The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-07 00:00:00

to the judicious arrangements of that Gallant Officer, '
Sir Alexander Burns, an agreement had been made with
the Emir of the neighbouring country, for the occupation,
by the British troops, of a strong fortress in his territory,
In the month of March, the three small divisions of the
army, only 21,000 strong in all,'had arrived at the walls
of Ghuznee, the fortress so celebrated in ancient and
modern history, and which would now be ren-
dered yet more famous by the gallant exploits of the
British troops.—(Hear, hear.) This citadel, which bad
resisted the efforts of warriors who had overrun India,
which had kept before it Nadir Shah for ten months,
had been taken by the British in two hours and-a-half.
—(Cheers.) It was impossible to withhold a tribute of
admiration from Sir John Kean, for the promptitude
with which he had decided on the mode of attack ; and
the troops, for the energy and courage with which they
had achieved the victory.—(Cheers.) Nor was it less
gratifying to reflect that the triumph had been gained
with a trifling loss.—(Hear, hear.) It was on the 7th
of August that the army reached Cabool. The
Right Honourable Gentleman said it was deserv-
ing of mention that the prudent measure bad been
adopted of leaving, garrisons in many of the interme-
diate places, such as Candahar (The Indian
names it was impossible for us to catch) —so
that, even in the defiles of Affghanistan, the army
would have a reserve. Now, to show that though the
army was small, yet that the care and skill required in
conducting it through such operations was very great, he
might mention that there were 27,000 camels, and 30,000
camp followers, who follow the army—an army which
had marched 1,000 or 1,300 miles.— (Hear, hear.)
In order to meet this, which the greatest military
authority in the world had called a " truly vast enter-
prise," Lord Auckland had augmented the army, in
twelve months, 40,000 men. There were threatening
demonstrations on the part of many neighbouring
emirs, and to be prepared for them, a complete army
of observation was required along the frontier.
He supposed that so far he had made out a claim for a
vote of thanks to be given to the Governor-General,
and presuming that to be the case, he thought it was
impossible there could be any difference of opinion as to
the merits of the brave soldiers and officers.--(Hear.)
After having read what had been said of their brave
countrymen by the great authority to whom be had just
alluded, it would be absurd and presumptuous in him to
say anything further ; at the same time he hoped the
House would not think it unnecessary for him to ob-
serve that the effect of this expedition was such as those
who were unacquainted with Indian affairs could scarcely
appreciate. The impression in Europe was great and
unexampled ; in India it had had the effect of at once
tranquillizing the whole of that great region, and had
altogether put a stop, at least for the present, to the in-
trigue of the restless court of the Prince, and prevented
any hostile demonstration from the present Sovereign of
Ava. Of course he did not wish to awaken the recol-
lections of Hon. Gentlemen to those famous scenes
which were connected with the most romantic of the
exploits of the most marvellous of ancient heroes. They
were doubtless acquainted with the Journal of Near-
chus, and must be familiar with those spots on which
now, for the first time since the days of Alexander the
Great, the standard of any civilised nation had been
seen. It was pleasing to turn from thc conflict of po-
litical parties to those subjects on which they could all
unite. It had been the proud distinction of the
country for many years to share with the Sovereign of
the nation in rewarding those who had deserved well of
it. None but a great—he should have said none but
a free country—could be honoured with this distinction,
and it was a great satisfaction, with respect at least to
those who had deserved well of their countryin India, that
the nation had not only been in general just but gene-
rous, and on this occasion it was peculiarly satisfactory to
find that the warmest praise had been uttered by those
who were politically opposed to the party to which he
belonged, and to which it might be said the Governor-
General of India also belonged. And perhaps the
House would forgive him if he concluded by reading
what appeared to him to be not only an eloquent, but
a true description of that " great military enterprise,"
from a work which was generally opposed to the party
to which he belonged on every point. he Right Hon.
Gentleman concluded by reading a highly eulogistic ex-
tract from (as we understood) the United Service
Journal, and having moved a vote of thanks in the
same words as that of the House of Lords, sat down
amidst loud choers.

