The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-29 00:00:00

JAN. 21. with complete success. In this awful and interesting state he haft but one wish remaining, a wish which every individual in the British Empire would he most eager and anxious to fulfil ; it sans, that the service he had performed might be acknow ledged, and marked with the approbation of his country. If he had not been able to accomplish all that was expected ; if he was not able to achieve the arduous task cif rescuing Spain from the Tyrant's grasp, the blame was not his---(ioud and incessant cry of hear, hear, from the Opposition). Whether the extent the difficulties to he surmounted, or the manner in which it was executed, were considered, his march into Spain would ever rank as one of the first displays of military skill and excellent • disposition. It was not for want of transports that he deter mined to march into Spain by land, but as best calculated for military effect. No doubt could possibly be entertained of the propriety of this step, for if the army had been assembled, (by sea) in Gallicia, it must have been destroyed to all intents and purposes, and rendered unfit for service, from the barrenness of the country and the want of every necessary resource. When the junction had been formed ith the other division of the Bri tisu force, Sir John Moore learned the fate of the allied armies with w hich it was intended he should have co-operated. He was now convinced that it was impossible for him to stand singly against • the imruense power of France, and relinquishing every idea of so fruitless and dangerous a resolution, he determined to run the risk of making a powerful diversion in favour of the Spanish force in the south, and taking the chalice of attack ing Soult. As far as the first part of this plan was concerned he was eminently successful. With regard to the latter part ; al though disappointed in his design of attacking the'enemy, under Soult, yet Providence gave him an opportunity of leaving to the army an example of the greatest military talents. At Cornana, he had at length the satisfaction of being able to meet and to defeat an enemy his superior in every respect but in bravery, discipline,, and determined resolution. When the movements of an army are so rapid as those of ours necessarily were, the retreating army are compelled to leave behind them all those who are too weak to maintain the exertions required for the celerity of the much, while the enemy on theother hand follows, with the most strong and athletic of his forces. It was thus not a trial of courage but of physical strength. If, after all this, an army could completely defeat, and embark in the presence of a superior force, which they had heat the day before ; if their embitrka-, tion was so complete, that net a single wounded man, not a single piece of artillery, or an article of the capture of which the enemy could boast, were left; it was impossible to deny, that such an atehievement ranked with- the most glorious that ever adorned the British name. A more splendid movement of combined naval and military means never was witnessed. I t justified Government of making use of these two strong arms for the salvation of the oppressed world. The Noble I.ocd con cluded with maving, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, that his Majesty should be graciously pleased to order a monument to be erected in gratitude to the memory of Lieute nant-General Sir John Moore, K. B. in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, who, after having spent an honourable and merito rious life in the service of his country, fell, deeply lamented, on the 16th of January, 1809, at Corunna, where he defeated a very superior French army, and established the glory of the British military character. The question was now put by the Speaker, and carried unani vanish . Lord CASTLEREAGH then moved the Thanks of the House to Lieut.-Generals Sir D. Baird, Hope, M‘tienzie, Frazer, Lord w . Bentmck, R. Paget, amid Major-Generals Beresford, Come, Manningham, Hill, Ward, Leigh, H. Fane, Disney, and Slade, hich was also carried unanimously. Thanks were then voted to the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers., and Soldiers, for their bravery and resolution displayed by them at the battle of Corunna. Lord CASTLERFAGH observed, that as a great part of the success attending the embarkation of the troops was owing to the exertions of the Navy, he hoped the House would agree with him in a vote of thanks to Admiral De Courcy and Sir S. Hood, with the Officers-and !ten under their command, which was ac cordingly