The National Register. — London, England, 1814-03-27 00:00:00

Tin NATIONAL REGISTER. . ed abilities of the General who commanded that force. If the at tempt were made above Bayonne, the greatest difficulty presented itself, since it was necessary to pass several waters or springs, which were at that period of the year unfordable, and the same wet season had randered the road impassable by the artillery. If it were attempted to pass below Bayonne, the difficulty was fully as .1-eat ;it was necessary to construct a bridge of boats for 400 yar r. ds, and the crossing would be opposed by the army in the g r amsoo, who would throw into the way floats of timber Co. its obstruction. Upon the whole, the Marquis of Wellington determined to cross below Itavomie ; but whether he should cross above or halos, it was necessary to manceuvre to drive away the enemy on the right, which would have the additional advantage, if lie should not he able to cross below, of facilitating the crossing above. On the Si th there was an intermision of rain, and the army was oc cupied for four or five days in forcing the enemy's repeat from his positions, —a measure which was effected without any great loss ; Major Gen. Pringle, although wounded, his Lordship was happy to say, was in a fair way of recovery. The prepaiations being all com plete 25 vessels were fastened together by large cables of an extra ordinary size, each having two anchors, for the purpose of mooring right and left. But, as it had been apprehended, the French army from the garrison began precipitating timber into the river : two large masts were chained together, and every thing was ready, when the winds prevented the flotilla from sailing, and Lord Wellington was obliged to o back to his original post, leaving the passage under the chart, of Sir John Hope. He followed lip his movements, and the enemy seemed determined to give battle. Marshal Beres ford having found a fOrd, marched to the right of the enemy's posi tion : General Picton also created diversions : General Hill was still further up. The battle was commenced by Marshal Beres ford, who drove the enemy from the village of St. Buis, wh ich they re occupied, and from whiiit they were at last finally di iven. They still, however, kept the advantage of the ground ; and Sir Thomas Picton was. therefore directed by Lord Wellington to attack the left of the enemy, while another division attacked the cen tre. At length the enemy began to retrcat,but in such excellent order, that it was doubtfill whether theywould not have effected a regular re treat, if Sir R. Hill had not come down upon the right. They then retreated with all po'sible expedition, anti were put to a complete rout. The magnitude of the victory would he estimated by the fact of the enemy's 'lumbers were 40,0(x), our's being nearly the same : snob i victory could not be effected without considerable loss Among the list of our officers killed, however, his Lordship was happy to see there was none of very high rank ; among the wounded were two General officers, Major.6cn. Ross severely, and the other slightly. There was, however, another Central, whose wound that day, had it been attended with any serious consequence., would have clouded the joy of the victory. and rendered it, upon the orhole a doubtful good. The victory was followed up for three successive dap, and by the gaining possession of two magazines, for the preservation of which Soult had thought it expedient to risk the battle. After the Ist of March the rains set in again, and all the streams became no longer fordable, the bridges were destroyed, and the roads were again impassable. Sir John Hope crossed the Admir in a flotilla, below Bayonne, on 23d of February ; and as soon as lie had gained possession of the right of the Adour, a garrison detach ment of WOO men were drawn out to meet him, whom he threw into complete confusion. The flotilla met with the severest difficulties in crossing the Adorn., where there was always a surf; at length, 'however, the bridge was established, and they all passed. to the amazement of all the inhabitants, who flocked to see what they could not otherwise believe. Such was the situation et Soult, that be preferred to leave the road to Bordeaux open ; and a detach ment was sent to take possessioa of that city. Its occupation was of the utmost military importance : in a town of such extent many supplies could be afforded which would greatly minister to the necessities and comforts of .our army. Another great and marked military advantage (he should view its possession in no other light this day), was the much more commodious intercourse vhich it afforded us with this country. For the last three months our transports had met with the greatest dangers in their entrance into port; but they would now inert