The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 24.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the
Woolsack at Five o'Clock.

The Duke of RICHMOND and the Earl of HARROWBY
presented several petitions for an alteration in the law
regulating beer-houses.
The Bi:hop of NORWICH presented a petition in
favour of the Prevention of Seduction Bill.

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND, BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
NEW SOUTH WALES LAND BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
SMOKE PROHIBITION BILL.
Lord REDESDALE moved the second reading o
thii Bill.

The Earl of CARLISLE would not oppose the motion.
The Bill was then read a second time.
HIGHWAYS BILL.

The Earl of ST. GERMANS introduced a Bill for
amending the law relating to highways; it was identical
with the Bill introduced last year by the Government.
He purposed, after the second reading, to propose that it
should be referred to a Select Committee.
Lord REDESDALE considered it desirable that the
subject should he considered by the House.
The motion was then agreed to.
NAVIGATION-LAWS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that the Bill
which had been brought up from the other House for the
amendment of the navigation-laws should be read a first
time, and would give notice that he should move the
second reading on Monday week, and that the Lords
should be summoned.
Lord STANLEY agreed that the second reading
should be taken on Monday week.
The motion was then agreed to.
THANKS TO THE ARMY IN INDIA.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that the
the4lcs of the House be presented to the Governor-
General of India, the Commander in-Chief in
India, and to the officers and troops in
India, for the services rendered to them.
If he should labour under any deficiency in bringing
forward this motion he was aware that he was speaking
in the presence of those who could make up for that
deficiency, who had reaped their laurels in those scenes.
He should briefly narrate the history of the events which
had led to the brilliant termination of the war. The
war had arisen from the act of treachery which had been
committed at Moultan. That city was the strongest
fortress in the East. That fortress Moolraj, a native
chief, ruled; he resigned the command. Two gentle
men, named Anderson and Agnew, had been sent to
take the command in censequence. In consequence of
the dissatisfaction of a number of persons who had been
guilty of nialversation, an insurrection broke out to rein-
state Moolraj, and the two gentlemen to which he had al-
luded were barbarously murdered, and horrible atrocities
were committed. Moolraj became possessed of the town of
Moultan and of the surrounding countryrwhich he imme-
diately occupied, so that in a very short time this insurrec-
tion extended through the whole of the frontier, and from
every point there sallied forth hordes of the most for-
midable character in arms against this country—
hordes of every sect, united by their hatred of the
attempts made by this country to put down
the arbitrary despotism of those lawless chiefs
who thought this an opportunity for seeking for re-
venge. No time was lost in preparing an army to put
down this insurrection. During the whole of the sum•
desperate
earnadt
e autumn
battle, o
ifn lastw h
ceha r
tthhee s eg
reevaetne
st st gvaavleo
ur ir s
,e
dtos
ciptine, and courage was displayed by the British army,
and also by the opposing parties. He would, how-
ever, pass by these events and come to those operations
for which he was sure their Lordships would unani-
mously vote their thanks. In the month of February
Lord Gough felt himself in a situation to attack the
united forces of the enemy, which brought into action
and concert the Seikhs and Affgbans, the two most war-
like and disciplined races in India. Against that united
army, consisting of 60,000 men and 59 pieces of can-
non, being the concentrated force of these Indian tribes,
the Governor-General of India had sent a well appointed
army of 29,000 men and 100 pieces of cannon. That
army attacked the enemy, and the result had been the
total destruction of that force which threatened, a few
months ago, the safety of India. The British army
were acting under difficulties imposed upon them
by rapid marches and great hardships; and
that portion which came from Bombay, under
General Dundas, had arrived by forced marches without
a halt at the scene of action, and immediately took a
part in the action, and the next day, under General
Gilbert, was engaged in the pursuit of the flying enemy.
