Star.
London, England, 1814-03-25 00:00:00

with moving...to That the thanks of the House be
given to Field-Marshal Arthur Marquis of Welling.
ton, md the Army under his command, for the con-
summate ability, experience, skill, and valour dis-
played by them in the victory of Orthes, terminating'
in the signal defeat of the enemy, and leading to the
occupation of Bourdeaux."
Earl GREY.—He did not rise for the purpose of
adding any thing to what hadteen said by the Noble
Lord, who was certainly fully justified in calling for,
this expression of their Lordships' high sense of the
eminent services of Lord Wellington, and the gallant
army under his command. It gave him the greatest
pleasure to hear the Noble Lord's speech, not merely
on account of those topics to which he had adverted,l
but also on account of those from which he had so
properly abstained. (Hear, hear.)—The Noble Lord
had satisfied every man that this was a fit occasion
for calling for their Lordships' just tribute of ap-
plause and gratitude, for this last of a great series of
splendid successes, which had exalted the name of
Lord Wellington, and that gallant army which he
commanded, to as high a pitch of renown as ever
had been attained by any General or army of any
age or country. lie said this last of a great series
of splendid successes"—and GOD grant it might be
the last—that this might be the last blood shed for
the accomplishment of the great, genuine, and only
proper object of victoiy—speace ; that Lord Welling-
, ton might add to that rich harvest of glories which
he had already reaped, that crown of glory—peace—
a safe and honourable peace, to which his exertions,
~and those of our Allies, had so essentially contribut-
ed—a peace suited to the just pretensions and honour-
able views of all parties, and holding out a well-
founded prospect of being beneficial and permanent.
That the consequences of the occupation of Bour-
deaux must be attended with the most desirable
effects, no one could doubt. In a military point of
view, the advantages of it must be immense, on ac-
count of the supplies which it afforded, and tOr other
reasons added to the facility of communication, to
which the Noble Lord alluded. There were, also,
other views which might be taken of it, from which
the Noble Lord had properly abstained ; and all he
should now say in regard to that was, that he %glad,
refrain from now touching upon it. He desired to
be understood as eying no opinion at all on that
subject at this time ; b..gging leave, however, to re-
serve to himself the liberty and opportunity of giving.
his free, entire, and unbiassed judgment on the topic
to which he alluded, when alone it could be pi'operly
given ; when the whole case should come before them,
with all its circumstances ; when it might be seen
svlnu were the causes, sslat the influence, and means
employed to produce the effects which lie would not
now more directly mention. Till then he should say
nothing on that head ; —and he was glad that the
speech of the Noble Lord had relieved him entirely
from any embarrassment which he might, under other
circumstances, have telt in abstainitm at this moment
from stating any opinion on the occurrences at which
the observation pointed. The time would come when
that topic might with propriety be examined and
discussed, and till then he should abstain from even
asking an. explanation—(llear, hear)—leaving the
matter, in the mean time, to the responsibility of Mi-
nisters, and trusting to that superior degree of infor-
mation which belonged to their situation. He knew
his duty to his country, and to the world, too well,
to prejudice a question, on which the happiness of so
great a portion of mankind might depend. For the
present then, with this explanation merely of the
grounds of that line of conduct which he had adopt-
ed, he entirely refrained from agitating the subject.
The Noble Lord was fully justified in calling for this
vote of thanks, and the motion bad his entire and
most cordial approbation.
The motion was agreed to nem. Ji.r. as were also
the other usual motions made by Earl BATHURST, for
thanks to the Officers employed under Lurd NVelling-
ton, acknostledging and approving the services of the
Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, &c.

Adjourned till to-morrow (this day).
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A person from the Treasury presented an account of the un-
funded debt of GI eat Britain, up to the Ist of February last.—
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. SPICER, from the Commissioners of Chelsea College,
presented the general accounts, which were ordered to lie on the

Colonel BAGWELL obtainesl leave to bring in a Bill to regu•
late the Assize of bread in the City of Cork.
The Dover Castle Debtors' Bill went through a Committee,
the report of which was received, and ordered to be taken into
further consideration ou the 6th of April.

On the motion of Mr. FAWCE-17, accounts were ordered to
be laid before the Houde, of the number of Ships of the Line
built its Merchants' yards, from the Ist of January 1793, to the
31st of January, 181 S, spccit)ing the names of the ships, their
rates, tonnage, number of guns, and also copies of the corre-
spondence wbicb passed iu the year 18u5, between the Commis-
sioners of tbe)iavy and certain Ship-builders, relative to Con-
tracts for building hips of the line, &c.
The Writs of Assistance Bill went through a Committee, the
Report of which was ordered to be received to-morrow.
In several Committees on the Act relating to Coffee, and the
Act for the regulation of the West India "trade, Mr. Lvsniwo-
Tom was instructed to move the House for leave to bring in Bills
to continue the said Acts, which be accordingly did, and leave
was granted.

