The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-02-02 00:00:00

TI44NRS TO LORD WELLINGTON.

The CHANCELLOR of the UCH EgUER,
ia dialog to move the Thanks of the House. to Lord
WeillN for his Skill and valour, so eminently
display in the battle of Talavera, could not re.
fain from expressite; regret at the symptoms of
opposition which were manifested in that House,
and which had been previously manifested else.
where. lie thought it could not be denied that
the action for which he was about to move ;their
thanks, was one of the most splendid that had
ever graced our annals. When the numbers of the
enemy with which we had to cootend were taken.
into consideration, as also the state they were in,
far unlike the po Spaniards over whom the
French had frequently triumphed, naked and un.
disciplined, the force opposed to nor abrnif was
composee.of veteran troops who were the boast 'of'
our enemy ; when these circumstances were cast.,
sidered, the merits of the action would, he true.,
ted, appear in a proper light. He wished thew
to bear in mind, the advantages that must itH
cessaiily result front it to this country, as they
must be aware how essential it was to our, inle
ter. at to maintain the reputation of our armies;
boa It for taloar in the field and fur skill and,:
wisdu:o in the Cum handers. When they consi•
demi the policy and the importance .of that,.
and the justice of rewarding bravery, he hoped
the Ii lase would nut hesitate to give the hono-
rable testi 'lofty of applause due to military cx.
et:Bence. lie wished those who might feel di:.
posed to oppose the motion, to consider if their
!totality were not, in some measure, theadrsering
of party di&rences. That such Gehl, might
not inflernce. the vote they were to give, he was
aoxious to abstain front witching nit any topic on
which a difference of opinion might exist. Ile
would for the present leave the policy of the
Expedition to Spain and Portugal entirely out of
the •1 %oaten, aiel only call Voir attention to the
Battle of Taltvera, iu which the skill of the Ge-
neral was only equalled by the valour of the
troops, and Ale velour of the troops by the
skill of the General. In doing this he wished
it distinctly to be understood, that he did not
shrink from an inquiry into thit policy and
conduct of that Expedition. He did not wish
that to b! held from discussion. At any time he
would be prepared to defend the conduct and oven
to maintain the utility of that campaign. Thecir-
eunistatices of it were so recent, that it was hardly
necessary to state them anew. After expellitie the.
enemy from Portugal, Len! Wellington marched
from the North of Portugal to the Tagus. Ile
arrived there on the 11th or 12th of JUlle, end on
the '27th broke up to go to Placentia. He formed,
a junction with the force under Cuesta, with
whom lie had several conferencei, and a plan• of,
operation was then concerted. It was proposed
stet only to drive the enemy beyond the Alberche,
but to expel the French by a combined operation
(ruin the South of Spain, while Vanegas, whose
force was included in the plan, was to push on toa:
wards Madrid. This plan unfortunately was ne.
ger carried into execution.; its !Attire, however,
cuul.l not be ascribed to any misconduct on the
part of Lord Wellington. He now curie to speak
of the battle of Talavere. Ou the oieht of the
27. h of J'sly the French attacked the division en.
d,r the command of Gen. Hill. The mutter is
which that attack was repelled, and the enemy re.
pulstul at the point of the bayunet,was well known,
as was the subsequent defeat of the enemy, and
most be fresh in the memory of every one. Every
part of the operation was characterised by corre,
spending skill and valour; and it ended glo-
riously, ended in a repulse, and in a complete
victory over an enemy, double the number
of oar army. The Spaniards afforded little as.
'Waite in this battle. Whatever might bethought
of it here, no doubt was entertained of its merits
in Spaio, Portugal, and he might add in France.
It was en achievement that called for the best
?batiks of the House; and he wished as Uon.
Gentlemen opposite, who was not then in hisplacte,
would consider how well he might exert that elm.
quence of which be was is so eminent. a degree
possessed, by doing justice to the skill and va-
lour displays; in that action, and calling on the
House for an unanimous vote of thanks to the
gallant ()dicer by whom it was achieved. He
would wish to recal to his mind what he so 'ably
urged, when moving fur thanks to the General
who gained the battle of Maida, wham he so
deeply impressed on the House floe importance of
paying a proper degree of attention to the escon.
ragemcnt of military merit. That merit such as
was shown its the plains of Maids hatrbeen exetn.
plifictl in the fields of Talavera. The two ac-
tions were similar, and he hasped that lion. Gcn.
Omen, feeling that circumstance as he did, would
concur in calling on the House for that honour
which was so well deserved by the conqueror of
Talavera. Theitight Hoe. Gentleman concluded
by movine,
" That tae Thanks of that house should be given to Lord
Wellington for the distinguished ability displayed by !din on
the 27th and 28th ofittly. 1109, in the glorious battle of Ta
lavers, n hick tenaivated io the repulse and difeat of a supe-
rior enemy."
Lord MILTON could not concur with the
Right Hon. Gentleman upposite: he could not con-
sider this as •an insulated question, and 'e
(sold
therefore move au aineteltinitit. Ile did not wish
to anticipate the discussion' on the policy of time
late Expedition ; but lie could not look on the
present motion but as intimately connected with
the events of the campaign 4 He *as well aware
bow necessary it was to maintain the reputation of
the army ; hut he could not think the line of
pursued by the Honourable Gentleman likely
to produce the wished-for effect. They had got.
intu a bell habit of voting their thanks on all occa-
sions, till they had in a great degree lost their va.
lee. It was impossible for any one to contemplate
the events of the late campaign, and not think
them disastrous. It was not cm/ugh to entitle
leoNi Wellington to thanks that he hail extricated
army from a most desperate situation by his
skill and valour, Ile might never to have placed
it in such a situation. All Administrations were
feat, of thanking their Getterals, thinking the
praises bestowed on them, reflected lustre on them-
seises. lie did not know that the present naotiou