The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-05 00:00:00

•
guished men, he must say, in speaking of any o fthese men,
who had no doubt rendered service in their military capacity,
thri, he should sie;gest that nor se) of t'iase nie even
Sir Henry Smith who had rendered important services—not
even to him, should a reward be given which could not belong
to him. He trusted that the news which they had received
from India, through Lord Hardinge, was such as might lead to
an amicable settlement of our differences in that part of the
British dominions. With these remarks he heartily concurred
with the sentiment of the Noble Lord who preceded him.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that he rose with some feeling of tre-
pidation to perform a duty similar to that which the Noble
Lord ( Francis Egerton) had discharged. He feared that he
might be injuring the cause which he advocated, but he would
venture to introduce the name of a gallant officer whose ser-
vices had not yet been mentioned—sir Charles Napier.—
(Cheers. ) He had been fifty years in the army, and he had
recently added a new kingdom to our Indian dominions with
the least possible expenditure of blood and treasure.—( Hear,
hear.) He wished to make no invidious comparison ; what he
advanced proceeded from no feeling of jealousy, but it locked
like a slur upon his claims to pass over the services of the con-
queror of Sinde. The Noble Lord had spoken of the modera-
tion to be expected from the policy of Lord Hardinge ; he
(Mr. Roebuck) hoped that there would be no overdoing of
moderation, and that there would be an end of that double
species of government which was really the rule of the East
India Company, while it pretended to be that of the native
princes. In this instance the Seikhs had been the aggressors;
and if possession were taken of their territory, it ought to be
done in the open day and in the name of England.
Mr. HOGG said that if the present debate were to be pro-
longed, every Hononrable Member might suggest the names
of some officers distinguished for their military services and
valour. Even in the recent campaign of the Sutlej, he could
bring forward a list of names which every Member present
would admit was deserving of reward. The inconvenience of
such a course had been already stated with reference to the
allusion which had been made by the Right Hon. Baronet with
respect to the intention of the East India Company. He would
state shortly to the House what those resolutions were. But
before he did so, he was anxious, as Chairman of the East
India Company, that it should be known that there were no
suggestions or communications, directly or iu Erectly, between
the Government and the East India Company, on the subject
of the services of Viscount Hardinge and Lord Gough. It
was his pleasing duty, as Chairman of the East India Com-
pany, to make a proposition to his colleagues on the subject,
which was received by his brother directors in unanimity.
He thought the proper way to reward public men was by a
pension rather than by a grant of money. On Wednesday
last he proposed that a pension of 5,0001. a year should be
granted to the Viscount Hardinge during the period of his natural
life, and commencing from the time when the troops came
under the walls of Lahore, and a pension of 2,000/. a year
should be granted for life to Lord Gough, commencing at the
same time. These rewards were granted irrespective of the
honour of the peerage which had been conferred upon them.
He thought the Government should make some provision by
which they would be enabled to support their dignity in a be-
coming manner. When the subject was brought before the
two general meetings, according to the Act of Parliament,
he had not the slightest doubt, from his knowledge of the con-
stitution of that body, and their desire to reward public service,
that the proposal would be received with the same feeling of
unanimity. There was an Act of Parliament which prevented
the Governor-General receiving any pension other than his
salary ; that obstacle would, he hoped, be removed. It was
never intended to apply to such a case as the present. Lord
Hardinge was not desirous of entering upon hostilities, but
when they were forced upon him, he evinced the greatest dis-
crimination, and displayed energy almost unexampled in the
annals of the army, and the result was, the campaign proved
most successful. He hoped the Noble Lord would be able to
devote himself to developing the great resources of our Indian
Empire ; and Le trusted the Noble Lord had yet a long life
before him to enable him to improve the social condition and
happiness of the Indian Empire.