Having stated to their Lordships the magnitude of the
services performed, and performed under circumstances
of the greatest difficulty, which had been attended,
he admitted, with great bloodshed, but with a result so II
glorious to the British arms, he would allude to the I
siege and taking of Moultan, which reflected such glory
on all concerned. Not less than 26,000 shells were
thrown into the place. He would therefore move that
their Lordships thanks be presented to Major-General
Whish, who commanded at the taking of that strong
fortress. The bodies of Anderson and Agnew were
honoured with a Christian burial, arid their remains wore
carried to their last resting place through the breach by
which the British troops had entered to storm the city.
Although they endeavoured to pay all the honour due
to those concerned, it was not in their power to do so. It
was impossible to contemplate the circumstances of Its-
diun warfare without admiring the gallantry and the
judgment exercised by the subalterns, who were fre-
quently called upon to exercise a discretion and judgment
which subalterns were not often called on to exercise.
One of the distinguished features of this campaign had
been the conduct of a young man engaged in it. No
sooner had the Chief of Moultan endeavoured to gain
possession of the country, than an officer—he alluded to
a name already familiar to their Lordships, Major
Edwardes—then Lieut. Edwardes, who only eight years
since received his appointment as a boy, and who had
been wounded as aid-de-camp to Lord Gough in the first
Puejaub war—Lieutenant Edwardes finding himself with
one native regiment, conceived the design of driving
Moolraj back to Moultan, and he effected it. He
raised a force of new levied—he was enabled to pay
them, be led them on, and, defeating Moolraj in two
battles, and seizing his guns with his own hands, he slroie
him back to his fortress—that was an example to be held
out to others.—(Cheers.) So were the examples of
Lieutenant Blake and Lieutenant Herbert—(Cheers)—
thesett oc k
toA
aaghaoi n
sfto
ar
smu
po
enrtihosr mfoariuielt.aineldt
wthaes fiourt
jruesstsiceof
efficers, and more especially to the service to which
they belonged—(Cheers)—that he felt it his duty
to call the attention of the House to their services.
He had no more to say, bat would conclude by moving
the thanks of the House to the Earl of Dalhousie, Lord
Gough, Generals Gilbert, Thackwell, and Whish, and
the other officers, commissioned and non-commissioned,
and soldiers who had taken part in the recent operations
in India, for the distinguished and eminent services they
had rendered to their country, more particularly on the
21st Feb., 1849, in the battle of Goojerat, and that the
the Lord Chancellor communicate the same to the
Governor-General of India, who be requested to come
municate the same to the respective officers and soldiers.
Lord STANLEY seconded the motion. He could
add eotbing to the eulogium which the Noble Marquis
had so justly bestowed on those officers ; nor
would he have any pretention to speak on the
subject in the presence of the highest mi-
litary authority (the Duke of Wellington), a few
words from whom would be valued more highly than
anything that could be said by any other authority,
or in the presence of his Noble Friend the Noble Earl
behind him, but because he wished it to seem
that no party-spirit was felt on such occasions, but that
all united to do honour to the gallant men who up-
hold the reputation and honour of this coun-
try abroad. The results of these successes were
likely to be of the most permanent character, and
those victories had, he believed, laid the founda-
tion of a permanent peace, which would be
not only for the welfare of this country, but
he believed also for the advantage of those whom
we had conquered. The foundation of our In-
dian army rested not only in the prestige of
our power, but of power exercised for the benefit
of those subjected to it. An officer had been recently
sent cut, to whom the eyes of all men had been turned
as the one most likely to ensure success, and he was
sure that that officer would feel gratified to find that
his old companions in arms had successfully
weathered the crisis without his assistance, had
shown that there was no cause for the
alarm that had been felt, and had achieved this
great victory. He was sure it would be a matter of re-
joicing to him to find that the Indian army had main-
tained its fame, and the Sinde Irregular Horse, the corps
he himself had formed, had so distinguished itself.
He could not refuse his tribute of admire-

