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most gracious speech, as delivered by the convinced, that as no motion of this delords commissioners, when his majesty was scription had ever been agreed to with pleased to return for answer, that he thank- more perfect unanimity than this would, ed his loyal Commons; that their zeal and so none had ever more completely carried attachment gave him the greatest satisfac- the feelings and approbation of the country tion; and that they might be assured, with it. The action to which his motion nothing on his part should be wanting to referred was one of the most distinguished the maintenance of the honour and prospe- exploits that ever appeared in the annals of rity of the country. Mr. P. Moore pre- this or any other country. Every man must sented a Petition from Mr. Bowyer of the be so thoroughly impressed with its chaHistoric Gallery, Pall-mall, for leave to racter and importance, that it was altogebring in a bill to enable Mr. Bowyer to ther unnecessary to dwell upon its value. draw by a separate lottery, in case the next If he ventured to say any thing upon the State Lottery should not contain a sufficient subject, it was purely from an impulse to number of tickets for his purpose. The give indulgence to his feelings. The chahon. gent. observed that Mr. Bowyer had racter of the exploit itself, and the advanconcluded to draw his lottery, and given it tages that flowed from it, must present out to the public, that it should certainly themselves to the sober reflection of every take place by the state lottery which was man; and, indeed, that house and the drawn in October last; but unfortunately country at large had already, by their for Mr. Bowyer, that lottery containing admiration and gratitude, pronounced only 20,000 tickets, he was of course pre- upon the value of the glorious achievevented, and which delay, the hon. gent. ment. There was not a single one, of the observed, had been attended with a consi- various views in which this exploit could derable loss to Mr. Bowyer.-Mr. Grant be considered, that did not rank it with presented the Third Report of the commis- the proudest achievements of our ancessioners of Military Enquiry.-Lord Ho-tors; that did not raise it to a level even wick presented the Papers relative to the with the memorable days of Cressy, Poilate Negociation with France. They tiers, and Agincourt. In mentioning these would be ready, he said, for circulation scenes of British fame and valour, he could this evening. It was desirable that as lit- not omit to state one peculiar character tle time as possible should elapse before which belonged to this distinguished serthey were taken into consideration. But vice, namely, the accession it produced as they were very voluminous, it was ne- to our stock of national glory, the most cessary the members should have full time valuable possession of a great nation. to peruse them. He did intend that they Other services might cut a greater figure, should be discussed on Wednesday se'n-in relation to their effect in adding to nanight. But he did not think it would be so tional importance, by acquisitions of likely to procure an attendance then as on a strength, resources, or territory, though subsequent day, and as he wished the attendance might be as full as possible, he would propose that day fortnight, beyond which day the discussion would not be postponed. The papers were then order ed to lie on the table; (see p. 92.)

not of a character to call for the sort of honours and distinctions merited by achievements of this kind. In this respect the value and importance of the exploit was highly augmented, even in the midst of those splendid and brilliant triumphs to [BATTLE OF MAIDA-VOTE OF THANKS which this country had been so much acTO SIR J. STUART, &c.] Mr. Secretary customed. The glory acquired in this acWindham rose in pursuance of his notice on tion had not often been equalled, and neFriday, to move that the thanks of the house ver had been surpassed in the records of should be given to general sir John Stuart, military renown. Of what value it was and to the officers and men engaged under to keep up this high character for military him, in the glorious battle of Maida. He spirit; how necessary it was to encourage did not conceive that any thing more would it with every honourable distinction of be necessary to be said, on his part, in order to obtain the unanimous concurrence of the house in his motion. There had been so very general, so very lively, and so very proper a feeling manifested through out the country on the subject, that he was

public approbation and gratitude; how impossible it was for any great country to preserve its character and independence without the possession of such feelings; these were topics upon which it was unnecessary for him to dwell. But if ever

