§ MR. DISRAELIMr. Speaker—I rise to move that the Thanks of this House be given to those who planned and accomplished one of the most remarkable military enterprizes of this century. When the invasion of Abyssinia was first mooted it was denounced as a rash enterprize, pregnant with certain peril and probable disaster. It was described, indeed, as one of the most rash undertakings which had ever been recommended by a Government to Parliament. The country was almost unknown to us, or known only as one difficult of access and very deficient in all those supplies which are necessary for an array. Indeed, the Commander of this Expedition had to commence his operations by forming his base on a desolate shore, and by a creating a road to the land he was invading through a wall of mountains. Availing himself for this purpose of the beds of exhausted torrents, he gradually reached a lofty table land—wild and for the most part barren—frequently intersected with mountain ranges of great elevation, occasionally breaking into ravines and gorges that were apparently unfathomable. Yet, over this country, for more than 300 miles, the Commander-in-Chief guided and sustained a numerous host, composed of many thousands of fighting men, as many camp followers, and vast caravans of animals, bearing supplies, more numerous than both. Over this land he guided cavalry and infantry, and—what is perhaps the most remarkable part of the Expedition—he led the elephants of Asia, bearing the artillery of Europe, over African passes which might have startled the trapper and appalled the hunter of the Alps. When he arrived at the base of this critical rendezvous, he encountered no inglorious foe; and if the manly qualities of the Abyssinians sank before the resources of our warlike science, our troops, even after that combat, had to scale a mountain fortress, of which the intrinsic strength was such that it may be fairly said it would have been impregnable to the whole world had it been defended by the man by whom it was assailed. But all these obstacles and all these difficulties and dangers were overcome by Sir 523 Robert Napier, and that came to pass which ten years ago not one of us could have imagined even in his dreams, and which must, under all the circumstances, be an event of peculiar interest to an Englishman—the standard of St. George was hoisted on the mountains of Rasselas. If we turn from the conduct of the Expedition to the character of the person who commanded it, I think it must be acknowledged that rarely has an Expedition been planned with more providence and executed with more precision. In connection with it everything seems to have been foreseen and everything supplied. It would be presumptuous in me to dwell on the military qualities of the Commander; but all must recognize, and all may admire, the sagacity and the patience, the temper and the resource, invariably exhibited. I shall, however, perhaps be justified in calling attention to the rare union of diplomatic ability and military skill in the conduct of Sir Robert Napier. Indeed, I do not think a public man has ever shown more discretion than he has done. Had it not been for his management of men—not merely in the skilful handling of his troops on an exhausting march, but in the way in which he moulded the dispositions of the Native Princes—the result might have been different. And he moulded them to his purpose without involving his country in any perilous contract or engagement. Under these circumstances, I am sure the House will heartily offer and vote its Thanks to this distinguished man. It has been said by the greatest soldier who ever flourished—at least in modern times—that the Thanks of the House of Commons were a compliment the most appreciated by military men, and that, next to the favour of their Sovereign, the acknowledgment of their services by Parliament was the reward which they most valued. I have no doubt that Sir Robert Napier is influenced by those feelings; but the House of Commons at this moment will remember that this is not the first time, nor even the second, that it has offered to him its thanks. Happy is the man who has been thrice thanked by his country! By his splendid achievements in Abyssinia, Sir Robert Napier has only fulfilled the promise of the plains of India, and consummated his exploits on the Chinese field. It is, I may add, not the least interesting part of our business this evening to recognize the merits of another great 524 branch of Her Majesty's forces. The army and navy have rarely acted together in the history of this country without successful results; but there have been, I think, few instances in which they have mutually assisted each other more effectually, and in which their combined exertions have been attended with greater success than in the Abyssinian Expedition. I need not remind the House how much depends on the skill and efficiency with which the transport of troops and stores is conducted in such an undertaking. But I may recall to the recollection of the House, in order that they may clearly understand them, the very great difficulties attending the Expedition in that respect, and the admirable manner in which those difficulties were surmounted. The number of vessels employed amounted to no fewer than 300, some of great tonnage, collected from all parts of Her Majesty's dominions, yet all brought at the right moment to the right place, under the superintendence of Commodore Heath. The exertions of the Navy were not, however, limited merely to this important branch of the public service. The unknown waters of Abyssinia were buoyed and lighted with a promptitude and certainty which cannot be too highly praised, and which were of the utmost importance; and it was mainly owing to the great exertions of the Navy that water, on which the success of the Expedition greatly depended, and the want of which for a moment threatened the successful accomplishment of the Expedition, was supplied. The building of the piers and the establishing of condensing machines were mainly owing to the exertions of the Navy, who on all occasions showed the