The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-15 00:00:00

connected view. (Hear, hear.) It seems to me that the
main operations of the war may be divided generally into
four parts. The campaign which ended in- the. siege and
capture of Delhi was the first check given to the insurgent
power in the north-west. Secondly, we have that series
of operations which began with the first, and led to the final
relief of Lucknow, terminating with the assault and capture
of that city ; thirdly, we have that entirely separate and
distinct series of operations which was carried on under Sir
Hugh Rose in the centre of India, and ended in the com-
plete subjugation and tranquillisation of that part of the
country; and, lastly, we have before us that comparatively
bloodless—but bloodless only on account of the consummate
skill and judgment displayed—that comparatively bloodless
campaign which has ended in the entire reduction of, ude.
Now, having given this brief sketch, I shall proceed to
mention the names of those officers whose duty it was to
take a principal part in the operations of the war. The
name of Lord Clyde is one which half a century of military
service has rendered familiar alike to Asia and to Europe.
(Loud cheers.) Whether we look to- the remote period of
the peninsular campaign or the earlier service in India
itself, or tcethe operations in China twenty years ago, or to
that great Crimean contest in which, on the English side,
there was no braver or better officer than Sir Colin Camp-
bell, whether we look to the transactions of the last eighteen
months, we find everywhere the same high personal bearing,
the same cool and cautious policy, the same energy, the same
promptitude, and the same decision in the public service.
(Loud cheers.) Lord Clyde, as we know, left England liter-
ally at a day's notice to take part in the Indian war, and
the rapidity of decision which he then evinced was an ear-
nest of that which he displayed in every subsequent trans-
action. No soldier in our army can complain of his share
of fatigue or of exposure when he sees the. Commander-in-
Chief of India, nearly 70 years of age, sharing the fatigue,
more than sharing the exposure, bearing, in addition, the
undivided responsibility of that immense command, and
when, as happened only a few months ago, struck down by.
an accident which would have disabled many younger men,
refusingste be laid up, refusing to allow himself the neces-
sary time for rest and recovery, and continuing to follow
the march of his troops although obliged to be carried on a
litter. ' (Loud cheers.) Sir, everything I hear, everything
I.read, of the personal bearing of Lord Clyde identifies him
to my mind with that young Lieutenant Campbell who 40
years ago headed the storming party in the desperate and
unsuccessful attack upon San Sebastian. (Cheers.) How
cautious has been his military policy, how economical he
has been of his soldiers' lives in all his campaigns, I leave
the historian to relate. I cannot but remark, however, that
my mind has been struck with this fact, that among all the
criticisms which are necessarily passed upon military affairs
in which men take a great interest, I have never heard a
single mistake, a single error, of judgment, attributed to
Lord Clyde. The only adverse comment which I have heard
upon his military policy is that he has a tendency to exces-
sive caution, and that he prefers employing a large force
where a small one would suffice. That is a tendency which
may perhaps be justified even cn the score of military policy,
for we all know how many lives are spared by the general
having at his command an overwhelming force. But in
India such a tendency may be justified on special grounds._
Ina country where our power necessarily depends so much
upon the opinion which is entertained of it by the natives,
the moral effect of even a single reverse can hardly be cal-
culated, and certainlyit is not to be measured by the im-
mediate danger which may ensue. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I
believe I express the universal feeling when I say that the
appointment of Lord Clyde to the chief command of the
army in India is an honour to the Minister who selected
him for that post—(hear, hear)—and I would refer to the
career of that distinguisded officer, to point out that what-
ever may be the defects inherent in our system of military
or civil administration those defects do not prevent a man
of humble social position, if he have energy and, talent,
from rising, without interest or influence, to the most im-
portant command, or the highest position. (Loud cheers.)