there had been a period of the world, | writings avowed the opinion, that the troops when a strong military feeling was wanted of the enemy were superior to Britishfor the preservation of the greatness and troops. The opinion was flattering to the glory of a country, it was the present. It enemy, but he trusted it had not gone far was this period, when the whole world had in the country, and was convinced, that it become, as it were, one universal camp; had not made any impression upon the when all nations were occupied with mili-people or the army. British soldiers were tary views, military fame, and military ser- strangers to any feelings that would previces; when these military pursuits were vent them, whenever they came in contact substituted in place of the civil arts of life; with the enemy upon nearly equal terms, when no country could be safe that did from making British valour as conspicuous not cultivate them, and when any country, by land as by sea. It was a general opinion, that did not cultivate them, could no longer that all our naval exploits had been achie hope to continue its independence. We were ved by a superiority of experienced discome to that state of society when, as had cipline and skill; but he could not subbeen well said, the soldier was abroad; scribe to such a position. Many of those when, in the language of the poet, "man heroic achievements which raised the and steel, the soldier and the sword," glory of our navy to the highest pitch, had were the only productions of a country been effected by the naked valour of that could be looked to with confidence Britons, without the aid of skill or discifor its protection and security. It was pline. Of this description were the exploits not because we had lost any part of performed in boarding ships, in cutting out the military spirit or character of the coun-vessels from under the protection of battetry that he dwelt with such pride upon the ries, and in various other operations pervalue of this exploit; certainly not. This formed by British seamen on shore, in country had never forfeited its just cha- every one of which the native valour of racter for military superiority. Yet, our countrymen was uniformly triumphant. from the circumstances under which the There were no such instances to be found war had hitherto been carried on, and the recorded in the military annals of the enepre-eminence of our great and glorious my. The enemy, however, had persuaded naval exploits, we had not had the same other nations, that they were as superior to opportunity of distinguishing our arms by us by land, as we are to them by sea; and land as by sea. The nations of the conti- the delusion seemed to have prevailed on nent too, as if they derived consolation in the continent. But the battle of Maida had their humiliation from the impression, broken the charm. Every circumstance of seemed to have been brought over to the its progress, the conduct of the officers, and opinion, that our military power, in the the bravery of the men, had established the largest sense of the word, was wholly confi- ascendancy of British valour, and mainned to naval operations. They seemed to tained that superiority, which this country think, that this country, was, he should possessed in all ages. In proof of this he not say proportionably weak, but that it could appeal to the determination, as apwas not proportionably strong by land as peared by the gazette, of sir John Stuart, by sea. Now, the immediate tendency to advance with his inferior force to the atand effect of the glorious battle of Maida tack of the enemy, even in the strong posiwas, that it would meet these opinions, and tion he occupied, if the enemy had not adcorrect the error in which they originated. vanced to meet him. The issue of the It was impossible to contemplate this glo- action that ensued would prove to the chief rious exploit in all its circumstances, and of the enemy, and to his troops, who arronot give way to a feeling of triumph at the gated to themselves a superiority over all superiority of national valour displayed in other troops, that they are not invincible, it. Yet, it might be said that it was not as they would represent themselves, that by naked valour that the skill, the disci- they could not withstand the valour of pline, and experience of the veteran troops British troops when fairly committed against of the enemy were to be overcome. It re- them in action. And yet, from whatever sulted, however, from the experience of causes, certainly not from want of courage this action, that British disciplined troops in their adversaries, the events of the late possessed a decided superiority over those wars had contributed to countenance this of the enemy. Many persons in this coun- opinion of their being invincible. They try appeared to entertain, and in their conquered because they thought they could

conquer: "Possunt quia posse videntur." This were wounded by the bayonet. He had to victory, however, had dissolved the spell. It apologize to the house for having trespassed was obtained in the face of Europe, in the so long on their attention; but really view of the nation for whose interest the the theme was so pleasing, that he could expedition was undertaken, and had proved not refrain from dwelling upon it with peto the world, in a manner not to be dis- culiar satisfaction. The detail of the acguised or concealed, that French troops are tion exhibited merits of all sorts, equally inferior to British troops. Aud here it was honourable to the skill of the officers, and necessary for him to take some precaution the firmness and valour of the soldiers. to guard against any possible misconstruc- Having been led thus far by the natural tion of his meaning. Nothing could be pleasure one felt in speaking of so gratefarther from his intention, than to repre-ful a subject, he should not detain the sent this exploit as exclusively glorious for house longer than whilst he could state the reputation of the British arms. The some circumstances respecting the action, whole of the campaign in Egypt was equal-which were not generally known. By these ly conspicuous for the lustre it cast upon circumstances it would appear, that the victhe military character of the British nation. tory had been more decisive, and the deThis achievement condensed into a single feat of the enemy more complete than was action, all the same merits, that had been at first supposed. Sir John Stuart had displayed in every operation during that correctly stated the amount of his own glorious campaign. It was a lesson to this force as under 5000 men; but he had not country, to the enemy, and to the world, of the means of accurately ascertaining the the comparative value of British and French force of the enemy, when he wrote his distroops, and thoroughly confirmed the deci-patch. In that it had been stated at nearly sive superiority of British valour. There 7000, but it should have been stated at never had been an action so completely nearly 8000 men. This fact had been discalculated in all its circumstances, so per- covered from returns found upon the perfectly framed, to establish that truth. He sons of some of the officers that had been could not more forcibly illustrate this fact killed. The next circumstance he had to than by adopting the eloquent language of mention respected the amount of the sir John Stuart on the subject: "It seems," enemy's loss. Sir J. Stuart stated the said the gallant general in his dispatch, numbers of the killed at 700; but it had "as if the prowess of the two nations was been afterwards ascertained, by observato be brought to trial before the world." tions made upon the spot, that the number Certainly no action, under any circumstan- of killed in the action amounted to 1300. ces, could be better calculated for such a Fifteen hundred prisoners had been the trial. If two sets of philosophers were immediate fruit of the action, and a consi❤ to have undertaken to make an experiment, derable number more fell into our hands by doing away every thing extraneous to from the consequences of the action. So their process, they could not have succeeded that thus a number, nearly equal to the whole more accurately. In the first part of the of the British force, had been disposed of action the two, armies advanced against by this brilliant action. Another conseeach other with the bayonet; an operation, quence of the exploit was, that it had set though much talked of, that very seldom the Calabrians free from the presence of the took place between great bodies of men. enemy, and had totally broken up the force Every circumstance, even in the most mi- of general Regnier in these provinces, which nute detail that had happened previously amounted to 13,000 men. It was not perto the shock, concurred to bring the cou-haps necessary to have dwelt so much on rage and intrepidity of the two rival nations the advantages that resulted from this to the trial. The contest was decided, not battle; but the glory that had been acquiby any superiority of corporal strength, but red in it, he considered of infinitely greater by the predominance of personal intrepidi-importance than any immediate benefits ty. Both armies advanced firmly to the that had been derived from the action. charge, until within half a yard of each This it was that would carry the effect of the other. In this monent of perilous trial, British resolution and valour held out, and the enemy shrunk back with panic from the terrible contest.-It was not improper to state here, that hardly any of our men

