DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

HL Deb 11 May 1814 vol 27 cc813-8

The Earl of Liverpool

said, in rising to propose an Address to the Prince Regent, in answer to the Message sent to their lordships' House, on the subject of a national grant for the support of the dignity and honours of the dukedom of Wellington, so little did he expect any opposition, that he might, in that view of the question, content himself with a bare statement of the nature of the grant which it was intended to submit to their lordships consideration at the proper period. But though he did not think it necessary to dwell at any great length on this topic, he could not, in justice to his own feelings, pass it over without a few observations.

Their lordships must be well convinced, that the present times must form a grand epoch in the history of this country. If they now looked back upon the times when the reputation of the armies of this country was at the highest, with just exultation,—if they regarded those periods as the great epochs of the history of this country,—they would naturally reflect that the present times would be regarded with similar feelings by their latest posterity.

It would be in the recollection of their lordships, that no very long space of time had elapsed since it had been supposed by some, and had been industriously held out by the enemy, that the warlike character of this country was confined to one element. It had been tauntingly said, that they did not dare to leave their ships and meet the enemy on land on equal terms. It had been thought that our military rank had decreased in proportion to the increase of our commerce; and that, though our naval strength had, on account of its connection with our commerce, reached a height which it had never before attained, our military prowess on land had from the same causes visibly declined. How erroneously they had judged who had entertained his notion, was now abundantly manifested. They had seen, that by the unshaken perseverance of this country; by the splendid talents of the illustrious person who had commanded our armies; by the admirable skill with which he had employed the means placed in his hands; by the good conduct, valour, perseverance, and abilities of those who had been engaged with him in this great work;—they had seen, that, by all these qualities and circumstances combined, the military character of the British nation, by land as well as by sea, had been raised to a pitch of renown equal or superior to that which it had ever before at any period attained, not inferior to that which had been gained by any nation of the world.

In considering this subject, they were naturally led to look back to the period of the Succession War. No man who considered the dangers which had been averted by the duke of Marlborough, and the genius with which he had adapted the means placed in his power to the object for which he contended, could help paying the highest tribute of applause to the memory of that eminent commander. But, whether they considered the dangers which had now been averted, the talents displayed, or the renown which had been gained, they must be convinced that the glories even of that brilliant period of British history had not only now been equalled, but even surpassed. He was far from undervaluing the service which had been rendered to the country in checking the ambitious projects of Louis 14; but when he considered the events of the times in which we lived; when he had seen the whole of Europe nearly subverted; when he saw Spain and Portugal, the last spoils of the invader, nearly overrun; when he looked over the whole face of the European continent, and hardly saw any thing but France; when he reflected that the salvation of the civilized world was to be contended for in two corners of the peninsula, within the lines of Torres Vedras and the limits of Cadiz—he was compelled to state his deliberate conviction, that a greater service had been done to this country, and to Europe, than ever had been rendered by any of our commanders during the most admired periods of our former history. There was no comparison, as to the dangers averted, between our own times and those of the duke of Marlborough. Their lordships would then advert to the renown which had been acquired. He had already stated, that no one could rate higher than he did the ability and services of the duke of Marlborough. The manner in which he commanded in the field the skill and talent which he displayed in keeping the confederates together, and in turning their exertions to the best account, justly entitled him to rank among the greatest captains of any age or nation. He (lord Liverpool) knew how few had commanded with so much success,—that he never fought a battle which he did not gain—never laid siege to a town which he did not take. He knew the magnanimity which he had evinced, the difficulties which he had to encounter, and the harmony and concert which his talents had maintained. But Marlborough had been opposed to Louis 14 in the decline of his power, when his most eminent officers were dead or unemployed, and when marshal Villars was perhaps the only very great general with whom he had to contend. Let their lordships then look at the duke of Wellington, opposed to Buonaparté in the plenitude of his power, with not only France, but Italy, and the greater part of the peninsula, at his command. Their lordships might remember what was the state of Europe four years ago, when Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, nay the whole continent almost, was on the side of France, when nothing remained of Europe, except Great Britain and the spacé'within the lines of Torres Vedras and the limits of Cadiz. Let them consider the situation of the civilized world at that period, and then look at the advance of the duke of Wellington from Torres Vedras in 1810; let them follow his steps to Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajoz, and the brilliant exploits there performed; let them then follow his course in those operations which closed with the battle of Salamanca; let them next trace his steps to Vittoria; see him deliver Spain and Portugal from the oppressor; carry the war into the invader's own territory, and at last plant the British standard in Bourdeaux. Let them look at all this, and say whether the renown which was gained had ever been exceeded or equalled at any former period of our history. Let them, in addition to all this, consider the glorious example thus given to other nations; that example which had been followed with so much success, and had led to the deliverance of the whole of Europe.