Mr. LUSHINGTON having stated that the compound chitin
an Salt were erroneously imposed, and that other irregolsritief
took place in the execution of the law, moved, and it was or-
dered, that the House should to;morrow resolve itself into a
Committee to take into consideration the Acts relating to'that
subject.

MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON. •
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
in pursuance of the notice which he had given on the
subject, rose to call the giateful attention of the House
to the recent glorious services of the Marquis of Wel-
lington, and his brave army. In Teverting to the
many occasions on which the Noble Marquis had re-
ceived the thanks of Parliament, it might appear that
every topic of panegyric was utterly exhausted.—
There was scarcely a display of military courage and
skill, whether manifested in the open field, in die
assault of a fortress, or in that system of persevering
vigilance by which the strength of an army actually
inferior, was rendered equal in value to that of a force
numerically superior, for his brilliant success, in
which Lord Wellington had not received the warm
and unanimous approbation 61 his country. It was
necessary YOr him to do little more than point out the
distinguishing features of toe late gallnnt aehieve-
ments. irhe circumstances of the long contest in the
Peninsula; and subsequently in France. which Lord
Wellingtqn had maintained with such increasing for-
•,
tune, were ai various as the qualities and resources
of his comprehensive and euergetic mind-(Hear,

hely-, Afar.) In order to enable the House justly to
estimate the extent of the services lately performed
by Lord Wellington and His army, it was necessary
to recal to their minds the particular nature of the
operations by which those services had been pre-
ceded. It was well known that the descent fromi
the Pyrenees into the plains of Languedoc was rug-
ged, and in places almost impracticable, intersected
here and there with little winding vallies and rivers,
which presented the greatest obstacles to the march
of an army. Thiswasparticularly the case at What was
called the Landes de Bourdeaux. In this romantic
and extraordinary country, Lord Wellington con-
ceived the great—he would say the sublime idea, of
establishing himself from the foot of the Pyrenees
to the very banks of the Garonne ; and the rains
having somewhat abated about the middle of Fe-
bruary, the Noble Marquis moved the right wing of
the British army towards the rivers which fell into the
Adour. By a change of weather, and an unexpected
swelling of those rivers, that first movement was frus-
trated. Lord Wellington then proceeded to move
the left wing of his army, but unfavourable circum-
stances of a similar nature rendered the passage of
that, wing wholly impracticable. Thu situated, Lord
Wellington again repaired to the right of the army,
and laid the foundation of that decisive victory
which he subsequently achieved. After having p ts-
sed no less than five rivers, under circumstances
which reflected the highest credit on the determined
perseverance of the troops, the British army and
their gallant leader found the French army posted
in a very strong position near Orthes, in a country
which, as he had before observed, was rendered
almost impassable by the number of winding vallies
and obstacles of every description with which it
abounded. It might, indeed, be truly said that the
position of Orthes was precisely such a one as the most
skilful commander would have chosen as the seat of
defensive operations—(Haar, hear.) From this posi-
tion, however, Lord Wallington completely dislodged
Marshal Sault, one of the most consummate Gone-
rals of which the Emperor of France had to boast,
and leading an army of nearly forty thousand men
(Hear, hear.) The enemy were completely dislodged
and repulsed with very considerable loss on their part.
hi the mean time, in conformity to the plan of opera-
tions which the genius of our -meat Commander had
suggested to him, Sir John Hope, on the '2.l:th ult.
effected the passage of the Adour above Bayonne,
under circumstances of the most extraordinary and
interesting desci iption. To the astonishment of the
enemy, and even of their own countrymen, (accus-
tomed as they had been to witness their heroic deeds)
the British sailors boldly passed the bar of that river.
Nothing could impede them—one boat after another
upset in the tremendous surf of the bar ; but at length
they accomplished their daring object, and afforded
to their no less gallant military countrymen the means
of crossing from one bank of the river to the other.
Extensive as were these* operations, they formed
but a part of that plan which Lord Wellington
had in contemplation, and which stretched even to
Bourdeaux. Immediately after the dislodgement of
the enemy from Orthes, Lord Wellington dispatched
a column of troops under Sir William Beresford to
Bourdeaux, where he was received as the British
army had hitherto been invariably received in France,
with the loudest acclamations of joy, and were hailed
as liberators.(Lorid cheering.) There could scarcely
be a higher honour, nor a more certain pledge of
ultimate success, than that our troops should be re-
ceived by the people of France as their deliverers ;
and that at a time when the assistance of our troops
was solicited by almost every nation in Europe to
effect their complete emancipation, they should enter
France at once as conquerors and deliverers (Con-
tinued cheering from all sides of the House.) It was use-
less to occupy the time of the House by expressing
sentiments on these subjects on which there was but one
feeling in which all participated ; be would there-
fore conclude by moving—

