The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-13 00:00:00

tion. In the course of six weeks there was not a village ja
Spain that had not declared against the' Regent; i here wag
no party in the country, even including his own sovereign/
who did not unite to expel and overthrow the Regent.
When he was escaping from the troops who pursued bias
to Cadiz, when he found himself in safety there, he
dared not proceed to, or land, at any one of the thirty'
or forty strong places which fipain has on the coast,.
but sailed direct to England. Had he not lost
all hope ~f support., he would not thus have
at once abandoned his country. He contended
that so general a movement could not have been pro-
duced by foreign agency ; it was perfectly national
Ills Noble Friend knew that he was personally accused
of being the author of the revolution of La Granja ; but
however much or little the Noble Lord might have had
to do with it, it was certain that their course of policy
had been to meddle too much with the, affairs of Spain.
The fall of Espartero himself was hastened by a very
general belief that he was under the influence of Eng-
, land. There was no characteristic of the Spanisb_peo-
ple more marked than their resistance to foreigninlle-
ence. Though they might submit to it for a time. Yet
they would rise and resist it afterwards, at a time when
they might destroy the wholesome influence that we did
possess. lie assured the Noble Lord that the good
understanding with the Court of France, with
respect to Spain, was not founded on any
specific • engagement. It was founded on a belief
that the interests of the two countries were not so much
at variance as to rrevent their acting cordijdly together,
and it was founded on a mutual trust in the honour and
integrity of each other, and rested on a desire to secure
the complete independence of Spain, to promote the es-
tablishment of the constitutional system, and to (lac-
lope the great natural resources of that country. These
were their only objects ; he acknowledged no other—he
knew no other. With respect to the marriage of the
Queen of Spain, that was exclusively and entirely
Spanish question, to be decided by. the Spanish people
themselves ; he could assure the Noble Lord that Eng-
land and France had come to no understanding on this
subject which could interfere with the complete inde'
pendence of the Spanish nation. Whether they might
think fit to choose a Prince of the House of Bourbon Pr
not, was for themselves to decide;
The Earl of CLARENDON expressed his gratifica-
tion at the opportunity he had given for the answer of
the Noble Earl.
Lord HO WDEN said that he had travelled a good
deal in France and Spain, and he believed it would take
two or three years to do away with the erects a
what the Noble. Earl (Clarendon) had said on this subject'
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 12.
THANKS TO SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND TO

ARMY ENGAGED IN SINDE.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Durham, de-
precating the passing of a vote of thanks to the arm,'
in Sinde. The first reason the petitioners urged 1
that a large number of the British troops had perished
in that war ; and next, because they (the petitioners)
considered that the House of Commons would be de-
prived of its title to that of a Christian Senate if such is
vote were passed by them. The petitioners therefore
prayed that, for the honour of the British Parliament,
the vote of thanks would be either negatived or with-
drawn. He should state before sitting down that this
petition was signed by no less than seventeen minister
of religion.
Sir R. PEEL—Sir, I rise to move that the thanks of this
House be voted to the British Army and its Gallen
Commander, for the services rendered, under the niesf
critical and trying circumstances, upon the banks 9f
the Indus, and which army, under the greatest diffle"ll„.
ties, exhibited the utmost good discipline, and rea-h-
-tained—nay, even exalted—the high character wine
the British army has always supported, and which en,:
titles the army, of Sinde, and its Commander, to the hig`i
thanks of the House.—(Cheers.) Sir, with the policy °
the measure, in the carrying out of which that arm!
was engaged, I have nothing to do on this occasion
whether it was justifiable 'to exact from the Ameers,"
cession of their territor in lieu of the tribute already
paid, is, in my opinion, a question which ought
to be altogether forgotten in this matter.—(Cheers''
I now only call the attention of the Iln%,
to the condte.t and merits of the gallant men who Pew
formed the first duty of the soldier, namely, obedie,,a
to lawful authority; and the mode in which they
bited that obedience entitles them to the public neknn.'he
ledgment for which I now ask.—(Hear, hear.) the
gallant Commander got his instructions from c„,
Governor-General, and also had his authorbis
from the ex-Governor-General. Sir, I shall
prepared on the proper occasion, if need be, it
vindicate the instructions which were given, but, nr°.
the present occasion, in conformity'avvith the usual coursr,
I shall altogether abstain from introducing any discus
sion upon the policy of the operations.—(Hear, hie
Sir, the information which has been recently laid on t „
table of the House, and the degree 'of public attenti;;
which has been directed to the preSent operations ',,
Sinde, relieve me from the necessity of entering into en/
detail with regard to the measures which led to the ems:
ployment of the British army on the banks of the Ind°
I take for granted that every gentleman has made him-
self sufficiently master of the papers which have her:,
laid before the House by the Government, to obviate the
necessity for any such detail. The House will recollee
that about the month of September, 1842, Sir Charles
Napier was directed to take the command of the British
army in Sinde. The active operations in which be voa"
engaged extended over a period which was included be;
tween the Ist of January. 1843, and the latter end of
March in the same year. That period of three months
includes the battle of Meeanee and the battle of Hyderi
abad. The-two battles, which are the most prominen„
operations in contemplating that campaign—the O.:
battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad—were fought uncl`
far different circumstances. In the battle of Meeane'
the first report of Sir Chas. Napier, makes the force or;
posed to the British arms about 22,000 men.; he reclined
his own force to be about 2,800 men. I have -g(2°ot
reason to believe that he has overrated the enl°110(
of the British force which he commanded at the battlech
Meeanee, and that he has underrated the force 41„,
was opposed to him.—(Hear, hear, from-Sir Chart
Napier.) I believe it would be more consistent Iv"
tin at
truth to state that the number of British troops
_,--rjth t
arms at the battle of Meeanee was 2,000 men, ant.
