The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-31 00:00:00

f t THE NATIONAL REGISTER. t :he front of every opposition. When he bad measured back his way to the skirts of the forest of pines, he discovered with concern, that the enemy had already driven away and dispersed the detachment he 14c1 left to guard it, and had ranged them selves on the top and on the declivity of the hill, to almost dou ble his numbers; and commanded by officers who had triumphed over the veteran legions of the confederacies of Europe. One of the enemy's wings extended within cannon shot of the British while they were disentangling themselves from the wood.— And when General Graham drew up his troops, he saw in a mo ment that retreat was hazardous and almost impracticable ; and that he was exposing the whole allied army to the consf-quences of a hasty march. He therefore determined instantly to attack both the enemy's divisions, and formed his troops accordingly, though disordered and fatigued with their long marc'i, and the struggling difficulties of the broken and uneven ground covered with brush wood. The. soldiers chewed a promptitude and an alacrity which could never have been surpassed by men in the first moments of a campaign. The Genelai k ew his soldiers, and that one enthusiasm and spirit pervaded and glowed through them all ; lie depended on that Jiscipline and on that deciaivc mess of action which are the characteristics of the soldiers of Britain. Confident of success, he brought up his artillery under Major Duncan, which consisteLi ,nly of ten pieces of cannon.— Brigadier-General Dilkes conimanded the right,_ and hastened on to the attack of the hill of Ba:Tosa. The other division rushed fiercely forward, and gave battle to General Laval without hesi tation ; the conflict was herce •ad cloiptrate. The cannon open ed an awful hower, and Ihe closii.g of the bayonets instantly pushed the enemy into confusion a d defeat. in the mean time General Diikes was hastening on to the charge, and the enemy poured down the hill in a column to meet him. • confident in their superior numbers, assured of success from their former exploits, the French met the charge of the British with all the obstinacy of frequent anu tried valour, and of Men who. well knew how to resist and to conquer.— The British sprung forward with undaunted firmness, and pouring in a discharge of musquetry closed with the bayonet. Borne back by the fury of the charge, the French gave ground up the hill; they could not-withstand the resolute thrust of the British bayonet. A final and feeble rcsiitance on the summit told the British they hid accomplished one of the most memor able feats of valour which would make future historians proud to record. From light to left was a most complete victory; in one hour, the plan was laid and performed of an exploit honour able to the Commander, glorious to the soldiers, and of eighty importance to the cause which they were supp Ttir.• Wher ever ale British bayonet was lifted success chewed itself; all resistance was in vain. Thus ended that noble struggle which he was about to call upoo the House to recompense by a vote of thanks to the valiant Gent ral who accomplished it. The action bore all the strong and evident marks of a complete victory ; the enemy were every where broken anal dispersed; a standard, cannon, and General O ffi cers, whit the abandoned held, covered with slain, all attested the consequences of a total defeat. Con.: itiollai that the House was warmed with a kindred welcome to heroism, he would submit the following motion to the pleasure of the House. The motion was-- That the Thanks of the House be bestowed on General Tho mas Graham, for his gallant conduct on th..! sth of March, in defeating the division of Marshal Victor, on the heights of Barron. Mr. Su e AIDA Iv rose, anxious and desirous to have the honour of seconding a motion so dear to his mind, so warmly related to his heart, and which was given by the Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer with such distinctness, with such energy and feeling —The Honourable Gentleman has said that be is conscious no difference can arise, and that our opinions will be one. He hoped so too ; it was a subject which still , d every meaner wish, and made us alive to the nobler *c Lisa- Cons of the mind. Three different kinds of opiiii‘bris had been entertain( d on the war which we wage in Spain. The first saw no kind of aLisiitance proper, saving the lenditig of money to pur chase weapons and promote warlike enterprise. The second al lowed a aids of men and of money to a confined allowance, such as should'keep the war alive, and impart a little, of British decision to- the new-raised levies of Spain. The thl'fol brought ferwatd an opinion that we ought to quit and renounce all en gagements, abandoning the Peninsula the moment even we could forsake it with honour. It any Gentleman ever sastr that opportunity of renouncing with hooottr, it was an opportunity which he never for one moment saw. tie had the honour of being acquainted with men of high worth and genius, who openly advocated the withdrawing of the troops from the Pen insula, under any circumstances which were honourable. He would be happy to see the occasion, but while it dirt not offer, Ive ought to support our promises with resointeness and with the strongest exertions. He was convinced thattherebteathed not a man who would differ from the motion of the Hon. Gent. (the Cbaneellor of the Exchequer). Where was not a Member lA' the Hoine, he