The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-03 00:00:00

THE QUARANTINE LAWS.
Dr. BOWitING gave notice that he would mov e to•'
morrow for certain papers to show the absurdity of thole

Consolidated Fuud.
VOTES OF THANKS' TO THE INDIAN ARMY.
The Earl of RIPON then rose. He said—My Lords,
I flatter myself that you will pardon me if, in the
course which I am sheet to take this evening, 1
do that which is not altogether conformable to
the usual practices and proceed to submit a motion to you
of which I had not previously given notice. My Lords,
I am sure that you will believe that I could hare no de-
sire improperly to depart from those rules, and still less
can you believe that in the proposition of which I have
given no nutite thei• *as any notion on my part, or con-
ception en yours that the splendour br the achievements
which I am about to bring under your notice, can by
any possibility dim thou oeiginal brightness of that glo-
rious achievement to wich I had first referred. But I
do think, ttly Lords; that on an occasion like the present,
therein that intimate Connexion between these victories
—these successes themselves, and the honours which be•
long to them, which seems to render it et reasonable
and a proper course that they should both be considered
together, and that the very fact of your Lordships re-
cording your settee Of them on the same day would show,
not only to the people of India, het to the whole world,
what your feeling is of the power and resources of this
country, and how cordially you accord your thanks te
those who develop them, in whatever part of
the world they may be called on to act. I, there-
fore, did anticipate that if I took the course
I am now about to pursue I should receive your Lord-
ships' indulgence. I will, first, then advert to that part
of case for which the notice of motion had been given,
I mean to the battle of Aliwal, and I am very
sensible that it will not require any eloquence
on my part to inspire your Lordships with
those feelings which such a display of
skill and courage on the part of our armies is of itself
naturally calculated to excite. It is impossible that any
description I could give would be so clear, so precise, or
so intelligible as the description which has been
given by the conqueror himself —a specimen of com-
position which would do honour to the most literary
Member of your Lordship? House. I shall not
therefore trouble myself to enter into a very deep detail
of what has been already so eloquently described ; for,
to all that read that dispatch, it would be quite unneces-
sary ; but I will advert to some of the circumstances
which preceded that action, for the purpose of showing
the consummate skill by which the operations of
Sir Henry Smith have been conducted. Your
Lordships will recollect that when it became
necessary for our army to advance, the forces which we
had at Loodianah were required to be withdrawn to join
the combined force. The effect of this arrangement was
to expose Loodianah to the attacks of the enemy, but
the main object in bringing the army from Ferozeshah
and Loodianah was to increase the force in order to
strike the decided blow. No sooner did the enemy
cross the Sutlej after the battles of the 21st and 22d of
December, and it was deemed advisable to strengthen
the force at Loodianah to meet the enemy's
force, which were concentrating in that quarter.
Yet still the position of our army in Loodianah was
such as might cause extreme inconvenience to our troops,
by enabling the enemy to adopt such means as would
facilitate their attempts to cut off all communication
with our forces, and therefore it became actually neces-
sary to take every measure to guard the reinforce-
ment, then on the road to Sir 11. Smith,
from any surprise, and to preserve from di
vergence the heavy battering train which was
also in its progress, and which was absolutely necessary
to enable Sir H. Smith to carry on his future operations.
It was, therefore, resolved upon to concentrate our
forces at Loodianah, to carry out this project. Sir H.
Smith was appointed to accomplish this movement, and
by the 15th of January he had a very considerable force
assembled at that fort, and was perfectly prepared
against any sudden attack of the enemy. About
this time a report was received at head-
quarters to the effect that a very large force of the
enemy was assembling on the opposite side of Loodi-
anah, and that it was supposed he was about to intrench
himself at the spot situate in a turn of the river, caused
by a sudden divergence of the Sutlej. Now it was ne-
cessary to prevent this, and accordingly the 53d Regi-
ment was ordered to move forward in that direction.
