first point to which he would call the at- ed to each other; notwithstanding all these tention of the House, was the condition of circumstances to fight a battle, and not the army on its arrival at Salamanca, after. only obtain a victory, but obtain it in a its march from Lisbon-a march which, way so decisive, that they had leisure to whether they considered the extent of the embark every individual of their forces in country, the unusual inclemency of the the presence of a superior army, whom season, or the arrangements necessarily re- they had beaten the day before, and did sorted to, was difficult beyond description, not leave a single wounded soldier, nor and imposed upon sir J. Moore as arduous one solitary piece of artillery behind a task as could possibly devolve upon them, which French artifice could convert any commanding officer; and yet, owing into the slightest pretence of national exto his admirable management, never did ultation.-He was unwilling to add any an army appear in a state of more perfect other to the splendid instance just mendiscipline, of more complete equipment, tioned of what British valour could do in higher military condition, and more when properly conducted. It behoved competent in every respect (with the ex- the country to mark, with extraordinary ception of numbers) to meet and encounter distinction, such extraordinary services. an enemy, than did that army on its arri- He should move for a Monument to the val, after a severe and fatiguing march, at memory of sir John Moore, as an effectual Salamanca. The march by land was the op- incitement to those who survived him to tion of sir John Moore, not from any defi- merit the same great distinction, by imiciency of transports, but from the then ef- tating the example he had bequeathed ficient state of the army, and he (lord C.) | them. The noble lord then concluded did consider it a most judicious preference with moving, "That an humble Address be on the part of sir John Moore; as he did presented to his majesty, That his majesty not think, that an army assembled at that would be graciously pleased to direct that period in Gallicia, if conveyed by trans- a Monument be erected in the Cathedral ports to the northern extremity of Spain, Church of Saint Paul's London, to the mewould have had as good an opportunity mory of lieut.-general sir John Moore, for co-operation with the natives, as it knight of the Bath, late Commander of his might have had on, its arrival in a more majesty's forces in Spain, who after an central part of Spain, after its march honourable and meritorious life in the serthrough Portugal. The next circumstance vice of his country, which deeply laments he should advert to was, the diversion ef- his loss, was killed by a cannon ball in the fected by sir John Moore's retreat in fa- battle of Corunna on the 16th of Jan. vour of the Spaniards, and never was there 1809, where, by his judicious disposition in the military history of any country a and successful commencement of the enmore complete diversion; for he had gagement, he secured the complete recompletely succeeded in drawing to the pulse and signal defeat of the enemy, northern extremities of the peninsula the and the safe and unmolested embarkation efforts of the French forces from the track of his majesty's Army in the face of a of the Spanish armies: in effecting this French Army of superior force; and to great diversion, sir John Moore had secur- assure his majesty that this House will ed an object of not less importance, by make good the expence attending the asserting the national honour in the bril same. "On the question being put from liant result of the action with Marshal the chair, Soult's army. The more the circum- Lord H. Petty rose and said; There stances of that action were examined into, can, sir, be but one sentiment in this house the more illustrious an instance would it upon the present motion; nor is there, I appear of the matchless gallantry of Brit- am persuaded, an individual within its ish troops, after suffering all the hardships walls who does not feel that sentiment of a march of unexampled severity, pressed fully and forcibly. All minor consideupon continually by an army of conside- rations are forgotten in the involuntary rably superior force, amid the rigours of a tribute of national gratitude to the services season peculiarly inclement, where human that have added new splendour to the nastrength was exhausted by the rapidity of tional character; and when such a subject their movements, the consequence of is before us, it is well that no feeling ariforced marches, so that none but the choice sing out of any political differences be altroops of each army, who had surmounted lowed for a moment to interfere with the all these difficulties, remained to be oppos-nobler sympathy by which we are bound, in common, to acknowledge and commemorate distinguished service rendered to our common country. Sincere as was the pleasure I felt at hearing the motion of the noble lord, I experienced no less satisfaction in hearing the speech which prefaced it. I was glad to hear the noble lord do such justice to departed worth, and glad to perceive that he was so well inclined to do that justice. In all his sentiments relating to the merits and claims of the great man we have lost, I entirely concur, and join with him in the strong terms in which he has expressed them, as terms no less just than emphatic; and if I had had no other cause for rising than merely to express my satisfaction at the speech of the noble lord, I should have risen to have done so. But, sir, I cannot possibly stop here, in justice to the great man who was the object of the noble lord's eulogium. I trust that his sentiments may go forth, that the