Sir, the name which stands next upon my list, and which, if
such distinctions are not invidious, I may say yields in re-
nown only to that of Lord Clyde, is the name of Sir Hugh
Rose. (Cheers.) Sir Hugh Rose commanded the force
which was engaged in the campaign in Central India, the
services of which have been so fitly and clearly described
by himself that I think I cannot do better than read his own
statement. Sir Hugh Rose says—l am now quoting his
own words :—" The force marched 1,084 miles; .took up-
wards of 150 pieces of cannon; took one entrenched camp,
one fortified city, one partly entrenched town ; fought 16
successful actions, captured 26 forts, and never sustained a
check." (Cheers.) Sir, in that plain and unadorned—and
almost matter-of-fact---description of the results achieved,
there is an eloquenc3 which Englishmen kniSw how to ap-
preciate—the eloquence of simplicity and truth. (Cheers.)
English troops can 'do such things as are here described ;
but even English troops can only do such things if they
have confidence in the general under whom they serve—
(hear, hear)—if they know that their courage and discipline
will not be wasted, and that their lives will not be thrown
away by an error of judgment, by professional ignorance, or
by a hasty impulse of undisciplined courage. (Hear, hear.)
Sir, the campaign of Central India is in many respects one
of the most memorable campaigns of late years. It was a
campaign waged—as indeed most of those waged in India
have been—against great numerical odds; it was a campaign
carried on through the hottest and worst season of the
year, at a time when European troops have rarely been called
upon to keep the field ; and it was a campaign involving an
incessant and unintermitted series of marches and battles,
none of them, perhaps, in themselves of first-rate military
importance, but collectively, as I imagine, constituting a far
superior trial of the courage, the discipline, and the endur-
ance of the troops engaged than could have been afforded
by any single battle. (Cheers.) The quality of personal
courage is happily one for which no one thinks of praising
an English officer or an English soldier. But endurance is
a quality which varies in degree even in the English army;
and I think it impossible for any one to read without admi-
ration how Sir Hugh Rose, again and again struck down by
that terrible sun, again and again suffering from disease, al-
ways rallied, and was found ready to place himself again at
the head cf his troops whenever and wherever hispresence was
needed, conquering physical weakness and physical suffering
with the power which belongs to a determined man. (Cheers.)
Sir, the services of Sir James Outram require, I imagine, no
lengthened mention. (Loud cheers.) It is known how when
Sir James had penetrated to Lucknow in the campaign of
1857, he took command of the garrison, and kept it until
the place was relieved in November, how he afterwardsheld
the exposed and isolated post of Alumsagh—a post the po-
litical as well as military importance of which was extreme,
because our continued occupation of it showed to all India
that our temporary withdrawal from Lucknow was a with-
drawal effected merely for strategical reasons, and that it by
no means involved the ultimate abandonment of that city.
(Hear, hear.) Lord Clyde, in mentioning the name of Sir
James Outram, speaks of " the brilliant and thoroughly
complete manner in which he executed the duties entrusted
to him." General Roberts commanded at Rajpootanah.
Perhaps the most successful operation in which this officer
was engaged was the assault of Cotah, on the 13th of March,
by which a severe blow was struck at the enemy. But
General Roberts was engaged throughout these operations,
and gave most important and valuable assistance to Sir Hugh
Rose. General Whitlock also rendered similar assistance to
Sir Hugh Rose throughout the operations to which I am
referring. The name of Sir Archdale Wilson has been
rendered illustrious throughout this country by the opera-
tions which took place at the siege of Delhi. (Cheers.) I
do not now propose to revert to the operations of 1857. But
Sir Archdale Wilson was again employed in the succeeding
year. (Hear, hear.) He commanded the artillery at the
siege of Lucknow, and according to the testimony of Lord
Clyde—and I venture'
to quote it, because on a subject of this
kind professional eulogy naturally carries more weight than
that of a person who is unskilled in military affairs—he bore
a conspicuous part in the reduction of Lucknow. Lord
Clyde says :—" The merits of Sir Archdale Wilson are too
well known to gain anything but encomiuin from me ; but
I may be permitted to express my satisfaction at having
been able to avail myself of the assistance of this most dis-
tinguished officer. The effective fire of the artillery during
the long operations, which d epended so much on the manage-
ment of that arm, elicited general admiration." Sir Hope
Grant, whose name I next mention, has been perhaps
more constantly and more actively employed than almost
any other officer who has been engaged in the Indian war.
