HC Deb 23 July 1846 vol 87 cc1382-3
MR. SPEAKER

acquainted the House, that he had received from the Right Honourable Lieutenant General Viscount Hardinge the following letter, in return to the Thanks of this House, communicated to him in obedience to their commands of the 2nd day of April last: And the same was read, as followeth:— Simla, May 25th, 1846. Sir—I have had the honour to convey to the Commander in Chief, Lord Gough, G.C.B., to Major General Sir Harry Smith, baronet, G.C.B., to the General Officers, Officers and Troops of the Army of the Sutlej, the Thanks of the House of Commons, which have been unanimously voted to them for the Victories of Allewal and Sobraon. This is the second occasion, during the same Session of Parliament, that I have had the good fortune to acknowledge, on behalf of the Army of the Sutlej, the high honour which has been conferred upon that Army by the House of Commons. This distinction, so promptly and unanimously bestowed by the Representatives of a free people. is a reward highly appreciated by their countrymen serving in a distant frontier of Her Majesty's Indian Empire; and, as regards our fellow subjects of the Native Army, the distinction is received by them as an honourable proof of their connection with Great Britain, by publishing to the people of this great Empire, that their faithful services are recognised and esteemed by their Sovereign and the British people. I return you, Sir, my best thanks, for the very handsome terms in which your kindness has induced you to convey to me the House's pleasure, and which I must attribute to your partiality, in recollecting that I have had with you, for many years, the honour of a seat in the House of Commons.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, "HARDINGE. The Right Hon. the Speaker, &c. &c.