agreed to. THANRS TO THR CONQUERORS OF TIMIERA. _ Lord CASTLEIIEACH said whatever difference of opi nion might exist as to the termination of the campaign in Portugal, it had added another laurel to the wreath won at Egypt and Maida ; and though the present might have fallen short of the result expected from it, yet in a military point of view it was extellaa to fame by none. '.Chi I RIP- The original motioa was put and carried, w+•ith a single dis. sensing voice of Lord Folk:gone. The Thanks of the House were then voted to Major Generals Spencer, Hill, Ferguson, to Brigadier-General• Ackland, Nt4btingale, Facie, and Bowes, anti to the other 01ticcas of the Army. The House came to a resolution, approviog of the steady dis• eipline and valour of the now.commi,sionetl tinkers aatt privates of the same army. = ~w executed, were considered, his march into Spain would ever 'of the House tti the splendid action perforined on the 17ib. The rank as one of the first displays of milit ar y skill and excellent enemy were driven from one of the strougest positions that a body e • disposition. It was not for want of transports that he deters of troops could occupy, and an earteat given Of what was after- • . 1. mined to march into Spain by land, but as best calculated for wards realized in the immortal battle of the 21st. lie wished to military elfeet. No doubt could possibly he entertained of the he perfectly understood, in the Motion he should have to submit, ' r , propriety of this step, for if th e arm y h a d b een assem b le d , (b y not to intend the sli g h t e s t dis res p ec t t owar ds Sir H. litirrard. 11 1 G seat in allicia, it must have b een d estroye d to a ll i n t ents an d All the military merit of thi s Campaign was Sir A. Wellesle:,'s. " purposes, and rendered unfit for service, from the barrenness of He concluded by moving a Vote of Thanks to Sir A. Welle4ley, . T. the country and the want of every necessary resource. When and jthe Officers land men under hisicominand, fur the skiff, disci- .• the junction had beet! formed o ith the o th er di v i s i on o f th e B e i_ Wine, and bravery displayed on the 17th of An 41 1 ,1. HI forcing tisti force, Sir John Moore learned the fate of the allied armies the French posts, and on the 21st, at the battle of V imiera. with which it Iva, intended he should have co-operated. He was . -f l . Jr. Wittanneau, after having expressed his unqualified ap- no w convinced that it was impossible for him to stand singly probation of the proness and gallantry of Sir A. 11 elicslev, ..il •.' against • the immense power of France, and relinquishing every nevertheless rose 14 move to insert in the motile', immediately 4 idea of so fruitless aud dangerous a resolution, he determined to before the name of Sir A. Wellesley, that of Sir H. Berrard. . : run the risk of making a p o we r ful di vers i on i n f avour o f t h e The CHANCELLOR of the .IXCHLIVILR objected decidedly to . Spanish force in the south, and taking the chaace of attack-. this amendment. il'e ins,; Soult. As far as the first part of this plan was concerned he The original motion was put and carried, with a single tliis . , was eminently successful. With regard to the latter part ; al- senting voice of Lord Foiltstoue. •i • .. though disappointed in his de s i g n o f attac ki ng t h e ' enemy , un d er The Thanks of the House were then voted to Major Generals .. Soult, yet Providence gave him an opportunity of leaving to the Spencer, Hill, Ferguson, to Brigadier-Generals Acaland, • army an example of the greatest military talents. At Comma, he ' Nightingale, Few, aud Bowes, and to the other ()dicers of the had at length the satisfaction of being able to meet and to defeat Army. an enemy his superior in every respect but in bravery, discipline,, The House came to a resolution, approving of the steady dise and determined resolution. When the movements of an army eipline and valour of the non-commissioned talkers amt privates are so rapid as those of ours necessarily were, the retreatiae of the same army. ~.-,-.. A army are compelled to leave behind them all those who are too esracase OF THE ARMY. . 