tion at the manner in which that unrivalled
artillery had performed its duty, and had defeated those
who might be considered ay no mean enemy, and which
was distinguished by its prowess in that particular arena.
He was also rejoiced to find that our gallant
regiments had had an opportunity of showing that it
still was worthy its pristine fame, and nobly vin-
dicated itself from that temporary cloud which for a mo-
ment had lowered over it. He would move that, to toe
words of the motion, the words Nemine contradieente Be
add( d.—(Loud cheers.)

Elrl of GALLOWAY :!mt, while as British

LI Pe,

to the distinguished individuals who had exerted their
power at the Council Board, and perilled their lives in
the field in defence of British interests in India, it would
be worthy of a Christian Legislature not to pass by that
Almighty power who was the giver of all victory.
" Oh God 1 thy arm was there,
And not to us, but to thy arm alone,
Ascribe we all,"
was the language of one of the greatest sovereigns in
British history. These were the words, too, of one of
our greatest warriors, after one of his most celebrated
victories. As a Christian man, addressieg himself to a
Christian Legislature, he called upon their Lordships,
and particularly upon the Right Reverend Bench, to
second him in the appeal which he now made to the
Government to take these things into consideration, and
advise the Sovereign to appoint a day of general thanks-
giving for the mercies vouchsafed to this country, ac-
companied with a deep acknowledgment of the rational
unworthiness.
The Duke of WELLINGTON (who addressed their
Lordships with great energy and earnestness) said,—
My Lords, I shall not oppose the proposition of the
Noble Lord who has just addressed you; but I do not
think it exactly a subject for your Lordships' considera-
tion at the present moment. The Noble Lord, if he
thinks proper, may make such a proposition, and I think
the House will willingly take it into their consideration;
but that which is the object of the motion before your
Lordships this day is to take into consideration the
propriety of voting your thanks to the army which has
fought during the recent military operations in the Pun-
jaub. My Lords, I entirely concur in the observations
expressed by the Noble Marquis in making this motion,
and by my Noble Friend (Lord Stanley) in seconding
the motion made by the Noble Marquis. My Lords, it
has fallen to my lot to know, and to have to consider,
the great difficulties under which this war has been
conducted.—(Hear, hear.) And, ray Lords, I must say
that in no case have I seen stronger instances of good
conduct than in carrying on the operations of which it
is now proposed to your Lordships to pronounce your
approbation. My Lords, this war originated in the dis-
honour, perfidy, and faithlessness of the servants and
officers of the native Government of Lahore. The Go-
vernor-General being, under the articles of a treaty, the
guardian of the infant Maharaja of the Punjaub, was
bound by the treaty to control the acts of his Govern-
ment, and to give his assistance in carrying on its ope-
rations. My Lords, all the servants of the Government
betrayed their trust. As the Noble Lord has stated,
Dewan Moolraj, the Governor of Moultan and the
country under the subjection of that fortress, be-
trayed his trust, and refused to deliver the command
to the officers sent to relieve him, and murdered the
two gentlemen sent by the British Resident, in
order to superintend the delivery of the fortress to
the officers selected by the Maharaja, under the super-
intendence of the British Resident, to take the command.
This act of treachery and insubordination was followed
by the revolt of the whole country in the neighbourhood
of Moultan; and, my Lords, it was followed by degrees,
one after another, by the treacherous revolt and insur-
rection of all parts of that country, by the revolt of no
less than three other fortresses, all of which refused to
obey the orders of this Government, the troops being in
a state of mutiny and insurrection, all of which had to
be gut the better of at the same moment.--(Hear, hear.)
And all this, my Lords, occurred at a season in the year
during which it was utterly impossible to put in the field
any European troops. It was, indeed, scarcely possible
to keep the native troops in the field, but the European
officers and troops could not take the field at that season
of the year. But, my Lords, by the care and attention of
the Governor-General and the officers of the British
Government, and of the Commander-in-Chief and offi-
cers of the army, a body of men was by degrees col-
lected, and that force was attended and equipped by a
body of artillery, and sent to Moultan, which place had
been previously invested. Another force was sent to the
Punjaub, to aid and support the garrisoned places of
Lahore, and the other places in the Seikh territory under
the treaty. My Lords, the siege of Moultan could not
be commenced until the month of September, notwith-
standing that the original atrocities of the murder of the
two officers mentioned by the Noble Marquis occurred on
the 19th of April. But the ground was broken on the
7th September. On the 14th of September, after a good
deal of progress had been made in the siege, after a
gallant attack made in order to lodge the troops
in a certain portion of the town which it was
necessary for them to occupy in order to carry
on the siege with advantage, it was found necessary
to raise the siege and withdraw the army a certain
distance until reinforcements could be received, because
the Seikh army under the chief who has been since com-
bating with the East Indian troops, had revolted and
gone over to the enemy.—(Hear, hear.) It was the
14th of September when the siege was raised, but the
care of the Governor-General and the generals and
officers in command of the troops in different portions
of the country had provided measures for bringing troops
from all parts into the great undertaking of pacifying
the country under these circumstances. A force was
sent up from Bombay, and arrived at Moultan on the
26th of September. On the very next day the city 'of
Moultan was attacked by General Whish and the troops
nho had arrived under the command of General Dun -
das, and these Bombay troops carried some of the works
thatdefended the city, and took possession of parts of that
