The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

against the city of Ludiana, from which our forces were
necessarily withdrawn at that time by other duties.
They did this not merely for the purpose of investing
or occupying the city, but also with a view to threaten
our communication and intercept the arrival of our
artillery, which was then advancing towards that
point with a reinforcement. In order to prevent
that most skilful movement Sir Harry Smith

was detached by Sir Hugh Gough, and Sir Henry
Hardinge, who reserved their forces for the purpose of
utterly defeating the formidable enemy that threatened
our communication with the rare, and by that means

transfer the seat of general war from the neighbourhood
of Ferozepore. It was intended that Sir Henry Smith,
before he attacked the forces under the command of
the Seikh leaders, not less than 24,000 strong, with 60
pieces of artillery, should attack the division at Loodiana—
and that desperate action was fought under the command
of Sir Henry Smith—the result of which was the com-
plete discomfiture of the enemy, the capture of all his
guns, the disorganisation of his whole army, and the
flight of that army, with the severest loss, across the
River Sutlej. These operations were described with so
much precision—(Hear, hear)—all these operations,
without exception (be they described by whom they
may), are described with such fulness and such beautiful
clearness, and the Housse must be so familiar with every
one of them, that I will not attempt to weaken the effect
by attempting the description over again. All that I
can say is, that the hand that held the pen wielded
it with the same success as it wielded the sword.
—(Hear, hear.) But the House and the country
know only of the successes of Sir Henry Smith ; and
I will now speak, with confidence that it will be to his
honour, of the interruptions and checks which he re-
ceived. There cannot be an uninterrupted success in
war ; and I like to see the man who recovers from tem-
porary disappointment, for it adds to his real glory.
It is unwise to conceal reverses for which he is not re-
sponsible, and I will endeavour to present to the House
the reverses which took place before that battle in which
he was so successful. In the accounts which we have
only recently received there is no account of the diffi-
culties and disappointments-encountered by him with
the same spirit with which he afterwards achieved the
victory. It is because those difficulties were so
encountered that he is so well entitled to our
thanks. On the 21st of January, and in the battle
which was fought on that day, Sir Henry Smith did
meet with that which some persons would consider a
reverse. He was encountered before be could effect a
junction with Colonel Wheeler and the fire regi-
ments which were at Loodiana ; and in the
absence of all; intelligence, he encountered the
enemy, and was exposed to a serious loss. Now
let me read to the House in what manner he extricatd
himself. In writing on the 21st, after having succeeded
in relieving Loodianah, he says that he had effected that
operation, but it was under circumstances not so favour-
able as those which he had before. In the letter of
Sir Hugh Gough he says that the enemy were
moving parallel to him to interrupt his advance. They
had a series of villages in their front, each of which was
capable of being formed into an entrenched position.
The enemy was moving on roads, and he was moving over
sands. He was in advance beyond the right flank of the
Europeans, with a numerous array of infantry and guns.
11e opened a furious cannonade of thirty-five guns of
very large calibre, and, as usual, they were right well
used. My object being to unite myself with the force
at Loodiana, which every moment I expected to appear
in sight, for it was nine o'clock. I moved parallel
to the enemy, resoived to attack the moment the
Loodiana force reached me, and I so pressed upon
him that the effect was considerable. He was prepared
to form a line upon this wing of the enemy, seven regi-
ments with their guns being at right angles with the
line I was about to attack with considerable force,
Now. we were under the impression, that whatever
position the enemy might obtain, it would not be a very
difficult matter to overpower them, but he says these
overwhelming numbers were of such superiority as to
their guns, I had no alternative but to throw back my
line on its right, forming a small line on the hypothe-
neuse of a right angle; that is to say, the two divisions
of the enemy's army formed two sides of a right-
angled triangle, Sir Henry Smith being placed between
them on the shorter line, I will make the matter more
clear by reading an extract from his dispatches.—(Hear,
hear.)—He says, " the enemy thus had me encompassed
with a powerful force, and I, therefore, gradually with-
drew my infantry and cavalry in the direction of Loo-
diana, in the mean time expecting to see the approach
of that force of the enemy, being one regiment of cavalry
and four regiments of infantry. That was the force at
Looodianah. They then made a vigorous attack. The
ground was very sandy, and therefore difficult to
move in. The enemy, he says, moved on me in
the neighbourhood of Loodianah, but my wing moved
with as much steadiness with the cannonade as if they
were on parade— (Cheers)—native as well as British.
(Loud cheers.) The movements of the cavalry were
under Brigadier Sturton.—(Cheers.) He said, "It
was the most perfect thing I ever ssw, and one
which I could not expect."—(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir
difficulties were such that it is plain that the successful
termination is to be attributed to the skill, valour, and
high character of this commander.—(Cheers.) It was
necessary that all his energies should be used, and he
has proved, by his use of those energies, how
faithfully he has served his country—nothing
could make him despond.—(Loud cheers.) Sir,
of the battle itself I will not speak. The victory
was complete. It is so well described by the Gallant
Commander that I will not go further into it. And, Sir,
what have been the services of that Gallant Officer ?
These events add a new lustre to his name.—(Cheers.)
He was at the capture of Monte Video. He
was at the capture—at the attack that was
made on Buenos Ayres. He served in the Penin-
sular war ; he was at the battle of Vimiera.
and at the battle of Corunna. He was at the action of
Cuidad Roderigo, and at Torres Vedras. He was at the
battle of Salamanca, and at the battle of Vittoria. He
was at the battle of the Pyrenees, the battle of Toulouse ;
he was at New Orleans' and at Waterloo.—(Cheers.)
Sir, what a series of gallant services—(cheers),
and how rejoiced I am to find that there should
be an opportunity through their signal services,
of bringing before the view of a grateful
country a long life of military exertions such as those.
After he had achieved that signal success, for which we
are about to give him our especial thanks—after he had
driven back the enemy across the river, he instantly re-
turned to join his commanding officer, Sir Hugh Gough.
He arrived on the Bth, two days before the signal
victory was gained under Sir Hugh Gough, and
Sir Henry Hardinge. For his services, for the victory
which he gained on the 28th, I propose that there should
be a distinct and separate vote, and that there should
be another vote for the other, not more glorious, perhaps,
but more important victory which he afterwards gained.
But, Sir, again I will not weaken the effect which the
recital of that victory, as detailed in the dispatch of the
gallant officer by whom they are written, by any
attempt to detail their contents. But I will say this of
the fellow-countrymen of the Generals of that gallant
army,—l will do them the justice to say, that they
are familiar with them.—(Cheers.) Sir, it is right at the
time to do justice to the bravery of the enemy with
whom we had to contend. After the successes gained
over them on Dec. 18 and 21, they had so far recovered
that undaunted courage which had distinguished
them as to come again into the field, and to expose them-
selves again to the force of the British army. Sir Henry
Hardinge, speaking of them says—" Such was the
bravery of the enemy, that they took the bridge which
they had formed, and in the middle of the river disdained to
seek for quarter." Sir, I will not enter into details of the
battles on the tenth. The House is aware that our gallant
army obtained a complete and signal victory over
the Seikhs whose loss was enormous—that after the ex-
hibition of great talents they were dhraivenhaecroßssri the
Sutlej in great numbers, and towtn
the
Sutlej,th
the battle was fought,
united pnitaacet
with the forces which bad so crossed, and marched
places
he
united
yc'resesrine
towards the capital of the Seikh territory. Sir, thus in
gsstantgtheatpoi
a period not exceeding. seven weeks, from the day
on which the incursion was made into onr
territory, the enemy have been signally defeated
in every action in which they encountered. In every
action the British were successful. In those engage-
ments not more than one-third of the forces were
Europeans, but the example they set was worthily fol-
lowed by the native troops.
(LIFT SPIAXING.)
'ad-