In the meantime Sir Henry Smith's division
was ordered to attack a fort which lay on
the right flank of our army, and which was of consi-
derable importance to us as regards our position with
the 3utlej and Loodianah. His forces proceeded to at-
tack this fort, and it only required two or three shots
to be fired in order to induce the inhabitants to
surrender, and the result was, that a considerable
property in grain and other articles fell
t,~nrto Thom ,ne-sveti On
to Loodianah, and there they were joined by the 53d and
a considerable body of native troops, which were expected
on the 23d January. In the meantime the enemy con-
tinued to increase his forces' and, therefore, it became
necessary to increase Sir IT. Smith's forces also. In the
meantime the enemy moved forward to a ford that lay
half-way towards Loodianah. The road passed through
several villages, and placed the enemy exactly in the line
which Sir H. Smith's force would have to pa3s in their
way to Loodianah. W hen they arrived at the ford their
position was in a line parallel to that which the enemy
was taking. Many men might have been tempted
to avail themselves of such an opportunity of
attacking the enemy, but Sir Henry Smith
was too wise for that. Instead of doing so, he made a
deviation. He was not to be led away by the idea of
making a successful attack from the instructions he had
given him, and he accordingly took a circuitous route,
in order to effect a connexion with the force at Loodi-
anah. He deviated 'to the right of the enemy's po-
sition in order to accomplish that object. The
enemy had an excellent road for the progress
of his troops while the course of Sir Henry Smith was
through hardened sand. He moved onwards to his
and effected the junc-
destination not in the least dismayed, though he was
talmostion a t
Loodianah
withth
am
enemy,coparatively trifling loss of
men from the shots of the enemy, and the loss of some bag-
gage. This was nothing compared with the grand objeee
of concentrating the forces at Loodianah. Any of their
Lordships, by referring to the map, would see the im-
portance of that movement as a necessary prelude to the
events that were to follow. Arriving at Loodianah he
was joined by the force under Brigadier Wheeler,
who had but just come up. That officer, before
moving on to Loodianah, had been told that an action
had been fought on the 21st, in which the British troops
were entirely successful, and he was about to change
his operations, and stop in his course ; but hearing
arertseorlvweadrdtgo newstake a more
of
anentirelyopposite tendency, he
circuitous route in order to
avoid falling in with the enemy, and, in consequence,
effected the junction with Sir. H. Smith. Thisj unction ren-
dered it impossible for the enemy to retire over the river.
On the 26th Sir Henry Smith was joined by Major
Wheeler, and he proceeded to the attack with a strong
force, though considerably inferior to that of the
enemy, which had been reinforced by the flower of
their troops. His orders were to drive the enemy across
the Sutlej, and he did it, executing a series of beautiful
manoeuvres which ended in their utter discomfiture.—
(Hear, hear.) He could not enter into a detail of the
skilful manoeuvres in which his Gallant Friend had ar-
ranged the order of his march, and the provisions
which he made for every possibility of an attack
which could be made upon them, and the facility
which his dispositions gave him for making the
attack himself if required—they were beyond his
panegyric.—(Hear, hear). They were those which
gave proof of the presiding spirit of a great
master in the art of war.—(Hear, hear.) He manifested
the utmost coolness and self-possession throughout the
whole trying scene. When he came within a few yards
of the enemy's position he halted, for the purpose of
observing, with the eye of an experienced leader, what
was the keystone of it ; and he found it in the little
village of Aliwal ; and in forcing that position he out-
flanked the left wing and drove it back in confusion on
the right. This was what he calculated upon, and gal-
lantly did he effect it.—(Bear, hear.) The success
was most complete, the enemy were driven across the Sutlej.
There was no doubt, no wavering, no resolution, no hesitation.
They were attacked ; nothing could exceed the cool intrepidity
with which the troops proceeded to the execution of their
orders. They were most resolutely encountered—defeated and
driven across the river with the consciousness of regret at
having been engaged in such an ungracious cause. In this
splendid achievement the conduct of all the troops was exc
lent. In this conflict all were brave, determined, and success-
ful. It would be inviduous to make comparisons, for every
portion of the army vied with each other—the cavalry with the
toy
psehereafterhi navinformed
eveem troops o
ob
bo
ePes infantry—the natives with the Europeans ; and it is one of the
alludingu
troops
most gratifying:circumstances that the native troops, not only
upheld their old renown, but absolutely held equal ground with
ther
b European r
services were required. lam aware that your Lordships need
not
efn distinguished,l
theipn thatcied t p
iri
too nar tnidoin: buttshoef the n
field
valourspiritc cannot
for d
o i n
by
h e
whichp
thefu
thoset
r future
service
o f
to
the country, which their
lsercoutry.
