HC Deb 06 February 1840 vol 51 cc1321-41
Sir John Hobhouse

then rose and said: In pursuance of the notice which I placed on the Table of this House on a very early day of the present Session, I rise to move a vote of thanks to the Governor-General of India, and the officers and men of the army of the Indus, for themilitary operations which have recently taken place to the westward of the Indus. In doing this I only follow the practice which has uniformly prevailed, almost ever since the very commencement of the British empire in India—from the moment that the thanks of this House were reluctantly wrung from those who doubted the expediency of the great exploits performed by Lord Clive, in the foundation of our empire in India, almost up to the present day. Lord Cornwallis in the year 1792; the Marquess Wellesley in the year 1799, and again in the year 1804; Lord Minto in the year 1812, and the Marquess of Hastings in the years 1817 and 1819, received, as Governors-general of India, the thanks of this House. On two of the occasions—and those the best known—which I have just now mentioned, the thanks of Parliament were confined to the military arrangements and operations; and the policy and origin of the wars were studiously kept out of view by those who, being placed in the position which I now fill, proposed those thanks. Such was the case in 1804, when Lord Castlereagh proposed a vote of thanks to the Marquess Wellesley; and such also was the course adopted when Mr. Canning proposed a vote of thanks to the Marquess of Hastings. I take the liberty of following these examples, and in what I am about to address to the House, I shall expressly keep out of view the policy, the cause, and the origin of the war; and I shall confine myself to the military operations and arrangements made by the Governor-General, and carried into effect by the army of the Indus. I hold this to be the expe- dient course to pursue, for the policy was our own—it was that of the Government, and we are responsible for it; and if that policy is questioned it is for us to defend it, and we are prepared to do so; and it would be unfair to the brave men to whom I have just alluded, to mix up any explanation or defence of the policy of our proceedings, with a statement of their exploits. Her Majesty, immediately on receiving intelligence of the late successes of the army of the Indus, and of the fall of Ghuznee, and of the entrance of the army into Cabool, honoured me with her gracious commands, to convey her cordial approbation to the Governor-General, to Lord Keane, and to the officers and soldiers under his command, and many honours have been conferred on those who were engaged in these brilliant exploits. It was with great satisfaction also, that I saw those who were well able to appreciate the merits of this enterprise— namely, the Court of Directors and the Court of Proprietors of the East India Company, render their thanks to Lord Auckland, to Sir John Keane, and the army under his command. The other House also has passed votes of thanks to those engaged in these achievements, and it now only remains for this branch of the legislature to do its duty in this respect, and to acknowledge the merits of those, by whom they have been planned and performed. I trust, however, before I propose those votes, that I shall be pardoned if I very briefly—indeed, as briefly as the nature of the subject will admit of—describe the progress of the troops in their arduous undertaking. For the reasons which I have mentioned, when I promised the House that I would not enter into any statement with respect to the policy of these transactions, I shall merely state, that on the 10th of September, 1838, Lord Auckland proclaimed in general orders his intention to employ a force beyond the north-west frontier of India; and on the 1st of October his Lordship published his declaration of the causes and objects of the war. Early in November the Bengal troops marched from Kurnaul to Ferozepore on the Sutledge; and Shah Soojah, at the head of his levies, left Loodhiana, and joined the British array. About the same time that these forces were concentrated at Ferozepore, the Bombay troops, under the command of Sir John Keane, embarked from Bombay, and landed at Vikkur, near the mouth of the Indus, on the 30th November. In the beginning of December the forces under Shah Soojah march, ed from Ferozepore, and were followed by the Bengal division, under Sir Willoughby Cotton, on the 10th of December. These divisions moved in a southerly direction towards the left bank of the Indus, whilst, on the 22d of December, the Bombay army advanced northwards on the right bank of that river. The Shah arrived on the Indus and crossed it on the 17th of January, and Sir Willoughby Cotton came in sight of it about a week afterwards, but he did not cross it, for he was obliged to move the principal part of his force towards Hyderabad, the Ameers of Lower Sinde having manifested strong dispositions to obstruct the progress of the armies. Sir John Keane also advanced towards Hyderabad, and a reserve force was ordered from Bombay to occupy the stations in the rear of our advancing columns. That reserve landed at Kurrachee, after a short resistance, on the 3d of February. The Ameers of Sinde submitted, and Sir Willoughby Cotton marched his columns back towards Bukkur, at which place he arrived and crossed the river on the 14th of February. The passage of the Indus by the British army is one of those notable events that I think it right to dwell upon for a short time. I hold in my hand various statement respecting this operation, by the gallant general who commanded the forces, and by Sir Willoughby Cotton and other distinguished officers who were on the spot, and saw the proceedings. They all describe in warm terms the skill and science displayed by the engineer department, and enlarge on the bridge constructed under the superintendence of that distinguished officer Captain Thomson. At the spot where this bridge was constructed, the river Indus is divided into two channels, between which are situated the island and fort of Bukkur. The river at this spot is 700 yards in breadth, and the channel in many places is about four fathoms in depth. The passage over one of the channels is 490 yards in breadth, and the whole of the army, with the enormous train accompanying it, passed over with perfect safety. Such was the success of this undertaking, that it called forth the general admiration of all who saw it, and it reflected the highest credit on the engineers who effected it. Although the army that passed over the Indus was numerically less than many of those large bodies of troops which were employed in military enterprises during the last war, still it formed a very numerous body. It is true, that the number of troops was only about 8,000, but there was a very numerous train accompanying it, for, besides horses, there were