HC Deb 23 June 1815 vol 31 cc980-9
Lord Castlereagh,

in rising to call the attention of the House to the last splendid triumph of the British arms, was at a loss to express the feelings which he experienced in common with all who heard him. On various occasions he had had the honour to address them on the exploits of that illustrious Commander, who was the subject of the motion with which, he should conclude; but never, even among the mighty achievements which had swelled our military renown, since that exalted character was placed at the head of our army, had it been his lot to submit to Parliament a proposition founded on an event so glorious as that which called for the expression of their gratitude this day. The present was a triumph of such a character, that, without disparagement, to those actions in which his great genius had formerly displayed itself, he might say of it—it had never happened, even to him, to confer so great a benefit on his country before. It was an achievement of such high merit, of such pre-eminent importance, as had never perhaps graced the annals of this or any other country till now; and when considered, not only with a view to the immediate loss inflicted on the enemy, but with reference to the moral effect which it must be expected to produce on the war now commenced, in the issue of which the fate of this country, of Europe, and the world were so closely bound up, it must be felt that it opened to our view a prospect so cheering, and so transcendently bright, that no language could do justice to the feelings it must naturally inspire. He sincerely felt this to be one of those instances in which the victory gained must be depreciated by the inadequacy of language faithfully to represent the vast service performed. He might, therefore, do best to abstain from offering any observations of his own, to introduce the vote which he had to propose, satisfied, as he was, that those to whom he addressed himself, would act from what their own feelings, their own understandings, and their own hearts suggested, and not upon any thing that might fall from him. But there were some distinguished features in this victory which he could not be content to pass over in silence. It must be felt, that there was in this case something in the situation of the hostile armies, which, without at all detracting from the high merit and military skill of the great commanders, who placed the allied force in the position it had occupied, gave the enemy a decided advantage in the first instance. The war not having actually commenced, though certainly it had been understood it was immediately to break out, had caused arrangements to be made different from those which might otherwise have been thought necessary. The combined armies, it had been found expedient to distribute where sustenance could most conveniently be procured. In the then situation of things, their policy was evidently to act on the defensive; and consequently the power which had to choose the period for acting on the offensive, must necessarily have an advantage over the Allies, from the extent of their line, in that part of it against which it might think fit to direct its first attack. This was unavoidable, as the enemy had the choice of the point on which be would commence his operations, and as the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blucher could not concentrate their forces without leaving a large portion of the frontier of the dominions of the King of the Netherlands open to the incursions of the French. This, without militating in the slightest degree against the skill of the commanders, necessarily gave the enemy, in the first instance, the advantage he had described. A person in the situation of Buonaparté, would naturally, and, he might say, properly consider, while contemplating the operations about to be commenced by the armies now assembling along the whole line of the frontier of the country under his control, that the course which it was for him to take, was that which he (Buonaparté) had determined upon taking. Whatever might be the risk of assailing the armies under the duke of Wellington and prince Blucher, it was obvious that if he could bring them into action before they could be supported by the armies advancing to co-operate with them, the chance of success would be greater than that which would remain to him after they had actually got up. Buonaparté considering this, had certainly formed his resolve with all that judgment and decision of character which belonged to him, when he determined on the forward movement that led to those operations which had terminated so gloriously for the British and their Allies. In considering the amount of the force by which the attack had been made, it should be remembered that besides the Imperial Guards, Buonaparté had under him the five most complete corps of the French army, and nearly the whole of its cavalry and artillery. It was but justice to the enemy to say, that in the actions which had taken place, they had fought with determined courage, and well sustained the renown they had acquired in former wars. This circumstance served but to add to the lustre of the triumph obtained, as it had been gained over an army composed of the most experienced and best disciplined soldiers in the world. The number of troops who had fought under Buonaparté could not be estimated at less than 130,000; and perhaps they would not be overrated if they were taken at 140,000. They certainly were the flower of the French army, brought together from all parts of Europe where they had been prisoners or otherwise dispersed, and concentrated for the purpose of making this first attack. They were in a high state of organization before the return of Buonaparté to France; and since his restoration to power during the last few months, every care and preparation had been accumulated upon them to add to their efficiency. It was obviously the design of the enemy to bring the whole strength of his army to bear on the Prussians and English, in the hope that striking one great blow against them before the other allied forces could get up, a most important object would be effected, and the hopes of the Allies so considerably diminished, as to give him advantages which he could not expect by other means to secure. It appeared that, in consequence of his being able to bring superior numbers against any one part of the line of the Allies, on the 15th he succeeded in forcing the Prussians back, and on the 16th, in consequence of the superior numbers which the enemy could bring against him, it had been thought advisable by prince Blucher to fall back upon Wavre, to strengthen himself by means of the approaching force of general Bulow. Notwithstanding the intrepidity for which the Prussians had always been distinguished, and with which they would ever fight under a commander so dear to them as prince Blucher, yet the French had advanced in such masses against them, that his posts had been driven in, and he had been forced to draw back his right wing. The whole of the operations of Buonaparté on that day were not directed against the Prussian army. Two divisions were sent against the English. These were met by a body of 10,000 men, and this small force had given an earnest of the exertions which were to be made by the army on this occasion, by repelling the attacks of the two divisions of Buonaparté's army, and maintaining their position till the close of the day. The duke of Wellington had, in