Star.
London, England, 1811-04-27 00:00:00


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of remaining on the ground which I have setlctcd, to
move to that which has been selected by them.' 1
other dispatch is dated December 29. After describing
the relative situation of the armies, Lord Wellington
goes on to observe,' Under these ctrcunistances, hay-
ing such an enemy to .contend with, knowing that
there is no army in Portugal capable of contending
with that enemy but my own, and feeling that ever.
success in an attack, if accompanied with great loss,
would occasion the ruin of the cause of the allies, I
shall persevere in the system which I have hitherto
pursued, and which I hope will end in the defeat of
the enemy's object. Part of Portugal will unques-
tionably stiffer ; but, much as this is to be--lamented,
it is better that a part should suffer than that all
should be lost. On the whole, I entertain no doubt
of the final success of the measures I am carrying on,
and I am certain that they are the only means Which
can be entirely successful.'—(Hear, hear, hear.) Such
were the sentiments entertained at that period by
Lord Wellington. When, therefore, Sr, it is said
that we ought to bless our stars and hold our tongue,'
I cannot follow the advice. I thank my GOD, but I
cannot hold my tongue. I must proclaim to this
House, to the country, and to the world, the merits
of that illustrious man who has been the instrument,
under Pitovimiscr, of effecting this great good—.
(Hear, hear, hear.) I .7ostain from dwelling partied-
lady on the succession of allant actions which have
been fought by our bralVtroops, from the battle of
Barrosa to the last brilliant achievement on the banks

of the Coa, by Colonel Beckwith—(Hear, hear)—lest
in enumerating those which ought to be distinguish-
ed, (fought as they have been, day after day) I should
omit many justly entitled to applause. But I beg
the indulgence of a few minutes, for the purpose of
adverting to the actual advantages which we may
consider as derived from the campaign in Portugal.
I shall consider those advantages as they affect our
allies, ourselves, the enemy, and the rest of the world.
And first, respecting our allies, there can be no doubt
that the direct effect of the campaign, in having em-
ployed so large a force intended for their subjugation,
has been materially beneficial. It has at least given
them an additional year in which to struggle for their
independence, and it has afforded them an example
of what they may effect by a strict attention to disci-
pline. The advantages derived to ourselves by the
result of the campaign are by no means inconsider-
able. This country, Sir, may be considered as di-
vided into two opinions with, respect to its ossn
power and prosperity. Those who have thought that
Great Britain never stood higher in those points, are
gratified at seeing their opinion confirmed. Those,
on the contrary, who have entertained the desponding
idea that the sun of the British glory was for ever set,
must now congratulate themselves and the country on
the proof that at least our military character never
stood so high as at the present moment. To them the
recent occurrences must be infinitely mote gratifying
than to us, woo were more sanguine on the subject.
Ne". longer can any fears remain, that should the
Fiends seek our shores we should be unable to
meet them. We have a British army, composed
of a General who has • outteneralled theirs; and
troops by whom their troops have been subdued.
(Hear, hear, hear !) As, to the effect on the
enemy, 'what his feelings must be, after all his
boasts and threats against the British array, may
easily be conceived. What the effects may be in-
ternally on France, I will not pretend to predict.—
, How far their discomfiture in Portugal may put an
end to the delusion, that extent of dominion is extent
'of strength; how far it may open the eyes of the
French to the intolerable and disgraceful tyranny by
which they are at present oppressed, future events
will disclose. With regard to,the rest of the world
—to Europe it will be an useful lesson, pointing out
the only road to security. I avoid saying any thing
on the probable effect which our succes may have.