He has been mentioned in despatches, I believe, more fre-
quently than any other officer holding a similar command,
and a complete and detailed narrative of the various opera-
tions in which he has taken part would be in itself a his-
tory not very incomplete of the whole operations of the
war. (Hear, hear.) Sir Hope Grant commanded the ca-
valry brigade at the siege of Delhi, and he led the column
sent in pursuit of the rebels after the termination of that
siege ; he commanded a division at the relief of Lucknow
in November, 1857 ; he took part in the last battle of Cawn-
pore ; he also commanded a division at the capture of Luck-
now in March, 1858, and for his services on that occasion
he received the praise of the Commander-in-Chief; he was
again sent in pursuit of the rebels after the capture of
Lucknow, and rendered great service in the operations
which ensued, the principal one being the battle of Ranee-
gunge, where 16,000 natives were defeated by a much in-
ferior force. Speaking of his conduct at the battle of the
Gogra, Lord Clyde writes : "He gave effect to my instruc-
tions in his usual brilliant manner." In his last despatch,
dated the 7th of Feb., " During the last six months I have
been filled with admiration at the part taken by him during
this war. I cannot say too much in his praise. He has
the rare merit of uniting the greatest boldness in action
with a correct judgment and the most scrupulous regard
for his orders and instructions." I think the mention
made of this officer by the Commander-in-Chief sufficiently
justifies me in including his name in this vote of thanks.
Sir Wm. Mansfield has filled an office which is compara-
tively new, I believe, in the military system of this coun-
try. He has acted as chief of the staff in India ; he has
been, if I may use the phrase, the right- hand of the Com-
mander-in-Chief; and the relations between those two dis-
tinguished men afford an instance, happily not rare in the
profession of arms, of professional co-operation combined
with personal friendship. (Hear, and cheers.) Lord Clyde,
in his despatch of January, 1858, adverting to the opera-
tions at the relief of Lucknow, says :—" I cannot convey to
your lordship in adequate terms my deep sense of the obli-
gations I am under to Major-General Mansfield for the
very able and cordial assistance he has rendered me and the
service during these operations, and how admirably the
very many important duties belonging to his situation have
been performed." (Hear, hear.) In Deccmr, 1857, Sir
W. Mansfield commanded the division at awnpore, on
which occasion he was highly praised ; and in May, 1858,
referring to the capture of Lucknow, Lord Clyde writes :
" I have now the pleasing task of communicating to your
lordship the name of an office to whom, not only I as com-
manding officer but the service at large are under great
obligations—Major-General Mansfield, chief of the staff—
whose labours have been unceasing, whose abilities are of
the highest order, and have been of the greatest use to me
during this campaign. It is impossible for me to praise
this officer too highly, or to recommend him sufficiently to
the protection of your lordships and the Government."
Since that despatch was written, Sir Wm. Mansfield has
taken part in all the last operations of the campaign of Oude.
To what is said by Lord Clyde I will only add this, that all
who have the good fortune to know Sir W. Mansfield, and
all who have the slightest acquaintance with his career,
must be well aware that the estimate formed of him by
Lord Clyde is in no degree an exaggerated one. (Cheers.)
Sir Thomas Franks crossed the docsra in command of a
division at the captute of Lucknow. 'Lord Clyde writes re-
pecting him as follows .—" The division was admirably
commanded, but the most striking feat which 't-as per-
formed by it was that series of rapid and successful ma-
noeuvres which ended in the defeat of several bodies of in-
surents in three battles fought within four days." Sir
Edward Lnk,,ard—(cheers)—also commanded a division at
the capture vi Lucknow, and in May was at the head of a
force which captured a ige fort which was in the hands of
the insurgents. Lord Clyde speaks of the skill which Sir
Edwasd Luerd displayed, and expressed his admiration of
the manner iii which the troops bore privation and fatigue.