utmost willingness to devote their labours to the success of this great enterprize. But it was not to the mere transport of troops, not to the mere buoying and lighting of Annesley Bay, nor the mere condensing of water that the duties and labours of the Navy were limited. They equipped and manned a most efficient corps, which took a very active part in the invasion of Abyssinia—the Rocket Brigade. They were present on that great march during which Sir Robert Napier handled his troops with so much dexterity—a march requiring so much endurance on the part of our forces—and they joined in that critical operation the scaling of the fortress of Magdala. Therefore, under these circumstances, the House will offer its most 525 Cordial and grateful Thanks to Commodore Heath, who commanded the naval force. In acknowledging the great services of the distinguished man who was the chief Commander of the Expedition, and of the eminent officer who commanded the Navy, we must not be unmindful of the conduct of the men, both in the Army and the Navy. I think we may fairly say that the conduct of the troops and sailors was alike complete and admirable. There have been instances, no doubt, of rapid marches and triumphant fields, which have occasioned greater sensation at the moment, in the history of modern times; but if you look to the exhibition of military virtue, I doubt whether the qualities of patience, endurance, and good temper, manifested under the most trying circumstances, have over been more fully exemplified. I doubt whether the force of disciplined man was ever more successfully asserted. There was shown that gallantry on which we can always count, and which enables our forces to meet any dangers and difficulties; but what was most admirable was the endurance and docility which were exemplified by the troops, and which enhanced the glorious result of the operations. The House therefore will, I am sure, acknowledge in a manner most grateful to the men both of the Army and Navy its sense of their services, and will take means by which that sense shall be made known to them through their respective commanding officers, making mention to each regiment the opinion of the House with reference to their services and conduct. There are many distinguished officers whose services they must also shortly acknowledge, and whose names were inserted in the Resolution. Before concluding, I would venture also to congratulate the House, not on the conduct of the Expedition, of which I have already treated, but on its character. When it was first announced that England was about to embark on a most costly and perilous Expedition merely to vindicate the honour of our Sovereign and to rescue from an unjust but remote captivity a few of our fellow-subjects, the announcement was received in more than one country?with something like mocking incredulity. But we have asserted the purity of our purpose. In an age accused, and perhaps not unjustly, of selfishness and a too great regard for material interests, it is something, in so striking and significant a manner, for a great nation to have vindi- 526 cated the higher principles of humanity. It is a privilege to belong to a country which has done such deeds. They will add lustre to the name of this nation, and will beneficially influence the future history of the world. The right hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing the Resolutions.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I believe it is my duty to second the Motion which has been made by the right hon. Gentleman and this is certainly an occasion on which the performance of such a duty must be regarded in the light also of a rare privilege. Indeed, Sir, if it were the custom of this House, as it is not, on any occasion to dispense with forms, and to give effect to its feelings, in the manner of some assemblies, by the method of acclamation, I believe that acclamation is perhaps the mode in which it would be most gratifying to us all to make known our decision on the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman. The right hon. Gentleman has described with great felicity of expression, and, so far as I can judge, without the smallest exaggeration, the general character of this Expedition, from which it derives its title to a place of no very common order in military history. I do not, of course, mean to claim for it—nor would it be wise to claim for those who have been engaged in it—precisely the same kind of fame as attaches to occasions in which desperate conflicts have been waged with equal or nearly equal force between nations or between armies alike possessed of all the resources of modern warfare. But we have lived into a time in which, if it cannot be said of the soldier, it must be said of the commander, that mere fighting, however arduous the task, mere tactics, and mere strategy have become, perhaps though still vital and essential, yet almost secondary parts of the qualities required to make a successful general. And it is in this department, which relates to the conflict that had to be carried on by Sir Robert Napier, with Nature, with distance, with climate, with all the diversities and difficulties presented by one of the most peculiar portions of the earth, with the civil government of the Army, with the provision made for every want, that this Expedition presents to our view a history alike complete and satisfactory. There is, indeed, something tame and feeble in the language of uniform and unbroken eulogy, and yet the occasion does not permit us to adopt any other language. We may look at what 527 has occurred with reference to the Commander, with reference to the officers by whom he was so ably seconded, with reference to the soldiers who moved and acted under their orders, and lastly with reference to the Government at home. The right hon. Gentleman has abstained from claiming any peculiar praise for the Government at home; but I am bound to say that we are indebted to them for the wise choice of the Commander. We are indebted to them, and we are indebted to those with whom they may have taken counsel, for the