not less than 16,000 camels with it, and this great body passed over the bridges, without the loss of a single person—not one man was lost, and not a single casualty occurred during the passage of the river. I hope the House will excuse me for reading a graphic account of this operation, the accuracy of which is fully confirmed by all the accounts that I have seen. The bridge which had been constructed by Captains Thomson and Sanders, of the Bengal Engineers, was ready. It is described as a structure which does infinite credit to those distinguished officers, and whether we consider the difficulties they had to overcome, or the solidity of the bridge, it will justly entitle them to the consideration of the Court of Directors. Sir Henry Fane is reported to have said, that he had seen no such structure erected in so brief a period during the whole of his Peninsular campaign. The Bengal troops crossed the Indus upon it without a single casualty. It was a gallant sight to see brigade after brigade, with its martial music and its glittering arms, marching over file by file, horse, foot, and artillery, into a region as yet untrodden by British soldiers. The native soldiery are said to have been loud in their admiration of the arrangements which had been made for crossing the boundary of Hindostan, and to have gained additional confidence in the enterprise in which they were engaged. From good authority I am able to state, that this is not an exaggerated account of the matter. The proceedings of the expedition were greatly assisted at this point by the judicious arrangements of one of the most able and intelligent officers that ever served in the Indian or any other army. I mean Sir Alexander Burnes. That gallant officer had negociated with the Ameer of Khyrpoor, and not only induced that prince to allow our forces to enter the fort of Bukkur, but also permit it to be garrisoned and kept by a portion of the reserve force of the British army. After the passage of the river Indus by the Bengal column, the Bombay troops advanced from the south, and took up the position which was formerly occupied by the Bengal troops. I have before stated, that the Bengal army was preceded by a small body of troops, amounting in all to about 6,000 men, under the command of the Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk. The Bengal column followed at the interval of a few days' inarch, and the Bombay column followed the latter about a fortnight afterwards. These three little armies, for so they might properly be called, for the whole strength of troops employed in this expedition did not exceed 21,000 men, marched into an almost unknown and untrodden country, but neglecting no means of ensuring success, and providing for a safe retreat in case of a reverse. The columns had to pass through the Bolan and other passes, where a small and determined body of men might have stopped the progress of a much larger army than that which formed this expedition. The first force, under the Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk, did not lose a single man in the passage through these formidable passes; the second column, composed of the Bengal troops, also did not lose a single man; but the third column, composed of the Bombay army, was not so fortunate, for in their passage through the Bolan pass,* some plunderers broke in on them, and made as attack on the British troops, which was attended with some loss—but this disaster might have happened under any circumstances, in a country like that which the troops had to traverse; and those plunderers, morever, were completely defeated and driven back. It took the army some time to advance through these mountains, and it was not until the second week in April, that the Bombay division of the army of the Indus had passed through them. On the 24th of April, the Shah entered Candahar, and that capital was taken possession of by the British troops on the 26th. The whole of the troops were concentrated at Candahar, on the 4th of May; and in consequence of the admirable discipline displayed in their advance and up to this period of the campaign, Sir John Keane thought it necessary to issue a general order, a copy of which I hold in my hand, commending them for their discipline, and for the courage which they had displayed. The army remained until the second week * The Bolan pass to Sir-i-Khujoor is comparatively open, though commanded on each side by the mountains. At Sir-i-Khujoor, it narrows, and for ten miles runs in sharp angles, from 150 to 200 yards in length. Towards its termination, there is not more than sufficient breadth for a dozen horsemen between the rocks, which rise like walls to a great height on either side. The road is formed of loose pebbly stones and sand, like the beach of the sea. "The minutest description," Captain Conolly observes, "could hardly convey a just idea of its strength: it is a defile which a regiment of brave men could defend against an army." Sir Alexander Burnes remarks that the pass runs through the country of the Beahavees, who are masters of the fate of any army attempting to traverse it. In the rainy season, he states, it forms the channel of a mountain torrent, and is impracticable. in June at Candahar, and its vicinity, and then prepared for the march to Cabool. But in the meantime the troops were not altogether idle, for a force under the command of Brigadier Sale, was detached against Gerishk, a place of great strength and importance, occupied by the Sirdars of Candahar. This place was invested and carried, and garrisoned by British troops. The army then proceeded on its march to Cabool, and in the course of it the troops were exposed to great difficulties, and had to undergo many privations; but they at length, on the 21st of July, arrived before that fortress, so celebrated in ancient Asi. atic history, as the place whence former conquerors issued for the subjection of Hindostan, and now more celebrated for the brilliant triumph afforded to the British army—I mean the fort of Ghuznee. I am sure that hon. Gentlemen must be aware that this place was the cradle of one of the great Mahomedan monarchies, the founder of which overran India, and the exploits of Mahmoud. the Ghazne-side, must be familiar to the readers of Gibbon. This fortress, formidable from its natural situation, and still more so from the labour bestowed on it, was regarded by the natives as almost impregnable. One monarch attacked it with an immense force, and it was upwards of two years before he could gain possession of it. Nadir Shah was ten months besieging it before he reduced it, and Ahmed Shah the grandfather of the present Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk passed by it without venturing on a siege. This fortress, which made such resistance to former armies, was taken in two hours and a half. Such was the irresistible intrepidity of our troops. The House is aware of the gallantry