7 i 1 weak to maintain the exerti o n s requ i re d f or th e ce l er ity o f th e L or d C ASTLEREAGH rose . Il e wou l.l at t hi s d a y ven t ure '. . - . much, while the enemy on the,other hand follows, with the most to say, that no Military measure had ever been o inueediately L . strong and athletic of his forces. It was thus not a trial of and effectually productive _o • the army, ns that adopted in 1807. . courage but of physical strength. If, af t er all this, an a rmy The number o f m e n a ll o Wed by that mea s ure to vo lu n t e er fr o m . . could completely defeat, aud embark in the presence of a superior the militia into the line, was 25,000, of which s hole number ;,, '. , . force, which they had heat the day before ; if their embi t rka-, 'there had been a deficiency of only 8 00300 men; the rest, con- ) tion was so complete, that net a single wounded man, not a isting of some of the best disciplined and most effective soldiers n t single piece of artillery, or an article of the capture of which in the service, had entered into the title, and to their steadiness the enemy could boast, were left ; it was impossible to deny, . aud valour the cotunry was, no doubt, in a great measure in- , that such an atehievement ranked with the most glorious that depted for the glory which] it had acquired at 'V indent aad 41 . 1,-.1 ever adorned the British name. A more splendid movement o f Corunna. lie allowed that the levy of NI ilitia, in older to supply 79,. combined naval and military means ne v er was witness e d. I t Ihe place of 28,000, who, by the frill of 1507, permitted the • , justified Government of making use of these two strong arms f or Volunteers into the line, pressed heavy on the country ; but it .. the salvation of the oppressed world. The Noble Lord eo n- shewed what the country was w hen caned on for exertion. Par- 1, eluded with moving, that an humble Address be presented t o his liament had demanded 43,000 militia men frma (treat Britain and l't Majesty, that his Majesty should be graciously pleased to order Ireland ;in six months after ; . :tat demand 41.50 joined their . a monument to he erected in gratitude to the memory of 'Acute- respective regiments. lie concluded, therefore, by moving nant-General Sir John Moore, K. B. in the Cathedral Church for leave to bring in a bill to allow a certatn part of the Militia of St. Paul's, who, after having spent an honourable and inerito. of Great Britain to volunteer into the re;ttier army. rious life in the service of his country, fell, deeply lamented, • Mr. Tire aEV said, he made .nine observations on the I on the 16th of January, 1809, at Corunna. where he defeated a present occasion, to guard himself from being supposed to • Very superior French army, and established the glory of the assent to the proposition that his Majesty's Alinisters had a I I ' British military character. claim on the country, to have a further force placed at their The question was now put by the Speaker, and carried unani- disposal, without having first accounted for the way in w hich sanisls. thev had employed that already entrusted to them. Lord CASTLEREAGH then moved the Thanks of the House to After several Members had spoken in opposition to the nice. Lieut.-Generals Sir D. Baird, Hope, M‘tienzie, Frazer, Lord f sure, and on theiptestion being put for lease to bring iu the bill, W. Bentutck, R. Paget, and Major-Generals Beresford, Come, a division took place. Nianninghttm. Hill, Ward, Leigh, H. note, Disney, and Slade, For the motion, 77—Against it, 20. , • aa The hill was then read a firs time, and ordered to be read a w hich was also carried unanimously. . H ~. Thanks were then voted to the Officers, Nun-commissioned second time oil Tuesday next.—Adjourned. Ogicers, and Soldiers, for their bravery and resolution displayed - o t , ... by them at the battle of Corunna. FRIDAY , JAN. 27 . e Lord CASYLERFAGH observed, that as a great part of the THANKS TO SIR A. WELLESLEY ' t i' . l s ' l success attending the embarkation of the troops was owin g to the The Speaker, addressing himself to that General, eommuni.. I ' ..• - • a s exertions of the Navy, he hoped the House would agree with cited to him the thanks of the House in nearly the following hits in a vote of thanks to Admiral De Courcy and Sir S. Hood, terms. '• :, ,' . with the Qffieere and :gen under their command, which was ac- ~ S ir Arthur Wellesley— -.1 After the events of the last year, it .._ •, cordingly agreed to. was impossible for this House, on its assembling, not to direct . , Its earliest attention to the splendid services performed in Por- Tli ANXS TO THR CONQUERORS OF TIMIERA. tu l g v a ( l )f b n y p t i l a te n i n trmy under your command ; and amidst that diva . - • 'Lord CAmenEactit said whatever difference or opt - i which exists on almost every topic, the voice 0 nion might exist as to ther termination of the campaign in '' the public, and of this House, has been unanimous in awar ..I Portugal, it, had added another laurel to the wreath won to your distinguished services the tribute of applause and