Star. — London, England, 1813-07-08 00:00:00

keno was not true, but should k onfprtunately prove go it could not, in his judgment, detract at tell from Lord Wellington's merits in thp plan and management of lbe eatnostign. For the final result; of that cam paign, there was every ground for indulging the most sanguine expectations; every circumstance that could enhance its immediate value, every title that could leave weiyht with the House in conferring - that meed of hetwor, which they were now called ppon to grant. In point uf direct advantage of gairtto ourselves and Jots to the enemy, the quantity of stores and guns captured was, he believed, unparalleled in military history ? He recollected, indeed, that in one of Lord . wellington's victories, in India, he took a hundred pieces of cannon, and with this exception, there was, .11e might ventnie to say, no example that approached it. Was it nothing, then, that Lord Wellington bad driven before him the principal army of Spatu to the 'northern * frontiers of that country ? That which not long *ince was deemed an extravagant speculation— of all visions the most chimerical, of all enterprises the mist romantic—he meant the invasion of France —should now be a mere question of prudence on our part. Whether this was a project that ought to be posertained, or could be effectually accomplished, he pretended not to decide ; but it was evidently now a mere matter of discretion whether certain parts of the territory of France might not be seized with ad vantage. Was it nothing then, he asked again, that ( tive, who had so many years been threatened with invasion—who were so often told, that we might soon 1 sexpect to see French banners waving on the Tower of London, wire now in a situation to retort the l menace ? It was, indeed, a subject of some curio- t sky and amusement, that that same army which had `been ordered into the sea at Lisbon ? should be now in the neighbourhood cf Dayonne, and that the ques tion of invasion ? if a question it still was, was not in vasion on this side of the water.r--(llear, hear.) — This he might at least say. without incurring the hazard of encouraging too sanguine anticipations,— I•The next part of his general proposition was, that we bad now begun to experience the advantages of that policy which led us to take so extensive a part in the Spanish war, and which policy was originally found ed in the deepest political wisdom.—(Haar, hair.) — lie did not know whether he was not going too far; but undoubtedly all that had recently occurred tend ed to support this opinion, and to induce Government ' to give the rein to Lord Wellington, who, if human • ;mans might accomplish the end, had shewn himself to be the man who could point pot an opening to the rescue and deliverance of Europe. What had been the.great objects which were contemplated at the first outset of the war ? First, to operate a grand Oiversion, which should afford to either nation the opportunity of producing their strength and directing it against the common enemy ; secondly, to establish the independence of the Peninsula itself. Had not ! both these objects been proved ;It once salutary and t attainable ?—His Majesty's 14lioisters know, and he I himself knew, that the Court of Russia had most ear -1 pestly requested, that our exertiiins in the Peninsula should be continued, and regarded the continuance of those exertions as the condition of its oven success. We had, then, not mere deduction or general reasoning to fortify us in our confidence in the original policy of • the Spanish war, but tho plain position and incontro vertible evidence of lac! s. —The object of re-establish ing the incierepdepee of Spain I r td been obstructed by various emhartassments aaising out et the defects • of the old Government ; but these score new Rattly il removed, and the new system of Administration i founded on just and solid princiFles. This object there was every reason for believing would now . he attained, if the war should be can on vigorously and directly 1 to that end, and to carry it on, except on the prin i ciple of restoring to the Spaniards the blessings of igood Government, would be as inconsistent with i sound policy as it would be false in honesty and de ; fective in moral feeling. We saw what bad been done by applying all our resources to the great cause. Now the p( wor of France had been attnihilated in Spain by one mighty blow, and the crown of the Usurper was to be o and nowhere unless in his own Focket.