displayed on this occasion by our army—of the promptitude and skill manifested by the General commanding, Sir John Keane, and of the comparatively small loss which attended this capture. I need hardly dwell on the success that attended this brilliant achievement, for it seems to have had the effect of at once breaking the power of Dost Mahomed Khan, the ruler against whom the expedition was directed, and who had fixed all his hopes on the strength of this fortress He had placed in it a garrison of 3,500 soldiers under the command of his son, Mahomed Hyder, with abundance of ammunition, and provisions. He had also got together a well-appointed force of about 13,000 men, under his eldest son, which he intended should afford aid for the relief of the place in case of ne- cessity, and which was encamped at a few miles distant. In the fortress itself he had deposited a portion of his treasure, and he evidently felt convinced that the possession of this strong place would save him; and such might have been the result of a failure on our part, at least for a time. But immediately on the news of the fall of Ghuznee, he was deserted by the greater portion of his partisans, and was obliged to fly precipitately, with comparatively few followers, whilst the troops, at the head of which he had so lately been, hastened to offer their allegiance to his rival. The army then advanced upon Cabool, and Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk entered his long lost capital without resistance, on the seventh of August. But, besides the combinations and movements which I have described, the Governor-general deemed it advisable that an auxiliary force should advance by another route, and thus afford a diversion, and distract the attention of the enemy. This was effected by sending a body of troops from Peshawar, under the command of Colonel Wade, who was accompanied by the Shazadah Timour, the eldest son of Shah Shooja. The force was comparatively small, but it accomplished its object, took the fortress of Ali Musjid, and opened the celebrated Khyber Pass, which had never before been forced. This operation drove Mahomed Ukbar-Khan, a son of Dost Mahomed, from Jelalabad, and facilitated the advance of Colonel Wade from the eastward of Cabool to join the main army in that capital. Thus this portion of the expedition was as successful as the other divisions, and afforded important aid to the general success. But in order to show that the Governor-general and Sir John Keane, who acted under the orders of the Governor-general, had made every arrangement that the army should not be without support in the case of any reverse, I will mention the different stations in which, as the army advanced, garrisons were left. The line of the Indus was secured—one regiment was left at Kurrachee—two regiments at Tatta—at Bukkur and Shikapore, from three to four regiments—at Dadur, half a regiment—at Quetta, a brigade and a large magazine—at Gerishk, a regiment, and from two to three regiments of infantry, with cavalry and artillery, were kept at Candahar, while the remainder of the army advanced into Cabool. Thus, if any great disaster had befallen the army in defiling through the Bolan Pass, or any other of the difficult positions through which it had to pass, it would have been able to fall back on the reserves, at any of these forts. But not only provision was made by reserves of troops, but large supplies of grain and other provisions were deposited at various stations. A great number of camels were also provided to accompany the army for the conveyance of tents, utensils, and provisions, &c, and amounted at one time to not less than 27,000. I may also mention in this place, that at one period of the advance one division of the army was accompanied with not less than 30,000 camp followers. The army marched through this country almost by chart and compass, for the districts it passed through had been visited by few, except in ancient days, and were very little known. I will mention very shortly, in order to give Gentlemen some notion of the distance that was traversed by our armies, the extent of the march of each division before reaching the end of their career. The Bengal column, from the time that it left Ferozepore to its arrival at Cabool, marched not less than 1,350 miles; the Bombay column marched upwards of 1,000 miles; while the detachment—for I can hardly call it a column—. under Colonel Wade, marched 680 miles, and in about nine months, all these forces in the early part of September were collected in the neighbourhood of Cabool. In order to secure the success of this expedition, we have the declaration in another place of the greatest military authority in the world, we have, I say, the authority of the Duke of Wellington, for asserting, that never was more adequate provision made for all the contingencies which could have occurred, and I will now shortly detail what the Governor-general did to support this great military movement, and to preserve our Indian possessions against attacks from other quarters. In the course of twelve months the army, European and native, was augmented to the amount of 50,000 of all arms. In order, also, to provide for the troops which had been detached from the Bengal and Bombay presidencies to form the army of the Indus, Lord Auckland ordered a number of regiments from Madras to be detached as follows. To Bombay, he ordered seven regiments of native infantry, one regiment of the Queen's troops, one regiment of native cavalry, one company of sappers and miners, one troop of horse artillery, together with some foot artillery. He also directed, that they should detach from Madras to Bengal four regiments of native infantry, and a brigade of guns. And. not only did he make this provision for the expedition to the westward of the Indus, but he also provided against dangers which appeared to threaten the east of India, and ordered an additional force to be sent from Madras to Moulmein, of the Queen's 62nd regiment and a regiment of native troops. At the same time a force was collected along the Nepalese frontier, and we were thus prepared against external aggression at all parts of the Indian empire. But the attention of Lord Auckland was directed equally to those Mahratta chieftains and Rajpoot princes who had given signs of disaffection, and a body of troops was ordered to march against Maun Singh, of Joudpoor. It fortunately happened, that this individual was not hostilely disposed, but still he occupied some attention and was the cause of anxiety, and I mention this to show the claims of the Governor-general to the approbation of the House for the preparations he had made, under circumstances of no little embarrassment. It is not for me now to give an opinion of the policy of the Governor-general, but I think that I have stated sufficient to justify me in calling upon the House to come to an unanimous vote of thanks to