with a safe harbour. He hoped he had thus shewa that even in this state of the contest this action was accompanied with such circmustanecs as entitled it to the thanks of the house. (Hem) He said " in this state of the con test," for there Wik* a time when victory seemed to be a stranger to every standard but the French ; but after the brilliant career of Lord Wellington, and the gigantic tiliwts of our allies, we might afford to dispense writ votes of thanks for victories, which at a for mer period we should have been proud of courting to us by the en. aogragewent of such a vote of the house. Not that we might now to be less grateful for victory ; but that we ought to let our gratitude wait upon our judgement, and anxiously select only the fit 4.rst oc casions for displaying that emotion. He concluded will•. Moving " that the thanks of the house be given to Field Mi:rshal Arthur Marquis of Wriliugton, and the army nosier hiti command, for the commutate ability, experience, skill, and valour di played by them in the victory of Orthes, terminating in the signal defeat of the enemy, and leading to the occupation of Bordeaux." Larl Guct, in a short but animated speech, said, the motion had hiscntite and Ill Ont COttilid approbatkm. lie busted this would he the libt of a great series of splendid successes gained by the Noble Marquis, and that his immartil laurels would be formed into a :.;!o• rioo4 and unfailing clown of peace. As the Noble Lord had pro pet ly abstained from remarking on the occupation of Bordeaux in any other titan a military point of view, he also would refrain from now touching upon it ; be desired to be understood as gi% log no opinion at all on that subject at this time, but as lea ving .,, the mat ter to the responsibility of Ministers. The motions o ff ` thanks were then agreed to nem. dis. PRIDAY, MAPCIT f. 15. Mr. Irvin, from the Custom-llougc, presented annnal accounts of the imports and exports, which Were laid on the table. Atter se veral WiIIIC66C3 had been sworn, the House adjourned to Monday. iIIIMP HOUSE OF COMMON% MONDAY, MARCH 21. This being the first day of the of Parliament, after the recess, a number of private Bills passed through various stages. Mr. ARBUTHNOT brought up the Commissariat and Army Esti mates. Mr. WHITBREAD observed, that he hoped tl►e Reports of these Estimates would not be made until after the Easter recess. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUIR, stated that no political questions of great impo►taace could with propriety be introduced before the Easter adjonnunent. A supply was of course necessary to carry on the glorious achievements of our Allies, and it would be very proper to luive such as were necesbary. for their use in tke present state of public affairs. Lord Ossur.ToN, after a few preliminary observations, expressed a wish that our plenipotentiaries at Chatillon should be instructed iry the Prince Regent to include in any terms of peace to which tl►ey would agree, an amnesty to all the snbjccts of France, for all poli tical offences committed previ-us 19:a general peace. He moved an Address to the Prince Regent lot t this purpose. Mr. VAN'.ITTART objected to thisi . motion being brought for% ard without notice, and moved the previous question, which was carried. Mr. PONSONBY gave notice, that it was Lord Morpeth's intern. tion to make a motion after the Easter hOlida3s relative to tl►e speech delivered by the Speaker. on the'close of last Session, at the bar of the House of Lords.—Adjourned. TUESDAY, MARCH 22. Mr. COCITRANE Jolt NSTON r rose and stated, that he embrarel , the earliest opportunity of addressing himself to the House upon the subject of reports haVing been propagated in the public jour. nals relative to a late imposition practised upon the buyers of stock, and that the reports had gone so far as to cast such an c►linm on his I character, as demanded his solemn declaration to that I limonrable House, that he never was, directly or indirectly, connected or con ; cerned. The CHANCELLOR of the Excit mint gave notice of a motion of thanks on Thursday, to Marquis Wellington and his aim; .—Ad jourued. N EDNESD MARCH el 3. Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY presented a petition from +lie Shi t ) bnihlers of the Thames. complaining that the trade of ship-bnikling in the yards on that river had been nearly annihilated in consripience of the encouragement given to building ships in India.—Ordered to lie on the table. Sir SAMUEL Roartwr obtained leave to bring in two Bills. re moving the corruption of blood in the cases of persons convicted of treason and felony.—Adjourned. THURSDAY MARCH !N. THANKS TO THE MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER TOMS pursuant to the notice, to wove a vote of thanks to Use Marquis of Welliugtee • *. MARCH I