" That the 'thanks of tke. House should be given to Field
Marshal the Most Noble Arthur Marquis of Wellington, for the
additional proofs of consummate ability and diringuislied valour
which he had displayed in the movements preceding, and his con-
duct during the battle of Ortbes on the 27th of February; and
also in the operations leadityg to and connected with those engage-
ments which terminated in the occupation of Bourdeaux."

Mr. WHITSHED KEENE warmly seconded
'the motion, and proceeded to refer to the history of
that great man the Duke of Marlborough, detailed
the honour and emoluments which had been bestowed
on him, and without wishing to draw an invidious
comparison, contended that our present Illustrious
Commander was at least not behind that immortal
'Duke in merit, and that he ought to be as liberally re.
warded. He confessed he entertained a confident
hope that his Majesty's Ministers would bring down
a Royal Message recommending that such a monu-
ment should be erected to him as would carry down
his name with honour to posterity. Who did not
look with satisfaction at Blenheim ? He trusted that
a Blenheim would be erected to Lord Wellington in
Ireland, of which country be had the honour to be a
native, although he had sat fifty years in that House.
The consequence of such an erection would be incal-
culable. It would animate the youth of Ireland with
a military ardour which would render them irretis-
tible in the field. A number of valuable diamonds
were found concealed in the Imperial of King Jos.:pies
carriage, after the battle of Vittoria. On this occa-
sion Lord Wellington displayed the utmost genero-
sity. He wished the Spanish Government to take
back as many of these, and of a number of pictures
by Murillo, Velasquez, and others, of which the usur-
per was in like manner deprived, as they nos( u, h.tve.
Sir FREDERICK FLOOD.—As an Irisonian,
and a Representative of that country which gloried
in the proud birth of the illustrious individual who
was the object of the vote of thanks now proposed, he
would not be doing justice to those who sent him to
that House it he contented himself with a silent vote
on the present occasion. And, Sir," said the Ho-
nourable Baronet, a if I had a voice, (the increased
loudness of his tone removed all dubiety on this sub-
ject, and •excited a general laugh) which I could ex-
tend even beyond the doors of this House, I would
exert every nerve on such a glorious occasion, though
it might end in a nervous fever." (Laugh.) The
country which had given birth to this great hero, had
also given birth to a number of other illustrious cha.
ratters—it could boast of the blood of a Berestord,
of the brother of our Noble Ambassador, of a Pon-
sonby, and of a Cole. That was a country which
could Provide such a owuber of heroes. 1t had been

often said in England, that Ireland was a clog to
her, but instead of a clog, it was the best feather in
her cap ; for it not only produced the best soldiers,
' but the best Captains, at the head of whom was the
illustrious object of the present vote of thanks. When
'he looked around him, he saw many Members on
both sides of the House, in the first confidential
offices of State—(laugh)—lye should hate said, that
those who held them were on the one side, and those
who did not hold them were on the other. Wheo
he looked into the other House of Parliament, he
saw the same thing. Was not that a country of
which a man ought to be proud ? and a country to
court a connection with ? It did not only send them
men, but it sent them also grain, cattle, butter, and
beef. This was indeed a country for one to be prmid
of, and the people .of it ought to be fostered.
vernment ought to extend the arm of its protection to
the natives of such a country. There never was a
period in history where the achievements recorded ei
(ceded the benefits which this country had deris
from that great man, Imd Wellington. " Talk of
an Alexander, a Cziar, awl a Hannibal (Lamb),
can those history-books boast cd any General who old
any thing to be compared with the object of this vote
of thanks ? He had said last Session, that in the
same manner as Bleillielo House had beer, erected
for the Duke of Marlborough, there should he a --
(here the Hon. Baronet hesitated some timej Wei
Langton House built for Lord Wellington. (Laqi.i
Ireland had already contributed £15,000 for the t.-t;..
Lion of a testimonial of the merit of that great man ,
hut there should also be a Wellington .House to Ire.
land—aye, not only in Ireland, but in Scotland also,
and in Wales. (Laugh.)
Lord ICI KWALL said, however high I.nrd
lingtoa migl appreciate the Thanks of the House,
yet he believed the highest gratification he could re-
ceive, wculd be the exertions made at home to second
the objects lie was endeavouring to accomplish ; for
on.those exertions it depended, whether his
should be crowned with success—on them alone de-
pended the tra.aquillity of Europe.
The motion was then put. and carried amine con-
tradicrnte.