him for the part which he took in those military arrangements. I do so, then, with confidence, and I shall pass to another resolution, about which I can have no doubt, namely, the thanks of this House to the General Commanding, and to the brave officers and soldiers who formed the army of the Indus. I am sure hon. Gentlemen have read what has been said of these soldiers by some of our fellow-countrymen of the highest authority on military subjects. I just now alluded to the great man whose opinion I quoted; and who may personally know many of the officers engaged in those operations, and is, I believe, intimately acquainted with the general who carried them into effect. Such testimony renders superfluous all comment from me, and I hope that the House will not think that I am deviating from the reservation that I made, of not alluding to the policy of these proceedings, if I refer to the results of the expedition. That result has been of such importance, as those unacquainted with Indian affairs can scarcely comprehend. In Europe the effect has been very great, and almost unexampled, for victory achieved at such distance and under such circumstances. In India it has, for the present at least, tranquillized the whole of that immense territory. It has put a stop to the intrigues of many who had been long watching for opportunities to disturb the peace of the empire. It has arrested the proceedings,—the cause of much anxiety—of the sovereign of Nepaul. It has calmed, for the present at least, the angry usurper of Ava.—The success has been as signal as it has been complete.—I shall not attempt to awaken schoolboy recollections of these famous scenes connected with the most romantic of all the exploits of the most marvellous of ancient conquerors—but I may perhaps be pardoned for reminding those who are familiar with the historian that has preserved the Journal of Nearchus, that the very stations on which the British flag is now flying, were the resting places of the great Alexander, and that, since his days, the standard of no civilized nation has been seen on the banks of the Indus. We may be allowed to dwell on this bold and brilliant achievement—and most pleasing is it, instead of the conflicts of party and struggles for political power, to he enabled to direct our attention to subjects of national interest, and to unite in doing justice to those who have upheld the honour and renown of the British empire and the British army. It has long been the proud distinction of our nation—a distinction which can only belong to a free people—to share with the Sovereign the satisfaction of showing gratitude to those who have deserved well of their country—and I feel sure, that, on this occasion, we shall appreciate the triumphs and the toils of the brave men now brought to our notice. On this occasion it is most satisfactory to me to find the warmest support from those who in politics are opposed to the party to which I belong, and to the party to which, I may say, the Governor-general of India belongs; and on this part of the subject I trust the House will excuse me for reading a short extract from a periodical publication, opposed on every other point but this to the Government:— In a military point of view, the expedition to Affghanistan is one of the most memorable events of modern times. For the first time since the days of Alexander the Great, a civilized army has penetrated the mighty barrier of deserts and mountains which separates Persia from Hindostan; and the prodigy has been exhibited to an astonished world of a remote island in the European seas pushing forward its mighty arms into the heart of Asia, and carrying its victorious standards into the strong, holds of Mahomedan faith and the cradle of the Mogul Empire. Neither the intricate streams of the Punjab, nor the rapid flow of the Indus, nor the waterless mountains of Affghan-istan, nor the far-famed bastions of Ghuznee, have been able to arrest our course. For the first time in the history of the world the tide of conquest has flown up from Hindostan into Central Asia; the European race has asserted its wonted superiority over the Asiatic; reversing the march of Timour and Alexander, the sable battalions of the Ganges have appeared as conquerors on the frontiers of Persia, and on the confines of the steppes of Samarcand. So marvellous and unprecedented an event is indeed fitted to awaken the contemplation of every thoughtful mind. It speaks volumes as to the mighty step made by the human race in the last five hundred years, and indicates the vast agency and unbounded effects of that free spirit, of which Britain is the centre, which has thus, for a season at least, inverted the heretofore order of nature, made the natives of Hindostan appear as victors in the country of Gengis Khan, and brought the standards of civilized Europe, though in the inverse order, into the footsteps of the phalanx of Alexander. With this animated and not much exaggerated eulogium on our recent triumphs, I conclude what I have ventured to address to the House, and propose— 1. That the thanks of this House be given to the right hon. George Earl of Auckland, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor-general of the British Possessions in the East Indies, for the judgment and ability with which the resources of the British Empire in India have been recently applied, under his direction, in aid of the military operations to the westward of the Indus. 2. That the thanks of this House be given to Lieut-general Lord Keane, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, for his meritorious conduct in the command of the forces employed to the westward of the Indus; and more particularly for the energy and promptitude with which he planned and directed the assault of the city and fortress of Ghuznee, the success of which brilliant achievement highly contributed to the honour of the British army, and to the rapid accomplishment of the enterprise in which they were engaged. 3. That the thanks of this House be given to Major-general Sir Willoughby Cotton, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and to the several officers of the army, both European and Native, for their good conduct and gallant exertions during the late operations to the westward of the Indus. 4. That this House doth highly approve and acknowledge the discipline and patient perseverance displayed by the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, both European and Native, during a long and painful march through an untried country; and doth also highly approve and acknowledge their undaunted courage at the assault and capture of Ghuznee. 5. That this resolution be signified to them by the commanders of the several corps. 6. That the said resolutions be transmitted by the Speaker to the Governor-general of India; and that his Lordship be requested to communicate the same to the several officers referred to therein.