(Cheers.) Sir John, Michel commanded the Mhow Field
Force, and defeated the argay under Tantia Tepee, with a
loss to the rebels of 27 guns and a their camp and baggage-
(Hear.) Bince that time he has been employed, I venture
to say most signally and indefatigably employed in the very
arduous and very disagreeable, but very
necessary, duty of
pusa:aing the detached and tooter', forces of the insur-
gents. (heirs.) Brigadier Walpole received the praise of
the Commaneersin-Chief for his conduct at Cawnpore. Ho
commanded a division p,t Lucknow, :and Lord Clyde wrote of
llagi there) that bialivision, wasmirablr managed," ad

Since that time he has been in command of the force in Ito -
hilcund. That force has been signally successful. I think
the house will be of opinion that in the case of an officer who
has done good service, and who has steadily and faithfully
discharged his duty, the mere accident of a single reverse—a
reverse such as that which has repeatedly occurred to the
ablest generals, and such as the ablest generals have not
been ashamed to acknowledge—is no reason why he should
not share in the thanks of this house. (Cheers.) I will now
comment on, with a little more particularity, the great and
effective services "rendered by Sir Robert Napier. Sir
Robert Napier having marched to Lucknow at the head of
part of the relieving force, remained in n defensive position
till the final relief of the place in November. Lord Clyde
writes as follows :—" The success of the troops has been in
no small degree promoted by the incessant and self-denying
devotion of Colonel Napier, wha has never been absent
many hours by day or night from any one of the points of
operation ; whose advice has ever been readily tendered and
gratefully accepted by the executive officers, whose earnest-
ness andkind cordiality have stimulated and encouraged
all ranks and grades amidst their harassing difficulties and
dangerous labours." Again, on a later occasion, referring
to the part which Sir Robert Napier took in the capture of
Lucknow, the Commander-in-Chief says :—" It would be
difficult to give an adequate idea of the zeal and activity
which he displayed." Since that time Sir Robert Napier
has commanded in the Gwalior district, and among many
other achievements which he performed with signal eclat
was that of defeating, with a very small'force of cavalry, a
large force of the enemy after the capture of Gwalior, and
taking. from them 24 guns. (Cheers.) Sir, I believe I
have now gone through the list of those officers whose
names are included in this vote ; and if I have done so with
any unnecessary detail, or if I have gone into details which
are to some extent unavoidably dry, being limited to a mere
enumeration of the principal exploits performed, I hope the
house will feel that, standing here in the 'position that I
occupy, I had a duty to perform in relation to these officers
whidh I could not neglect. (Cheers.) lam anxious now,
before I sit down, to explain briefly what is the principle
on which these votes have been framed. Happily, in-
stances of gallantry, of devotion, and of military skill have
not been rare. To recognise all these separately and
individually even in the case of officers holding compa-
ratively high and responsible situations, would, from the
very nature of the case, be impossible. To draw a line, and
decide who should be included and who should not be in-
cluded, would in any case be a somewhat invidious task.
But the course which is sanctioned by precedent, and the
course which on the whole appears the least invidious one
that can be followed, is to take as a test the military rank of
the individual and the importance of the operations in which
he has been engaged, including, as we have done here,
those who have had the independent command of
a division, and who have also been actively engaged
in the field. (Hear, hear.) There is another rule
which has been laid down by us in selecting names for
this vote, and I wish to advert to it, because it will explain
the omission of some names which some hon. gentlemen may
think ought to have appeared. We have not thought it
right to go back to the operations of 1857, that is, to some of
those operations which were within the cognisance of the
Government of the day at the time when the last vote was
passed in this house, because it seemed to us that nothing
could be more improper, nothing could be more unsound,
than for any Government in a matter of this kind to attempt
to revise, and so possibly to alter the decision of a previous
Government. I mention this, because there are one or two
names which, but for the necessity of a limitation of this
kind, I should very gladly have included. Some of the ser-
vices performed in 1857 by Sir Patrick Grant were of a nature
which may well excite the national pride. Sir Patrick Grant
held the chief command in India previous to the arrival of
Lord Clyde ; but he was not actively engaged in the field
during any part of last year; and therefore, though it was
done with regret, his name was omitted. Neither was it
possible, consistently with the rule I have noticed, to men-
tion the name of Sir . John Jones, who commanded
for a time in Rohilcund ; or the name of Brigadier Chain-
berlayne, than whom, I am told on the highest authority, no
man did more to organise the Punjaub force—(hear, hear)—
or the name of Sir Sidney Cotton, who reneered most effective
and valuable service in some expeditions against certain wild
tribes of India. Sir, when we are paying the tribute which
is due to those who are living, it is not fitting, I think, that
we should pass away from the contemplation of this matter
without recognising the services of the dead. (Hear, hear.)