public may know what he and his colleagues really think of the services we are now called upon to recompence; that they may be satisfied that the government of this country does know how to appreciate the value of one of her greatest ornaments, and that they may not be so far deceived by the obtrusive servility of a venal press as to conclude its sentiments on the merits of that admirable officer to be merely the echo of its masters. We are now assembled, with one accord, to do justice to the memory of a man whose loss has thrown a shade upon the splendour of victory; and while we are so employed; while we are paying the last pious tribute of our country to the sacred memory of her departed brave; while we are rearing lasting memorials at once of our gratitude and our glory-is it to go abroad that a part of that venal press, which would enlist itself into the service of the minister, was authorised to counteract the professions of ministers themselves, the sense of that house, and the wishes of the country, by assiduously circulating slanders, poisonous to the fair fame of that great character which is now peculiarly our own, and which our vote of this night will go to identify with the honour of the country? I would be far from imputing to the noble lord the having given the print in question any such authority. I have a right to conclude, that his opinion of the transcendant merit of the distinguished officer whose loss we have so much reason to deplore, is as high as any entertained by any member of this house [here lord Castlereagh signified his assent; ] and when I allude to this pitiful attempt of a journalist to tear from a gallant soldier's grave the laurels his country's wishes have planted there for ever, it is merely that the attempt may be marked and exposed to merited reprobation-an attempt which, when once the sentiments avowed by the noble lord this night shall be made public, will never again be repeated: the editor will see his error, in his mistaken anticipation of the opinions of those he wishes to please, and desist from a repetition of his calumnies. It becomes us, however, as the guardians of the public honour, in vindication of our judgment in discriminating, and our sincerity in rewarding, while we are erecting a monument in commemoration of the great general who is gone, not to look with indifference at any base attack upon that less perishable memorial he has left us-his character-dearer to him than monuments, and more durable than marble. (Hear! hear!) In saying this, I would not be understood to insinuate, that though death canonized great men, it should yet be a shelter for misconduct. If there has been misconduct, trace it to its proper source; visit its consequences upon its proper authors; but let every vile attempt to transfer the blame from the guilty living to the blameless dead be scouted with a manly and an honest indignation. I am not for repressing useful investigation, but for restraining wanton calumny; and at least until those brave partners in his hardships and his glory are landed on our shores, who are the most competent evidences to his merit, it is not too much to expect, that till then, at least, the voice of censure be suspended.→ The noble lord repeated his approbation of, the motion, and sat down amid cries of Hear! hear! from all parts of the house. The motion was then put, and passed nem. con. [VOTE OF THANKS-BATTLE OF CORUNNA.] The Thanks of the house were then voted to lieut. gen. sir David Baird, second in command, to lieut. gen. the hon. John Hope, who succeeded during the engagement to the command of the army in the field of battle, to licut. gen. Alex. Mackenzie Fraser, major-generals lord W. Bentinck, Coote Manningham, the hon.. Edward Paget, Rowland Hill, W. Carr Beresford, Henry Warde, and James Leith, brigadier-generals John Slade, Moore Disney, and Henry Fane, and to the several officers who served in the army under the command of the late lieut. gen. sir John Moore, for their distinguished conduct and exemplary valour displayed in the battle of Corunna, whereby the complete repulse and signal defeat of the enemy, on every point of attack, was effected, and the safe and unmolested embar kation of the army secured in the presence of a French army of superior force."-It was also resolved nem. con. "That this house doth highly approve of and acknowledge the distinguished discipline, firmness and valour, displayed by the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of the army under the command of the late lieut. gen. sir John Moore, in the battle of Corunna, and that the same be signified to them by the commanders of the several corps, who are desired to thank them for their intrepid and exemplary conduct." morable Campaign from any circum- Lord Castlereagh then said, that as great part of the glory and splendour of the transaction was owing to the spirit, activity, zeal, and enterprize of the navy, he was sure the house would most readily agree to bestow on the officers and men engaged in that part of our service the same distinguished mark of their appro-the British soldier could maintain the bation as they had just accorded to those of the army. He moved, therefore, the Thanks of the house to rear-admiral De Courcy and rear-admiral sir Samuel Hood, and the officers under their command, for their exertions in aiding the enterprize of our troops at Corunna. Also an acknowledgment to the non-commissioned officers and seamen, of the approbation of the house for their exertions, activity, and zeal on the same occasion. Both the resolutions were put and agreed to nem. con. [VOTE OF THANKS-BATTLE OF VIMIERA.] Lord Castlereagh rose, to make his motion for the Thanks of the house to sir Arthur Wellesley, and the