The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-02 00:00:00

VOTE OF THANKS TO SIR R. NAPIER

The Earl of MALXIESiitiitY moved that a vote of
thanks of this house be given to Lieu-.-Lleneral Sir R.
Napier, G.C.B , G.C.5.1., for the xemi lary skill with
o hich hu p'anued, and the distlnguisheil energy, courage,
and perseveranee with which ho ,!.O.IIUCt sd the recent ex-
pedition into Atiyssiuia, Sze. Also to C•mon )(lore Lleat:e
lt.N., CAI.; to Major-General S'r Charles Stavoley,
K.C.B. ; Majer-General J. Ma7colu, C.B. ; and Bri-
gadier-General \V. Mere w,ther, C. 8., for their
gallantry and ability, ate. Ile sail that hs felt
great pleasure in making a proposition so honourable
to their lordships' house. He should shortly tut
before them the events which had led to this motion, and
show how it was absolutely necessary for them to do
honour to the army and the navy of England. It was
four or five years since the injuries were inflicted upon
Englishmen iu Abyssinia. That was a long period
for Englishmen to suffer injury; but they must remem-
ber that the strong should always be tolerable
to the weak until their conduct become intolerable. At
length Theodore's did so, and than in 1867 it became the
duty of the noble lord, the late head of the Go-
vernment, to enforce the cessation of such con-
dition of affairs. The expedition was, therefore,
despatched, and it might be truly said that Sir Robert
Napier could use the words of Ca33a", " Veni vidi vici."
The dispatch of Lord Stanley threatened Theodore in
April, 1867, and in April, 1868, Magdala Was taken,
and the honour of England was vindicate 1. He
could speak too highly of the conduct of Lord Seymour
Fitzgerald in the arrangement of the expedition. The
composition of this army was-very remarkable; it con-
sisted of different nations and various creeds. Notwith-
standing, however, this diversity the utmost good feeling
prevailed, and to this good feeling we were much indebted
to the conduct of Sir R. Napier. A great feature in the
operation was the US) made of elephants, and he did not think
that they had been made so useful since the daysof Hannibal.
He astonished even the Indian officers, who hadfrequently
witnessed what they could du. He need not go further
with regard to the praise to be given to Sir R. Napier, but
he must remind their lordships that Sir Charles Staveley
had the arrangement of the advancing party from Zoulla,
and commanded in the engagement before Magdala. Gene-
ral Merewether had also the general arrangement con-
fleeted with the march of the army. General Russell
was taken from his station at Aden, and was
engagad in the operations at Zoulla, and
showed great ability iu political matters with relation to
the tribes in the neighbourhood. Nor was the Navy to
be forgotten. Commodore Heath, and other officers of
the Royal Navy, had been highly commended in Sir R.
Napier's dispatch. Not the least pleasing part of his task
was proposing a vote of thanks to the non-commissioned
officers and privates of the army. We should, after this
march, never hoar that the soldiers could fight
but not endure. He would call their attention to
the:extraordinary march of the 45th regiment, and also to
the exploits performed by the cavalry. A prominent
feature was the orderly march of the troops, not a single
instance of injury to property or person was to be recorded
against them, and this ho thought could not have been
said of any army that existed beforo them. (Hear, hear.)
no doubt could exist of the cruelties perpetrated by The-
dere, and they had an instance of them only three days
before his death. Some strictures had been made
with regard to the storming , of Magdala, but
if that had not been done they would have
broken faith with the tribes who inhabited the neigh-
bowing districts. The last subject of congratulation was
the small loss of life, and, fortunately, they had no but-
cher's bill to present to the country. (Hear, hear.) He
need only mention, in conclusion, the zeal with which
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge displayed in
carrying out the expedition. (Hear, hear.)
Earl RUSSELL said that before the resolution was put he
wished to confirm all that the noble earl had said with
regard to what had been done by the valiant men who
formed the expedition to Abyssinia. The noble earl eulo-
gised the whole of the preparations that were made both
by the India-office, the Foreign-office, and by his Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief. They had to admire
the harmony which prevailed amongst all the departments
which conducted the operations. But what was it that
made them all act in harmony—it was the mind which
was at the head of the expedition, and which harmonised
all into one focus. He was happy to say that they had
added another name to the famous roll of the British army
which was celebrated throughout the world. (Hear, hear.)
Every man in this country feels assured that whatever
difficulty might come against the army that its courage
and discipliue would overcome them a'l. (Hear, hear.)
He must say that with regard to King Theodore, he
thought that it was a benefit to maakind that so
odious a monster should cease to exist. (Cheers.)
The noble lord conch' led by saying that the Government
deserved the thanks of the country. (Laud Cheers.)
The Duke of O.I3_BIiIDGE said that he coogratu!ated
the house upon this great success that lea I been achieved.
He would say of the gallant general (Sir R. Napier) that
he had devoted his utmost enerAies, mentally and physi-
cally, to his country. His Royal Highness eulogised the
amount of judgment displayed by Sir R. Napier, in the
discreet manner in which he conduct id his operatiuns.
Thu vote of thanks was then agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS EVENING.

The SPRIKER took the Chair at 4 o'clock.