— He had hut one further observation to moire, and that related to the Spaniards excluaiyely, He trust s ed that the Spaniards would now fe e l it i ncu mb ent t on them to place their Government in such a situa ' tion as should be at once acceptable to the nation and formidable to their enemies. Ile was satisfied that the Noble Lords opposite would adopt every plea • sure for the purpose of promoting this object ; but what he would wish to express was, that it had now Ibecome indispensably necessary, and that if de feated, it might render the prospect of the war des perate in the eyes of the Spanish people themselves. 1 —Every effort should be used to strengthen the native Government—to purge it of those ancient corruptions which before exposed it to foreign in vasion, and to enable it to resist any future attack which might be meditated against it. The intro ( daction of a French force into the Spanish territories bad been effected indeed by treachery of the basest character ; be hoped to see the pet iod arrive, when it would be impossible to renew the foul aggression , by these, or by means of any other description.-- He feared that be had troubled their Lordships at too great length in his observatioaa on this occasion, but he had felt extremely anaitius to have it recog ; pivot that we wero. acting on sobstantial grounds, that wa !two; upon a glorious eminence, that if Eng , i land rooild but work as she Bald lately worked, the `prospect of ultimate triumph and complete success dawned foil ti eon her. li,e trusted Ministers would see the wisdom of adhering Singly and unintert optedly to the prosecut on of that cause in which they were so deeply eneaged, as we'd as t f straining' every nerve in its support. Of the victory itself on which the pa- 1 1 lion was now minse i teg its coogrotulation, is appeared i VII , IM to be not less d. irab% as an effort of military • skill and valour, than it was *ii;lvantageous hi its ion ' mediate results, and likely to be decisive in its re finter operations. It was• 3 'victory which wo u ld b e or ev T seeted n 'le records of military glory, an nehicytrueot obi io 'N• old attract on. nium ecculorum ,a - 1 rirehol f mviyuelioaaiiati uniyerretxentfilymin;ign r pt - 4be- Us, which would serve to ani ?note die spirit, and nerve the vateur t f other colleti ies and other g-nerations, as tar as its ntirpe could reach, as long as its memory Could rtirr , ,iii—(Hrar, hair.) 4..01d FOLLAND said, that they had again seen the Coble Marquis victotinua, after wz.it t ng his or portuoity, like another Vabius ; iticl., after an advance 4.he cat-say of which a Czsar might be proud of. He was glad to see also that the Spaniards, under the directions of our Noble Commander, had. acquired a better spirit. The Noble Lords opposite certainly de served pcaise, not for the wisdom with which the . ) , had conducted this great cause, but for their perseverance in it. lie hoped that this great victory would be pro- . ductive of pace to Europe, as well as of freedom and happiness to Spain. The motion was then agreed to nem. efif. as was a motion of Thanks to the Spanish officers and privates acting under Lord Wellington. The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, that although the measure could not originate in that House, he hoped Ministers would not neglect to recommend that a Monument should 14 erected to the gallant officer, (Caftan) who had so gloriously fallen on this great occasion. The Earl of LIVERPOOL assured the Noble Bari, that he was prompted to recommend such a measure, not only from the manner in which that pliant officer had finished his career, but also from intithate acquaintance with his truly brave 4nd esti mable character.—Adjourned. HOUSE Or COMMONS. The Wellingtor Estate Bill, the Nelson Estate Bill, thy, Ship Owners' Reliet Bill ) the Judges' Salaries Bill, and the Stores Bill were read a third' time and passed. Mr... ROSE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Act relating to Prlvatr. Madhouses, for the purpose of introduc ing other regulations, Mr. W. SMITH :4id, it was enough to make a man mad to see the manner in which wretched maniacs, confined in private tnadlacives, were treated.