§ Lord Ashburtonwho seemed nearly overcome by his feelings, spoke as follows:—My Lords, I hope your Lordships will permit me to take this, the earliest opportunity which has been afforded to me, of making my acknowledgments to your Lordships for the resolution which, by the minutes and proceedings of your Lordships' House, I observe your Lord-ships passed on Friday last. This resolution so flattering to myself, personally is rendered still more valuable by its recording the expressions of your Lordships' satisfaction, that the Treaty which it has been my good fortune to conclude, "is alike advantageous and honour- 819 able to both parties," and at the restoration of a good understanding which it is alike the duty and the interest of both Countries to maintain Unbroken, because I consider such language calculated to promote that good understanding. Expressions so full of wisdom and sound policy delivered by such a body the Peers of this kingdom cannot fail to hare a great effect in producing that consummation which is so much desired. My sense of the great importance of effecting a settlement of those Unfortunate differences which had gradually grown up between the two countries was my great inducement to undertake the task imposed upon me without perhaps sufficiently considering my ability for so important an undertaking. I have, however, the good fortune, in the performance of those duties, of meeting with the approval Of my Sovereign and her Ministers, and I have now to add my acknowledgments for the almost unprecedented honour of the approbation of your Lordships' House. It is quite impossible for me to assure your Lordship how deeply sensible I am of that honour. In countries in which free Governments are established—such as we and the people of America have the happiness to live under—it is natural that questions of this importance should be discussed with great freedom; and that has been the case with the treaty which it has been my business to execute. Although I trust that the conditions are such as are likely to be conducive to the future maintenance of peace between the two countries, and to have effectually, and fairly, and honourably settled the questions which were in dispute. I must fairly assure your Lordships that the more minute questions of more or less of boundary, which have been the subject of so much discussion both on this and on the other side of the Atlantic weighed in my estimation very little in comparison with the larger question of effecting a settlement which should be satisfactory to men of honourable minds in both countries, and which would contribute to the conviction that the arrangement had been one of honourable terms, and of equality, between two great countries, and which could in that way alone be likely to be permanent and final. It is not my intention to go at all into any questions connected with the subject of those transactions; but I must again express to your Lordships the deep sense I entertain of 820 the honour of that approbation which you have been pleased to express, and which is the highest reward that I could possibly receive for the humble effort which I hate made in the service of my country.
§ The Duke of WellingtonI am sure the House will hate heard the speech of the noble Lord with satisfaction. I consider it my duty to move that the subject be entered on the journals of the House.
§ Motion agreed to nem. con