Henry Smith's
r Lordships to it in the present instance, as it tells of the reliance which
m
t,witilhatrecßolrliegeat-
dier Cureton's Cavalry were disposed on the right
recollect,
according
flank • •
; it consisted of her Alajesty's 16th Lancers, the
sth Native Cavalry, and the Governor-General's Body Guard,
"It. was placed so as to make an efficient attack with the Ist
Native Cavalry in reserve, so as to render the attack as com-
plete as possible. The General in-Command, although the
obstacles appeared to be insurmountable, addressed the men in
these simple, but effective, weeds, " Now, my brave boys,
charge that camp, and carry it " They did make the charge,
and the first salute that they .met with was a volley of grape-
shot. They did charge—the throu h it—they returned
y went
and drove out the enemy, completely successful,
were.
although with severe loss and
to take.
He object they desired
He could not refrain from mentioning one instance of particu-
lar bravery to their Lordships. There was a young officer of
the name of Ellis, a son of a Rig ht Hon. Gentleman, who
was engaged in that attack. He had not joined his regiment
more than a few months—had seen no warfare—certainly no
service of anything like that. After cutting through the camp
in the attack, he turned round and saw himself accompanied
by only eight men, with a considerable body of the enemy before
him. What did he do? Without he-itation he immediately
charged the foe—the enemy unable to bear the force of his
charge, opened to allow him to pass through, but cut
down four of his eight men in the passage. But what

was the result? The enemy disheartened by such intrep7Lit,
had fled towards the river, and were entirely dispersed. I
know that this had nothing to do with the ultimate success of
the day, but I speak of it as an instance of the intrepidity by
which the whole army was actuated, and of that fiery spirit
with which the troops were impelled, and that thirst for glory
which will always carry them on to success. It is with that
view, therefore, that I have taken the liberty of adverting to
it ; and your Lordships will feel that when there prevailed
such a spirit of chivalry like that amongst tha young and in-
experienced, it must have been greatly increased on the part of
those whose mature years and knowledge of the science of
war was brought to bear !on resolute ;kind determined men.
The trophies of that day wet e all the cannon and the ammu-
nition that they had brought across the river, the stores of
every kind that were accumulated in their camp; and the waves
of the Sutlej carried down to the ford of Hurreeke
and to the tete de pont that the Seikh army had
erected, the bodies of those men who had at-
tempted to escape from the slaughter with which they
were threatened, and the discomfiture which was about to
overwhelm them. Not long after the fort of Philiour, a place
of considerable strength on the opposite side of the Sutlej, was
taken possession of. And now, my Lords, after these achieve-
ments, the time had arrived when the Governor-General and
the Commander-in-Chief felt that their task was to be per-
formed. They had received a reinforcement, which they con-
sidered absolutely necessary, of heavy artillery, from Loodi-
anah. Then, with a just reliance on the character of the
troops, and the skill of the officers acting under themselves,
they felt that the time had arrived for driving the enemy across
the Sutlej. Orders were immediately sent to Sir H. Smith
to return, with a portion of the troops under his command, to
the camp which he had recently left. I should be wasting
your Lordship? time if I were to describe the battle ; it was
described by those who had planned and won it. I should be
but conveying a poor idea of the glorious battle, which was to
us victorious, if I were to attempt a description, and I shall
leave it to your Lordships to judge of the skill with which it
was planned and the way in which it was carried out.
All, from the Commander-in-Chief to the humblest
soldier, deserve the thanks of your Lordships and the country.