town. I mention these circumstances in order that
you may vote to General Dundas your thanks for
ch. capture of Moultan, and to the troops
under his command, who were brought into
that attack and to that seigc after such a march as it
is from the Indus to Moultan in the very worst
season of the year, acd who arrived in time to be put in
line, and make the attack on the following morning.—
(Cheers.) I mention these circumstances to the credit
of General Dundas.—(Hear, hear.) While this siege
was going on the Governor-General and the Commander-
in-Chief had formed a force to cover and protect the
country in tranquillity, which was generally in a state of
insurrection, and also to observe the movements of those
large bodies of troops which were collected on the fron-
tier, and prevent them from disturbing the operations of
the siege. The Commander-in-Chief, my Lord Gough,
put himself at the head of this covering army, and had to
fight those actions to which the Noble Marquis has ad.
verted, and which he did with uniform success in each
of them. But with regard to Moultan, when it is
recollected that this strong place was provided
with arms, and that without conditions it sur-
rendered on capitulation when the breaches were
opened and the storming parties were preparing to at-
tack those breaches, and that this place fell into the
hands of our army without loss, I think that it may be
set down that, on the whole, the service was effected
with smaller loss than could have been expected under
any circumstances. (Loud cheers.) My Lords,
after the siege of Moultan the army that had be-
sieged and taken it was put in march to form that part
of the army under the command of my Lord Gough,
which was covering the operations of the siege. It made
a forced march and joined Lord Gough's army at the
very moment at which the junction became of most im-
poi tance.— (Hear, hear.) It joined on the very day
previous to that oil which the battle was to be fought, as
it has been stated by the Noble Marquis, and on the very
following morning the troops were again in a state to be
able to take their station in line against the enemy—
(Cheers)—and to take their place in the battle which
was fought on the 21st of January. My Lords, I can-
not but think that General Whish and the officers of
that army are deserving of your Lordships' commenda-
tion for these services.—(Cheers.) My Lords, I have
already stated to you the course of the operations car-
ried on with a view to cover the siege and keep the
country in a state of tranquillity during that great
operation. Several actions were fought, and my
Noble Friend has adverted to a circumstance
which took place in one of these (the retreat
of the 14th Dragoons). My Lords, it is impos-
sible to describe to you the variety of circumstances
which may occasion mistake or disarrangement during
an engagement in the operations of any particular force
at any particular moment.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
An inquiry into these circumstances has been instituted
and I have seen the report of that inquiry. It happens
that these cavalry had to conduct their operations over a
country much broken by ravines and by rough jungles,
which rendered it impossible for the troops to move in
their usual and regular order. It happened that the
officer commanding the brigade of which this corps
formed a part was wounded in the head during the ad-
vance, and was obliged to quit the field. The officer
next in command being at a distance from the spot,
was not aware that his commanding officer was obliged
to withdraw from the field. Under these circumstances,
the word of command was given by some person not
authorised, and of whom no trace can be found; and some
confusion took place, which, from the crowd and the
circumstances of the moment, could not easily be removed.
But it was removed at last, and all were got in order,
and the corps successfully performed its duty, as I and
Noble Lords around me have seen them perform it on
other occasions.—(Hear, hear.) My Lords, those things
may happen to any troops; but we, whose fortune it has
been to see similar engagements in the field, feel what
must be felt by all your Lordships—that the character
of a corps must not be taken from them from scraps in
the newspapers, but the facts must be sought in the re-
port of the Commander-in-Chief and in the inquiry made
by the proper parties; an inquiry very different from
that made Aby the publishers of newspapers.—(Hear.)
The order was made, and no one needs be informed that
a movement in retreat is not a movement in advance ;
but your Lordships must be convinced, as I myself
am, that the movement in retreat was one of those acci-
dents which must happen occasionally, and that the
corps to which it happened were as worthy of confi-
dence then as they have been since, as they were
before, and as I hope they will always be.—(Cheers.)
I entirely concur in the approbation which the
Noble Marquis has expressed of the conduct of Major
Edwardes, and other officers, in the course of these
transactions. My Lords, these officers were employed
under the Resident at Lahore and his officers, in the
levying of certain inhabitants of the country, and certain
disbanded soldiers of the late Seikh army, in order to aid
in the defence of the Raja's government, and to prevent
the tranquillity of the country from being disturbed. I
am happy to say that these officers well performed that
duty, and they have immortalised themselves by their
conduct. It is impossible to speak too highly of Major
Edwardes and the other gentlemen who have been en-
gaged in these services.—(Hear, hear.) My Lords, I
also beg to draw your attention to that corps of Sinde
Horse raised under the superintendence of my Gallant
Friend who has been lately selected by the East India ,
Company to command the array in that country. These
corps had been raised not more than a few years, and yet
in this great battle, in a conflict with an enemy by no means
to be despised, they distinguished themselves highly.
My Lords, these are the circumstances under which the
officers are placed in that country. They are under the
neceshity of. training the natives to arms, to di-cipline
them in the European mode, contrary to the mann( rA,
the customs, and the practices of the natives, and they
do this in such a manner as to make them feel such con-