Sir R. Peel

could not deny himself the satisfaction of confirming the truth of the statement, that no difference of political opinion could for a moment induce any political party to withhold the expression of their satisfaction at the success of the British army, and their admiration of the valour and perseverance of those by whom that success had been achieved. He considered it a subject of the highest congratulation to the House and to the country, that now, after an interval of peace of not fewer than twenty-five years, after our armies had been so long without any actual experience in the field, he considered it highly gratifying that our soldiers had shown themselves so worthy of their predecessors in arms, and so fitted to support the military reputation of their country. Whether it was twenty-eight men, or twenty-one thousand, that were engaged, the martial spirit of the British troops was still the same as it was on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. The troops had not only displayed the greatest personal valour, but there appeared to have been an exhibition of patience, of fortitude, of perseverance under difficulties, which, at least, equally with their personal valour, merited the warmest thanks of the House. It might appear presumptuous in him, an unprofessional man, to add his voice to the tribute of admiration which had been expressed by military authorities, but still, even to military men, the declaration of a civilian that as far as he could judge, the military had performed their duty in the noblest and ablest manner, could not be altogether unwelcome. So far, then, as the conduct of the army was concerned, he could concur in the vote of thanks to the fullest extent. Upon the policy out of which the expedition, upon the state of the finances affected by it, and upon the results, he conceived himself, and, indeed, he was fully justified by the right hon. Gentleman, in reserving his opinion. When the right hon. Gentleman told the House that an army of 8,000 men upon its march was accompanied by 16,000 camp followers; when he told the House, that 27,000 camels were necessary for the baggage attached to that army, and that the full military force was accompanied by a body of 30,000 followers, he should like to see the bill of this march, before he pronounced an opinion upon the advantages to be derived. He had not expected from the notice of the right hon. Gentleman, that the vote was to include the thanks to the Governor-general, and in sanctioning that vote, he must distinctly declare that he limited the expression of his gratitude to the services immediately connected with the military operations, and it would be uncandid in him not to say that he had doubts as to the policy of including civil officers, whatever their merits, in the expression of a gratitude which had reference to military operations alone. These were doubts which were shared by very high authorities. It was quite true, that the thanks of the House were given to Lord Wellesley for the share he had in the military operations in India, when he was Governor-general there; but Lord Wellesley acted as Captain-general of the forces, and placed himself at the head of the expedition. Upon another occasion, when thanks were voted to Lord Wellesley, Mr. Fox remarked that he considered it a new principle to propose a vote of thanks for military successes to any but those who had been actively engaged, and indeed, Mr. Fox went so far as to say that he did not think Lord Wellesley would be very much gratified at the expression of admiration, but, on the contrary, would laugh when he read that the House of Commons had recorded their gratitude for the share he had taken in the military operations. In making these remarks he begged it to be understood that he did not at all undervalue the ability which Lord Auckland had displayed in forming the arrangements. All he wished to express was his doubt of the policy of including civil officers in a vote of thanks for military operations. In the case of Lord Amherst, who made all the preparations for the invasion of Burmah, although every praise was conceded to his prudence and foresight, his name was not included in any vote of thanks. Yet the reward which that noble Lord had received, in being created an Earl, left no doubt as to the approbation which his services had met with at the hands of his Sovereign find his country. The services of Lord Wellesley stood on special and peculiar grounds. Being most anxious, however, that nothing of a disagreeable nature, or appearing like opposition, should appear on this occasion, he would not object to including Lord Auckland in the vote of thanks, but he had thought it his duty to state his doubts upon the principle of the matter. His judgment on the general question of policy he would repeat, he would take leave to reserve. So far as the military operations were concerned, there never was an occasion on which the thanks of a British Parliament to a British army were more amply deserved.