But, my Lords, there were heavy losses. Men of renown have
fallen in this glorious victory, and we must, and cannot but,
lament the fall of these great men. I believe it is not ge-
nerally known, at least it was not generally known till the pub-
lication of Sir Hugh (tough's dispatch, that the Governor-
Geneeal Was suffering from the effects of an injury he had re-
ceived a few days before by a fall from his horse. Some days
before this action something occurred to him which he thought
required him to have a communication with the Commander-
in-Chief; he set out in the night, and rode a distance of 25
miles, to the Commander-in-Chief's head-quarters. It was on his
return thence that the accident occurred from the effects of which
he was suffering at the time of the battle. Though his ener-
gies were never broken down, his body was weakened, and
those who knew what fighting is, and what the feelings of a
general must be on sush an occasion, will well understand
what must have been the feelings of Sir H. Hardinge when he
was obliged to proceed to the field of battle in a carriage. But,
once upon the field, the carriage was not his post ; he mounted
his horse, although, my Lords, he was obliged to be lifted upon
it, and there he was, probably under bodily sufferings
of an acute kind, ready to take his share in the
service he might be called on to do, services so ho-
nourably recorded in the language of the Commander-in
Chief. Immediately the battle was over, Sir H. Hardinge
proceeded to superintend another part of theed plan.
in the With
two di.'isions of infantry and cannon, he mov over
night to Kussoof--a strong defensible position, had the enemy
been in a condition to defend it. But that they were not ;
their losses had so their army thati etfhet ye werecdeo-f
prived of all means of opposing tn. rem"
-erKusshoor, on the
the Commander-in-Chief and the army o.s '--t river
ether side of the Sutlej, sixteen miles between •
and Lahore. From Kussoor the last dispatch is dated, ann,
without doubt, the army has by this time reached Lahore,
without the smallest obstruction, or the appearance of an
enemy to oppose it. This, my Lords, closes the scene up
to the period of the last dispatch from the Governor-Ge-
neral. I forbear—it is my duty to do so—from saying
anything with respect to the terms that may be agreed
upon between the Governor-General and the Court of
Lahore ; that would involve considerations we are not
at present called on to discuss. I only call on your Lord-
ships to certify, which I am sure you till do unanimously,
he high esteem you entertain for those gallant men who
have fought so bravely in the service of their country.
You will feel how much your gratitude is due to the Governor-
General, burdened as he was with a weight of responsibility
which those who do not know of those matters may not
thoroughly appreciate. But I would show, by letters addressed
to officers in every department, the energy and activity of his
mind. There is nothing to be done for which he does not
provide ; there is no exigency which he does not contem-
plate. I could produce many letters which would show
the comprehensive views of his mind in providing for the
execution of those operations, which would be a parallel for
the correspondence of Napoleon, and of that .great and illustrious
man—(Cheers)—with whom he once served, and which, in
every line, exhibited that clear and distinct understanding which
is one of his characteristics. It was in that school, too, that Sir
H. Gough learned fighting He shared in the glories of the
Peninsular war—in a humbler sphere, indeed, for I am not
aware that he had then arrived at the rank of a general,—but
he showed himself a worthy pupil of the greatest master of
the art of war.—(Loud cheers.) It must, indeed, afford cause
for gratulation to that great man when he finds that those
who once acted under him in inferior capacities, and who
have drawn lessons from his precepts and example, come, in
after times, to serve their country in great and responsible
command', and, by fresh achievements of their own, add to
their claims on the admiration of their countrymen as
noble inheritors of the fame which he left them, but which,
thank God, he yet lives to enjoy.—(Loud cheers.) The
victories we now propose to commemorate have been achieved
in that same hemisphere where the Noble Duke's career
commenced, where he first displayed those great qualities
which will rank him among his countrymen—aye, and
among the enemies of this country—as one of the greatest
names that have adorned the annals of history.
