THANKS TO THE MARQUIS OF WELLINGTON. (Hansard, 24 March 1814)

§ Earl Bathurst

said, although he could not anticipate the slightest opposition to the motion he was about to propose, he still thought it right to make an observation, for the purpose of shewing the grounds upon which he called for that testimony of the approbation of the House, conveyed in their thanks, for the eminent service recently performed by the marquis of Wellington. His lordship then adverted to the difficulties which lord Wellington had to encounter, in making good the passage of the Adour, observing that they appeared almost insurmountable. They arose from the width and rapidity of the river, and the incessant rains which had swollen it and all its tributary streams, and rendered all the roads nearly impassable. The only means of passing it was by a bridge of boats; and when it was considered that the river was 400 yards in width, it would at once be seen that the difficulty of crossing it was of no ordinary nature. The bridge of boats, when formed below Bayonne, was in danger from the garrison sending down floating timber, which might destroy it; and to prevent which, as far as possible, recourse was had to a very strong boom and rafts, in order to secure the bridge from any attempt of this kind. In addition to these difficulties, the French army was strongly posted, in number nearly 40,000 men, and commanded by an officer of distinguished talents. The British army was of nearly the same amount. Fortunately, however, the weather cleared up about the middle of the month of February, and continued fair till all our operations were completed. His lordship then described the movements which took place, as mentioned in the Gazette Extraordinary, which led to the battle of Orthes on the 27th ult. and terminated in the defeat of Soult; noticing also the successful exertions, under many difficulties, of rear admiral Penrose, and the officers under 347 him, in at length clearing the bar of the Adour, and the passage of that river above Bayonne by sir John Hope, to the great astonishment of the people of the country, who had conceived it impossible. In the action at Orthes, though many valuable officers unfortunately fell, and were wounded, there were only two of high rank wounded, excepting the wound received by lord Wellington, which, had it been deep or severe, would indeed have clouded the most brilliant victory this country ever gained. One immediate and beneficial result of the battle of Orthes was, the capture of two of the enemy's magazines at Mont Marsan and Aire, which Soult considered of so much importance, that it was believed their preservation was a principal inducement to him to fight that battle. Their possession by our troops was of great importance; as by the setting in again of the rains almost immediately after the action, by which the Adour and its different streams were excessively swollen, they would otherwise have been at a loss for supplies. After his defeat, Soult had the option of either retreating upon Bourdeaux, or leaving the road to that city open. He chose the latter; and lord Wellington having sent sir William Beresford with a detachment to occupy Bourdeaux, they entered the city, and were received with every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants. The occupation of Bourdeaux, in a military point of view (and in no other way did he mean to speak of it at present), was of the greatest importance; it gave our army the command of supplies, of many necessaries, conveniences, and comforts, which they could not otherwise have procured; and it besides greatly facilitated the communication with this country; an object of essential advantage, as the previous channel of communication had been found, particularly at this season of the year, extremely dangerous, several vessels having been lost in attempting the passage. Under these circumstances, he could not doubt that the House would vote the Thanks for which he was about to move. He was perfectly ready to admit, that it was not merely a brilliant action that was now entitled to that high honour. Six years ago when victory appeared a stranger to every standard in Europe except that of France, it became highly expedient to court the first advances to victory on the part of this country; but now a series of splendid 348 successes had not only crowned the British arms, but those of our allies. It certainly was not the mere brilliancy of an action that entitled it to the thanks of the House; as, however our gratitude might be due, that gratitude ought to wait upon our judgment. He was humbly of opinion, however, that in the present case, when the results of this action had been of so much importance, it was one evidently deserving the highly honourable testimonial of the Thanks of that House. His lordship concluded by moving the "Thanks of the House to field marshal the most noble Arthur, marquis of Wellington, K. G. for this additional instance of his consummate ability, experience, and valour."

§ Earl Grey

said, he did not rise to offer the slightest opposition to the motion with which the noble earl had concluded; which, on the contrary, had his most cordial and hearty concurrence. He could add nothing to the detail so properly given by the noble earl, and which so clearly established the importance of this last triumph of the illustrious commander whom they were now so justly called upon again to thank. He said the last triumph, because he trusted that the series of splendid successes which had raised the glory of the British arms to a height of renown unknown in any age or country in the annals of history, and the great and brilliant victories of our allies, would be finally crowned by a safe and honourable peace, to which our illustrious commander and the glorious army he had led would have so essentially contributed. He trusted, that the blood which had been so bravely and profusely shed might purchase a peace upon terms consistent with safety and honour, and founded upon just and equitable principles. The noble earl, in speaking of the occupation of Bourdeaux, had very properly confined himself to its importance in a military point of view; and upon that head there could not be a doubt of the essential advantages derived from the possession of that city; not only from the supplies thus afforded to our army, but from the facility given to the communication with this country, which was unquestionably of the greatest importance. Agreeing most cordially with the noble earl in these statements, he also perfectly agreed with him in the propriety of what he had abstained from stating. Other views, it was well known, had got abroad with respect to the occupation of Bourdeaux, and circumstances 349 had been stated which he rejoiced to find formed no part of the speech of the noble earl. With regard to those events, it was not now his intention to ask for any explanation; he left the subject, for the present to ministers, acting upon that responsibility which belonged to their situations, and which must, undoubtedly, attach to their conduct. The time would come, when all the circumstances connected with these events must be disclosed, and that would be the season for remark. At present, he knew his duty too well to this country, to Europe, and to the world, to embarrass questions which were pregnant with consequences of the utmost importance to the interests of mankind; and to interfere with which, prematurely, might be productive of incalculable evils.