--leave given. A Message was received from the Prince Tit expressing that his Royal Highness was pleased to agree in the propriety in , purchasing Mr. Hargrave's -Library, and directing that the sun, of £6OOO be granted for that purpose. Sir FRANCIS iIIIRDE I T wished to know why Mr. Mani son hall not received the remuneration for his invention of the cork jacket, to preserve seamen from drowning. Mr. ROSE stated, that he had received full compenAtion for what ha bad done. The invention, he saicj , was a thing of twenty years standing, and of course the merit of it was not due to Mr. MalOon. In answer to a luestion from Sir FRANCIS BIIRDETT, Mr. ROSE said, that the Clerks of the Navy Pay Office were obliged to be uncommunicative upon the subject of the pay of seamen, in order to prevent imposition. The conversation having proceeded, the SPEAKER Interposed, and it dripped, but Sir V. liricosTa• gave notice that he would to•morrow more for a more easy means of attaining information upon the subject of the pay of seamen. Mr. ROBERT SNII I H presented a Petition from certain persons resident in the town o' Nottinextm, praying the ;louse to reconsider its former decision, by which a Petition from that town was rejected, becati4e it was primed. The SPEAKER informed li f e House chat the prc sent Petition prayed for the repeal of a former decision made in the present Session, and therefore it could not, according to ordinary usage, be received. After a few wnr!s from Mr, W. Satire, Mr. An mtcaostott, and several Diller Members, the Petition WAS accordln,;ly with. drawn. In answer to a question front Mr. Wimaa Nt SErrii, Mr. W. rIT:GLK4I.I) said, it }vas not lti, in (ninon to propo+e any alteration in the duty upon Salt txportAl from this Country Imo Ireland. The I;ish Annuities 13111 was Immght In, and read a first, and ordered to he read .1 second time. THANKS TO LORD WELLINGTON, &c. Lord CASTLEREAGH rose, and said, that in submitting the :lotion, of which he had given notice,' to the consideration of the House, he felt a difficulty in finding language capable of conveying those emo tions of adrrinoion which he felt in contemplating the details of the campaign in Spain. Many Minis. ters of greater ability had formerly sat where he now had the honour to be, who might not he equally em barrassed in delivering a speech, but he felt in his own mind, from every information which had reached him, that the victory of Vittoria . as one of the most brilliant w hick )% as recta ded in the history of the world.—(Horr, hear.) It would be presumptuous in hint to offer many conm - r.-nts of his own, and he felt the less inclined to make any, atter every Member was already in possession of the most re -1 mat kable events contained in the dispatches of our great C::purander. Every Gentleman must be sensible that he did not over -rate the victory when it was considered that the troops to which our Al lies were opposed were as well disciplined as any in Eurore, that they were amply supplied with mili tary stores of every dese iptiun , yet such was the skill and promptitude •of our incomparable Commando,. that they sustained a complete defeat, leaving be. hind them all their cannon, their treasure, and every article of military equipment which could alone ren der them efficient as an army. In stating that much he was aware that it would be expected from him to give an account of the number of the enemy's troops who were engaged, but he regretted that no acc o u n t which could be considered official had yet leached him. He understood, however, ft gm the information of Officers who had been in the action, and whose ve racity he could not doubt, that the enemy's numbers amounted to 70,000 men on the morning of the 21st, land that they were composed of the Armies of the North, the South, the Centre, and of Portugal ; so that the grand m iss of the French army shared in the defeat—and had the nature of the country admitted of our cavalry pursuing the fugitives vigoroosly, he did not conceive he ventured too fur in saying, that probably not one man would have escaped to France • to tell the tale of their disaster—(Loudeharitoo) He could not slate, with . any precision, the oumoer the enemy had lost, but, from the lowest calculation which he could learn, they must have amounted to 12,000 men, or double the loss in men sustained by the Allies —(Coritinuerichrering.) The French army Was pos7 destroyed in point of efficiency, and had the scene of no other victory been attached to that of Wellingtrin, that of Vittoria must immortalize him. In the campaign, and in the actin), the I it us- trious Command: l.'s comprehensive genius eras cim spictioes, and had decidedly confounded the hopes , of the enemy on the Peninsula. It was not from any apprehension of the power of the French that the No,: ble Lcrd retired before them at the concho ion cf the i former campaign, but to improve and refit his own arm;, and a successful result had justified his policy. The'repose taken in winter had not only been ad- I vantageous to the British and Portuguese iumics, but enabled Lord Wellington to inure the Spanish troop s l to a st;-! . te of military discipline and efficiency, which rendered them worthy and capable of fighting in the same