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

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

1 HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 24. .
The Oaths were administered to the Bishop of WAvraronn.
Mr. Hitt, from the Treasury, presented several Accounts of
Public Even,.liture and Unfunded Debt ; and Mr. Senna, from
Greenwich Hospital, tlir annual Account of Unclaimed Prize
Money. Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. C. Gatarresi indenusity Bill was brought up from the
Commons by Mr. Bionnits and other Members, and read a
first time.
The order for reading the •Dulwich Collegg Bill a second time
to-morrow, was, on the motion of Lord Holland, discharged.
THANKS TO MARQUIS WELLINGTON.
The Orders of the Day having been read,
Earl BATHURST rose, agreeably to his notice,
to movie the Thanks of the House to the Marquis of
Wtllington, for the Victory of Orthes, which, he
trusted, they would think of that magnitude which
deserved the marked approbation of the House. The
passage of the Adour had long presented the most
insurmountable obstacles, on account of the width of
the river, the raininess of the season, the large force
by which its crossing was opposed, and the very dis-
tinguished abilities of the General who commanded
that force. if the attempt N ere made above Bayonne,
' the greatest difficulty presented itself, since it was ne-
cessary to pass several waters or springs, which were
at that period of the year unfordable, and the same
wet season had rendered the roads impassable by the
artillery. If it were attempted to pass below Bayonne,
the difficulty was fully as great ; it was necessary to
construct a bridge of boats for 400 yards, and the
crossing would be opposed by
.the army in the garri-
son, who would throw into the way floats of timber
for its obstruction. Upon the whole, Lord Welling-
ton determined to cross below BayOnne; but whether
he should cross above or below, it was necessary to
perform some manoeuvres to drive away the enemy
on the right, which measure would have the addi-
tional advantage, if he .thoulcr not be able to cross
below, of facilitating the crossing above. The heavy
rains, which had fallen from the beginning of Fe-
bruary, had impeded the army's movements ; but on
- the 11 th there was an intermission of rain, and the
army WAS occupied-for tour or five days in forcing
the enemy's retreat from his positions—a measure
which was effected without any great loss; Major-
General Pringle, although wounded, his Lordship
was happy to say, was in a fair way of recovery.—
The preparations being all complete, 25 vessels were
fastened together by large cables of an extraordinary
s:ze, each having two anchors, for the purpose of
mooring right and left, But, as it had been appre-
hended, the Fter.ch army from the garrison began to
incercept these .works by precipitating timber into the
river ; two large masts were chained together, and
every thing was ready, when the winds prevented the
flotilla from sailing, and Lord Wellington was ob-
liged to go back to his original post, leaving the pas-
sage under the charge of Sir John Hope. He followed
up his movements, and the enemy appeahld deter.
mined to give battle. Marshal Beresford having
found a ford, marched to the right of the enemy's
pos.tion :..—General Picton also created diversions :
General Hill gas still further up. The battle was
commenced by Marshal Beresford, .who drove the
. enemy from the village of St. Bois, which they re-
occupied, and from which they were at last finally
driven. They still, howver, kept the advantage of
the ground ' • and Sir Thomas Picton was, therefore,
directed by Lord Wellington to attack the left of the
enemy, while another division attacked the centre.--
• At length the enemy began to retreat, but in such
excellent 'order, that it was doubtful whether they
would riot have effected a regular retreat, if Sir Row-
land Hill had not come down upon the right. Then
• the enemy retreated with all possible expedition) and
were put to a complete rout. The magnitude of
this victory would be estimated by the fact that the
-ts enemy's numbers. were 40,000, our's being nearly
the same : and such a victory could not be effected
without considerable loss. Among the list of Officers
killed) however, his Lordship was happy to see that
there were none of very high rank; among the wound-
ed were two General Officers, Major-General Ross
severely, and the other slightly. There was, however,
another General, whose wound that day, had.it been
attended with any serious consequence, would have
clouded the joy'of the victory, and rendered it, npon
the whole, a doubtful good. The victory was fol-
lowed up for three successive-days, and by the gain-
ing possession of two magazines, for the preservation
of which Soult had thought it expedient to risk the
battle. Alter the Ist of March the rains set in again,
and all the streams became no• longer fordable, the
bridges were destroyed, and the roads were again im-
passable. Sir John Hope crossed the Adour in a
flotilla, below Bayonne, on the 23d of February ;
and as won as be had gained possession of the right
of the Adour, a garti;on detachment of 2000 men
were drawn out to meet him, whom he threw into
complete confusion, tjll they retreated. The flotilla
:net with the severest difficulties in crossing the
. Adour, where there was always a. surf ; at length,
however, the bridge was established, and they all
passed, to the amazement of all the inhabitants, who
flocked to wee what they could not otherwise believe.
Such was the situation of Soult, that he preferred to
leave the road to Bourdeaux open ; and a detach-
ment was sent to take possession of that city. Its
occupation was of the utmost military importance :
in a town of such extent many supplies could be
.afforded which would greatly minister to the netessi-
ties and comforts of oar army. Another great and
marked military advantage (he should view its pos.
session in no other light this day), was the much
more commodious intercourse which it afforded us
with this country. For the last three months our
transports had met with the greatest dangers in
their entrance into port; but they would now meet
with a sale harbour. He hoped he had thus shewn
that even in this state of the contest, this action
was accompanied with such circumstances .as en-
titled it to Pie Thanks of the House.--(Near, Agar).
He said 4, in this state of the contest," for there was
a time when victory seemed to be a stranger to every
standard but the French; but after the -brilliant ca-
reer of Lord Wellington) and the gigantic efforts of
our Allies, we might afford to dispense with votes of
thanks for victories, which at a former period we
should have been proud of courting to us by the en-
) couragement of such a vote a House.the ouse. liot that
we ought uow to be less grateful foe; victory ; but
that we ought to let our gratitude wait upon our
L
Judgmin.t,ftd amtiously select only the fittest occa-
t!ioo for displaying that eitiotion.• He concluded
...