the first instance, taken up a position before the commencement of operations on the spot on which he thought the battle ought to be fought. Marshal prince Blucher, however, having found it necessary to draw his right wing in closer, and to unite with the army under general Bulow, it became necessary for the English to fall back. In this situation things stood on the evening of the 17th, when Napoleon having, as he believed at the time, such an advantage over the Prussians, that it was unnecessary longer to direct so considerable a portion of force against them, totally changed the plan of his operations. He now sent but one division to watch the Prussians, and united the rest of his army on the neighbouring heights to act against the force under the duke of Wellington. From this statement the House would see more distinctly than it appeared from the dispatch of the British commander, who, from that innate modesty which distinguished his character, had not dwelt on the fact, that at this period he was immediately opposed to him who had been called the greatest Captain of his age—(Hear! Hear!) Though it was not generally known, this was the situation in which he had been placed, and in this situation for nine hours had he successively repulsed all the attacks made by the French army directed by Buonaparté in person. The powerful and often repeated efforts directed against him wholly failed. It was impossible for him adequately to describe the merits of this action. During the whole day the British line stood immoveable, and there was no species of heroism, or of military science, which could adorn a field of battle, which was not here displayed by the duke of Wellington,—(Hear, hear!) It would be invidious to make a distinction between the different troops engaged, where almost all displayed equal merit. Great, however, as that merit was, it was fit that he should remark, that with the exception of the English force, the army engaged might be called a green army, as those who composed, it had, for the most part, never been in action before. The greater part of the farce engaged had been newly levied, so that the duke of Wellington (with the exception of the English army) was at the head of troops almost wholly unaccustomed to war. The Allied army, from the very nature of its constitution, must have been more difficult to manage than an army consisting only of the troops of one nation. It was a young army opposed to the most experienced soldiers in Europe; and, besides, it was to be remembered, that 25,000 men under the prince of Orange, had been detached from the army on the 18th; and when the other deductions which had been made, were taken into consideration, it would be seen with astonishment, that the number of men who remained under the command of the duke of Wellington could not exceed 64,000.—He had described the course which had been taken, up to the moment when the British commander found himself able to act on the offensive. On this, as on former occasions, it was proper that it should be known how much we were indebted to the cordial assistance afforded by our Allies. On this memorable day, we owed much to the illustrious warriors of Prussia—(Hear!) Had they not done as they did, the duke of Wellington, consistently with those military principles by which his conduct was regulated, could not have acted on the offensive. Had not they shown themselves as they had done, to promise success if the attack should not be in the first instance unfortunate, to prevent disaster if it failed; the duke of Wellington would not have been able to lake that course which the energy of his mind prompted, and which was encouraged by the example of his person. It was painful to reflect that that invaluable life had been exposed to more danger than that of the meanest soldier. The common soldier had only his local duties to perform, but the duke of Wellington was every where in the beat of the action, and every where in the presence of danger—(Hear, hear!)—Having remained on the defensive for nine hours, the moment at length arrived when he saw there was a prospect of acting on the offensive with success. He then ordered the line to advance. The shock was irresistible—the French could not resist our attacks as we had resisted theirs; their ranks were broken—their first line thrown in disorder on the second; they were compelled to fly in the greatest contusion, and the English and their Allies became masters of at least (as he should suppose) half the artillery of the enemy. He apprehended such splendid trophies of victory had never before been captured under such circumstances.—What the final result might be, he could not yet say; but it was glorious to reflect that the duke of Wellington was enabled at the close of a day in which he had obtained a most splendid victory, to hand over the pursuit to the Prussian army, which, compared with the English or the French army, was fresh, and ready to receive the charge—(Hear, hear!)—The plan of Buonaparté, however completely frustrated, did not appear to have been unwise; for if he could not beat the forces under the duke of Wellington and prince Blucher while they were unsupported, he could have no hope of finding a more favourable opportunity when the Allied armies, now advancing, should have come up. Defeated by the valour and the military skill opposed to him, he was now thrown back upon France, and new strength was added to the Confederated Powers. The painful reflections which must be caused by the loss we had sustained, he would not enlarge upon on this occasion. The friends of those who had fallen, would have the best consolation that great and feeling minds could know under such a calamity. Their distress would be softened by the reflection, that their relations had laid down their lives in a cause the most just, and in achieving a victory, than which one more glorious never adorned the annals of this or any other country.—It might be unjust to particularize individuals, where all had deserved so well of their country; but some of the officers who had fallen in the late operations, were so particularly well known to the nation at large from their former services, that it was impossible for any man, who had even known nothing of them personally, to refrain from the liveliest expressions of sorrow on learning their fate. If, on this day, he did not call the attention of the House more particularly to them, it was because he was afraid, if he attempted to do so in the present instance, some names might unavoidably be omitted, which ought not to be overlooked. He would, therefore, now confine himself to the more grateful duty,—to that which was most exhilarating at the commencement of a new war like the present. He was happy to be enabled thus early in the contest to call upon the House to pay that tribute which they must feel they so deeply owed to the officers and men engaged in this glorious action, by recording the expression of their gratitude to them and to our Allies. The confederated soldiers who had fought under the duke of Wellington, the subjects of the king of the Netherlands, the Hanoverians, and the duke of Brunswick's corps, were entitled to the Thanks of that House, as well as our own countrymen; and the Prussian army had the same claims on our gratitude. He felt that any further attempt on his part to bring the subject under the consideration of the House, would be worse than useless, and would therefore conclude. The noble lord then moved,