—(Cheers.) I know that lam speaking in his presence, and
therefore I beg his pardon, for I know I should not do it, hut I
am sure you will concur in the feeling which has dictated those
expressions. My Lords, I will not further waste your time by
dwelling longer upon this subject, and shall now conclude by
reading the motion which I intend to submit for your Lord-
ships' approbation.—( Here the Soble Lord read the motion,
Lord AUCKL A grfAgni:”.l3l•2_ _ I.IIV I,l6lYulu
Lansdowne, to second the motion. He was sorry that his
Noble Friend, who was so much better able to do justice
to the motion than he (Lord Auckland) was, should be absent ;
still, though absent in body, he was present in mind. Had
he been here he would have supported the motion so well ad-
vanced by the Noble Earl opposite, in a much clearer and
more effective manner than he (Lord Auckland) did. As it
was, he seconded the motion of the Noble Earl in the absence
of his Noble Friend, He felt a deep interest in the subject,
but no expressions that he could employ, could do anything
like stating the feelings of admiration that he felt, in common
with the members of that House—an admiration which was
felt not only by their Lordships, but throughout the whole
country, respecting the wonderful success which had been
achieved by the army of India.—( Hear.) He could not place
it in a stronger and distincter light than the dispatches which
had been placed in the hands of their Lordships, anti in the
clear and eloquent speech which had been made by the Noble
Earl who had introduced the motion. From a few sentences
in the dispatch of Sir H. Smith, they would see the discipline
mad skill which were manifested—in the face of provocation
and danger—so as not to risk an attack till the proper time
had arrived. They saw there how much more orderly was the
held of battle than at the battle of Feronshur. Here there
was no advantage, but in the vast superiority of the enemy in
numbers; and the victory was gained by the determined bra-
very and skill of the gallant troops against an enemy, who
throughout did everthing they could to insure success.—
, (Cheers. ) He was proud of that victory, and glad that he
felt the satisfaction of knowing the gallant officer who had led
the war to success—(Cheers)—one towards whom he had al-
ways felt the greatest regard and respect, and who, to his
skill as a commander, had superadded the glory acquired from
many a victorious and hard fought field.—(Loud cheers. )
To the latter battle he would only refer in the language of his
Noble Friend, that it was a hardly contested battle, and he was
gratified that one who had already rendered his country so
many signal services, Sir H. Gough, was present there to add
one new laurel to the wreath which he had already won. He
would be glad to point out to the House one or two circum-
stances of minor importance. The force under Sir Henry
Smith was directed only by a European commander, captain,
and adjutant, every other officer in the corps was a native of
India. He would also allude to the Shakawatee corps, led by a
native, the son of an European father, who did not even hold
a commission in their army, yet who drilled a regiment
of cavalry and artiller, which took a chief part in
the action,—( Hear.) The Indian troops were arranged
alongside the European forces, and were described as contend-
ing with them for the front ranks.— ( Hear, bear.) They
had won a fair share in the profits of the victory. and they
were entitled to their full !need of praise. That corps con-
sisted of not more than 640, and they lost in the two battles
to which he had referred 140 men—yet at the end they
were forward in the onset. He would call the attention of
the House to one other point, on which he was anxious to make
one or two observations. He thought that after the battle of
Ferososhah, an opinion generally prevailed that the appoint-
ments of the Bengal Artillery were incomplete, and perhaps
his Lordship might be aware that various discussions had
taken place as to whether the calibre of their guns was not
too light; and, certainly, when opposed to the heavy artillery
of the Seikh army, placed in entrenchment, they were not in
their proper position, and success could not in every
case be depended upon.—(Hear.) He, however, thought
that the very lightness of that artillery was compensated for by
the celerity of their movements ; and if any Noble Lord would
take the trouble to refer to the dispatches of Sir H. Smith, he
would see that artillery was ever in the front, that they were
always in the pursuit, and that even they had followed the
enemy across the river after their defeat. Sir Henry Smith
said, with reference to this artillery, that the guns and gunners,
officers and men, might be equalled, but not excelled by any
artillery in the world. He would not further detain their
Lordships upon this subject, but he would, with their leave,
make one remark upon the great events which had occurred,
and to which their notice had been directed. Those events
might be summed up in a few words. An attack was made
upon their territory by an army better equipped, more nume-
rous, and, in his mind, better directed than any army wit
which the British army had to contend. The attack hadh taken
the British army in some degree by surprise, and
their preparations were not altogether in so advancederefe
astoartcef
as they could wish. Yet, in little more than the space
seven weeks, four fiercely contested battles had be nfought
four victories had been gained, the strength of this
army had been dispersed and annihilated ' • and where there
had been every appearance of danger, security had been sub-
stituted, and the British Government was now as firmly secured
as it had ever been. The Governor-General was in a condi-
tion to impose terms upon the enemy, but what those terms
were, they, in England, were not yet in possession of. For
himself he cordially expressed his thanks to the brave men who
had been engaged in those victories. These great successes
however could not have been accomplished without a heavy
loss; and, deeply as they lamented the circumstances under
which some of those battles had been fought, yet their conso-
lation was that the measures taken by the Governer-General
and the Commander-in-Chief were so prompt and energetic,
that success was at once secured ; they might otherwise have
been engaged in a protracted war. They might have had to
encounter, not the enemy alone, but the hot season, and the
rains of India, and then they might have suffered a more heavy
loss than had been occasioned by these successes.