Sir C, NAPIER begged to assure the House that no man
more heartily rejoiced than himself at the honours and re-
wards which had been conferred upon Viscount Hardinge and
Lord Gough. He did not think that any man, be he soldier
or sailor, would grudge those gallant officers the rewards
which had been announced to be in store for them, and it was
a proud thing to think that, after a peace of thirty years, the
blood which ran in the veins of the British soldiers of the
Peninsula ran as warmly as ever it did. He mot agree with
the Noble Lord opposite (Lord F. Egerton) in thinking that a
sufficient reward had not been conferred upon that gallant
officer Sir Henry Smith. With but 12,000 men he defeated
an army greatly superior to him in force, in the most gallant
manner that ever such an exploit was performed. When one
read an account of Sir Henry Smith's action at Aliwal, and
the manoeuvres which he went through, in order to relieve
Loodianah, it was impossible not to feel impressed with a
sense of the very great value, which his services had been
to the country. He knew that it was a general feeling that
when an officer was detached in command of a force by the
Commander-in-Chief, the officer se detached was not en-
titled to a reward. It must be remembered, however, that
Nelson was not a Commander-in-Chief when he was de-
tached by Lord St. Vincent with a squadron, and fought the
battle of the Nile, for which he was rewarded with a peerage.
Ile was most unwilling to enter into any remarks upon
the observations made by the Honourable and Learned
Alember for Bath with respect to his (Sir C. Napier's) owe
relative, but he did not think that he should do his duty towards
his gallant relative if he did not say that, in his opinion, that
gallant officer had not received the reward to which he was en-.
titled. It was a most remarkable thing that scarcely had the
dispatches of Sir Henry Hardinge and Sir Hugh Gough ar-
rived in this country, announcing the result of the first battle
with the Seikhs, when the Right Hon. Baronet immediately
came down to the House and asked for a vote of thanks for
them. The Right Hon. Baronet did the same when the dis-
patches informing the Government of the second battle arrived,
and every gentleman knew with what enthusiasm those votes of
thanks were passed by the House. But when they looked back
to the manner in which his gallant relative was treated, they
would find that a very different line of conduct was pursued.
He did not receive a vote of thanks for one year after the news
of his victory arrived in this country, and he (Sir C. Napier)
remembered that when he spoke to the Right Hon. Baronet on
the subject, he was told that it would be better to wait until
his gallant relative had done something more. That brave
officer, with only 2,000 men, attacked 24,000 of the enemy, in
a strong position, and yet, in spite of the inferiority of his num-
bers, he obtained one of the most brilliant victories on record.
He afterwards, with 5,000 men, defewed 38,000 of the enemy;
and, nevertheless, he remained a twelvemonth without having
received the thanks of the House, and was afterwards only re-
warded by a red ribbon being put round his neck and shoulder.
Sir R. H. INGLIS would not follow the example of the
Honourable and Learned Member for bath in his deprecation
of the extension of our empire in India, and of the excursive
policy, as he was pleased to term it, but which another class
night term our aggressive policy; nor would he follow the ex-
ample of the Honourable and Gallant Officer who had just sat
down in his eulogy of his gallant relation, Sir Charles Napier;
neither would he fellow the example of his Noble Friend the
Member for South Lancashire (Lord F. Egerton) in introduc-
ing the name of Sir Henry Smith; but he would coincide with
his Noble Friend the member for London in stating that he
thought it was not seemly that this House should be super-
seded in its privileges in rewarding the distinguished services
of Lord Hardinge and of Lord Gough by the East India
company. He perfectly agreed with that Noble Lord that if
they were to reward these gallant officers they should do it be-
fore they ceased to live in this life, and not leave it until their
remuneration should be of no personal service to them. For
these reasons he perfectly concurred in the vote.
Mr. H UME had great satisfaction in assenting to the vote
which the Right Hon. Gentleman had proposed to the House.
Hon. Members were aware that he was very chary in giving
his assent to any vote of public merles', but for this vote there
Were
many weighty reasons. He believed the Court of Proprie-
tors would be unarimour in coming to the decision of giving an
ample remuneration to the two gallant officers. With regard
to Sir Charles'Napier, he thought the annexation of Sinde hai
been one of the most unfortunate circumstances of our Indian,
empire, and that its restoration, under our present successful
circumstances, would be a graceful and a politic act. ( /en.
-
He was very much satisfied with the East India Co
their distribution of rewards, as they had allowed them pParnyiva inte
soldier, equally with the commissioned officer, to shareinthe
rewards due to their merit and gallantry.
