Lords Sitting of 22 December 1806

MINUTES.
The earl of Aylesford stated, that his majesty had been waited on with the Address of that house, to which his majesty had been pleased to return a most gracious answer, thanking the house for their determination to concur in every measure which the exigency of affairs might require.—Lord Grenville presented, by his majesty's command, the Papers respecting the late Negociation. In moving, his lordship said, to fix a day for the discussion, it was his wish, with every regard for their lordships' convenience, that, on the one hand, sufficient time should be given for the consideration of this very important subject; whilst, on the other, that no longer delay should take place than was absolutely necessary, in the expression of the opinion of that house, with respect to the result of the negociation. His lordship concluded by moving, that the papers be taken into consideration on Friday the 2d of January.—Ordered.

BATTLE OF MAIDA—VOTES OF THANKS TO SIR J. STUART, &c.
Lord Grenville rose for the purpose of moving the Thanks of the House to sir John Stuart, and the officers and soldiers by whose valour the victory of Maida was obtained. His lordship said he had ever been of opinion that the high honour conferred by a vote of thanks of that house, ought to be reserved for great occasions; for deeds of valour of a superior description, for actions which tended to throw a lustre around the British name, or materially to benefit the interests of the country. Of this general description and character he conceived the instance to be on which he should presently move their lordships to come to a vote of thanks; and on that principle he proceeded—The case before them was most distinguishable for its display of heroic valour,
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and as tending to illustrate the position, that wherever the British troops had been equal in point of numbers to their adversaries, or even where they were not greatly inferior, that native and characteristic valour for which they were so eminently distinguished, failed not to display itself, and to secure the palm of victory. In this view, he knew not where, in all the military annals of this country, to look for a more signal or brilliant example than that which gave rise to his present observations. In viewing this operation, the first consideration that presented itself was the great disparity in the number of troops on the side of the British: these were considerably less than 5000 men. Of the enemy there were certainly many more. What was the result? that the number of killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, either in the action at Maida itself, or in its approximate consequences, considerably exceeded the number of the victorious army! He knew of no occasion which could more forcibly call upon them for the testimony of their thanks, by affording which the assurance would be held out to them, that while his majesty's troops were risking their lives and combating for their country, no part of that country was insensible to their merits, or would hesitate to express its grateful sense and approbation of them. Upon these grounds it was, that he then moved, 1st, "That the thanks of this house be given to major-general sir John Stuart, K. B. and also to the hon. brigadier-gen. G. Lowry Cole, and brigadier-gen. W. P. Ackland, for their gallant and meritorious conduct in the action with the French troops at Maida on the 4th of July last, and to the officers under their command. Secondly, That the Thanks of this house be given to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers serving under the same, for their bravery and good conduct, and that this vote be signified to them by the officers of the respective corps."—On the question being put, these motions were voted, nem. diss. and the thanks were ordered to be communicated to the general officers in the usual way.—The house then adjourned for the Christmas recess till Wednesday the 31st instant.