The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

69

LORD HssI.LAVD found himself under the painful necessity of
dissenting from the opinion expressed by the Noble Lord who
had just sat down. Ile was influenced on this occasion by no
reference to the policy or justice of the Expedition for which
the naval and military Commanders were wholly irresponsible ;
but exclusively by a dne regard to the principle which should
regulate the conduct of the House in best iv it:g it. Thanks. For
the individuals tow Loin the question applied be had all possible
respect ; nor did he doubt that, hail an opportunity otl.red it-
self, they N% (Mid have displa3cd all that gallantry and military
skill, which would have entitled them to the special approba-,
lion of the house ; but snch an occasion for displaying their ta-
lents had not occurred. The mere magnitude of a service had
not been considered a snflicient reason for such proceeding,.--
The taking of the comparatively insignificant post of Hastia,
had, on account of the resistance made and overcome, furni,hed
aju,t ground fur thanks to Lord Hood; while the acquisition
of the port and tjeet of Tonloo had been rassed over in silence.
The way to prevent such honours from being held too cheap,
was to imitate the policy of that State from Iv hose hi,tory more
was to he learnt than from that of any other nation which had
ever existed. The Romans, in the time of their Repnblic,
never granted a triumph without a rigid scrutiny into the merits
of the Commander who applied for it.
Lord Moira and Lord Auckland supported the Motion.
LORD Gnpr DE MoTicx repeated and enforced the various
observations of Lord Holland, and declared himself compelled,
though with unfeigned pain and reltictance, to give a negatile
to the motion.
The motion was then put and carried without a division, as
were also a motion to the same effect, with respect to the Ge-
nerals and subordinate Officers, serving under Lord Cathcart,
and a Vote of Approbation regarding the Non-Commissioned
Officers and Privates. •

Loyal 114irKEIntiny then moved a similar proceeding with
regard to Admiral Gambier and the Navy.
When Op motion for thankina. Sir Home Popham was read,
the Duke of Norfolk enquired whether there was a precedent
for that proceeding. He was answered by Lord Hawkesburv,
that Vice-Admiral Dommet who was Captain of the Fleet in
1801, was thanked by name. Upon this Lord Grey remarked,
that 'Vice-Admiral Dommet was actually at the time In posses-
sion of the rank of Admiral, besides being Captain of the Fleet.
Lord Haw kesbury, after a moment's consultation with Lord
Chatham, stated, that the case of Sir Roger Curtis, who was
Captain of the Fleet under Lord Howe, in the action of the Ist
of June, was exactly in point. After some further conversa-
tion on particular expressions in the motions, they were seve-
rally agreed to, and the Lord Chancellor was empowered to
communicate their purport to Lords Gambier and Cathcart in.
their places, and to the other Officers in the usual form.
LORD HOLLAND gave notice, that on Monday next he should
submit a motion, so framed as to obtain a copy of any acredited
information which might have reached Government, relative to
Bonaparte's explanation to Neutrals, of the Decree of N omit-
ber, Iso6. _

LORD GREY gave notice, that he should on the same day
move for a copy of Lord Granville Levisou Gower's answer to
Baron Bpdberg's ote of the 2Nth of June.—:adjourned.

FRIDAY, JAN. 09.

Loran ItitrtiFsist-nr, rose to rectify two omissions in the Re-
solutions of Tluinks passed the preceeding evening. From a
mistake of the _clerk who copied them, the name of Alajor-
General Thomas Grosvenor had been left out. His Lordship
farther stated, that at the conclusion of the Resolutions ref/wil-
ing the Navy, the customary fprms of desiring the Contains to
communicate the acknowledgment of that I louse to the Seamen
had been also omitted. Ws Lordship's motions, for rectifying
these inaccuracies, were then put and agreed toe—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF CO3

MON.

MONDAY, JAN._2lt

Viccorsr Sroppoan presented at the Bar his Majesty's An-
sw•er to the Addreis of the 1.1 ous e, thank in; them for their 103 ally
and attachment to his person and family.
Mn. JOLINSON, from the Commissioners of Ebquiry in Ire-
land, presented their Second Report, w hick was ordered to bs
laid on the table.

TUE flux. 111 n. TVFLiEsrrt- presented the Report of th •
Commissioners appointed last Sessions for the purpose of in-
quiring re-pectiug the I:NpiriN, Laws.

4,4

i

i
Lel it

!

a" L'

,
a.. 1

' a •_,4
, A.

•
N. •
di
,
,
•
.1