Mr. MONTAGUE GORE thought there were some ec
Year circumstances which enhanced the merit of ViscountPn-
;Hardinge and Lord Gough. He meant to allude to the exten-
sive means which the occupation of the Sinde country, by the
British Government, would open up the way to the introduc-
tion of Christianity—of a Christian policy and a Christian sway.
These advantages, at no future day, would, he trusted, be
spread saver the whole continent of India. The spread of edu-
cation, the cultivation of the arts of peace, the increase of com-
merce, in tbese conquered regions, would result to the glory of
England.
Captain LA YARD thought there was no private soldier
who would not he glad that her Majesty had conferred high
favours on Viscount Hardinge and Lord Gough. He thought,
however, thai the gallant warriors who had fought at Albirera
should receive some token for their valour. The East Irti;
Company ought to be allowed to stand alone in their remun-
neration of them.
Mr. BAILEY spoke a few words in so low a tone as to be
inaudible in the gallery.
Sir DE LACY EVANS trusted he should not be deemed
presumptive in drawing attention to the services of ether offi-
cers who had served nobly in the field. He alluded to Sir
Henry Smith, whose services had not been particularly recog-
nised. He thought that it might not be exactly in accordance
with precedent, yet he trusted that their names would not be
excluded He was very glad of this opportunity of testifying
to the gallantry of the officers and men engaged in the recent
conflicts in India. The present grants met with his entire
approbation.
Sir JOHN HANMER rose for the purpose of expressing
his complete concurrence in the proceeding before the House.
lie was not at all aware of the circumstances of Viscount Han
dinge and Lord Gough, but he thougat it highly desirable
that they should be supplied with sufficient means to support
them with proper dignity in the rank to which they had been
raised, and to provide in a suitable manner for their families.
Mr. HOGG said that the Government had the power of
advancing private soldiers who had behaved in a gallant man •
her, through the different grades of lieutenant, captain, and
£0 on, in the army. It was their duty to be well versed in the
science of the army. Sir Henry Smith had been placed on the
staff at a large salary, as a reward for his services. There were
ample means of rewarding gallant officers in a legitimate way
'without having recourseEvAt; grants of sums of money.
Sir DE LACY
had been placed on the S admitted that Sir Henry Smith
staff,snitth with a salary of 5,000/. a-year.
The case of sir liens
y Smith
peculiar. He had achieved
a victory which an
Chief might be proud of.
He thought his case was one deservinger.in- of some extra reward.
Mr. WILLIAM antuld be extremelyot sorry to offer one single
objection to this g. He did n agree with the doctrine
that future generations should be taxed with the pensions of
these two Noble Lords. He objected to principle. He
thought the Noble Lords ought to be re:ewtailorildit'aed in their own
third
persons. In no case had pension-
s forr to the thryd service been
generation.
granted to the amount of ayea
grill brilliant
thn these
did not think the services of Lord Hardi
as they were, greater than those of Lord Nelson,nr Lord
Aber-
crombie, and Lord Duncan ; and yet the descendants of
Noble Lords had only 2,000/. a•-year. He was averse to
when there were other means of reward. In the case
of Sir H. Smith, for instance, lie had been rewarded bey a"
a
regiment, ass two had lately become vacant. There were
others who .achieved great services in India. Look at General
Nott. He bad returned from Indie, after performing the
greatest deeds. The East India Company granted him a pen-
sion of 1,000/. a year ; but he only lived a few months to en-
joy it, and he (Mr. Williams) had been given to understand,
that the family of that gallant officer had been left in straight-
ened circumstances. Now, he hoped that the Chairman of the
East India Company would take this case into his considera-
tion. Services such as those of General Nott, ought not to
have been rewarded so niggardly as they had been by the East
India Company.
Mr. HOGG said, that General Nott had been appointed to
I'n office second only to a seat in the council, and he would
have been appointed to a seat in the council had he lived.
General Pollock had survived, and he had been appointed to
a seat in the council, which was worth 10,0001. a year. General_
leave
had not left the service when pensioned. He was only on
and' o
t absence. He died before he could return to India,
twoimmediately afterwards a pension was conferred on his
daughters, and a pension was also given to the widow, in
addition to the former one. The East India Company had al:o
Pensioned a grandson of General Nott. He (Mr. Hays) there-
fore thou ght that it would have been well if the Hon. Gentle.
140 bad inquired into the circumstance of this case, before be