ge.t.ti. . , . . ... .. at Egypt and Maida ; and though the present might have tude—(hear I hear ! )-.lt is your peculiar praise to have •:otig .. .. fallen short of the result expected from it, yet 1a a military mantled out only the iert:ces, but the hearts of the troop nae . , .. point of view it was safely to fame by 1200 e• '.Chi IMP" .:*:. . . i EsracAsc OF THE ARMY. Lord CASTLEREA Gil rose. Ile would at this day venture to say, that no Military measure had ever been so inneediately and effectually productive to the army, ns that adopted in 1807. The number of men allowed by that measure to volunteer from the militia into the line, was 25,000, of which w hole number there had been a deficiency of only 8 or9oo men ; the rest, con isting of some of the best disciplined and most effective soldiers in the service, had entered into the line, and to their steadiue.s and valour the coutory was, no doubt, io a great ineasnre io pted for the glory which it had acquired at 1' indent :tad Corunna. Ile allowed that the levy of ilitia, in oidcr to supply he ith..ee of 28,1)00, who, by the bill of 1807, permitted the Volunteers into the line, pressed heavy on the country ; but it shelved what the country was w hen caned on for exertion. Par liament had demanded .13,000 militia men from ( ireat Britain and Ireland ; in six months after ::mat demand 41.50 joined their respective regiments. lie concluded, therefore, by moving for leave to bring in a bill to allow a certain part of the Militia of Great Britain to volunteer into the regular army. Mr. TIEltNI•ly said, he made .nine observations on the present occasion, to guard himself from being supposed to assent to the proposition that his !',/:jesty's Alinisters had a claim on the country, to have a further force placed at their disposal, withottt having first accounted for the way in ‘c Irish they had employed that already entrusted to them. After several Members had spoke,' in opposition to the men sure, and on thetptestion being put for lea e to bring iu the hill, a division took place. For the motion, 77—Aptinst it, 20. The hill was then read a tirst time, and ordered to be read a second time oh Tuesday next.—Adjourned. FItIDAY, JAN. '27. THANKS TO SIR .4. WELLESLItY The Speaker, addressing himself to that General, communi cated to him the thanks of the House in nearly the following terms. " Sir Arthur Wellesley—After the events of the last year, it was impossible for this House, on its assembling, not to direct its earliest attention to the splendid services performed in Por. tugal by the army under your command ; and amidst that div:r sity of opinion w hich exists on almost every topic, the voice • the public, and of this House, has been unanimous in away to your distinguishedserviees the tribute of applause and ge.tti. tude—(hear! hear !)-.lt is your peculiar praise to have •:oog manded out only the iert"ces, but the hearts of the troop ilk THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 4 rierity flowed from our free constitution, which implanted in the minds of every subject that natural enthusiastic courage, which rendered the inexperienced superior to the most skilful of our eueuties.— hey proved, that meet where we would, under advantages or disadvantages, whether in infantry, iu ar tillery, as was :hewn at Vituiei or in cavalry, as the last campaign in Spain most decidedly evinced, the British r could maintain the same superiority over our foes. Ile did not `wish to enter into a particular and circumstantial detail of Ike cam paign in kortugal, but it would be unjust not to call the attentiou of the /louse to the splendid action performed on the 17ib. The enemy were driven from one of the strougcst positions that a bod y of troops could occupy, and ail eariwst given of what as after wards realized in the iriftnortal battle of the 21st. lle wished to he perfectly understood, in the Motion he should have to submit, not to intend the slightest disrespect towards Sir H. littrrard. All the military merit of this Campaign was Sir A. Wellesle:,'s• He concluded by moving a Vote of Thanks to Sir A. Wellesley, and jthe Olfieersiand men under hisleommand, fur the skiil, disci pline, and bravery displayed on the 17th of An,zust, in forcing the French posts, and on the 21st, at time battle of V imiera. Mr. SVHITUREAU, after having expresFed his unmodified ap probation of the prowess and gallantry of Sir A. 11 gale' lev, nevertheless rose to move to insert in the motion, onnottliateiy before the name of Sir A. Wellesley. that of Sir H. 13rirrard. The CitANCCLLOR of the kACkiLyilkAt objected decidedly to this amendment. " NM 4.A