THE VOTE OF THANKS TO SIR. R NAPIER.
Mr. DISRAELI rose to move the following resolu- '
tion :—" That the thanks of this hous 3 be given to Lieu-
tenaut-Ganei al Sir Robert Napier, G.C.8., G.C.S.I, for •
the exemplary skill with which he planned, and the •
distinguished energy, courage, and perseverance with
which he conducted the recent expedition into Abys-
sinia, resulting in the defeat byud the viudicetion of the
her Majesty's forces of
the army of King Theodore, a
honour of the country by the rescue from captivity of her
Majesty's Envoy and ocher British subjects, and by the
capture and destruction of the strong fortress of Magdala.
That the thanks of this house be given to Commodore
Heath, R.N., C. 8., for the indefatigable zeal and great
ability with which he conducted the naval operations
connected with the transport of the troops and stores,
upon which the success of the expedition materially de-
pended. That the thanks of the house be given to Major-
General Sir Charles Staveley, K.C.8., Major-General G.
Malcolm, C. 8., Brigadier-General W. Merewether, C. 8.,
Major-en. Russell, and the other officers of the navy and
army for the energy, gallantry, and ability with which they
have executed the various services which they have been
called on to perform throughout these arduous operations.
That this house doth highly acknowledge and approve the
discipline, gallantry, and endurance displayed by %,he petty
officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the navy
and army, both European and native, during these opera-
tions ; and that the same be signified to them by their
respective commanding officers." The right hon. gentle-
man, in performing the agreeable duty, referred to the dif-
ficulties which at one time seemed to beset the Abyssinian
expedition ; but thanks to the appointment of so spirited
and discreet a commander as Sir Robert Napier, one of the
most brilliant successes had attended the anus of-her most
gracious Majesty, and one that entitled the gallant
soldier to the highest honours a grateful country could con-
fer. In the midst of an unknown country, sur-
rounded by mountains of the most lofty height, Sir
Robert Napier marched, and sustained a force of very
largenumbers, consisting not only of soldiers but of camp-
followers, and others, almost doubling the former. Such
a feat accomplished,
as it had been, showed the groat
ability of the commander and the results which followed
were such as to call forth and deserve the thanks of that
august assembly. (Hear, hear.) They had seen the e:e-
phants of Asia bearing the artillery of Europe over African
fastnesses. (Hear, hear.) Sir R. Napier had to deal with
no common foe, and the troops under his command showed
the most unmistakeable confidence in their e.otnitiander.
(Hear, hear.) They had to scale almost inaccessible heights
iu order to subdue a mountain fortress, which would have
been impregnable to all the world had it been defended
by him who attacked it. (Cheers.) The whole of the
operations had been highly successful, and that in a man-
ner that was without parallel. (Hear, hear.) They had
seen the red cross of St. George floating over the moun-
tains of Rasselas. (Hear, hear.) It was not alone for
his great military qualities that the thanks of
the Government were due to Sir Robert Napier,
but he had shown diplomatic qualities such as were rarely
united with great military skill. He had conducted and
successfully concluded a very difficult and delicate mat•
ter without involving the country in a perilous engage-
ment—(hear, hear)—and for that alone he was deserv-
ing the thanks of his country. Feeling that he thought
it a great honour to be the instrument in mov-
ing the thanks of Parliament to that distinguished
man—(hear, hear)—one who had'not for the first time re-
ceived the thanks of a grateful country, not once nor
twice, but now, hnmight say, happy indeed must he the
man who had been thrice thanked by his country. (Hear.)
The other officers mentioned in the resolution had all ex-
erted themselves for the honour of their country, and none.
had rendered more sign'il service than Commodore Heath,
who had the direction of the transport service, which en-
gaged the capacities of no less than 300 vessels. He need
hardly dilate upon the fine-roes° value of the tran-
sport service, because upon that depended the
whole life of the expedition. The unknown
waters had been buoyed and lighted in the most perfect
manner, and everything that could tend to secure the
safety of the expedition was performed in a manner that
deserved the highest praise. (Hear, hear.) The brave
men who formed the great strength of the
force, both naval and military, had exhibited
all their well known bravery, and on no occasion had any-
thing boon achieved by the armies of England that ex-
ceeded in valour that done in Abyssinia, an I never had
been more clearly shown the purity of their purpos3.
(Immense cheering) He felt that the house we only
be too hapyy to vote with but one voice the vote of thauks
he had submitted to its notice, and he would resume his
seat with formally moving :he resolution. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. GLADSTONE said it was a duty that he rose to
perform with r.o ordinary pleasure to follow the right
hon. gentleman through a speech that so well gave voice
ito the feelings of the house. They had, in the first in-
stence, to thank the Government who had selected so
wisest commander—(hear)—and having done that they had
to mark the high sense they entertain of the brilliant qualities
[ that that commander, in the performance of his arduous
and perilous duty, had exhibited. (Cheers.) It had fallen
to but few, if any, to have achieved such a victory for
• England as that secured by Sir H. Napier on the distant
' plains of Abyssinia—(hear, hear) —he had gained a tear-
less battle. (Immense cheering.) The only regret that
came upon them in the moment of their triumph
was the death of Colonel Denham seed his gallapn
' cfficer had been struck down not on the field of battle
That his name should be absent on the present- occasion

Nyco a melancholy feeling for them all, as he had on former
perilous engag..ments in China and other parts of the
world gallantly upheld the colours of her Majesty.
(Cl.•eeer.) To the °thee officers and men engaged
in the expedition both naval and military, the
highest thanks were due, and •he could not
sufficiently express the admiration he felt for the bril-
.

liant exploits that had been performed among the lofty
mountains and almost boundless deserts of Abyssinia.
(Hear, hear.) Ho could only say, in addition, that ho
valued highly privilege which bad fallen to his lot to
second the motion of the right hon. gentleman opposite.
(Loud cheers.)
The vote of thanks to Sir R. Napier, Commolore Heath,
Major-General Staveley, Major-General Malcolm, Briga-
dier-General Merewether, Major-General Russell, and
other officers, were put from the chair and agreed to
seriatim,. A vote of acknowledgment. and thanks was also
pasted to petty officers, non-commissioned officers and men
of the army and navy, both European and native, for the
gallaatry.they had displayed on the occasion.