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

.trt tbat the int great object obtained, was
64soe: . a*iguisitlon the Spaniards had, in getting
ssi
Ak of the command of the Tagus. This
aequisition netmdy afforded the advauta4n to Qi
Spallill6ll of thet,possession, but was fully within
the spirit .of his instructions, as defending th
frontier ot", Portugal. the Noble Lord, in
mostiottclkis aqd impressive manner, proceed:.
to 'tethe progress of that army, first against.
Soult's army- in. the north, and after his defeat
against /hat of Victor, until the hostil.. armies mot
at Talavera. That victory he epitomized as one
of the most splendid upon military record, cont_
bining the highest personal heroism, with the most
correct and systematic. observance of all those.
principles, which those best conversant with modern
warfare; had uniformly acted upon. ,
Mr. WHITBREAD congratulated the real
friends of Lord Wellington upon having found in
the last speaker at least. one sincere defender of
that gallant General. Up to the period of Tala—
vera, he (Mr. W.) was always inclined to consi-
der him as a distinguished sAcer ; but in appreli_
sting his claims to the Thanks of Parliament upon
the present occasion, it was impossible to east the
veil of oblivion over the affects which followed.

it was impossible to forget;that though his
.gallant
brethren in arms were the participators of his site.
cess, that they were also the victims of his teme.
rity. The Honourable Member took a- View of
the whole campaign, and in answer to the Noble
Lord, contended that the movementS of Lord Wet.
lington neither tended to advance the interests of
the Spaniards, or Cu support the reputation of the
British army, even putting out of the question the
particular disasters of that batiks. • .
Colonel L. CRAUFURDexpreesed his decided
conviction that the vote of ,that House was never
more justly deserved than by Lord Wellington..
General STEWART, hi a manner which ex.
cited the approbation of both sides of the Mauve,
stated certain movements Or that army, in which
lie had the honour to have a command, which, in
a peculiar' degree, illustrated the resotires of
Lord Wellington's mind, forced into certain un.
expected cir..unistanca by the course taken by
the Spanish armies previoas to the battle. of Tal.
lavara.
Mr. WINDHAM observed, that felt it his
deity on this occasion to dam. in opinion from
those with whom he usually acted, as he meant to,
support. the motion. Tliat• the action of Tata-
were was a victory, was generally confessed—was
actually undeniable ; anti alth-awb a retreat fol-
lowed, he could by no means cousid,.,r, that cir.
ciimstance as a reason for depreciating the cha.
racter of the achievement,4 because upon that',
ground the victories of Agioc:iort and Poirtiers
were entitled to no praise. The victory of TAta.
vera, in point of gain, be thought of more vAltee to
the country than a whole Archipelago of sugar'
islands, from the important example, of,. valour
which it furnished to our own people ant} to Eu-
rope.
Mr. LYTT,LETON followed on the same
side, expressing a wish that hii Right Honourable
Friend would generally rather consult his first
feelings than the refinement of his understanding,
and then few men of good sense would be disposed
toquarrel with his decision.
General MATHEW was also an advocate fur
the Motion, and was happy in this opportunity of
applauding the conduct of his gallant country-
assn. Alle4iag to Lord Castlereagh. the [foci.
INfieer expressed. a wish that the Noble Lard
shanold not, for his own credit, and for the benefit
ti( his country, ever again become a Minister—
for his own credit, because the Noble Lord, from
his display of thit night, seemed more capable of
eloque.ncu in another situation—and for the be-
' oefit of the country,. because it never could con-
duce to that end to have that Noble Lord in.
vesttgl
any power in a free Guverineent
loud cry of hear, hear !]
General TAR LETON explained.
Mr. PONSONBY mas adverse to the Motion,
but yet he had no wish to press the question to, a
division.
Mr. CANNING spoke with considerable ar-
dour in favour of the Motion, and the merits of
the Noble Lord to whom it referrihl.
Lord FOLKESTONE stated his objections to
the Motion.
Sir THOMAS TURTOg, after some observa.
them, recommended the Noble Lord to withdraw
his Amendment.
• The question being called for, strangers were
minded, but we understand that the Amendment
was withdrawn.
Adjourned.

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