Mr. Mucaulay

could not refrain from expressing his high gratification at the unanimity of the House on this very interesting occasion, and at the manner especially in which the right hon. Baronet had expressed himself in reference to the conduct of the British in India. It was not his intention to enter into any of the political questions which might be considered in connection with this expedition, but he wished to make a remark upon what had fallen from the right hon, Baronet in reference to Lord Auckland. The right hon. Gentleman had omitted all mention of a case of the highest importance—the case of Lord Minto—to whom, after the reduction of Java, the thanks of the House were awarded for the part which he had taken in superintending the military arrangements; nor was the right hon. Baronet correct in supposing that Lord Wellesley had only received the thanks of Parliament as Captain-general, since he also received the thanks of the House in connection with the taking of Seringapatam, when he did not act as Captain-general. He quite conceded to the right hon. Baronet the right, and he fully admitted the propriety, of reserving his opinion as to the general policy under which the expedition took place, till the results were known; but his own conviction was, that this great event would be found, in its results, highly conducive to the prosperous state of our finances in India, and that, as a measure of economy, it would be found not less deserving of praise than it confessedly was in a military point of view. He could hear witness to some of the circumstances to which his right hon. Friend had alluded. Among many peculiarities of our Indian empire there was no one more remarkable than this—that the people whom we governed there were a people whose estimate of our power sometimes far exceeded the truth, and sometimes fell far short of it. They knew nothing of our resources; they | were ignorant of our geographical position; they knew nothing of the political condition or of the relative power of any of the European states. They saw us come and go, but it was upon an element with which they were not acquainted, and which they held in horror. It was no exaggeration to state that not merely the common people, but the upper classes—nay, even the ministers of the native provinces—were, almost without exception, so profoundly ignorant of European affairs that they could not tell whether the King of the French or the Duke of Modena was the greatest potentate. Further, lie could tell the House this—when he was in India there was a restless, unquiet feeling existing in the minds of our subjects, neighbours, and subsidiary allies—a disposition to look forward to some great change, to some approaching revolution; to think that the power of England was no longer what it had been proved to he in former times. There was a disposition to war on the part of Ava and other states; on every side, in short, there had prevailed a feeling in the public mind in India, which, unchecked, might have led the way to great calamities; but this great event, this great triumph at Ghuznee, acted so signally by the British troops, had put down, with a rapidity hardly ever known in history, this restless aud uneasy feeling; and there never was a period at which the opinion of our valour and skill, and what was of equal importance, the confidence in our "star" was higher than it now was in India. He believed that the right hon. Baronet opposite would find reason to think that all the expense incurred by these thousands of camels and thousands of troops was sound and profitable economy. He had seen something of the brave men who defended our Indian empire, and it had been matter of great delight to him to see the warm attachment to their country and their countrymen which animated them in that distant land, and which added a ten-fold force to the zeal and vigour with which they performed their arduous duties. While he was on this point, let him remark that there was a disposition in that gallant service to imagine that they were not sufficiently appreciated at home to think that the Indian service was not so highly considered in England as other services not less able, nor performed with less jeopardy, in other countries. It was extraordinary to see the interest, with what gratification, the smallest scrap, the merest line, in an English newspaper, conveying any praise en this service was received by them, and their delight would be extreme when they came to read the vote of thanks which had been conferred on them unanimously by the House of Lords, and which he trusted would be passed as unanimously by the House of Commons, the more especially accompanied as it was by the testimony to their merits borne by the greatest general that England ever produced. At the same time that this well-merited tribute conferred the highest pleasure on the brave men who shared in the expedition, it would serve as a powerful inducement to every other man in that gallant service to expose himself to every peril and every privation when the interests of the empire required it.

