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 military 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 the army had been assembled, (by not to intend the slightest disrespect towards Sir H. litirrard. 111
G seat in allicia, it must have been destroyed to all intents and All the military merit of this 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 other division of the Bei_ Wine, and bravery displayed on the 17th of An 411,1. 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 . -fl
. 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 powerful diversion in favour of the 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 design of attacking the'enemy, under 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.
. 7i
1
weak to maintain the exertions required for the celerity of the Lord CASTLEREAGH rose. Ile woul.l at this day venture '. .- .
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, after all this, an army The number of men alloWed by that measure to volunteer from .
.
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 embitrka-, '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
nt
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 of Corunna. lie allowed that the levy of NI ilitia, in older to supply 79,.
combined naval and military means never was witnessed. 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 for Volunteers into the line, pressed heavy on the country ; but it ..
the salvation of the oppressed world. The Noble Lord eon- shewed what the country was w hen caned on for exertion. Par- 1,
eluded with moving, that an humble Address be presented to 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
II '
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, Lordf 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 -
ot ,
...
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'.ls'l
success attending the embarkation of the troops was owing 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- ~Sir 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.
tulgva(l)fbnyptilatenintrmy 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