ranks with their brethren in arms. It was in' the confident expectatkm Of the complete snccess of the Allies, that he (I,ord Castlereagh I venru ed, t arly in the Session, to predict the "discornitoire of the er my. It w:d•aot with an invidious view ff . lessening the talents of the Generals; o'6e bravery tric soldiers of other nations that he mirodocel the e.traordinary Marti: Vittoria„ which the At. lies had accomplished in the short space of a month, which ocientific manceuvre enabled them to accom •plish more, with comparatively little bloodshed, than could have been done by ordinary operations in.a much longer time and more blootlsbed—(ilear, hear.) By the masterly opt i . ations of the British Ge- , neral the enemy were successively driven from all; their positions, and at last reduced. to the alterna tive of giving battle, or retiring into France. It was a proud circnmstance for the present genera tion to live in an age when the skill of our com manders and the reputation of our arms were higher than at any former period of our history. It mast be acknowledged, that in the progress of the war the situation of the Allies was somcwh4 uhfavour ' able, but the great mind-of our Commander was I never overcenrT by any difficulties which presented themselves, and instead of defending the lines of Torres Vedris, he now pursued the enemy almost upon their own frontier. He conceived that the Goverhment at home too would be found to have lorwatcled the views of the General, and amply supplied him with every thing necessary to the m ention of his brilliant plans, and thereby enabled him to reverse the haughty threat of the enemy to drive the English into the sea—( Hear, hear.) Such a daz zling result must prove highly grateful to every Bri ton, but particularly to that House, composed of the Representatives of a free and powerful people, whose efforts were united in restoring the liberties and independence of other nations.—(Hear, hear.) 4 would be very unbecoming in him to presume to form any conjecture on the probable termination of the present war, especially as all human events were guided by the immutable decrees of ?Boer- DENCE ; but as the protecting care of Pitovioesei had hitherto watched over the destines of Brtain, he saw no reason for thinking that success would not crown our efforts to establish the general liberties of mankind—(Beiseraped claering.) He would detain the House with only one more observation, which was, that he had reason to apprehend that the names of all the General Officers who distinguished them- selves in the battle of Vittoria had nte )et arrived, but should any be omitted Isy trii44l;e, he would claim the indulgence of the House to move its Thanks to such Officers, when more minute particulars should arrive. The Noble Lord concluded by moving " That the Thanks of the Home be given to Fit-Pi-Marshal the Marquis of Wvi.L,NcroN, for the energy and cliiiipgiiished ability with which he conducted the operations of the Allied Army during the present Climpaign, but particularly MI achiev ing the splendid victory ut Vittoria, which terminated hi the de. fiat of the enemy, and the capture oat their cannitn, ammuni tion waggons, and baggage." The Motion was received with lotti cheerings from every part of the Honse. Mr. FREEMANTLE rose to second the motion, and in act animated speech psonounced the Ire vic tory to be well worthy of all the commendation which the Noble Lord had bestowed on it, and there fore he conceived the present v,;te would pass with acclamation. In speaking upon a subject which must greatly interest every man in the kingdom, there can exist but one sentiment of admiration, and therefore every party feeling ought to be laid aside. He was persuaded that the great military gen;us of Lord Wellington had already achieved mote than had been done . by any other Whitish Commander, and therefine he would give his Lordship unquali fied approbation. He would alio admit that the Bri tish- Governmsnt were entitled to a considerable share of praise for their promptitude in sending those Supplies to his Lordship which enabled him to act with such decision and vigour. It was his (Mr. Freemantle's) good fortune to have been entertained for the last three days with the details of the cam paign by a near relation with shared in the glory of it, and he was fuily Satisfied that the loss of the ene my was rather under-rated by the Noble Isstrd. He was warranted in so saying, flout the admission of French Officers who were made prisoners. He could also state, /root what he had learnt of Lot d Wel lington's character, that it wss not the hero aloe whom Enpdislimen ocght to