§ Mr. Grey (First Lord of the Admiralty) roseand said, that since he had the honour of a seat in that house, he had never risen to perform so agreeable a duty as that which was now imposed upon him. To say that he anticipated the unanimous opinion of the house, and their approbation of the motion he had to make, would be to express but coldly his feelings of the sense they entertained of that most meritorious and important public service which had been lately performed. In speaking of the success oldie brave sir J. T. Duckworth, and of those officers who had seconded him with so much gallantry, he could not speak, as heretofore, of a victory gained over a superior force of the enemy; but this circumstance did not in any degree lessen the merit of the brave admiral who commanded. The promptitude with which he left his situation at Cales, when he heard of the enemy's fleet being at sea; the skill that he displayed in taking a position to intercept them at the time they owed their escape merely to the superiority of their sailing; the arrangements that he made to pursue them; and the immediate resolution he formed upon his arrival at the West Indies to attack them, although they were reported to be much superior in number, were deserving of the highest praise. As he approached them, he learned that their squadron had been divided, which division will, in all probability, afford another occasion for a new triumph. The fleet with which he had to contend, were anchored near the town of St. Domingo; they at first endeavoured to escape, but when they found that 535 that was impossible, they made such a resistance as added to the glory of the brave admiral, and of the gallant officers who seconded him. The whole of the enemy's fleet were, after a short engagement, captured or destroyed. In whatever light this victory was considered, whether as adding to the naval glory of the country, or as affording an additional protection to its commercial interest; whether as giving increased means for the prosecution of the war, or for the future security of a peace; the grateful acknowledgements of that house and of the country were due, in the first place, to Providence, that had so often afforded its signal protection to the British empire; and, next to Providence, their thanks were due to those brave men, whose gallant exertions had achieved those victories which were the subjects of national triumph, and the causes of the security which was generally felt. Upon the present occasion, he thought he might venture to say, that those marks of royal approbation, which were generally given upon similar events, and which might now be expected, would not be withheld. He thought it would be unnecessary to detain the house, by making any further observations, and therefore concluded simply by moving the following resolutions:—1."That the thanks of this house be given to vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, knight of the most hon. order of the bath, for the distinguished valour, ability, and conduct shewn by him in the action with a French squadron on the 6th of Feb. last, when all the line-of-battle ships of the said squadron were taken or destroyed.—2. That the thanks this house be given to rear-admirals Cochrane and Louis, and to the captains and officers of the squadron under the command of vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth, who by their bravery and good conduct contributed to the success of that day; and that vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth do signify the same to the rear-admirals and the several captains and officers.—3. That this house doth highly approve of, and acknowledge the services of the seamen and royal marines on board the ships under the command of vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, in the victory obtained over the squadron of the enemy on the 6th of Feb. last; and that the officers commanding the several ships do signify the same to their respective crews, and do thank them for their good behaviour." These resolutions were carried, nem. con. and the 536 speaker was ordered to signify the same to vice-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth.