The National Register.
London, England, 1812-12-06 00:00:00

TITF, NArtIONAL RECIsTER:

761

army ?—(Mear, • eir !)—To be told, that it they stood to the enemy
like feglistuocrt, - hey would achieve as peat a triumph, awl a:: treat
a triumph they die: achieve.—(Heat, hear !)--For, though front ea-
rents c rcurnstencti it was timnd iinpovible to follow up that vic-
icry, still it was a victory, than which, a prouder trim:lllh never
was obtaired by the forces of anY country.— (Hear, hear !) lii t h.q.
aCti n, that eistingnished Gene? .1 Niece liagratiun, whose loss we
hid since to deplore, with 30,00 men, repelled the t•: hole military
pewee of France directed in one point.— tilear, hear !)---1 lie prim idle
on which Bessie hat ected on the opening of the eaneetiv, eels that
whit It was recommended by the Marquis sat Wellington. lie had
said, if Russia adented that system she ‘N as silk. It was on that
principle that he had f emerly &feuded Pert ueal, so that Russia
rmght be supposed to have derived eqn.il benefit from his ci•uncils
And examples. One extrarrdinars and most important restilt was
seen precceeing from the battle of Salamanca, in the conquest it gave
feed Wellington over Spain herself ; for he. woul:t put it to the
House, with their knowledge of the pride of the Spaniards, their dis-
tinguished pride, th it honourable pride, and, in many instances, their
tr,efu I pride, fir he did not know but that their pride opposed a more
effectual bar to foreign conquest than almost any other nation could
oppose to it—he put it, then, .to the House, what must he the effect
of Lord Wellington's exploits on the Spanish mind, what the ascend-
ancy of character which he had gain. d,- when the tudted voice of the.
whole nation gave him the command of their whole military means
If a proof were wanting of the universality of this feeling in the Spa.
dish people ; if a proof were wanting that the honour was not cen-
ferred on hint merely by the majority of the Spanish Councils, the
Cortes, or tl!e Regency, te cy could bring it to a better test, that was
`furnished by the conduct of that unfortunate Officec, General BaHas-
tents, to whose neglect and disobedience of the orders he received,
the advance of the enemy was hi no small degree attributable. Whet,
however, was the result of this test ?-11 appeared in his case, that
so far from finding • ty support in the po etlation of the country, or
in the arms' whicit he commanded, which was warmly attached to
him, anti which he had efren lett to victory, he found no one to stand
by him. All the claim that he meant to prefer this night was this,
that the services of Lord Welling on. and the battle of Salamanca,
were not to he censidrred merely em important in themselves, but as
productive of great militars consequences in Spain, and great moral
consequences throughout Europe. Our credit and our hopes were-
never higher in Spaie thin at the present time; and if we couli not
rot now drive the enemy over the Pyrenees, it was evident the enemy
could riot conquer Spain, mei might be said to have little more hold
of the country than they would have, if, having been f rue-i to recross
the Pyreneee, they woe accumulating strength, and waiting an oppor-
tunity to return. He moved—
" That the Thanks of this House be given to General the Marquis
of Wellington, for the many and great services which he has rendered
to this Country, and to his Majesty's Allies, during the last cam.
paign, and more particularly for the glorious an i decisive Victory oh.
mined at .Salamanca by the Allied Army on the (22d of July last.
whereby. the French power was sensibly diminished, the beige -of
Cadiz raised, and the southern provinces of Spain delivered from the
hands of the enemy . "
Sir F. Bu ft neer assured the House that he would be one of the last
men in the world to deny a rectimpence to those who did honour to
their country, but he could not hear with patience the victory of Sala-
manca compared to that of Blenheim, and he expresatel Ida abhorrence
of the object for which he said such comparisons were made. '1 fiesta
motions of thanks, and these lofty phrases, which were never neces-
sary but to mislead and to misinform, had been, in the opinion of Sir
Francis, used upon the present occasion, as upto all others, to delude
the people with the fond story of successes that' had not been, and to
plunge the nation deeper into the horrors of war. It was then argued
by him, that the recent failure must have been the consequence either
of the incapability of the Commander, or the ill cenduct on the part
1111 of Ministers in not furnishing hi ii with the means. It was evident,
he said, that blame must lie at somebody's door, and he confessed
that he did not comprehend that Leiguage welch asserted that Mar-
quis Wellington was gloriously victoriou; over the many, and that
he was obliged to retire from them ; that Ministers had furnished Itiiii
with all supplies, aid that notwithstanding those advantages, 1.1
should have had time tables turned upon him. " These are to;
proofs," slid Sir Fre cis, " that the leen it weuld melt Lke butter "
He expressed his tin williugness to itissent from the geretal opieien
opou the subject of Salamanca, hut he tholeiht that it had been to.
troeuctel too eat IV. amt that an cuquiry into tee circumstances tit IliC
campaign wattle have been adviseele he fore they determioed to give
the f harks (tithe Herne. The Hon baronet concluded les speech by
•declaring his hearty disaeprobation sat the cause in which our maim
are empire el in the Peninsula.
The fest Reseluteo was then put and carried nern. con. as were
also the Votes to Sir S. Cettete and the other Getterei Offitera, mid
0 Ilieere of the Allied Army ; to rime Non-cernmissioned Officers and
Men ; and to the Po•tueuese Officers and Soloierb.
MAJOIMILNERAL LE MARCHANT.
1 ord CAsTLEtirAGH, moven an Address to tiie Prince Regent,
that his Ropsl Highness would order a Monument to he eta, ttd in-the
Cathedral of st Paul t - the Hi- in..ry of this g4liant Officer, who fell
on the InCatorable day diSalameece. The molten Gauped teen. 4,1711.