admire, hut we ought likewise to esteem the man, whose pri vate virtues were no less conspicuous and amiable than his military genius was splendid and compre hensive. His tenderness towaids the prisoners whom the chance of war had thrown into his hands, was as praiseworthy as his humane care of the sick and wounded of his own army. He lamented that he was not gifted with cleqoence to enable him to do still farther justice to a General of such consummate skill, whose masterly mancouvies had produced so brilliant a victory, and whose splendid talents would be still more displayed in the liberation of mankind trent the challis which the enemy threatened to im pose upon them. He would not propose any motion on the subject, but merely throw in a suggestion for the House to address the Prince Regent, that he would direct the thanks of the House to be conveyed to his Lordship by his own Aide de Comp, who had been the herald of the glorious intelligence to this country. Lorl CA STLE R EACH said he believed the loss of the enemy to have been much greater than the es timate which It made horn the official returns mid which did not include a considerable number of pri soners made before the battle, nor many who ni;glit be suppcsed to be made after it. Sir EYRE COO said he had been extremely anxious to have followed the spei:ch of the Noble Lord, and to do just cc to the masterly talents of Lord Wellington, which achieved so glorious a vic tory. He telt extremely happy that the N,ble Mar quis had been created a Field Marshal, and as all the °dicers and men under him were companions in arms, having the same object in view, fie trusted their nutted efforts would sotat lead to.a lasting peace and the future repose and happiness of mankind.— (Hear, /star.) Mr. CANNING said, that upon a subject so pro• lific, it was impossible r Britons to enter.ain a dif tereoce of opinion, or for him to say any thing in ap piobation of the skill of Lord IVeliing vat, and the valour of Ins army,' without according with the gene rat anti, tents of the people at large. He should not therefore dwell upon it, but as I,e had advised the commencement of the' war, as well as its vzorous prosecution, he be, e ted the indulgence of the douse nor a tew minutes. It was now hve years since the war bt, A tan, and he was proud to see that the victory of Vittoria led us to expect that the termination of our tolls and exprms were not far thstaPt. At the, commencement, many apprehended that our enn:i• prize was too great to succeed, and advised a discus;. continua.nce of it, but the splendid achievements of our Commander had now rendered ultimate success more than probable, He was disposed to do ;ample • justice to Ministers for the promptitude with they furnished Lord Wellington with ample meaas of giving full exercise to his comprehensive mind, I F which in the end was so likely to be so beneficial to the cause of freedom and humanity. He had fre quently humbled the arrogance of France, and dis pelled 'the cloud which darkened the minds of men when they thought that Boaeparte went abroad into • the earth with Victory chained to his car, and that his legions were impenetrable and invincible—(Hear, hear.) —The talisman, i,owever, we; soon broken in Spain, and in the North of Europe French invtacibi lity was put to the test, and a spirit of liberty perve ded the mind of every man who had been under the ' bondage of France, and the mighty deluge of Bena. parte's power had subsided. These happy occur , rences were attributable solely to the talents of the man whose exploits the House went now commemo- • eating—(Loadchterink) His comprehensive mind foresaw the whole result, and the celerity of hie ' movements confounded the plins of his adversaries. Before sitting down, he would adver t t o t he ,sugges. tion of an tion. Member for an Address to the Prince , Regent relative to the conveyance of a vote of th inks to Lord Wellington, but he saw no necessity for it, as the House of Commons had ample means of con veying its own communicetions. • Mr. ItOBINSON said he could not surer the ques tion to go to a vote without congratulating the House eq the. remarkable circumstan ce of no British Gene ral O fficer being lost to the sjivice. Officers of in• ferior rank had fallen, and be was very sorry that the practice of the House would not admit - of a motion being . made for the erection of some public imonu. - ment in remembrance of their merits. One in parti cular (Colonel Cadogan) had fallen, and it was the pride of his life to distinguish himself in the service, and there was not a battle fought on the Peniii,ule since he went there in which his talents