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.-It is said that the line-of-battle
ships in England and all steamers on the home station, that
are not specially employed, will be assembled together in
about a month as an experimental squadron.
A court-martial will be held to-morrows n board
othi3e
sine:
tory, 104, flag-ship of Rear. Admiral H)(
prehricennteixndsetueatmof4tohoips
fdeorcdkryuaerkde,etToiestrz the carpenter arker
of the
emais 1 ofoo
rpt,h
wCiotmh asnhdeeri
nows Smith, e 0 a
ordis
Teirieedßtaotttlhere
coal-
ing, &c. reedw eaiterertan
Mei cury tender, Master-Cornmander Scarlett, arrived
The
this morning from the Channel Islands with volunteers for
the navy.
The Netley arrived yesterday with supernumeraries from
Plymouth, and left immediately alter transferring them, on
her return.
The Bellerophon, 78, advanced ship, was undocked yester-
day, and hauled off to hsr former moorings, and the dock
vacated by her prepared for the reception of the Oriental
steatn ship.
The Palmyra transport, with convicts for Van Diamen's
Ladd, Under the charge of Dr. Geddes, which put in at Spit.
head about a fortnight since (the small-pox having broken
out on board), has received clean bills of health, and is under
Orders to sail to-morrow for her destination.
The Myrmidon steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander Jen-
kins into Falmouth, from this port to Cork, on Wednes-
day, with loss of boats; ?to.
A shocking accident occurred an Thursday on board the
Victory. A second-class boy, named Thomas 'Nash, aged 16,
whilst exercising aloft, missed his hold and fell from the rig-
giiig dti to the deck, b which he fractured his skull so dread-
fully, that he died in Hasler Hospital on Friday morning.
The Iris, 26, Captain ISlunday, sailed from Singapore for
Penang on the 10th of January.
Tliks Ilao,ard; 18, Commander Egerton, arrived at Hong-
Kong from New Zealand ott the 6th of January.
The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain MiDougall, arrived at
Singapore from Pulo Condore, on the 22d of January..
The Spiteful steam-sloop, Commander Maitland, arrived at
Moulmein, from Calcutta, on the 21st of January, and left on
the 23d on her return.
The Pilot, 16, Commander Jervis, arrived at Aden, from
Bombay, on the 18th ult.
The Vixen steam sloop, Commander Gifford, was at Shang-
hae on the Ist of January.
The Emerald, Master Commander Beach, sailed yesterday
afternoon for Plymouth with supernumeraries.
It is generally believed here that Captain Houston Stewart
(1817) will be appointed to succeed Captain Moubray (ap-
pointed to Greenwich) in the command of the Victory, or-
dinary guardship at this port. Captain Stew:Al- wAs mid-
shipman of the Imperi?use. and served in her boats at the
attack on Arcassan in 1807 ; at the destruction of the bat-
_ tcries, telegraphs, &c., on th southern coasts of France, and