"That the Thanks of this House be given to field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, for the consummate ability, unexampled exertion, and irresistible ardour, displayed by him on the 18th of June, on which day the decisive victory-over the enemy, commanded by Buonaparté in person, was obtained by his grace, with the Allied troops under his command, and in conjunction with the troops under the command of marshal Prince Blucher, whereby the military glory of the British nation has been exalted, and the territory of his Majesty's ally the King of the Netherlands, has been protected from invasion and spoil."

This motion was carried in the affirmative, nemine contradicente. [The Speech and Motion were followed by loud and long cheering.]

Lord Custlereagh

begged shortly to call the attention of the House to the distinguished merit of the prince of Orange, who stood first in the next Resolution he should have to propose. It was a proud reflection for Europe, that in that illustrious young warrior they had a soldier bred in the school, and in the principles of the duke of Wellington. He had already distinguished himself in war, and it was to be hoped that the whole course of his life would prove him true to those principles which he had received from that distinguished chief, and anxious to contribute in every possible way to the peace and happiness of Europe. To show that the sentiments of the prince of Orange had already produced the best spirit in the Netherlands, he referred to a letter which he had received from the Dutch Ambassador, in which it was stated, that nothing could exceed the good conduct and the fidelity of the Belgians to the cause of the Allies. He next took occasion to lament the death of the duke of Brunswick, who had died while fighting with that valour which he hoped would ever distinguish the princes of his illustrious House. He then moved,

