The Speaker acquainted the house, that he had received from admiral the right hon. lord Gambier, the following Letter, in return to the Thanks of the house, signified to him, in obedience to their commands of Thursday last:
"Sir; I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 29th inst. in which you inform me, that you are commanded by the house of commons to communicate to me their Resolutions of Thanks for the services performed by me, and the Fleet under my command, on the late Expedition to Copenhagen, transmitting to me at the same time authenticated copies of those Resolutions, and requesting of me to signify the same to vice admiral sir Henry Edwin Stanhope, rear admiral Essington, rear admiral Keats, and the several captains and other officers referred to therein.—In answer thereto, I beg leave to assure you, that this signal mark of approbation which the house of commons has been pleased to confer upon the officers, seamen, and marines, late under my command, and upon myself, has impressed 191 my mind with a deep and lasting sense of so highly distinguished an honour; and I am at a loss for terms to express how highly gratifying it is to my feelings.—I shall lose no time in communicating the Resolutions of the house of commons to the admirals, captains, and other officers referred to therein, and shall desire the captains and commanders to make the same known to the officers, seamen, and marines under their command. I must beg of you, sir, to accept my most cordial thanks for the honour of your Letter, and the obliging terms in which you are so good to express yourself towards me therein. I have the honour to be, &c. GAMBIER. Admiralty, 30th Jan. 1808."
Major general the hon. Edward Finch, major general Thomas Grosvenor, and major general the right hon. sir Arthur Wellesley, being come to the house, the Speaker acquainted them, that the house had, upon Thursday last, resolved, That the Thanks of this house be given to them for the zeal, intrepidity and exertion which they displayed in the various operations which were necessary for conducting the siege, and effecting the surrender of the Navy and Arsenal, of Copenhagen. The Speaker gave them the Thanks of the house accordingly, as follows:
"Major general Finch, major general Grosvenor, and major general sir Arthur Wellesley; This house, contemplating the services performed by his majesty's Army on the late Danish expedition, and applauding the zeal, intrepidity, and exertion displayed by the general officers employed in the reduction of Copenhagen, has conferred upon them the high honour of its approbation and thanks; a higher reward this house has not to bestow. In distributing these honours, it is at all times matter of just pride and satisfaction to this house, to behold within its own walls any of those distinguished persons whose merit has raised them to this eminence.—But I should indeed be wanting to the full expression of those sentiments which animate this house and the whole country, if I forbore to notice, that we are on this day crowning with our Thanks one gallant officer, long since known to the gratitude of this house, who has long trodden the paths of glory, whose genius and valour have already extended our fame and empire, whose sword has been the terror of our distant enemies, and will not now be drawn in vain to defend the seat of empire itself, and the throne of his sovereign.— 192 I am charged to deliver the Thanks of this house to you all, and I do accordingly thank you in the name of the Commons of the United Kingdom, "for your zeal, intrepidity, and exertion, displayed in the various operations which were necessary for conducting the siege, and effecting the surrender of the Navy and Arsenal, of Copenhagen."—Upon which.
Major general Finch said "Mr. Speaker, I beg leave most respectfully to return you my thanks for the obliging and very flattering terms in which you have communicated a resolution of the house, which reflects such high and distinguished honour on every individual included in it; allow me, sir, (if I may judge from my own feelings) to assure you and the house, that nothing can make a stronger impression on the mind of any one devoted to the service of his country, than to know that any act of duty, in which he may have had even an humble part has been thought worthy of the notice and approbation of this house."
Major general Grosvenor then said, "Mr. Speaker; It is impossible to have communicated to me, in my place in this house, the high and distinguished honour, such as I hold the thanks of parliament to be, without exciting in my breast feelings and sensations such as I am unable to suppress. Sir, the proudest recompence, the most valuable remuneration, a soldier can look to as a reward for public service, is the thanks of his country. When I consider my own humble services, I feel oppressed and overcome as it were by the value I cannot but attach to the communication you make me; and the more open, sir, to this feeling, impressed as I am with the handsome and flattering manner in which you have been pleased to convey the vote of the house to my brother officers and myself."
Major general sir Arthur Wellesley said; "Mr. Speaker; I consider myself fortunate that I was employed by his majesty on a service which this house has considered of such importance, as to have marked with its approbation the conduct of those officers and troops who have performed it. The honour which this house has conferred upon my honourable friends and myself, is justly considered by the officers of the navy and army as the highest which this country can confer; it is the object of the ambition of all who are employed in his majesty's service, and to obtain it has doubtless been the motive 193 of many of those acts of Valour and good conduct which have tended so eminently to the glory, and have advanced the prosperity and advantage of, this country. I can assure the house, that I am most sensible of the great honour which they have done me, and I beg leave to take this opportunity of returning you, sir, my thanks for the handsome terms, respecting myself, in which your kindness to me has induced you to convey the resolution of the house."
Captain sir Home Popham being conic to the house, the Speaker acquainted him, that the house had, upon Thursday last, resolved, That the Thanks of this house be given to him for his cordial and effectual co-operation with the land forces during the siege of Copenhagen, and for his indefatigable activity and exertions in equipping the Danish navy for sea, and effecting the embarkation and removal of the naval stores from the arsenal at that place. The Speaker then gave him the thanks of the house accordingly, as follows:
"Captain sir Home Popham; The prompt and able distribution of his majesty's fleet, during the late important expedition to the Baltic; the zeal and intelligence displayed by his majesty's naval forces in supporting the operations of the besieging army; and their subsequent exertions on compleating the service upon which they were employed; have obtained the approbation and thanks of this house. Amongst the gallant officers of that fleet, whose names have been honoured with this high distinction, I have to congratulate you, that yours also stands recorded. And I do now accordingly, by the command of this house, give their Thanks to you, "for your cordial and effectual co-operation with his majesty's land forces during the siege of Copenhagen; and for your indefatigable activity ands exertions in equipping the Danish Navy for sea, end effecting the embarkation and removal of the naval stores from the arsenal at that place."—Upon which
Sir Home Pohanm said; "Mr. Speaker; I beg, leave, sir, to express through you to this honourable house, my most profound sense of the notice it has been pleased to take of my humble participation in the operations of the late expedition to Copenhagen. No man, sir, can be insensible to the distinction which this house has conferred upon the Army and Navy on the present occasion; no man prizes that distinction higher than the value I set upon it; and I beg leave to assure the 194 house, as the only tribute of gratitude which I can offer, that it shall be the first principle of my life, regardless of all consequences to myself, to promote, by the full exercise of my poor faculties, the service of our much esteemed country, and the glory of our virtuous sovereign. With the manner which you have conveyed this honourable testimony of approbation I am most deeply impressed; and I beg leave to offer you my sincere and very grateful acknowledgments."