History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 2 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The conditions which had been granted to the Russian Admiral were
condemned with the same vehement feeling of disappointment. The
intimate connexion which had so lately subsisted between the Courts
of London and Petersburgh, and the personal regard which the British
Admiral entertained for Admiral Siniavin, had been adduced as reasons
why an agreement acceptable to both nations should be concluded.
Certainly it became us to manifest every mark of personal respect
toward the Russian officers, because, though the false policy of their
government had engaged the two countries in war, there existed no
angry feelings nor jarring interests between them; and the wishes of
both were for a renewal of that long established intercourse which was
beneficial to both. It also behoved us especially to show ourselves
grateful for the protection which the Russians had afforded to the
English and Portugueze refugees, and the facilities which they had
given them of effecting their escape. These were personal favours, for
which the obvious personal return should have been to have immediately
sent home men and officers under an engagement not to serve against
us or our allies, and to have shown towards them every courtesy and
kindness by which the evils of hostility can be mitigated. But that
personal regard should influence the terms of capitulation, was a thing
as unheard of as the terms themselves. “Hold in deposit!” The phrase
had never before been known in the British navy. They knew what it was
to fight their enemies; they knew what it was to beat, capture, sink,
burn, and destroy them, according to the spirit and letter of their
instructions. This was said by the navy, and by the nation; and the
bitter reflection arose, how would Nelson have received such a proposal!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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