Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-02-10
LONDON, Dec. :.
HOUSE or LORDS. December 8


The Marquis of Lan6sdowne o0ser'
we'd, it was with great ard sincere plea
sure he had heard the just, glowing
and eloquent eulogiums, which the NO,
bic earl had from his heart bestowed
upon the illu.trious subject Of the pre-
sent motion, and from his heart too nc
expressed his sentiment that the sre4'
military lame Of the noble and sal'ah
maruui, was not IL the least tacnlsne'
or diminished by The suo7equont e'ee'''
These circumstances made no aiefa'i"h
.whstever IN the question oefofe III.
.hsuss; thSt, question w4s;oy no "e'"'
sw neither those afforded 10 the noble mas
,ouis were adequate or inadequate ou'
xhetber the means which that ofhot',
actually possessed, were wisely aus a"
FAR IS Circu 5istan$ss woula aa"t' 'u
,cessfully employed by nim hea' J
These censiderauen. nc would u"t nix
with any thiag then before the o"usE
:they isav 'aif2rd matters OF subsequent
discussion between rnble lords Dut
this must be say. that # any member ot
chat house had stronger sense OF INC
difficulties the nobie n,a'quis lay undof,'
from inaaaQuacy Of means, and who al
mired tho<s t,ans of patriotism which
the Spaalayds rad displayed, un-
der va1,o,2 OF circumstances IN pro-
portion as he vas so impressed, 1t was
propor,lona5,v SO incumbent on him 10
give his cordi.i assent to the motion, as
a tribute of applause TO these great ana
spla:.did talanrs which had on 50 many
occasinns successfully surnounted such
obstacles. (Hear, hear !! He would
go farther and say, that IN review OF
all the great military transactions wtieh
had distinguished the war in the PENN
sula (if he could So far venture upon a
Subject which he felt jnsdeqaatc), 1t he
were 10 select one point preferably TO
another, as the object of the high hest adj
miralion, it would b" those circumstan::
ces in which Lord Wellington was com
PEELED to retreat before superior army.
[Hear, hear1 Ii these. Circumstances
his great mind shoue more emincntly
conspicuous in avaiiing himself OF the
difficult circumstances of the country
for the protection Of a retreating army,
and for maintaining his communications
with his resources (Hesc, near y
Such was The retreat by which he secu'
red his army within the lines OF Torres
Vedras, These operations best Showed
the scope of his milita,s genius; and
such was tue retreat which, under CIR
cunstances, had thrown the noble mar
quis back upon the frontiers ofP"'sugal.
There was, however, another point tor
consideration connected with the militia
ry character of Lord Wellington, to
which he would advert, because II was
also connected with the best interests OF
the country It would be difficult to
convey the idea in the shape Of a resolu-
ton. Ii was known and ielt, from the
nature Of the war, as connected with the
character of the commander; kind OF
military school was formed-the advan'
tagcs of which the country would, in the
career Of the times, have one day to a.
vail itself, perhaps with reference to
its very existence.
Such school was the investment and
repeated attacks Of the castle of Burgos,
in which such gallant and accomplish
ed officer as Major Somcrs -nnhappiiy
fell: an officer who, if he mad lived,
would have added to name, already IL
lustrious, the honors of military fame
and glory-(Hear, hear J Such Off
GERS were farmeG under the Instructions
of Lord Wellington, and animated by
his example. He said this much, be
cause it was understood to be the prae.-
tice of that illustriaus commander, III
the intervals between the more active
operations, 10 afford opportunities to or
fccrs under his orders Of acquiring MI
litary skill and habits. Witt this, the
only other point he would trouble their
Iordsbips on, was connected. He meant
not to observe upon any advice given by
ministers to the prince regent, as to the
promotion of Lord Wellington after the
battle of Salamanca, but merely wish
ed to say, that at the particular time an
opinion was formed of the propriety OF
comforting rank and proportion more
appropriate and connected with the SER
vices performed by that great officer
a species of promotion which, he beiiev'
ed, would have met the universal ap-
plause of the army and the country,
which would have been enabled to avail
itself of the services of those gallant ge.
nerals, who otherwise could not SO re.
gularly serve, and at moment when
the government of Spain seemed to be
struck with the propriety Of making
p' ometion upon such a principle:
proceeding of the kind to which he al.
iudsd, the marquis was OF opinion would
be atteaded with the happiest conse-
quences.
Lord Scmers said, he was most anxi
,, o. Ia ~. .r;hnta of aDnlansa m the