The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose and said—My Lords,
I deeply lament the absence of the Noble Marquis who spoke
on the late discussion on a similar subject, who so eloquently
applauded the conduct of those engaged in India. I should
have been happy to hear him support my Noble Friend in the
motion to which he has called your attention. But, my Lords,
I am consoled for the absence of the Noble Marquis by the
statements so eloquently put forward by my Noble Friend on
the other side. My Lords, I rejoice that the vote of your
Lordships will be unanimous, thus corresponding with the uni-
versal feeling of satisfaction which prevails throughout the
country on this subject. At the same time, although I cannot
help alluding to these actions, I do not wish to enter particu-
larly into the details of the subject, but I do wish to remind
your Lordships generally of the cour.e of these events; and I
must, therefore, call the facts to your minds. In doing so, I
would wish to 'coal it to your Lordinips' recollections that
the Governor-General was particularly desirous to avoid giving
cause of offence to the Seikh Government. He was very
anions to pravent soy collision between that Go.

Ifernment and the Powers placed in authority by the
British Co'vettarnent on the frontier; and, in order to carry out
that design, and rerimee any cause of offence, he had increased
the strength of the barrier against any breach of the peace
against the British Government, on the north-western fron-
tier of these provinces. He was aware of the irregnlaiity of
their army, of the uneasiness which it gave to the Government,
and his anxiety was consequently increased to restore distieline
to its ranks. But he hoped, by giving no cause of collision,
that he should be enabled to prevent any collision between the
two powers ; to prevent, net only any hostility, bat by that
means to provide additional security to the north-western fron •
tier of our Indian possessions. With a view to that effect, he
had strengthened the out. posts of Ferozepore and Lo elianah—
he had also provided stores in the ten. of Umballah. Under
these circumstances the attack was made, on which my Noble
Friend has expressed an opinion, as well as on the first operation.
The second operation was that which my Noble Friend ha- just
detailed to you. It was necessary to keep up a communication
between Loodianah and Ferozepore. It was in con!eqtrence of
the attempt to cover these two points, that the action of the
22d took place, and the enemy were obliged to retreat on the
Sutlej. Dispositions were made to compel the enemy to cross
that river, to enable th-e Commander-in-Chief to carry on the
contest with a certainty of eventual success and honour. Ihe
troops were so stationed as to oblige the enemy to re-
treat, on bringing up the reserve from the rear in the middle
of January. In all his attempts, the Governor-General had
been completely successful, and the enemy had been compelled
to cross the Sutlej. It should be recollected that these places
are 250 miles distant from each other, and in the mean time
the enemy had made a diversion towards Loodianah, and had
burnt a catoon. Sir Henry Smith was sent with a
detachment to Loodianah, to drive the enemy from the posi-
tion which they had taken. I must beg your Lordships to
keep in mind that Sir Henry Smith had three objects in view.
One was to give security to the post of Loodianah, which
had been already reinforced by Brigadier Godby ; another
was to secure a communication with the rear of Loodianah, a
post of great importance, which now it was necessary, above
all things, to keep open in communication with Ferozepore
and Delhi in the rear. At Delhi the whole of the heavy siege
train was placed ; and, in order to bring it up, it was necessary
to pass, in the. course of the march, within twenty or thirty
miles of the enemy's camp, whilst the distance of Ferozepore
and the main body of the army was not less than fifty miles.
These were the objects to secure which Sir Henry Smith was
detached from the army. He immediately directed his atten-
tion to secure these objects—in the first instance to relieve
Brigadier Godby, who was stationed near that post before his
arrival. One of the main difficulties, ray Lords, in a warfare
of this nature—and I can speak from experience, having
served in that country—is the keeping open a communication
in these parts, and in the conveyance of artillery, arising from
the great number of light troops which attend upon the armies
of the enemy. Under these circumstances, and in order to
keep up the communication, Sir IL Smith was under the ne-
cessity of moving within reach of the entrenched camp formed
by the enemy, in order to preserve his communication with
the army. In doing so, he was attacked, and lost a small part
of his baggage. I mention this, my Lords, because this is the
only check, if check it can be called, which the troops have ex-
perienced. This loss of the baggage, of which so much has been
said, was, after all, insignificant, and utterly, in fact, unavoidable.