the force opposed to them amounted to 25,000 Letio
The force of the Ameers consisted of men trained „0,
war, of great natural power and of desperate resolutTs,
to which full credit was given in the admirable .1,
patches of Sir C. Napier. That force—let us ecTsl to
it according to the original estimate as ameentlne It
22,000 men—occupied a very formidable position•inch
was placed in the dry bed of a water-course, 'wter.
during the inundation of the Indus is filled with widie
On the flanks of the enemy were a village and two ob
woods of the country. The position was defended ?n'st
think, fifteen pieces of artillery, and 9_ga-for
such a force 2,500 men at the utmost marent"',rt-
the purpose of defending their lives, and surbrole
ing their country's greatness.—(Cheers.) In the d re.
of Hyderabad, the force of Sir Charles Napier In' .0 or
ceived some addition. He had called to his aid gated
three regiments, and the British force may be estiril-sted
at 5,000 men, while the force opposed to him eons'tfigo
of about 20,000'men. No greater proof of the On one
and resolution of the Ameers can be given thenier,
which is adduced in the dispatch of Sir Charles °arid'
that upon the approach of the British army, the Tool,
chees gave that evidence of valour which is cons' •sive,
with respect to European armies, the most d;etei:
and which corresponded to actual conflicts v't the
bayonet. After discharging their fire-arms ",,„" bees
troops of Sir Charles Napier, the Fallant Belou' 100
rushed from the water-course in which they ha-
up their position, and attacked the British troors,,iclet
the swords and shields with which they were Pr%ool
Nothing can be more , decisive than the testilltionr
borne by Sir Charles Napier to the think
of those who opposed his army, and I votive,
the whole of their conduct shows that skill
valour was supported by considerable military those
on thepart of the leaders.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, in
two battles, notwithstanding that there was such ;titiso
mense disproportion of force, the small band of 00'
soldiers fully maintained the character of their onaritY
—(Hear, hear.) In the first battle, where the disPs 003
was greatest, the force consisted of British trol, cot
partly of Sepoys, and it is most gratifying to th.riscooYs
there was no disproportion of valour between the set °
°f
and the Europeans ; that, animated by the exten3,,,Ped an
their officers, both Sepoys and Europeans snfit et the
equal degree of courage and determination. Du ,eOOA
same time, justice requires that we should not ()lee 06
the great cause of victory. The victories of get' to he
of Hyderabad are each, in my opinion, mainly office*r
ascribed to the example set by that gallant flies.
who was responsible for the issue of the e°l3 that
—(Hear, hear.) It is most fortunate ° notch
at such a crisis, and under circumstances of ss coin;
hazard, the command of the British army "mss rafted
to one of the three brothers, who have-peagej
upon the stem of an ancient and honourabie,e_ishe
that personal nobility which is derived from unbl
tju'r, find
private character, from the highest sense of hon.°ol have
from repeated proofs of valour in the field, nr,binf thcir
made their names conspicuous in the annals brother-
country's glory.—(Cheers.) Each of these 101)&1
learnt the art of war under an illustrious cot!•
During the whole of those memorable carorgd, and
which one of them has been the faithful, hut' brothers
eloquent describer, the exploits of those three hear,!
entitle them to the gratitude of their country:-lon` they
hear.) In almost every action of the rennl.7ll tee.sie:
gave proofs of their military skill and valour.itiodrj
tions at Corunna, Civitta Vecchia, and Cuid
p'!
and during the operations of the Pyrenees,
ea% dr_
officer was more prodigal of his blood in the
i,,_070 have
country, than were each of the officers to bed
referred.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, the officer nit which
command of our. Indian army bears a name, Lnues
there is none more conspicuous in the bright P
contain the records, whether in the military ortirdil:acr:
annals of this country, of desperate and successa action
fare. Sir, when we read the account of a a fouq,,
in which, in the course of five minutes, Ittrn"ost s It
wholly unable—except as directed by
and valour—to compete with the enemy
_,nhieved,
t—beinu the e°lltre
of five minutes signal victory has been and by the
glories of St. Vincent have been revived, ,
_nasty no_
mere effect of that victory a change in 0Y h
t of sue- 1'
taken place. When we read the account Of
~,e noire
action, we find that the . commander bore more
of Napier.—(Loud cheers.) Nay, even ,ve leo!,
limited and circumscribed operations', '
course (t)
similar indications of bravery. When, in t '
ortanee „°t
inbereet
the last year, it became of the utmost ale
show to a misguided multitude, what was
-then direct':4
strength of the law, and of the civil power w
low skill
by the consciousness of right and by c"s"lited sl'iwre!
and valour; even in that case, on a more lire
constebled,
when one man attacked hundreds with 0N.., oposee,
and captured more of the party to whom heo
than the men whom he commanded, I
n
cool('
s e
ot
thinking, that the man who set this courageous o&
ewe
,
in the maintenance of Ca law. We