The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-02 00:00:00

LORDS' SUMMARY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on. the Woolsack al
Five o'clock.

After the presentation of several petitions and some desul-
tory conversation on the subject of the business of the House,
The Earl of RIPON rose to move—

" That the thanks of this House be given to the Right
Hon. Lieut -General Sir Henry Hardinge, Governor-General
of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the
Bath, for the energy and ability with which he
directed the military means at his disposal, to the re-
pelling of the unprovoked invasion by the Seikh army of
the dominions of the British Government, and of the pro-
tected States upon the left bank of the Sutlej ; and also for
the firmness and gallantry with which he directed the opera-
tions of that portion of the army under his immediate com-
mand, in the afternoon and night of December 21, 1845, and
on the morning of the 22d, upon which occasion the enemy's
defences were carried by storm, the greater part of their ar-
tillery captured, and their subsequent attempts to regain
what they had lost repeatedly defeated.
"That the thanks of this House be given to General Sir
Hugh Gough, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath,
Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the East Indies, for
the distinguished valour with which he led the ,several at-
tucks upon the enemy in the battles of the 13th, 21st, and
22d of December, 1845, displaying, in conjunction with the
Governor-General, a brilliant example to the troops of per-
severance and courage in critical circumstances, and of ir-
resistible ardour in the several attacks made upon the enemy.
That this House desires to tender its thanks to Major-
General Sir HARRY SMITH, Knight Commander of the Order
of the Bath, to Major-General Wsurxn RALEIGH GILIIERT,
and to Major-General Sir Jonx LirruEn, Knight Commander
of the Order of the Bath, and to the several officers under
their command, for the eminent services rendered by them
in the recent arduous and successful operations.
" That the thanks of this House be given to the non-com-
missioned officers and private soldiers (European an native),
for the perseverance and fortitude maintained by them at
Moadkee, on the 18th of December, 1845, and for the daring
valour with which they forced the enemy's intrenchments at
at Ferozeshah on the 21st and 22d of December, captured
most of his guns, and finally compelled the Seik army, of
greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own
frontier.
" That this resolution be signified to them by the com-
manders of the several corps.

The Noble Earl went at great length into the history of
the events which had taken place in the Punjaub, from the
death of Runjeet Singh up to the present time. It appeared
that in November last, the Governor-General had received
information that it was the intention of the Seikh
army to undertake an invasion of the British terri-
tories at several points simultaneously, and the
Governor- General had ordered the army to concentrate
at such a point as would enable them to move at once to-
wards any direction to meet an invading army, at the same
time Ferozepore and Loodiana were strengthened. Shortly
afterwards the Seikhs' plan of operations was aban-
doned, and they assembled in force at the Sutlez, and or-
ders were given for the British force to concentrate
at Umballa, and when the advance of the Seikhs took place,
effected a junction with the army under the Com-
mander-in-Chief and the Governor-General. The entrenched
camp was attacked, great slaughter took place; but a por-
tion of the camp was stormed and burned, and the army
at night-fall kept possession of what they had taken ;
an attack was made by the army during the night,
it was evident that Ferozepore, and not Loodiana, was
threatened, and the Loodiana and Umballa forces were
ordered to concentrate at Buseean, a point between Loodiana
and Ferozepore. The Seikhs had in the mean time crossed
the Sutlej, a part of their force had entrenched themselves in
the neighbourhood of Ferozepore, and another portion
had pushed forward to meet the army advancing from
Busseen, and placed themselves between the advancing
British army and Ferozepore. The armies met at Moodker ;
the Siekks were defeated, retreated, and communications
were opened between the advancing army of Ferozepoor.
Sir J. LITTLE, with a portion of the garrison of Ferozepoor,
and repulsed. The attack was renewed in the morning ;
the enemy's entrenchments were swept. Our army was in
the rear of them, and the whole of the cannon mounted in
the entrenchments were taken. The enemy renewed the at-
tack, but were driven back, and retired to a village, four miles
in the rear, leaving their camp in our possession, and then
retired across the Sutlej to their own territory defeated and
disheartened. He believed that it would be acknowledged that
this was one of the most gallant actions ever performed and
that never had the spirit of the General or the courage of
the soldiers been more brilliantly displayed. With regard
to Sir H. HARDINGE he ordered the troops to lie down
during: the night,l and keep quiet and finding among
the troops four regiments who had been old comrades,
of his during the Peninsular, he passed the night with them
on the field. Four of his aides-de-camp were killed,
and four wounded, and he had only one aide- de-
camp left, a boy of sixteen, his own son, who
carried his orders from one part of the field to
another with the greatest courage and: presence of mind.
l,
He had with him another son, not in the military service,
who had been prevented from entering that service in conse-
quence of an accident which rendered amputation of the foot
that:son stuck by him during the battle, and it
was
only towards theof his
sncfluasthioenr thheat
leftin consequence
of of the field.
in that o
Our losses had been great, one of the most dis-
tinguishedMOODKEß, Sir R. SALEr any ,
other army had fallen at
ItuhheiornLouorreddshaipnsdwtooowldhnonoti
all felt gratitude, and he was sure ald
to testify the admi-
rationrt.o
lament,There was
refuse when they should be called
of the character of that Galcanont
another most gallant officer whose loss we had
the
ewnorthy of
naive of
J. APGAsKILL. It wa impossible to mention all worthy Sir
mention, but he could not avoid mentioning
one whose loss was irreparable, Major BROADFOOT
who had rendered immense services to his country, both in
his military and his diplomatic capacity. Then, as to results.
J mat k
e possession of
to a
from the Sutlej to the um , and
The object of the Seikhs was to inundate the
whole country
Delhi.