The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-24 00:00:00

desperate tattle, in which the greatesi valour, dis- •
cipline, 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 Affghans, 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
glorious to the British arms, he would allude to the
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, and their bodies were
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 their remains, it was not in their power to do so. It
was impossible to contemplate the circumstances of In-
dian warfare without admiring the gallantry and the
judgment exercised by the subalterns, who were fro
quedtly 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 Mooltan endeavoured to gain
possession of the country, that an officer, he. alluded to
a name already familiar to their Lordships, Major
Edwards.—(Cheers.) Lie ut. Edwards, who only 8 years
since received his appointment as a boy, and who had
been wounded as aid-de-camp to Lord Gough in the first
Punjaule. war; Lieutenant Edwards, finding himself with
one native regiment, conceived the design of driving
Moolraj back to Mooltan, and he effected it. Ho
raised a force of new levies—he was enabled to say
that he led the van, and, defeating Moolraj in two
battles, and seizing his gun with his own hands, he ilrove
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 Hubert—(Chaers)—
a ho for months maintained the fortress of Attock
against a superior force. It was in justice to these
officers sad more especially of the service to which
they belonged—(Cheers)—that he felt it his du'y
to call the attention of the House to their services.
He had no more to say but would conclude by moving
the thanks of this House to the Earl of Dalhousie, Lord
Gough, Generals Gilbert,' Thaekwell, and Whish, and
the other officers, commissiioned 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 com-
municate the same to the respective officers and soldiers
Lord STANLEY seconded the motion. He could
add nothing to the eulogium which the Noble Marquis
had so justly bestowed on those officers ; uor
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 unite 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-
dianou r p
oarmywe
r,
butrested
of notpo w
erexercised for the benefit
only
of those subjected to it. An officer had been recently
sent out, 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 companion 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-
juicing 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 admira-
tion at the manner , in which that unrivalled
artillery had performed its duty, and had defeated those
who might be cosisidered as no mean enemy, and which
was distinguished by its prowess in that par icular 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 for that temporary cloud which fur a mo-
ment had lowered over it. lie would move that, to the
words of the motion, the words Nemine contradieente be
added.—(Loud cheers.)
A NOBLE LOAD suggested the propriety of ordering
proposition at the proper
a day of general thanksgiving.
The Duke of WELLINGTON thought that if the
Noble
the
wouldm ak e
take such
into consideration, but the
it l
object for which the Lords were summoned that day
was to vote their thanks to the officers who had brought
finis, House o: e would
this war to such a glorious termication, and he entirely
concurred in all that had fallen from the Nobl© Marquis
n moving this vote of thanks.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]