"That the Thanks of this House be given to general his royal highness the Prince of Orange, Knight Grand Cross of the most honourable Military Order of the Bath; lieutenant-generals the earl of Uxbridge, K. G. C. B.; lord Hill, K. G. C. B.; sir Henry Clinton, K. G. C. B.; Charles baron Alten, Knight Commander of the most honourable Order of the Bath; major-generals sir Henry Hinuber, K. C. B.; sir John Ormsby Vandeleur, K. C. B.; Geo. Cooke, sir James Kempt, K. C. B.; sir William, Dornberg, K. C. B.; sir Edward Barnes, K. C. B.; sir John Byng, K. C. B.; sir Dennis Pack, K. C. B; lord Edward Somerset, K. C. B.; sir John Lambert, K. C. B.; sir Colquhoun Grant, K. C. B.; Peregrine Maitland, sir Colin Halkett, K. C. B.; Frederick Adam, sir R. H. Vivian, K. C. B.; and to the several Officers under their command, for their indefatigable zeal and exertions upon the 18th of June, when the French army, commanded by Buonaparté, received a signal and complete defeat; and that his grace the Duke of Wellington be requested by Mr. Speaker to signify the same to all the officers above named, except lieut, general sir Henry Clinton, K. G. C. B.; and major-general lord Edward Somerset, K. C. B.; they being members of this House."

This motion was carried in the same manner as the last. It was next resolved, nem. con.

"That this House doth acknowledge, and highly approve the distinguished valour and discipline displayed by the Non-commissioned Officers and private Soldiers of his Majesty's forces serving under the command of field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, in the glorious victory obtained upon the 18th of June; and that the same be signified to them by the commanding officers of the several corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant and exemplary behaviour.

"That the Thanks of this House be given to the General Officers, Officers, and Men of the Allied forces, serving under the immediate command of field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, for the distinguished valour and intrepidity displayed by them on the 18th of June; and that his grace the Duke of Wellington be desired to signify the same to them accordingly."

On the Resolution, "That the Thanks of this House be given to marshal Prince Blucher and the Prussian army, for the cordial and timely assistance afforded by them on the 18th of June, to which the successful result of that arduous day is so mainly to be attributed; and that his grace the Duke of Wellington be desired to convey to them the present Resolution,"

Sir Francis Burdett

did not mean to oppose the motion, but he wished to take that opportunity of saying a few words on a subject which he had much at heart. He concurred in all that the noble lord had said with respect to the great merit of the officers and men in our army; but there was one observation which had been made by him, that was of a tendency to create a difference of opinion, which on this occasion it was most desirable to avoid. He alluded to what had been said by the noble lord of the consolation which the relations of those who had fallen would derive from the justice of the cause in which those they mourned had fought. It would be invidious to go into this subject now, but he thought it was not fair in the noble lord to hold such language with respect to that on which he knew such different opinions prevailed, on an occasion like the present; when those who denied the justice of the cause, must either seem to acquiesce in the description thus given of it, or be compelled to appear unwilling to assent to the motion for a vote of thanks where it was so well deserved. Whatever opinions might exist on the justice and expediency, or the injustice and inexpediency of the present war, there could be but one opinion as to the merit of the English and their Allies in the late struggle—there could be but one opinion on the surpassing glory with which their efforts had on this occasion been crowned. What he would wish to propose was this, that the troops who had deserved so well of the country, should receive a more substantial reward than a vote of thanks, however great the honour might be of a vote of thanks from that House. He wished to lay in his claim for an amelioration of the present military system, and hoped, when the Mutiny Bill should be brought in next year, gentlemen would not think that the English soldier, who had deserved so much of his country, was the only soldier in the world for whom the degrading punishment of flogging was necessary. The hon. baronet sat down with expressing a hope that this subject would be attended to.

The motion was then agreed to, nem. con.