brilliant exploit beyond the single instance, by restoring the military renown of this country, which had been called in question. He who gave glory to his country, gave that which was far more valuable to it than

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any acquisition whatever. Glory alone house doth highly approve of, and acwas not to be taken away by time or acci-knowledge, the distinguished valour and dents. Ships, territories, or possessions, discipline displayed by the non-commismight be wrested from a country, but the sioned officers and private soldiers of the mode of acquiring them could never be for- forces serving on the 4th of July last, ungotten, and the glory of the conquest was der the command of major-general sir independent of all accidents. The acquisi- John Stuart, in the brilliant victory obtions that were the consequence of the glo-tained on the Plains of Maida, and that rious days of Cressy and Poitiers, had the same be signified to them by the con➡ long since passed into other hands; but manding officers of the several corps, who the glory of those illustrious achievements are desired to thank them for their gallant still adhered to the British name, and was and exemplary conduct." immortal. It was that fine extract, that Sir John Doyle, in seconding the motion, pure essence, that indured to all ages, expressed himself, in a maiden speech, in whilst the grosser parts, the residuum passed the following words:-Mr. Speaker; in away, and were lost in the course of time. rising to address you for the first time, I On this ground it was, that he thought teel, sir, how much I shall stand in need that the victory of Maida would stand as of your countenance, and the kind indulhigh as any exploit upon the records of gence of the house; but I trust that the our military achievements, and that the motives which induce me to trouble you, glory of general Stuart and his brave army, while they plead my excuse, may obtain would survive to the latest posterity, un-for me a patient hearing, and I shall enless the country should, at any time, sink deavour to mark my sense of that indulinto such a state of degradation, that the gence, by trespassing upon it but for a mo memory of former glory would be a re- ment. Sir, having witnessed upon many proach to existing degeneracy. Even in trying occasions the zeal, discipline, skill, such a state of degradation, he was sure, and courage, in this instance so brilliantly that such an instance as this, would be displayed, by this gallant officer and his calculated to rouse a nation to emulate the brave companions, I cannot reconcile it to exploits of its ancestors. The name of my feelings to contine myself to a cold and general Stuart would justly be ranked passive assent. I should not, sir, trust among the foremost in our military annals. the cause of these valiant men to so feeble The right hon. secretary said, he had felt an advocate as myself, did I not know that pleasure in dwelling upon the various me- they will find a ready and warm advocate rits of this brilliant exploit, because it revi- in the breast of every man I have the hoved and resuscitated, as it were, that half nour to address. The thanks of parliaof our national character which had been ment were never better deserved, nor called in question, and proved that Britons would they be any where more highly prihad the same superiority over the enemy by zed; and I feel that the motion is not land as they had by sea. The right hon. gent. more justly applied, than it is happily ticoncluded by moving: 1st, "That the thanks med; for as the crisis is fast approaching, of this house be given to major-general sir when the country will expect that every John Stuart, knight of the most honoura- man shall do his duty, what a noble inble order of the bath, for the distinguished citement will it be for men, not barely, ability displayed by him on the 4th of Ju- but enthusiastically, to do their duty, ly last, in the brilliant action on the when so well assured of being rewarded plains of Maida, which terminated in the by the gratitude of their country. It is in signal and total defeat of the superior for- upholding and encouraging the high sense ces of the enemy. 2. That the thanks of of honour so conspicuous in the fleets and this house be given to brigadier-general armies of Great Britain, that the country the hon. George Lowry Cole, brigadier-ge- will find its best security, and it is because neral William Palmer Ackland, and the the measures of the right hon. mover are several other officers, for their distinguish-built upon this foundation, that they not ed exertions on the 4th of July last, in the only meet my approbation, but, as a soldier, brilliant action on the Plains of Maida, demand my grateful acknowledgement. I which terminated in the signal and total know, sir, so well the feelings of these galdefeat of the superior forces of the enemy; lant men, that whatever privations they and that major-general sir John Stuart do may have endured, whatever labours sussignify the same to them. 3. That this tained, or whatever dangers encountered,

