The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-09 00:00:00

MEDALS TO NAVAL OFFICERS.

The Karl of HARDWICKE ;se to move
That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her
Majesty to be gradessly pleased to direct, that the order of the
Aominity, dated the tit of June (directed to an persona serving on
board any ship of war imsseed with the army between the years
1793 and 1813, the septalla et whisk la* ash hare received a medal
far say action delft thee pea.he dleenea to all persons serving
cm board mg ship sr stirwith the es eel between the year,
Ills led 11149, the mei etalp shell have nesivesta mead ;
or when the fist, we dills dull hoe sented the three
desnt balm of or when the artist
then
Meshes a peer, or remind a step la thepwage, tar any
N
alit the sonny during that period.
It was not, he said, his intention to Lek their lordships to
ems to any decition on this motion, and he moved it only
pro formd, in order, he hoped, to elicit from the government
a declaration to the extent that the manner in which these
honours were to be bestowed was not finally decided on, and
that the question would be reconsidered on some future
occasion. The noble earl then proceeded to contend that it
would be most unjust to act upon the Admiralty order of Ist
of Jane, by showing that, out of all the general actions that
had been fought within the periods specified, there were
only seven in which medals had been given. Thus they
were about, for instance, to omit Copenhagen, and bestow
medals on account of comparatively trumpery actions. Only
seven medals had been awarded for between 60 and 70 gal-
lant and important frigate actions. The action at Algiers,
one of the most gallant and severe that had occurred, and
which had been undertaken for the purpose of releasing the
white slaves held in captivity by the Dey, had obtained for
those who were engaged in it not even a bit of ribbon from
the country which had spent 20,000,0001. to liberate the
black slaves of the West Indies. Those brave men who
were engaged in this and other equally important naval ac-
tions, could not but feel the injustice of the medal being
withheld from them, while those who had taken part in the
Chinese and other recent operatiow were decorated. Re
had no desire to make this a party question, and knowing
the desire of the noble lord at the head of the Admiralty to
do justice to all to the utmost of his power, and having been
enured that the subject should receive consideration, be
would withdraw his motion.

The Earl of AUCKLAND concurred in much that had
fallen from the noble earl, and joined with him in regretting
that many plant actions which had been fought, and which
had been followed by important results, did not come within
the rule under which decorations were awarded. It was his
intention to call for the reports of the several actions referred
to, and the circumstances, for the purpose of submitting
them to the consideration of the Admiralty. It was the
anxious desire of the government to reward fairly this im-
portant branch of the public service, and he promised the
noble lord that the subject should be fully considered.
Lord COLCHESTER said a few words in favour of the
claims of the officers who fought at Algiers.
The Duke of RICHMOND observed that the whole diffi-
culty bad arisen from the neglect of duty on the part of pre-
vious governments. In taking into account the claims of the
navy, those of the army should not be overlooked, and those
men who fought at Egypt were especially deserving if con-
sideration.

iafieriTfew words from the Earl of MALMEBIIVRT favour-
I able to these engaged in the battle et Copenhagen,
Earl GREY remarked that if medals were given for every
action, the value of them u • mark of special distinction
would be lost. He doubted, too, whether more inconvenience
would not result from disturbing decisions come to at the
time than by leaving things to remain u they were.
The Duke of RICHMOND mid the memorial which had
resulted in the order for the distribution of medals to the
Peninsular army, was signed, not by Peninsular officers only:
and for one, he would rather not have the medal at all if
those other officers who had distinguished themselves in
other parts of the world, were not to receive a similar dila-
Unction.

After a few words from the Earl of ELLIN/10110170K and
Lord STRAFTORD, the latter noble lord thanking the go-
vernment for the reconsideration of the subject, the =ton
was withdrawn.

Thu Marquis of LANSDOWNE then laid on the table
several commercial treaties relative to France, Prussia,
Smyrna , and Tahiti.
The house adjourned at half-put 7.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TausaD 8. AT, _ ULT
The &reeks' took the desk at 11 efeloedr.
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