I will beg your Lordships to observe that not only had Sir H.
Smith continued his march, but he also assisted General
Wheeler. I have read the account of many a battle, but I
have never read an account of any affair in which so much
ability has been shown as in this battle. I have never read of
any battle in which so much ability to command has been
shown as in this glorious achievement by this great General.
It was one in which the nicest movements were carried out,
and the gallantry on the part of our officers and troops was
never surpassed.—(Cheers.) I have no hesitation in saying
that General Sir Henry Smith is an officer who is an honour to
the service and an acquisition to his country.—(Cheers.) I
',Deur with the Noble Earl who has preceded me, with
quite
Bengal Artillery. Many reports to their dis-
respect to to•
abroad, but I am sure the vulgar preju-
advantage have sou..- -'worts will not weigh with your
dice which dictates such
- et them on this
are Englishmen like
occasion—
Lordships.—(Herr, hear.) Loon _
it is the most effective in the world—they
ours-Ives, and they will always show themsete„: F.oghsh-
men in the service of their country. I wII refer ace more
to Sir Henry Smith. He fought a battle ~n the .9th, ars: he
returned on the 7th of the next month, and anather battle was
fought on the 10th. At that time the plan was formed to take
the enemy's entrenchments. Their position was not nn'y
strongly entrenched on one side, but on the left and right banks
of the Sutlej they were strongly, I mey say formidably, en-
trenched; so that when the left was carried, tins army was
exposed to attack from the right hands Every arrangement
was made to ensure the success of our plane. First the artil-
lery was brought to the ground and placed in such a position
as in some degree to get the better of the enemy's ',wrench-
talents. Under the protection of these guns the attack was
made, and the result was a gloriousvictory.—( Cheers.) It is
impossible to read these accounts without seeing the gallantry
of all our troops. But we must lament the fall of these brave
officers arid men, who have done honour to their enu,try.
Seeing, I say, my Lords, the gallantry, the energy. and the
activity of our officers and troops—seeing that they have, in
the short space of two months, passed this great river—a river
that is one of the most difficult in the world to pass—
and gained these great victories—l say, my Lords, that after
having done eo much in this short space of time, the army of
India deserves the thanks of this country ; and it is with such
feelings I molt cordially eessond the vote of thanks proposed by
the Noble Earl this evening.—( Cheers. )
Lord COLCHESTER said that there were others who
were beyond the honour intended by titer votes of the House
that night. 'There were officers who had fallen in that battle
who could not be included in those resolutions, but he hoped
they would not be neglected by their Lordships. He alluded
to Brigadiers Taylor and Dick. who had died in the service of
their country, and who, by their gallantry covered themselves
with glory.—(Cheers.) He hoped her Majesty's Ministers
would recommend that similar honour should be paid to these
brave officers.
Lord STRAFFORD, who spoke in so low a tone as not to
be heard distinctly, was understood to express. his gratification
on he sple n did achievements of the British troops in India,
and to fully concur in the honour about to be conferred by the
votes of that evening.
The Earl of RIPON, in answer to the Noble Lord (Col-
chester) said—her Majesty's Government would recommend
that all posthumous honour should be shown to the gallant
officers who had fallen.—( Cheers.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR then put both votes, and they
THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMtN
Viscount CANNING begged to move that a message be
sent from their Lordships' House to the Commons, to com-
municate the opinion of their Lordships' Committee on the
present condition of the new Houses of Parliament.—( Hear. )
IRISH RAILWAY BILLS.
Lord REDESDALE gave notice that he would, to-mor •
row, call the attention of the House to the reports submitted
by Committees on several Irish Railway Bills.