If ever there was an occasion which called for some distinguished exertion of national munificence, some mark not only of the approbation of the sovereign, but of the applause and gratitude of parliament and the country, it was this, He was aware that he had done but little justice to this glorious subject—but little justice to his own feelings: but in speaking on such a subject at all, he could not do otherwise than say so much, though aware that he should have no opposition to encounter. He should now proceed to state to their lordships the particular nature of the grant which was proposed to be made. It was to be brought, forward in the shape of a Bill, and, as their lordships knew, must originate in another place. It was intended, then, in addition to the parliamentary grants already bestowed on the duke of Wellington, to make a further grant of 10,000l. a year, secured upon the Consolidated dated Fund. This annuity would be attached to the dukedom; but, as it might be desirable that it should be laid out in the purchase of some considerable landed property, a provision would be introduced, giving an authority to lords commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury to advance a sum, not exceeding 300,000l. to the duke of Wellington, for the purchase of any estate he might think proper. In proportion as these 300,000l. were advanced, or any portion of that sum, an equal portion of the annuity would be subtracted; so that if the whole amount were paid by the lords commissioners, the pension would be then cancelled. It was thought better to entrust this to the lords commissioners of the Treasury, than, to any commissioners appointed by act of parliament; as little advantage had been found to result from the appointment of commissioners both in the case of lord Nelson, and the former grant of 100,000l. to the duke of Wellington. This 100,000l. a year, in addition to the 4,000l. a year already granted by parliament upon the Consolidated dated Fund, and the 100,000l. would make the whole amount of parliamentary allowances bestowed upon the duke of Wellington about. 17,000l. per annum. His lordship then concluded with moving an Address to his Royal Highness, on the occasion of his most gracious Message; assuring him that their lordships would cheerfully concur in measures to enable his Royal Highness to make the provision therein required.

The Address being read;

The Earl of Darnley

observed that by the few words he should say he meant not to interrupt the unanimous vote to which the House was about to proceed. Without wishing to enter into any comparative view of the merits of the great Juke of Marlborough, whom he regarded as one of the greatest military and political characters that ever existed, he would express his approbation of the proposed arrangement, as one likely to meet the wishes of the Country, and to be satisfactory to the illustrious object of it. Still he would recommend some more substantial and lasting monument of the public gratitude, and one calculated to illustrate the memory of those who so gloriously fell in the battles of their country; and the noble lord seemed to think, that grants so conferred should not be calculated so much for the gratification or advantage of the individual, as for a manifestation of public gratitude.

Earl Stanhope

considered the statement of the noble earl who moved the Address, relative to the recent danger of Europe, as very correct; and it was matter of exultation, that they had not only annihilated the conquests, but had destroyed the power, of one of the vilest tyrants that ever existed, who made war merely for the pleasure of carrying it on, and for the purpose of making military establishments to injure mankind. He approved of the intended grant to the duke of Wellington, which he thought he richly deserved. But the best monument of national gratitude, he thought, would consist in neither lands nor houses. They should recollect that lord Wellington had under his command soldiers—English, Scots, and Irish; and they were the men, in conjunction with his superior talents, who gained all his victories. Their future situation and comforts should be attended to. Among these soldiers, too, were many Catholics, who, now that the danger was over, should not be suffered to continue the objects of exclusion or oppression. Their lordships ought now to proceed to do justice to the Catholics, not in the spirit of prejudice, but with a prepossession in their favour. Great numbers would now be paid off; and it was the duty of their lordships to protect the soldiers and sailors who had fought their battles from those worst of human beings, pettifogging attornies, which their lordships would have an opportunity of doing by supporting his Bills.

The Earl of Lauderdale

expressed an opinion, that it would be far preferable to have the sum of 300,000l. as proposed for the purchase of lands, taken from the Sinking rather than the Consolidated Fund; and this he thought would be a more marked compliment to the illustrious ob- ject of the grant, as it would form the only instance of an issue of the kind from the former.

The Duke of Norfolk

concurred in the eulogies upon the merits of the illustrious duke; and adverted to the situation of the numerous sailors and soldiers who would thereby be thrown oat of employment, whose cases ought, as far as it was practicable, to be considered. Though he greatly wished that meritorious and gallant officers should meet with due honorary rewards, and he particularly estimated the professional characters of those on whom the honours of the peerage were recently conferred, yet he deprecated too extensive or frequent an addition to the members of that House, as militating against the principles of the constitution. He adverted to the long interval since the highest rank of the peerage was conferred; but expressed his satisfaction at the Prince Regent's having selected one so highly worthy of the honour as the duke of Wellington, as the first instance during so long a time. He highly approved of the proposed grant, and were the amount larger he should not object to it; but he thought the property so given should be secured, for the support of the high dignity conferred; and therefore was of opinion, that the estates should be entailed, with a reversion to the crown on failure of issue; and he hoped that when the Bill was in its progress, some provision or bar to that effect would be introduced.

The Address was then voted by the House, nem. dis.