Sir R. Jenkins

said, that as Chairman of the East India Company, he could not give a silent vote on this occasion, though, after the speeches of the right hon. Gentlemen who had preceded him, there remained very little for him to say. Considering the difficulties under which the expedition was undertaken, there was hardly any person who had not felt very great anxiety as to the result; but every step which the troops made in their progress tended to remove this anxiety, and it was soon felt, that the zeal, and bravery and steady perseverance of the British army, would bring the campaign to a triumphant issue; the whole course of their successes appeared to have been exempt from the usual vicissitudes of war. Mighty armies fled before a mere handful of men; fortresses deemed impregnable had fallen as if by magic, before the skill of our officers and the bravery of our soldiers; victory had followed our standard were defeat was confidently anticipated. The army of India had few opportunities of meeting the enemy in the field, but they had to perform one of the most extraordinary actions in military history; an action more brilliant, more seasonable, more decisive than the capture of Ghuznee had rarely been accomplished. Our Indian service had always looked to the approbation of Parliament and of the country, as its highest reward, and never had a service more entitled itself to such thanks. Never had there been a military exploit of so complicated a nature, and carried to such a distance from the base of its resources, which had so completely answered to the conception on which it was founded; and never had there been a military exploit in which every individual concerned in it, from the Governor-general down to the soldier and sepoy in the ranks, had more richly merited the gratitude of Parliament.

Sir H. Hardinge

could not refrain from expressing the high approbation which he entertained at the conduct of the Indian army, commanded by a gallant, and now noble, Friend of his. Even before the advance on Ghuznee—even before they had accomplished that brilliant exploit— the conduct of the army had been meritorious in the most eminent degree. The privations and labour it had undergone were of the most trying description. Nor was the merit of endurance under severe privation, and admirable conduct and subordination due only to the British soldiers in this army. In these great military virtues, the British soldiers had been nobly emulated by the Sepoys, whose conduct in every respct and throughout the expedition had been such as to advance them greatly in the estimation of the officers. The capture of Ghuznee was effected by a rare combination of science and skill; science and skill which were doubly worthy of praise, inasmuch as they had saved the effusion of blood to a very considerable extent. The walls were too high to escalade; the ditch too deep to be forded; the artillery not able to batter a breach; but all these great obstacles were overcome by the scientific attainments of Captain, now most deservedly Major, Thompson, who by a plan, most simple in its nature, that of throwing bags of gunpowder against the only practicable entrance, the Cabool gate, opened a way for the admission of the British troops. In blowing open that gate, but one death occurred, and the whole operation only cost us the lives of 200 men. With respect to the plan adopted by Major Thompson, without in the least detracting from the merit of that gallant officer in its admirable and most effective application, he (Sir H. Hardinge) could not help pointing out that the invention of this plan was due to Colonel Pasley, of the engineers, com-mandmant at Chatham, to whom the Ordnance department, and the public in general, were so much indebted. Of this gallant officer, Major Thompson had been a worthy pupil, and had known how to apply the invention to the readiest and most effectual account. The right lion, and gallant Member concluded by expressing his hope that the late triumphs of the British arms would have a salutary effect upon our subjects and tributaries in India.

Sir H. Vivian

said, that his long and intimate friendship and near connection with his noble and gallant Friend under whose orders the army had acted would not allow him to give a silent vote. The right hon. Baronet opposite hesitated whether to include the noble Lord at the head of the Government of India in the vote of thanks, but it should be remembered, that it was by Lord Auckland that all the arrangements of this expedition were prepared, and in another place the highest approbation of those arrangments had been expressed by that great man who had so often led our armies to victory, and who had distinguished himself as a soldier beyond all other men. He could not but think Lord Auckland fully entitled to the thanks of Parliament. With regard to the noble and gallant Lord who had led forth our army in India to triumph, he had been in constant communication with that noble and gallant Lord, and, in his various communications, had learnt the many and great difficulties with which he had had to contend, and he could not express to the House in stronger terms what these difficulties had been, than by reading an extract he had received from Lord Keane, dated Candahar, June 26th. It was as follows:—

When that which had been required for us in the Scinde was concluded, I was desired to push forward in command of the force styled the Army of the Indus, and make such arrangements as I deemed necessary for the invasion of Affghanistan. Time was on the wing, and admitted of no delay. I felt the measure was a bold one; I knew I had a distance of 300 miles, through a bleak, an ill-supplied, and a strong country, between me and this place, but I felt to go was necessary. The order to advance was in my pocket; I had the utmost confidence in the troops, and go I did. Whatever were the obstacles and difficulties I had to apprehend, I hesitated not to move on, with stout hearts and without a murmur on the part of the men. We overcame all impediments, and walked an efficient force up to those towers of which we gained possession on the 26th of April. Had the Scindes faced us in the field, they would have been punished for their temerity. The troops desired nothing better than a fair fight, having marched so far for it.

With respect to Ghuznee, it was unnecessary for him to enter into any details, but there was one point, and a very important point, which had not been alluded to;—namely, the conduct of the troops after they had forced their way into the place. That conduct did them the highest honour. There was no instance of improper conduct, of complaint to the commander-in-chief, and females had been respected to the utmost possible extent, a circumstance almost unprecedented, and which entitled the troops to the highest praise. It was with great delight that he found his noble and gallant Friend uphold the character he had obtained under the great captain of this country.