officers and men under his command, for the brilliant victory they had obtained at the Battle of Vimiera. -Whatever differences of opinion might have taken place, or might at that moment exist, as to the various matters which had occurred since that brilliant achievement, he was sure there never was, at any period of our history, a stronger burst of national gratitude than that which was universally proclaimed by the people of this country on the receipt of the first intelligence of the gallant and glorious Victory of Vimiera. He was happy in being able to separate this short, but meVOL. XII. same superiority over our foes as the British sailor did, and that the only difference consisted in the limited scale on which the former were, from the nature of our situation, employed. It was a fallacious mode of reasoning, to consider G. Britain as capable of acting a principal military part on the continent; her share must necessarily be subordinate and auxiliary, but these events showed, that if the cause of the world rested on the British arms, it would rescue the world from the tyrant, under whose sway it now groaned.-He did not wish to enter into a circumstantial detail of the campaign in Portugal, but it would be unjust not to call the attention of the house to the splendid action performed on the 17th of Aug. which, though limited in character, and not equal in extent, did not yield in glory to the Battle of Vimiera itself. The enemy were driven from one of the strongest positions that a body of troops could occupy, and an earnest given of what was afterwards realized in the immortal Battle of the 21st. He was sure it was not from any partial feelings towards the illustrious general who commanded on these occasions that he spoke; for much as he esteemed and admired him, it was impossible that any private feeling could enhance, in his mind, L the day of the glorious achievement which was then the object of frequent praise, his dispositions of the army were such, that there was not a man, from that distinguished officer, general Spencer, down to the lowest drummer in the army, who was not an enthusiast that would cheerfully follow sir A. Wellesley upon any service. the house, he felt that he had made out one of the strongest cases ever made out, to entitle a general to the honourable testimony of his valour and good conduct which was bestowed by the vote of parlia ment, and concluded by moving, "That the Thanks of this house be given to the right hon. lieut. general sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B, for the distinguished valour, ability and conduct displayed by him on the 17th and 21st of August last in Portugal, on the latter of which days he obtained at Vimiera over the army of the enemy a signal victory, honourable and glorious to the British arms."-On the Resolution being read, He the honours of an action which would for ever remain a most signal example of excellence in the military art. It was no mean triumph to overcome the best troops of France, in possession of a country and every thing necessary for the maintenance of the advantages they enjoyed, with a body of men who were only provided with what could be supplied in a short-Having submitted these observations to time, and so completely to overthrow them that one fourth of their force was destroyed, and of 21 pieces of artillery they could only bear eight from the field. If such distinguished results were attained without cavalry, what might not be expected from a British force, completely appointed. He understood it had been hinted in another place, that the Thanks of the house ought to be extended to another individual, who was an officer in high command on that occasion. And therefore the noble lord wished to be perfectly understood, in the motion he should have to submit, not to intend the slightest disrespect towards sir H. Burrard. No one was less disposed than himself, to hurt the Mr. H. Addington urged his friendship feelings of that officer, than whom he did for sir A. Wellesley as an excuse for pressnot believe there was a more gallant, oring forward to second the motion. one of a more enlarged soul, in the British ran no risk of weakening the ground upon empire. A proof of his generous and manly which this motion stood, for if submitted feeling had been given, in his refusal to to the whole nation, it would be carried take any share in a transaction which re-by acclamation. He would abstain from dounded so much to the glory of sir A. Wellesley. When he had mentioned the matter to his majesty, of the intention to confer the Thanks of the country upon sir A. Wellesley, his majesty expressed his approbation of the liberality of sir H. Burrard in not taking the command on that day; and it would, in his opinion, be doing an injury to that gallant and meritorious officer, to mix him in that vote of Thanks. All the military merit of this campaign, was exclusively sir A Welles-peated, and the course of service so gloley's, and this was not the first instance in riously begun, and so brilliantly distinwhich the house was called on to vote an guished at Assaye, promised a harvest of approval of his gallant and distinguished laurels which would be reaped at the proconduct. He had commanded a larger army per periods-whether he was to be emthan that with which he conquered at ployed as the avenger of our wrongs, or Vimiera, and the battle of Assaye, with the the protector of other countries from viouninterrupted display of the most excellence and oppression. With the expelent military talents throughout an Indian campaign, had qualified him, in an eminent degree, for the trust there reposed in him. Military experience had ensured him that success which ever accompanied his brilliant career, and carried with him the confidence of the house as well as the enthusiasm of the army.