unbounded confidence they reposed in the abilities of the object of their choice; for the unsparing liberality with which, on deciding the difficult question of facing these great risks, they made the whole resources of the country available for the purposes that wore in view; for the care and forethought with which, so far at least as I am able to judge, all the necessary provisions were made. Here it would not be more than justice, I think, to distinguish among the Members of the Government that Minister who necessarily must have been charged with the chief share of the responsibility and labours of the Expedition—I mean the Secretary of State for India; and lastly, we are indebted to the Government for the firmness and decision with which, from first to last, they persisted—acting therein, I must say, in accordance with public opinion and the enlightened mind of the nation—in confining the operations of this Expedition to its legitimate purpose, and in refusing to be led beyond the line of duty and wisdom by any visions, however flattering and seductive. We have been permitted to gain on this occasion what may be called an almost tearless victory. Perhaps I shall not be going too far from this subject if I uttter a word of regret for the fate of Colonel Dunne, the only field officer who lost his life, though not by direct military operations, and who proved in the deadly charge at Balaclava the courage with which he was endowed, who received from the hands of his Sovereign the Victoria Cross, who sought active service as commander of his gallant regiment, the 33rd, which made the assault on Magdala; and who found a grave in the country to which he accompanied the Expedition, and a place of honour in the recollections of his fellow-citizens. But, though we know that all have done their duty well from first to last, it is impossible not to dwell with a peculiar interest on this special occasion on the 528 character of the man whose name first appears and most prominently in the Motion now made. Without him it might have been possible that great things might have been achieved; but there is a completeness in the work achieved that we cannot do otherwise than connect in a special manner with the special qualities of his mind and his capacity. Without him we scarcely could have hoped that this Expedition would stand upon record among those occasions when nations resort to the bloody arbitrament of war, as one in which not one drop was added to the cup of human suffering which any humane forethought could spare, and in which the severest critic, in reviewing the proceedings, will find nothing to except to in regard to the military, political, and moral aspect of the proceedings. No man can read the despatches of Sir Robert Napier, and especially the despatch circulated for our information to-day, without seeing that, after we have given him the praise of being a Commander apparently consummate in meeting every demand made on him for military qualities, there is something which remains beyond—there is the mind, firm of purpose, never losing for one moment its thorough balance, and among all anxiety and excitement, keeping an eye steadily fixed on moral aims, and remembering, under all circumstances, the duty of keeping and maintaining, untainted and in virgin purity, the honour and character of his country. Nor can anyone become acquainted with Sir Robert Napier—and we must all feel we become acquainted with him when we read his interesting, his manly, his simple, and his modest account—without feeling that we part from the consideration of the subject not only with gratitude and admiration of the General, but with respect, with regret—I would almost say, with affection—for the man. Sir, I reecho the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman, and I value highly the privilege that falls to me of seconding the Motion he has made.
Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That the Thanks of this House be given to Lieutenant General Sir Robert Napier, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., for the exemplary skill with which tic planned, and the distinguished energy, courage, and perseverance with which he conducted the recent Expedition into Abyssinia, resulting in the detent, by Her Majesty's Forces, of the Army of King Theodore, and the vindication of the honour of the Country, by the rescue from Captivity of Her Majesty's Envoy and other British Subjects, and by the capture and destruction of the strong Fortress of Magdala.529Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That the Thanks of this House be given to Commodore Heath, R.N., C.B., for the indefatigable zeal and great ability with which he conducted the Naval Operations connected with the Transport of the Troops and Stores, upon which the success of the Expedition materially depended.Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That the Thanks of this House be given to Major General Sir Charles Staveley, K.C.B., Major General G. Malcolm, C. B., Major General E. L,. Russell, Brigadier General W. Merewether, C.B., and the other Officers of the Navy and Army, for the energy, gallantry, and ability with which they have executed the various Services which they have been called on to perform throughout these arduous operations.Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That this House doth highly acknowledge and approve the discipline, gallantry, and endurance displayed by the Petty Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Navy and Army, both European and Native, during these operations; and that the same be signified to them by their respective Commanding Officers.Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do communicate the said Resolutions to Lieutenant General Sir Robert Napier, and that he be requested by Mr. Speaker to signify the same to Commodore Heath, R.N, C.B., Major General Sir Charles Staveley, K.C.B., Major General G. Malcolm, C.B., Major General E. L. Russell, Brigadier General W Merewether, C.B., and to the several Officers of the Navy and Army who served in the said Expedition.—(Mr. Disraeli.)