they will find themselves amply repaid by sent a fit occasion for introducing a fundathe most glorious of all rewards, the appro- mental amelioration into our army, by bation of a beloved sovereign, and the granting promotions and distinctions to thanks and plaudits of a brave and free such officers as had displayed extraordinary people. The exclamation of every man merit. But all the hopes and expectations will be, "When I cease to be actuated by he had cherished had been disappointed. such motives, I trust I shall cease to ex-General Stuart had been honoured with ist." I rely upon the good feeling of the house to pardon this effusion so naturally drawn forth, and which, if I were willing, I am unable to suppress.

the order of the Bath; but neither the four distinguished officers who commanded brigades, nor any one of the field-officers, had been advanced in military rank for their Mr. Johnstone observed, that it was not services on so memorable a day. He did his intention to add any thing to the very not state this by way of charge against his glowing and eloquent panegyric which the majesty's ministers; because he was very right hon. gentleman had pronounced; but sensible, that the present military system there were one or two observations which afforded no precedent for what he sugso naturally arose out of the speech of the gested. But it would scarcely be credited right hon. gent., that he could not refrain by posterity, or by other nations, that a from stating them to the house, being victory, which exalted in the highest degree deeply convinced that they were of great the national glory,which in our annals would importance. He had ever regarded the be recorded with the triumphs of Cressy right hon. gent. as one of the persons most and Poictiers, had not obtained military sensible to whatever concerned the honour rank or military honours for any of those of the army, and the speech he had just brave men by whom it had been achieved. then delivered had confirmed him in the It was not thus that our Edwards and our opinion. At the same time, he had been Henries rewarded their companions in arms. led to believe, that the right hon. gent. It was not thus that our enemy had raised was convinced, like every other gent. who a spirit of enthusiasm in his army, which had reflected much on the subject, that the rendered him more formidable than all the best means were not found in our present conquests he had obtained. It was a fact military system, to excite in the army a well known, that throughout every military spirit of enthusiasm, which, whenever it establishment in Europe, officers who disprevailed, was the sure omen of victory. tinguished themselves in the face of the Neither was the military profession fol-enemy, were immediately promoted and lowed by public approbation; nor was a honoured at the same time with various soldier honoured and esteemed in this badges of distinction. In our naval service, commercial island, in the degree due to him when a victory had lately been obtained by who devoted his life to the protection of admiral Duckworth, each of the captains his country. This evil was the necessary were honoured by medals, and the senior consequence of the peculiar favour with lieutenant in each ship had been promoted. which we cherished our navy, and of the It was now the unvaried practice to proconstitutional jealousy with which our mi-mote every officer who distinguished himlitary establishments were regarded. If self, and not a little of the glory which had our armies had still proved superior to been obtained by our navy was the result those of all other nations with whom they of the emulation thus excited. Even when had to contend, it resulted from the natu- a frigate had lately been captured, the ral courage and energy of the British cha-captain had been introduced to the preracter. Yet every reflecting man must sence of his sovereign, and received the feel, that at the present crisis, it was desi-honour of knighthood.. But who could rable to practise those means used by all compare the merit of such an event with other powers to foster and encourage mi- the glory that belonged to generals Cole litary virtues and military talents. He and Ackland, and to colonels Oswald and had therefore witnessed with much satis-Kempt, who commanded brigades at the faction the appointment of the right hon. battle of Maida? He trusted that his magent. to the head of the war department. And when the splendid victory of Maida had been obtained, it had afforded him no less satisfaction for all the reasons that had been stated, than because it seemed to pre

jesty would be advised to confer on them the like distinction; that all the field-officers would be advanced one step in rank by a brevet commission, and be authorized to wear an honorary medal in consideration

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