Lord Castlereagh,in rising to propose that a monument should be erected to the memory of the late sir Edward Pakenham, assured the House, that whatever delay had taken place in proposing the present vote, was to be attributed only to an anxiety not to infringe those roles by which the proceedings of Parliament in cases of this nature had hitherto been guided. The general principle had been to connect with records and tributes of this nature something of a successful issue to the occasion on which the individual had fallen, or had acquired distinction. There were, however, he had discovered, exceptions to this rule, and he was far from thinking that the present instance was not one in which the exception ought to be allowed. Monuments had sometimes been voted where Parliament had not previously expressed their approbation by a vote of thanks; and if this had ever occurred, he could conceive no reason why that honour should not be decreed to a soldier, distinguished on so many memorable occasions, and whose whole short but active career had been passed in the highest schools of his profession. He was generally admitted to be not only a good disciplinarian and an exact regimental officer, but to possess all those endowments of mind which were essential to the more important duties of command. After having acquired great reputation in the West Indies, where he was twice wounded, he applied to be sent to the Peninsula, though in very bad health, 614 where, from the period of the battle of Talavera, he rendered the most important services to his country. He should afterwards have the honour of moving a similar resolution with respect to generals Gibbs and Gillespie. He should now move, "That an humble Address be presented to his royal highness the Prince Regent, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions, that a monument be erected in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, to the memory of Major-general the honourable sir Edward Pakenham, knight of the most honourable Order of the Bath, who fell on the 8th of January last, in an attack upon the enemy's works in front of New Orleans, in commemoration of his eminent and distinguished services; and that this House will make good the expense attending the same."
§ General Gascoynebore testimony to the gallant behaviour of general Pakenham, who, when first struck, had advanced within thirty yards of the fort, which was the only difficulty which remained to be surmounted; he was then struck by a ball, and being about to mount a horse which was brought him, he was struck by another ball in the spine, which terminated his valuable life. He hoped there would not be a dissentient voice on the question.
Mr. Wynnsuggested the propriety of entering the several votes of thanks of the House to general Pakenham, to the number of six, which having been done, the motion was unanimously agreed to.