were ne con spicuous, and that he did n t receive the approbation of his Commanders— (Hear, hear, hear.) The question was then put, and carried new. co*. Lord CASTI.EItEAGH then moved, That the Thanks of the Heine be given to Lieutenant-Gene ral Sir Thomas Graham, and all the other General Officers whose names appeared in the dispetelrel of Lord Wellington. The motion w:;s agreed to erns. con. Lord CASTLEREAGH then said, that it wa; nit the practice of Parliament to vote Thanks to Of. ficers of inferior rank by name, although he admitted I their services to have been highly meritorious. With r 'geld to Celotiel Cadogan, he 1 imented his loss sin. cerely, because he knew him et be a gallant aad de-. serving Officer; but it would be a satisfaction to his , friends to know that he died as he lived, a brave ,nen. On receiving the wound which caused his death, he requested to he carried to the lop of a hill, where he could view and contemplate the brileant victory which his gallantry contributed to achieve—(Hear, hear, hear I) Lord CASTLEREAGH then moved the Thalak; of the Mouse to the orhAr Officers, Non-commissicmel Officers, and Men, which was agreed to nem. eon. • His Lordship next moved Resoiuticas approving of the zeal and valour displayed by the Portuguese and Spanish Officers and Meu in the battle of Vit. torin. They were als r agreed to, and the Speaker i was directed to transmit the .same to Lord Welling, ton, to be communica.ed to the Allied Array, 1 COLONEL ORDE, i Mr. W. SMITH said, that after the heartfelt sa. i tisfaction expresse i d this day by every Gentleman, he , should be happy to proclaim an amnesty, and give !.• up the motion of which he had given notice, were it not that his public duty compelled him to bring it foiwird. He feared it was a motion in which hp o , ' should meet with much opposition ; hot ilien he had 1. the pleasure to think that he v, as advocating the cause ‘' of those soldiers who had lately been gainin4 tor ri such spleudiel victories. He thought it was a matter . , of importance that the Minutes of a certain Court -martial should be laid before the House. He had re. : ceived A letter from Halifax, in Nova Scotia, where gl this Courtonartial was held. The letter was frail an !4 old Offiaer high in the service, and many years resi. dent in th..t county-t. The Court-martial was for the trial of Col.inel Cr re, on charges of tyranny, etr,d the writer of the le- ter conceived that it was.a case tit fOr the consideration of the House of Commons. He had s , heard from another quarter that toe trial of Coionel bide was a very remarkable case, and that no one could have supposed the sentence of the Court would ever have been departed trom The case was this: —4 Court-martial seas held in August on Colonel Orde. The first charge was cruelty to :he men ; the second was a fraud upon the Quarter-master. Of the first the Colonel was found guilty ; chi the second he was found to have acted in a scandalous and infamous manner, as was set forth in the charge. The third charge was for cruelty and oppression tollse offic4.7 of the regiment—on which he was found guilty. The Court was composed of the most re:pectable officers. Colonel Orde did on his own authority inflict parish. mends on the soldiers, which the Commanding Olfi-• cer declared in General Ord ss to rave been tinlaw- • lul and cruel. It appeared that these peinislim sets were inflicted with the utmost severity. S 'me of the men had received sixty lashes on their b ire bat lc. with , A canteen u 1 rap. It also dp i )earel that thes e m e n were pt:nished tar the m( st trifling offences : one for having rust li s stock, another for having lust a notton, and a third for having a damp belt .tt....r .t wet Jay. Th.: 4 - 14iii•ant ( lietring) was a wretched instrumen, it: these cruelties. It was the practice in the regiment ' for the private men to make their complaints to toe Commanding Officer through taeor OLh eer s—he ‘v.ILS sorry to sty, that scarcely any re. r, sent diem had ever been made by any Odiser on the eau I die • priv..te, in which the Oilicer or the private was not reprimanded; and, in m •ny instances, tunes .ed. He mentioned cot• instaitce in particular. of cruelty and iimessien exercised toward, a p ivats., n tied 1 James O'Lr.en, who had fur some aiding . deuce ;re, n obliged to carry a k•. epsack loaded with stove , f :. -rid two muskets, :'tl ela: tong. and was also 0..i1i 'eel : ; cat his meals c.atidin .at tire sun-di il. This :,.an , ii deserted : but after hav ng been absent a day he stn.- rendered hinisel:. He was then tried by a Court martial, and sentenced to receive 14)00 Wile& The II IL