitation, and when he published those opinions which the defendant has now republished, up to the present time, he has not received any marks of the displeasure of the government, but on the contrary has been promoted to higher and to higher honours; and has at length been placed in a distinguished situation near the king himself. During the discussions on our military system, when all men of liberal minds were turning their attention to the subject, with laudable promptitude and public spirit, he addressed a letter to Mr. Pitt, and entitled it, “ An Inquiry into the present State of the Military Force of the British Empire, with a view to its reorganization”—that is to say, with a view to its improvement, Sir Robert Wilson, with, perhaps objectionable taste, using the word reorganiza-


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.