in another part of the world, but I cannot close my
mind to the expectation of an impression being made
by it in the highest degree favourable to the interests
of this country. (Heir, (rear, hear.) Sir, it was
impossible to suppose that it could be the Divine in•
tentiOn long to permit the continuance of that system
of oppression and usurpation under which Europe has
so long groaned. It may, perhaps, not be presump-
tuous in us to 'tope that we may be the instruments
of delivering the world from its thraldom. It is not
impossible in the dispensations of PROVIDENCE, but
that in that very Peninsula in which the tyranny of
France-hLs been so cruelly manifested, she may re- ,
ceive her death-Wound if not her rave. (Hear, hear,
hear.) pot, to revert to. that which is our it
business, namely, to give our thanks and appEntr to
those who have put us in such a situation to talk this
language. All we can do on this occasion is only the
commencement of my Lord Wellihgton's glory.—
For, as long as a vestige of the present eventful
times remain on record—as long as it shall be conge-
nial to the heart of man to be gratified with military
glory, acquired not in extending the ambitious pro-
jects of a tyrant, but in resisting. tyranny and defend-
ing the oppressed—as long as execration shall follow
the contemplation of violence and injustice—as long
as praise shall be deemed due to the most zealous and
, patriotic exertions in a righteous cause—so long shall
the character of Lord Wellington be venerated by
posterity, and be embalmed in the memory and gra-
titude of mankind ! (Load and general cries of Hear,
hear, hear.) I move, Sir,—
" That the Thanks of this House be given to Lieutenant-Ge-
-1 petal Lerd Viscount Wellington, for the indefatigable zeal, and
consummate ability wish which, in successfully defending the
Kingdom of Portugal, he has rendered the most important ser-
vice to his King and Country."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
trusted, that the impossibility of naming the various
Officers who had distinguished themselves, would
justify the departure from the usual course, on this'
occasion.
Mr. CANNING then said, that,in rising to second
the motion of his Right Hon. Friend, he felt some
difficulty in deciding whether he should content him-
self with barely seconding the motion, or preface the
declaration of such intention by the expression of his
sentiments upon the subject to which the motion refer-
red. There were many situations in which we telt
equally diffseilli to determine, either trs speak or to be
silent. The impression, however, on his mind, upon
this occasion, was so forcible, as to render it, impos.
'Bible for him to abstaip from addrtiming,a few oboe.
*adorn to the Hoiise before it shOuleCoide to a To'
vms impossible, Atecittiting to IfeelieVe lif


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title, to contemplate the true situation of the -country
under the present circumstances, s:ithout taking at the
same time into consideration, as well the means br
which that situation had ben brought about, as the
advantages that were likely to result from it. Onc of
the consequences of that situation was, that, in decid-
ing upon the question then under their consideration,
they were relieved from . all the difficulties which
usually attended such votes. Engaged as the country
WAS in a contest of such magnitude and extent, it sel-
dom happened that unanimity was to be expected—
that the merits of the service to be remunerated elf-
peered to all persons in the same lighr—or that it
was felt unnecessary, more or less, to compare the
means with the end—the exertion with the effect..
Whenever upon any occasion a failure unfortunately
took place, every particular was uniformly inquired
into, every action examined, every probability can-
vassed, and the necessity of failure clearly demon-
strated. All this usually took place atter the re. •
sult was known, and when the test of experience
removed every difficulty of judgment, and the event
itself furnished the means of an unerring deci.
siun upon the measures which may have been resorted
to. Whenever, on the contrary success was brought
under the consideration of Parliament, the debate woe
generally ushered in by deprecating all discussions of
the events or measures which may have preceded the
particular service to which the attention of Parliament
may be called, and by insulating the object to which
the Vote of Thanks called for applied ; whilst those
even who acquiesced in the vote, felt it necessary to
keep out of sight every thing which might have pre-
ceded the particular service—this was like a natural
practice. There were many actions, which, whatever
may have been the character of the system of measures .
