The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

THANKS TO LORD WELLINGTON.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (rising to move the
Thanks of the House to Lord Viscount Wellington, and the
British Army in Portugal) said, that it wal sometimes the mis-
fortune of persons in liii situation to have to submit matters un-
pleasant to themselves to propose, and as unpleasant for the
House to adopt. A state such as that in which this- coun-
try now stood, a state of war, frequently imposed upon
them Euch painful duties; yet there were instances, aris-
ing out of such circumstances, which happily placed an of-
ficiating individual in circumstances the ni,J4t desirable, it

not even enviable. Such were his circumstances at this

time. Whekn au opportunity was afiorded for extolling armies.
who had gloriously and successfully asserted the cause of their
country, who had, if that were before possible, augmented the
splendour of its martial reputation, and at the same time upheld
the cause of the civilized world against tyranny and devastation.
When such an opportunity as this occurred to an individual,
then was such ten individual happy in embracing it, and those to
whom he addressed himself were also happy in cohiciding with
it.—( neer, hear, hear o—Contemplating0—Contemplating the merits of the plan,
the success of its execution, and the glorious prospects whit hit
opened, not only to us but to the world, nothing of the kind had
exceeded the late campaign in Portugal.--(Hear, hear, hear !)
Looking too at the little lesson our side, at which the succetkes
of that campaign bad been procured, nothing superior to it- had
been presented to the view of Parliament.—ln other advantage*
of the kind, however beneficial, they had found but too much to
; even in the glorious actions of Talavera, and of Bar-.
rasa. it was impossible wholly to avoid reflecting on the cost of
lives by which those victories had been gained. Even on the
victory of Trafalgar, lie would ask whether there was not a
doubt in the public mind, a suspense of joy ; and whether, if it
had hen lilt to their choice, the greater part of the people of
this country would not rather telve forgone that victory, than
have aequil-ed it by the sacrifi.:e of M'e'son !--(1-fear,hcar,/teorti
Comparatively spcaking,how dear they now stood flow little to
ie,gret, while there was so much upon which to congratulate!
Their clultation must, he thought, be unfeigned, because
.nearly
unmixed with grief.—(Hear, hear, low !)—Without wishing to
enter into the merits of that policy which determined on the-
eanipaign, t.r gating into the detail of its cat chtion, who could.
forbear, 10i.. wing its result, admiring the moderation, the equa-
nimity, the fcebearance of its illuarious Commander, and that
sparing of the blood of hia brave troops ?--(H ca,,, hear, hear !)
All this was attributable solely to my Lord Wellington's fore-
sight, who contemplating the termination from the comoieucc.
meat, had, -frown the first, framed his plan; with a vi,:w to the
coming result. Difficulties, sulln:al to be insuperable, had been
by many honesc persons raised, at least in idea, against the cam-
peen waseh Lord Wellington had embarked since this was
'case, those who had l entertained fears as to his discomfituremult be the first to rejoice that their well meaning apprehensions
had proved unfounded, and would, doubtless, give an unani-
mous vote en this night --(Some laughs, and cries of hear !)-+

I.