was assured, whO would not drop his political op position at once, and applaud the undaunted conduct of General Graham, and the brave men who shared in ills danger and in his gldry. (Hear , hear I) Yet he could not hear the praise. bestowed by the onourable Gentlemen% (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) on eneral Graham as an officer and a soldier, without finishing that character with that part which is due to him—admiration as a man, a most distinguished amiable private character. (Hear, hear ! ) There never was a loftier spirit stated in a gentler breast." ( Hear, hear ! ) Graham etruggl , d forth into notice amid all the difficulties encompassed him ; he stood up against misfortune, against neglect, against his foes, with all the intrepidity and resoluteness worthy of, and becoming a soldier. He at length obtained his long with-held and his long-deserved reward, and was entrusted with a cone :nand) of which he was woe thy. His present exploit only calls him forth to the tent unal of public notice and distinction, he was worthy . of it all before.--Wear, hear, teene!)—A Noble Friend of his bad wrote to hits' on the expedition to Toulon, that the whole success of the didokiging of the enemy was owing .to a worthy private gentleman of the name of Graham. He Was then a wanderer, solitary, sad, and wounded in heart, yet such was the love he bo e his country, that he opened all his stores of information, making the Briciila acquainted with the country; he a-.s:sted teem with !As couns&l, and aidtd than with his arm--,tic:. was Graham. Wiled he became a soldier, he discovered he could serve his country; he rais;:d a real: teem of two battalions, and was sent abroad at their head. He per formed a gallant exploit in retreatieg singly from 111:intua, he did not steal nway like a thief in the dirk nes e skulking like a spy in cowarely disguise ; he came in the uniform and the maini..l ae coutrtments of a soldier biavelv defying an enemy when he had confronted so frequent. General ingot alervards .aiid that Gra ham alone saved. tl:e place During the Austrian campaign he. was always where danger would *met him, and p: r:urined en terprizes worthy of the heights of .Earresa. He was with the gallant Sir Jahn Moore, through the daub. rs and the distresses to which his high spirit made him more than canal. He helped to 'accomplish the memorable retreat to Corunne, and share:: in the tumultuous hut glorious victery which was too highly pur chastd in the fall of Moore. That noble officer te s tified ki ucish that the ordinary gradations of rank would bL dispensed with, and that Graham should be created a General Officer. He was the friend of that great and excellent man. He shared in his prosperities. lu friendship strung, and in disaster great.' He obtained his rank by an exertion of e owtr never exerted but for a e reward of virtue and valour. through all these dange - - rous campaigns, the love for his native country was the re lief which his mind enjoyed when breathing from the perils and dangers of conflict. He carried' the map of his estate, in his native country of Scotland, ever about him, not laying out plans of improvement for the !;elfeshriessof gain. Noblefinno. tires, worthy of every imitation, were , the prompters to bear the plan of hit patrimony about aitn, to 4 t 3u itivate the lands, to mark out the scites of cottages for his peasants , and lining out parts ft* improvement, on veAch they mild beprofitably employed. He mixed the love for his cotters with that undaunted spirit which was drawing the sword to conquer lu the battles of his country. ( Hear, hear ! ) Such are the thanghns from Which British valour springs, that goodness au olith prompt men to cherish their bour and enterprize,,that affectionate son and a tender turn themselves into the sop and make him lift his sword country. therm, hear ! ) heart which prompted me alone he had to mention, and act of the late Commander ham th t rank which be now but =press his approbation best one who ever existed. General Gelham did not lifted thrOugh several gradation 4 confessed his worth, and Mt themsel. , pi u b t. . coming forth of Graham in the mform 'of a General. ( b ear, hear ! ) When he ebnaidered the disCipline and t h e v .our of the troops---when he looked on tbeedmirable choice of Officer* men of genius a d of humanity—and when he looked on th gallant exploits such a cembinetion had performed, bow couid he retrain from saying sonic , omit n,of that glory must bee long to the late Commander in Chief. (Hear, hear ! ) He was couvineed that the Honourable Gentleman at the head of the Executive Government will be pleased to be advised by by the recomnic dations of those cffcers in the manly and eh. quent letter of Gei trot Graham, and pay much deference to the opinion of such an Chfict-r. No reward personal could gratify General Graham equal to the pleasure of seeing hi% recommen dations attended tb. What praise 1 %have bestowed I give it freely from any spin. (Hear, hear I) • goodness and wartutii of heart which ieir vassals, and to cheer them to la. swferness of felling which malts an„. ter fatlit:r. • These are the ;.arts which' soldier's . resolution, into valour' s ' fd hi vnthugiatun in thehattics of his Pardon the digression, it was my to the utterance. There is oft point aid then hehad done. Jr was the last r in ChieLto bestow on General Gra. Cow acts so valiant in. He could iv-t In of that Commander in Chief ~s the ( deur, hear I. 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