-From the moment sir A. Wellesley landed at Mondego Bay to trespassing on the indulgence of the house by following the noble lord minutely or offering any eulogium on the hon. general, his friend, because it was altogether unnecessary, and would be trespassing on the time of the house. Great actions spoke best for themselves; and the splendid deeds for which the house was called upon to vote its Thanks, far exceeded his powers of description. Sir A. Wellesley was at a time of life when much might still be ex rience which sir A. Wellesley had acquired, with the prompt courage and coolness for which he was distinguished, what might not be expected from that patriotic_ ardour, that firm decision, and that calm intrepidity, by which the gallant officer in question had ever been so eminently distinguished, when proper occasions offered for calling them forth? He hoped that no extraneous matter would be intro- į duced into this discussion, however much it might be regretted that the expected consequences had not resulted froin this victory. by the noble lord he deserved, for his conduct on that occasion. From all these circumstances, he objected to the Vote of Thanks for the Battle of Vimiera, as he did not think it of that brilliant descrip fell short of those good consequences which ought to have resulted from it; but on the contrary, the whole of the expedition had ended in a manner that was disgraceful to the country. Mr. Fremantle cordially concurred in the motion. He gave the noble lord behind him credit when he said, that he had no personal hostility to sir A. Wellesley; but he differed front him widely in opinion on this subject; for he believed that this victory possessed all the ingredients which were calculated to do honour to the country, and to call for the unanimous Thanks' of the house. He would not speak of the final result of the campaign; but as to this victory, and the course that led to it, there never was any thing more splendid and decisive, and the house would be Lord Folkestone said, that disagreeabletion to demand a Vote of Thanks, and it as the task was, he must dissent from the motion; and he would, as shortly as possible, explain his reasons for so doing. The noble lord had said he was not actuated by any partiality in bringing forward the motion; and he hoped it was unnecessary for him to add, that he was not moved by any feelings of hostility to the gallant general in question in making the objections to the motion to which his duty impelled him. It had, as he understood, always been held, that the thanks of that house should not be voted without the most striking proof of some superior valour and achievement, or that some good consequence highly beneficial to the interests of the country, had ensued. He was willing to admit all the merit of courage and gallantry which attached to the character of sir A. Wellesley, and also the enthusi-wanting in the feelings that ought to disasm of the army towards him: but he tinguish the British parliament, unless could not see that it had been productive they marked their sense of gratitude by of any such good consequences as, in his the warmest thanks. He stated on public opinion, ought to have resulted from it. grounds, that from the landing at Mondego, He admitted the truth of the noble lord's to the victory of Vimiera, the whole prostatement as to the enthusiasm of the ceeding formed a splendid monument of country when the news first arrived; but the military genius of sir A. Wellesley. he believed that enthusiasm had subsided, But if he were to speak from private feeland a very different opinion had since being he would say, that though from the come general as to the result of the battle commencement of his career sir A. Wellesalluded to. The noble lord had said the ley had deserved the highest applause of French were superior in numbers, but he his country, there was no occasion when his was of a contrary opinion. It appeared military genius shone with greater lustre from the dispatches, that the French army than the present. He agreed with the hon. amounted to 12 or 14,000 men; the Bri- gent. who spoke last but one, that from tish army consisted of from 14 to 16,000 what the distinguished general in question men, besides 1,200 Portuguese troops. had already done, we might form the most By the report of the officers of the Court flattering hopes of what he would in fuof Inquiry, which had sat on the results ture accomplish, in the honourable profesof that battle, it appeared that they could sion to which he was so splendid an ornanot blame sir H. Burrard for objecting to ment; and from the heavy loss we had so the advance of our forces. The immediate recently sustained among our generals, we consequences of that objection were the ought carefully to nourish and encourage Armistice and the Convention, of which all those who had given such pre-eminent or of some parts of which, the house had proofs of the vast superiority of their tarecently been informed, his majesty had lents. He was happy to be able to concur expressed a formal disapprobation. Nei-so completely in this motion, from the juther of the victories, therefore, appeared to him to deserve the thanks of the house.--Another objection in his mind was, that no mention was made in the vote of the name of sir H. Burrard, to whom he thought great praise was due for the part he had acted, and which it was owned dicious course which the noble lord had adopted, in confining it to the conduct of the general and the troops. Mr. Blachford supported the motion, and expressed his extreme regret at the treatment his friend sir A. Wellesley received on his arrival in this country, after the |