The Thanks of the House were thereafter voted to
the Oflicers and Soldier 4 wrung uuder 4..0rd Wel•
lingtoni

NON-RESIDENT CLERGY.

Mr. BATI-lUR.ST, pursuant to a notice which he
had given at an early period of the Session, rose to
move for leave to bring in a bill on the subject of the
recent prosecution of some of the C!ergy, by a persor.
of the name of Wright. He began by recapltulatini;
the nature of the different Acts which had at time;
been, passed for the prevention of non-residence ; and
then related the hardship of many of the casts
' which prosecutions had been commenced by a person
known by the name of Wright. In ceees where a
Clergyman resided on one of two preferments, it wa,
fair to suppose that the party satisfied the law. The
greater number of the actions brought by Mr. Wright
were, however, cases of this desciiption, where the
parties had omitted to give notice of the preferment
on which they did not reside. In one instance, a per-
son who had constantly resided on one or other of
his preferments for near forty years, had for such in.
advertence been prosecuted by the informer (the
House might have some difficulty in believing it pos.
sible) for penalties amounting to £15,816. Anothit
person had been proceeded against for sums to a con-
siderable amount, because, while the vicarage house
was repairing, he had taken the nearest lodging he
could find. In some instances, Gentlemen residing
in the country, whose incomes were small, some
of them less than one hundred pounds per annum,
had been prosecuted for penalties to a large amount.
—One Gentleman, whose income was £75 per ann.
was sued for W 450. Persons were proceeded against
who were quite unconscious of offence. He had seen
a letter from one Gentleman in the country, who ex-
pressed great sorrow at finding he had thus trans-
gressed the law, but at the same time, declared that
he was not aware of the existence of the Act under
which these proceedings were comnunced. Actions
were brought against persons, who residing in pal idea
adjoining their own, had not failed ;o perft rm their
duty—who resided in their own houses instead of the
Parsonage House—who residing at a distance, st:il
attended to their parochial duties in person, or ap-
pointed Curates to act for them, and against indivi-
duals, whose absence had been caused by temporary
indisposition. Of ninety-two cases which came e ithin
the London Diocese, there were but two for which he
had no excuse to offer. He did not mean to say that
the parties here concerned could not give a satistac•
tory explanation bf their conduct ; but of ninety-
two, there were but two from which some excuse
had been received. He was far from wishing that
House to interfere with the fair operations ef the
law, but here was a case of extreme hardship, in
which the act was made to do that which had never
been intended by the Legislature. He thought
the course proper to be pursued, was to raffer the
parties against whom these proceedings had been
instituted, to make those applications now to the
Bishop of their diocese, which from neglect or in-
advertency, they had omitted to make before.—
This was the object of the Bill which he proposed to
bring in. The Bishop would have to exercise his
judgment on the applications made now, for licenses
for non-residence, as he would have done had they
been made on. the proper time, and he would exercise
his judgment under additional responsibility, know-
ing his conduct would be closely watched by an ac-
tive informer, who, from the situation he had tailed,
and othet circumstances, would be perfectly acquain-
ted with the cases on which he decided. Under this
A f_llV
responsibility, his judgment would now be as
exercised as it would have been beloic—he thou. h:,
more so. In cases where a license was refused, the
parties should be lieb!e to an action—an aciion being
held to lie where a license was not produced. Lot
the informer, where tie law was on his side, hoe.-
ever hard the c.ise of the parties against whom the
actions were brought, he must have his costs.-
-He hoped the House would not object to the till
he proposed to bring in. The Act of this Session,
suspending the proceedings against the Clergy, ex-
pired on the 20th of April. As there might nut be 3
proper opportunity for discussing the subject by that
time, he intended to move for leave to bring in a 1)111,
to extend the provisons of that act for a month longer.
The Right lion. Gentleman concluded by moving
for leave to bring in a Bill, 66 to discontinue the pro-
ceedings on eettaln actions already commenced, and