Mr. Hume

had much pleasure in concurring in this vote, and he looked back with great satisfaction upon the manner in which the whole expedition had been conducted. He believed that it was an expedition more likely to be beneficial to India than any which had previously taken place. Having seen the lamentable results of inefficient attempts to carry out great arrangements, he thought the conduct of Lord Auckland was marked by the greatest wisdom, inasmuch as he had assembled an overwhelming power to carry his design into execution. Besides, much of the success of the expedition was owing to the ample manner in which the necessary supplies had been provided. He had served thirty-five years ago in India, with some of those regiments which appeared to have distinguished themselves, and he knew that it was a matter of complaint among such men that their brave and gallant actions were not sufficiently valued at home. He believed the Indian army had not received the full meed of approbation for their gallant conduct; and he was therefore gratified by the unanimous vote of approval which the House was about to pass. He thought Lord Auckland's conduct eminently entitled him to be included in the vote. With regard to the anxiety of the right hon. Baronet opposite to know the state of the revenue, he was satisfied that when the accounts were produced, heavy as they must be, yet, considering the effect produced upon the whole of India, the expense would be found in reality enonomical.

Sir De Lacy Evans

rose to express his entire concurrence in the vote, at which he felt much gratified. With regard to the expediency including the Governor-general in the vote, he had only one observation to make. He had the honour of listening to the illustrious Duke, whose authority was admitted on all hands to be the highest that could possibly be alluded to, when he was expressing himself upon this subject. In the warm and strong expression of his approbation and admiration for the conduct of the expedition, the noble Duke's expression had been at least as strong, if not stronger, in reference to the Governor-general, than to the general officers, or troops concerned in it. If there was no precedent for including the Governor-general in the vote, this was a very good time to establish one, for there never was a time when the good conduct of a Governor-general or of a civil authority was more conspicuous.

Sir Robert Peel

should be sorry to do injustice to Lord Auckland. He should regret if it were supposed that he had expressed any doubt of the zeal or activity of Lord Auckland. He only doubted the policy, upon principle, of including a civilian in a vote of thanks to military authorities. He objected to including the Governor-general, as he should object to including a Secretary of State. For instance, Lord Bathurst, by his attention to military supplies, might have been largely instrumental in obtaining the successes in the Peninsula; but he should have objected to including him in such a vote of thanks, on the general principle that a civilian ought not to be included in thanks to officers for a military exploit. He did not doubt the personal good conduct of Lord Auckland, or that he had been distinguished by the utmost attention to those preparations which fell within his province.

Sir J. C. Hobhouse

said it was quite unnecessary for him to say a word, after the unanimous approbation with which the proposal had been received. He would not have risen, but that the hon. Gentleman seemed to imply that he had himself expressed some doubt of the policy of Lord Auckland. He had not expressed any doubt of the kind. It was his intention to have said, that if ever the opportunity should occur, he would be prepared to take his share in the defence of the policy of the expedition.

First and second resolutions carried unanimously.

Upon the third resolution, conveying the thanks of the House to Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton and the other officers, being put,

Sir Henry Hardinge

said he thought he heard the right hon. Gentleman speak of Brigadier-General Sale by the title of brigadier-general. He believed that gallant officer had led the storming party at Ghuznee, and distinguished himself, as he always did, in a most eminent manner. He believed it was the usual practice to thank general officers by name, and therefore begged to know whether the name of Brigadier-General Sale was to be included in the resolution. He did not know whether he was in order; but he was obliged to advert to the point now, because the resolutions had not been made known to the House, as he thought they ought to have been, before that night.

Sir J. C. Hobhouse

said he had originally intended to include the names of all the general officers, not only that of Brigadier-General Sale, but those of General Wilshire and General Thackwell, but he was afraid of making some mistake by leaving out the name of any officer who might be entitled to be mentioned. He thought it safer, therefore, to put only the name of the second in command.

Sir Henry Hardinge

said that after the battle of Waterloo all general officers had been thanked by name. He attached great importance to the point. Every officer, under the circumstances, thought it a high honour to himself and his family to have his name mentioned, and he should therefore, strongly recommend that the resolution should include the names of all the general officers present at the capture of Ghuznee, or within hearing of the guns.

Sir J. C. Hobhouse

said there would be an inconvenience in making a distinction between the votes of that House and those come to by the House of Lords. Every one must have been aware of the nature of the resolutions from having seen those agreed to by the House of Lords. It would not answer to include in the resolution the names of those only who had been present at Ghuznee, because the resolutions applied to all concerned in the expedition.

Sir R. Peel

thought it would be awkward to come to a different conclusion from the House of Lords. At the same time, to draw a distinction between truly brilliant services, as those performed in India, and others performed in Europe, might create dissatisfaction. Perhaps the better course would be, first to follow the precedent of the House of Lords, in passing these resolutions, and afterwards that both Houses should specifically mention the names of the general officers.

The third and other resolutions unanimously agreed to.