that led to them, could best be made a subject of dis-
cussion upon the splendour of their own merits. But
was the question then under consideration the case of
insulated action in a series of operations, or even of a
single campaign brilliantly terminated ? Notwith-*
standing all that his Right Hon. Friend had said
of forbearance, as to the introduction of other topics
into the discussion, he must be permitted to say, that
this was not the case of a single signal action, or of ,
an isolated acquisition ea' glory ; it was, he should
contend, the fruit of two years exertion—of the ap. •
plication, during that period, of an understanding of
the first order, combiaed with military talents scarcely
ever equalled in history, to a state of difficulty unpae
sanded, and crowned with exemplary success. He
considered this state of things, therefore, which they
were about to honour with their thanks, not as the
consequence of one campaign, but as the result of the
labour
-of two years. He considered Lord Wellington,
in the accomplishment of the success he had achieved,
as the•instrument in the hands of PROVIDENCE for the
deliverance of Portugal. But when contemplating
the merits of Lord -Wellington's services in Portugal,
he could not look to the evacuation of that country •
.by the French as a military act, without reference to
the means by which that desirable event had been ,
affected and while the end was so well deserving of
the applause of that House, and the approbation of
the country, he must contend, that the means e:1.-
ployed for bringing it about were no less entitkd th
credit. His Right hon. Friend had adverted to
the effect which this state of affairs would have upon
ourselves, upon our allies, upon our enemies, and upon •
the rest of Europe; and he concurred with his Right
Honourable Friend, that the effect must be conside.
rable with respect to all. To look first, to the effect
it would have upon ourselves, he would ask, whether,
when two yearsago welted taken the resolution to make
our stand in Portugal—when we determined to make
that country the theatre of our struggle with France—.
the question was not considered doubtful, how far we
might be able to maintain the contest ? Whether •
those even who thought success attainable, did not
feel that it was still a question of doubt? But when the
determination was formed, those who looked to the
contest with confidence, took the most effectual means
of realizing their sanguine hopes, by the selection of a
man to conduct the operations, whose natural genius and
, military experience insured the accomplishment of all ,
that was attainable by human sagacity—who, calculat.
inghismeans,and eompatingthem with the end he was
to accomplish, would take every necessary measure to
insure it. How could the House sufficiently appreciate
his merits, when they followed him from the fatigues
of the day to repose in his tent ; and contemplated
his feelings whilst looking for consolation from home
under his laborious duties—when, instead of consola-
tion, he found accusation—instead of encouragement,
misrepresentation and obloquy—when he found all
his dangers magnified, and all the means of the ene-
my uniformly exaggerated—when every one of his
measures was traced to temerity or compulsion, and
• 11 the movements of the enemy to wisdom and mill.
tary skill ? When they took all this into their consi-
deration, it was impossible not to conceive what his
feelings must have been, and not to ascribe his steady
and unaltered perseverance ist the plan he had previ-
ously laid to its final and glorious accomplishment,
real magnanimity and to true valour—(dear, hear.)
Whilst exposed to such misrepresentations, he never
deigned to notice any of the.untounded statements he
saw published upon the subject ; he determined not
to reply to them in words, bat to let the, result put
them to shame—(Hear, hear.) During this time he
saw all his plans ripening into maturity, and, steadily
prosecuting his purpose, he forbore, throughout the
whole of his correspondence, from introducing one
word expressive of discontent. If there was any thing
which could not be contemplated without admiration,
it was the case of a man exposed to such misrepresen-
tation, and yet disdaining to indulge in any cxprecsion
of his feelings. But what Lord Wellington had done,
was eitherbencficial orruindus: they had now,however
come to that state when they could look back without re.
gret or look forward with hope, and when consequently
they could discuss the question with many advantages,
His Right Hon, Friend had adverted to opinions which
had divided, and fairly divided, the country, as to
whether the strength of this country was equal to
maintain the contest in the Peninsula against Franca
—vrhether we could bring our military sneans, with
any prospect of success, into competition with that of
the enemy—whether our strength was not necessarily
confined tonne element—in short, whether some eter.
nal tate had not separated the trident from the sward s
He did-not think with those, who inclined to cllstrilit
the military means of this country ; and rather Woad
to those, who thought that this country should either
become a-great military power, or a vassal of France,
She had,' then, become a t•reat military power,

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