The House adjourned shortly after Seven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COT.IIIIOIVS, April 2.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Mr. GREENE moved that the Blackburn, Clitheroe,
and North Western Junction Railway Bill, the Black-
burn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway Bill, the Hudders•
field and Sheffield Junction Railway (Darfield Branch)
Bill, and the Kinross Junction Railway Bill, be read a
second time, according to the notice given at the Private
Bill-office, although the breviates of such Bills respec-
tively were, in consequence of the House not sitting on
Tuesday, not laid on the table of the House until Wed-
nesday the Ist of April.—Agreed to.
',MAXIMUM TOLLS.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSE I.` moved the re-
newal of the order of the 24th day of April, relative to
fixing the maximum rates of charges in all railway Bills.
The Noble Lord also moved ti at the following clause be
inserted in all railway Bills passing through this
House And be it further enacted, that tattling
herein contained shall be deemed or eon-trued to exempt
the railway by this or the said recited Acts, authorised
to be made from the provisions of any general Act re-
lating to such Bills, or of any general Act relatirg to
rrilways, which may hereafter pass during this or at.)
future session of Parliament, or from any future revision
and alteration under the authority of Parliament, o"
the maximum rates of fares and charges authorised
br
this Act."
The motions were severally agreed to.
Sir J. Y. BULLER moved that leave be given to the
Sub-Committee on petitions tor• Private Bills, in the case
of the Ipswich, and Bury St. Edruund's Railway (Eaten
sion to Ely, and a branch therefrom) petition f. r Bat
referred to the said Committee on the 6th day of Feb
ruary last, to proceed upon a copy of the petition, Bill.
and agent's declaration, the originals having been lost in
the House. The motion was agreed to.
SUNDERLAND DOCKS.
Mr. H. lIINDE postponed his motion on moving
amendments of the third reading of the Sunderland
Dock Bill.

laws.
Mr. HUDSON gave notice that be should move on
an early day, that a clause be inserted in all rail way
authorising the regNered shareholders at any
.pedal gen,n.al meeting, to be held within six moi tti•s
aftvr the•pAssinc of the Act, at which meeting thvet
Uths at least t:f the shareholders shall be present, t o
declare either nersonally or by proxy that the cot span y
t:hall be tii,oived, full cu,:npensation being paid to
landowners and others for any loss which they map sus-
rain by the operations of the company:. The Hon.
Member made several ineffectual attempts to speak upon
his motion, and at length sat down.
An lIONOULIABLE MEMBER presented a petition
from the inhabitants of Kelso against the Kelso- ligtuch
of the North British Railway Company.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Mr. MUNTZ gave noticeo;llis iiit.,ntion to mo- re fo.r
ri,turn of till friendly societies certified by Mr. Tidd
i2rait, particularly of that which called itself " Odd
Fellows ugh tor.)
IMPROVEMENTS IN WESTMINSTER.

Sir DE LACY EVANS, seeing the Ili.;ht .ion. G.e-i-
-tlematt the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his pia° e,
wished to inquire whether the sum of 10,0001. (t
.security tor the same) had been deposited in the haul s
of the Goverament, on or before the 31st day •of
January, 1846, the period required for this payment b y
the Commissioners named in an Act for the Improve •
ment of Westminster, which received the royal as: ten t
on the 31st day of July, 1845. If the question wit
answered in the negative (namely, that the said deF °sit
had not been so made), whether the Government iut end
to tako the improvements so much required in that 1 rata
of this city into their own direction ; or whether it c (lay
be now considered an open question, on which s ach
portion of the public ash may be anxious to promote tt teats
improvements, muy make propositions on the subject to
Government ?
Time CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER cc old
not give an answer with reference to the course of c on-
duct intended to be pursued by the Commissioners.
Sir DE LACY EVANS then moved for a retl xrn
showing the number of houses in each square, str ee t,
place, lane, or other locality of the parishes of Sail it
George's, St. James's, and Saint Martin's, in the city •of
Westminster, of the value of 101. and upwa,^ds, or .of
chambers of the same value, the owners of whicth hit ye
been excluded from the last registered list of votANrs fi 'r
the election of Members of Parliament in the said' Cit,
by reason of neglecting or omitting payment of I loot c-
rates or assessed taxes within the limited perio d sat
present required by the Parliamentary Reform A. me.—
Agreed to.