Operations like those of the last 18 months could not be con-
ducted without a great and lamentable loss of life. Unfor-
tunately the loss of the public service in this war is not one
which you can measure by any numerical test that it is pos-
sible to apply, because it is always the best and bravest offi-
cers who go to the front, who at a period of extraordinary
difficulty and danger doubly expose themselves, and who
therefore undergo a more than ordinary amount of risk.
Among the many brave men who have fallen in these cam-
paigns there are two whom, without exposing myself to the
charge of invidiousness, I may, I think, be allowed espe-
cially to name. Major Hodson of the Guides—(cheers)—
in a short but brilliant military career, displayed every
quality which is manifested by a first-rate cavalry officer in
the field. There is nothing more remarkable than the va-
riety of services in which he was employed, unless it be the
energy and versatility with which he turned from one to
another. Employed first against the desperate Sikh fana-
tics, then transferred to the civil service, and labouring there
as if he had passed all his life in it; then organising and
commanding the corps of Guides; and, lastly, in the ope-
aations before Delhi volunteering for every enterprise in
which life could be hazarded or glory acquired, he crowded
into twelve eventful years the services of a long life, and
died with the warrior's crown. (Cheers.) He attained
what was no doubt to him the highest reward in, the con-
sciousness of a duty nobly discharged, and the assurance of
an enduring military renown. (Loud cheers.) Sir, the
other deceased officer to whom I wish to advert bore a name
in which we must all feel a special and peculiar interest.
No word of mine can add to the glory of the short career of
Sir William Peel. (Cheers.) Sir William bore a name
which was inseparably connected with the parliamentary
history of his country ; and it was not, I think, without
feelings of personal pride and persoAal pleasure that the
membrs of this house heard the news of his achievements.
(Cheers.) His career had an untimely end. (Hear, hear.)
For his own reputation, indeed, he had lived long enough—
no future act could enhance that reputation ; it is England,
it is his country that has cause to deplore his loss. (Hear,
hear.) The last resolution which stands on the paper is
one which I am sure requires no words of mine to recom-
mend it to the house—l refer to the acknowledgment
of "the valour, self-devotion, and brilliant services of
the non=commissioned officers and private soldiers."
Never, before, I believe, was there courage more brilliant,
never was there greater energy or endurance. (Cheers.) . I
had intended to include in the vote—l imagined that the
words as they stood would cover them—the services of the
petty officers, seamen, non-commissioned officers, and
marines employed with the naval force. (Cheers.) Sir, I
think that if the people of this country pay, as I believe
they do, one and all, high and low, rich and poor, honour
and respect to the courage of the English troops, that
honour and that respect are not paid merely in consideration
of the results which the courage of those troops has
achieved—are not paid merely because we feel that to them
we owe the restoration of our power in India, and the en-
hancement of our military reputation abroad—but are paid
for other and deeper reasons, because we feel that those
qualities of courage and endurance which have been so sig-
nally displayed in the operations of the war are qualities
which lie at the very root of our national character, and that
if they ceased to form part of the national character, not
only the military glory, not only the possessions abroad,
but the honour, the independence, the safety—nay, the very
existence of this great and world-wide empire, could no
longer be for a single day secure. (Cheers.) Sir, without
further comment, and regretting that I should have de-
tained the house so long, I bag to move the resolutions
which stand on the paper. (These resolutions will be found
in our Lords' report.)
Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, in rising to second the
motion of the noble lord opposite, I do not hope, nor will I
attempt, to add anything to those glowing and manifestly
heart-felt commendations which the noble lord, in a speech
which I am sure we all heard with the greatest sympathy and
admiration pronounced on the conduct of those distinguished
men, civil, military, and naval, who are the subjects of the
vote which he has proposed. But I cannot refrain from ask-
ing the permission of the house to have the honour of
coupling my name with the tribute of gratitude and respect
which the noble lord has now proposed that we shall offer to
the persons who are included in the vote. Sir, the occasion
on which we are now assembled is connected with one of
those bright memories which from time to time arise amid
tho hostile conflicts of party politics in this house. There
are occasions on which this house is permitted to lay aside
party' contests, and to remember only that it is the repre-
sentative of the nation which sent us here, when it unites
in offering a tribute of honour and gratitude to those men
who have had the good fortune to perform great services for
their country. These occasions are not only gratifying to
us and honourable to this house, but there are occasions
upon which more than at any other time this house is the
organ and expression of the feelings of the people of this
country. Sir, there never was, perhaps, an occasion more
deserving than the present of the expression of the thanks
of Parliament ; for I may say, without fear of denial, that
the great struggle which is brought to a termination in
India was one of the most remarkable events, not only in
the history of this country, but of any country which has
e'er existed in the world. There was never an occasion on
which a danger of such immense and fearful import broke
out so unexpectedly ; there was never an occasion in which
a greater danger was met by more wonderful ability and
resources:those by which this had been overcome with com-
plete success. The noble lord has so eloquently and so
well offered to those persons who are mentioned in this
vote the appropriate terms of praise belonging to their vo-
cation, that it would be almost impertinent for me to add to
those praises; indeed, by attempting to do so, I might,
perhaps, be detracting from the well-merited praise which
he has given. It is, however, impossible for me not to add
a word of concurrence to the well-deserved praise which he
has awarded to Lord Canning. He has well said that there
is, perhaps, not a man who has been placed in a more diffi-
cult position. There is not a man who, placed in a like
situation, has displayed greater temperance, greater courage,
greater moderation, or greater firmness when the moment
had arrived to act sternly and decisively. 'When we on this
side reflect that it is we who thought right I. appoint Lord
Canning to the Governor-Generalship of India, we must
feel some gratification in finding the advice we tendered to
the Sovereign has led to the happy results which have now
come about. With regard to Lord Elphinstone, whom also
I had the honour of naming, the noble lord has bestowed a
just tribute to the ability which that noble person has dis-
played. It is needless for me to attempt to add to the just
praises which have been bestowed on that most
eminent and distinguished public servant, Sir John
Lawrence, or upon those other civilians to whom
allusion has been made. But with regard to Lord
Clyde and Sir H. Rose—two of the officers whose services
have been so well sketched out—l certainly feel glad and
thankful to the noble lord for the manner in which head
alluded to the circumstance of their having been appointe
by the late Government • but this I must say, in Justice
to the Commander-in-Chief, that in all those appointtnael;iretsr
his royal highness was consulted, and concurred with
Majesty's Government in the appointments. which they
made. (Hear, hear.) Undoubtedly it is not too much to
say of Lord Clyde that he has show all the great quali-
ties which combine to make a great n comm ander. (Hear,
hear.) He has shown extraordinary skill, courage, and
moderation, care in the management of hi 3 soyers, and a
power of combined movement. (Hear, hear.) There is, in
fact, nothing which makes a good commander which Lord
Clyde has not had the opportunity of showing, and, having
that opportunity, has not shown. I trust that his health
has not suffered by what he has undergone, but that when
his period of service is over he may return in possession of
his full vigour to receive from his countrymen that recep
tion which he so well deserves. (Hear, hear.) With re-
gard to Sir H. Rose, I had many years ago the happiness
to employ Sir H. Rose, and he then gave evidence of those
abilities, the promise of which has been fulfilled in all
places where he has been engaged, whether in Egypt Syria
or the Crimea. Those abilities have had a
of further development in India, arta si
justly attained the flistjaatioll which
thanks of this house, (Hear, hear.) aat repaid entitles an
is
11'h: esCstr htihties
James Ontrarn and the other officer. +
lord awarded ajwit tribtito pa tidy to wcilliom the, 4014
fallen from him. This, however, In he
-J''ug may mention vs' th regard
to Sir H. Grant; that I trust w • ct
to what haa
- e may one day see adorning

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