Sir R. PEEL could not deny himself the satisfaction
of affirming the truth of the remark that had been made,
and that no difference of political opinion could induce
any party to withhold the expression of their satisfac-
tion at the success of the British arms, and their ad-
miration at the valour and perseverance of those by
whom these successes had been obtained. He consi-
dered it a subject of sincere gratification to the country
that, after an interval of peace of not less than 25
years, without the veterans engaged in those hostilities
which would make this country memorable for centuries
to come, in the absence of all practical experience in
the field, the soldiers of the present day had proved
themselves worthy of their predecessors, and that
twenty-one thousand of the military made this
country as distinguished as it was on the eve of
the battle of Waterloo.—(Cheers.) This was the
case not only as regarded personal valour,
but to the exhibition of patience, fortitude, and perse-
verance under difficuities, which were equally entitled
to the reward of the House. He felt it would be quite
presumptuous in him, an unprofessional man, to add
his tribute to those that had been expressed by infi-
nitely higher authority, but still no military man would
be displeased with the declaration of a civilian, that, so
far as he could judge, those engaged in military exploits
had nobly performed their duty—(Cheers)---and there-
fore, so far as he was concerned, he gave his most cor-
dial assent to the motion ; but in doing so he regretted
he should feel the necessity of saying he reserved
to himself the right of forming an opinion
upon the civil policy which had led to these
achievements. The Right Hon. Gentleman had him-
self justified the necessity of giving great consideration
to this subject. He (Sir R. Peel) must look to the
state of the finances, and to the probable consequences
of the engagements we had entered into for the support
of the Sovereign of that country ; and when they were
told of the immense number of camels that had been
employed in transporting baggage, and the force that
attended the operations, which was said to be not less
than 30,000 men, he must see the whole of their opera-
tions before he passed his opinion as to the advantage
derived. The Right Hon. Gentleman then adverted to
the introduction of the nameof the Governor-General into
the vote of thanks, and said in his opinion it was im-
proper to include the name of a civilian on such occa-
sions, which were not directly sanctioned by precedent
for although it had been done in the case of Lord
Wellesley, that nobleman held a military as well as a
civil commission ; and even then Mr. Fox had said that
it was a new principle to vote the approbation of the
House to any but those who had been engaged in the
military enterprise, and had gone so far as to say he
did not think Lord Wellesley would be very grateful
for the thanks the House had voted for his share in the
military operations. In the case of Lord Amherst,
also, although it had been strongly urged by his friends
that his name should bo included in the vote of thanks
respecting the Burmese war, and although he had
personally made all the preparations, Lord
Harrowby had distinctly declined to act on
the suggestion. He concluded by repeating that
so far as the military exploits were concerned, the
conduct of the troops had been such that the thanks of
Parliament and the country had never been better de-
served than they had been on this occasion by the army
in India.—(Cheers.)

Mr. MACAULAY could not refrain from express-
ing his pleasure at the unanimity which prevailed on
that occasion. Like the Right Hon. Baronet, he
should not enter into political topics which were
not raised by the motion of his Right Hon. Friend, nor
would he go over again that most interesting narrative
the House had listened to with so much pleasure. It
would be, as had been said, almost presumptuous to add
anything to the praise of the Conqueror of the Con-
queror of Marengo, of Massena, and of Soult, which
must ever be regarded as the highest tribute. With
regard to the observation that had been made
with reference to including the name of the
Governor-General. The vote of thanks of the Right
Hon. Baronet had omitted to refer to the case of Lord
Minto, to whom, after the reduction of Java, the
House had voted its thanks for the part he had taken
in superintending the matter. He thought, with the
Right Hon. Baronet, that it would be better for the
House to withhold its judgment on the political ques-
tion, but would express his firm conviction, that, on in-
quiry, this great event would be found to be highly
conducive to the prosperity of the finances, and of still
greaterimportance when they considered the effect it
would have upon the natives, who, from the lowest to
the highest class, were profoundly ignorant of the power
of the various European Governments, of which they
had no other knowledge than had been entertained by
their countrymen in the time of Sir John Mandeville.
Our power in India was sometimes over-rated, and .at
other times under-rated. Of late, however, it had been
thought that our power there might be shaken. When
he was in India he could say with confidence that
there was a restless feeling in the minds of our sub-
jectsthere to look forward to some great change, and to
some approaching revolution, and to think that our
power was not what it had been in ancient times. All
kinds of rumours were in circulation, and there was a
general disposition on the part of the natives to war,
and a general belief that great events were at hand.
Everywhere there vas a feeling in the public mind
which was likely to lead tc some great calamity. He
believed, however, that the great triumphs lately
i.ehieved by the valour of our troops had dispelled these
feelings with a rapidity never known in history, aa.l
ho believed that there never was a time when the
respect of the natives for European valour and Euro-
! peen skill, and when their confidence in our star and
j the fortune of our arms, were so strong as they were now.
He therefore believed that the Right Hon. Baronet
opposite, when he looked at these events, would see that
all the expenses incurred by the expedition, and by