HL Deb 02 July 1868 vol 193 cc473-95

Moved, That the Vote of Thanks to the Army of Abyssinia take Precedence of the Orders of the Day: Agreed to.—(The Lord Privy Seal.)

THE EARL OF MALMESBURY

My Lords, if on the one hand I feel both pride and pleasure at finding it my duty to make to your Lordships a proposition so honourable alike to your Lordships' House and to those to whom it is addressed, on the other hand I know that the task has fallen into hands hardly worthy of the great occasion, and that it ought to have fallen to some other of your Lordships more competent to deal with it as it deserves. Therefore I must ask your indulgence while I shortly put before you the great events to which this Motion refers, and ask your Lordships to consider how fair and just it is to do honour to the Array of England and also to the Navy who have been employed by Her Majesty's Government on this occasion. My Lords, Sir Robert Napier himself says at the end of his despatch that "it is difficult to find words that can do justice to every arm of the service which has been employed;" and if he finds it hard to do so, far more difficult must it be for me—who have not been present during the operations, and can only judge of them by what I read in his despatches—to do full justice to the forces on this occasion. And here in passing I may remark that the despatches of Sir Robert shew that the use of the pen is as inseparable from the name of Napier as the use of the sword. My Lords, it is now five years since I was one of the first—if not the first—to direct your Lordships' attention to what was passing in Abyssinia. That is a long period for Englishmen to suffer under the cruelties of a barbarous savage; but, if anyone is ready to find fault with our forbearance during that long time, he must recollect that it is always the duty of the strong man to bear patiently with the weak, and, until his insolence becomes intolerable, to refrain from any violent measures. But, my Lords, at last this conduct on the part of King Theodore did become intolerable—intolerable to the feelings of humanity, and intolerable to our feelings of honour as an independent country; and in the year 1867 my noble Friend (the Earl of Derby), being then Premier, determined to chastise this half-educated savage. My Lords, in this he was supported by public opinion; and although no doubt there were some hesitation and some apprehension entertained both in Parliament and out of Parliament as to the difficulties that would have to be encountered, and as to the success of the Expedition; yet on the whole the country received with indulgence all that the Government intended to do, and displayed the same spirit and confidence in British energy which it has always shown on like occasions. And, my Lords, no confidence of that sort was ever justified more completely and rapidly than by the results of this Expedition. Sir Robert Napier, if he had within him—which he has not—the epigrammatic bombast of Italian conquerors, might quote the three Latin words which Caesar used to describe his own victory "Veni, vidi, vici." He might have done so had his nature been the same; but I need only allude to his despatches to show how modest and how simple that nature is. Well, my Lords, it is remarkable that this Expedition was crowned with a rapidity of success of which I think there is hardly another instance. Lord Stanley's despatch to the Emperor Theodore informing him that war would be declared against him was written on the 16th of April, 1867, and on the 13th of April, 1868, Magdala was taken and the Emperor was no more. Exactly one year passed between the despatch of the Foreign Secretary of State, threatening Theodore with the vengeance of England, and the execution of that vengeance. Sir Robert Napier landed on the 3rd of January at Zoulla, and in exactly 100 days finished the war. My Lords, I need hardly say more in favour of the Commander-in-Chief than by putting that simple fact before your Lordships. When this Expedition was determined upon by Her Majesty's: Government your Lordships are aware that the Bombay Government was intrusted with the management of the whole matter; and, taking it in the historical order of affairs, I must say that great credit is due to Sir Seymour Fitzgerald, who, under the advice of Sir Robert Napier, organized the Expedition in Bombay. Nothing could have been done with more sagacity, with more promptitude, or with greater judgment than the whole arrangement and organization of this Expedition under these two able men. Many of your Lordships have known Sir Seymour Fitzgerald in this country, and I for one can testify to his ability and industry when he was under me in the Foreign Office. I am, therefore, not at all surprised at the credit he has gained by the management of the arrangements and the organization of the Expedition. My Lords, Her Majesty's Government gave full powers to Sir Robert Napier to act in every respect as he thought fit, to determine as he pleased, and to act entirely upon his own judgment; and, my Lords. I think the event has proved how very important it is on such occasions, when you find a competent man, that you should give him as much liberty of action as possible. My Lords, the composition of the army was very remarkable. It consisted of men of different nations and of different creeds. There were Mahomedan and there were Christian troops; there were Christian Sepoys, there were Beloochees and Hindoostanees; but this army, though of such different materials, was bound together by so solid a chain of discipline that throughout the whole campaign the utmost cordiality prevailed in every part of the force. Doubtless, my Lords, we owe much of this cordiality and good feeling to the character of Sir Robert Napier, who commanded them. It may not be out of place to mention some general facts respecting the organization of the Expedition, independently of the troops. There were 23,600 animals, exclusively of forty-two elephants, employed. The ships of various sorts numbered 231, with a tonnage that amounted altogether to 209,600 tons. And when we speak of the forty-two elephants that were employed, we cannot help observing that no such use has been made of those intelligent and magnificent animals since the days of Hannibal. In India they are used in a champagne country, and more for draught than carriage; but in this instance, when mortars and artillery of 18cwt. were put upon their backs, they showed an activity in climbing those dangerous and slippery paths over the mountains that astonished even the Indian officers who had seen them at work in their own country.

My Lords, I now come to the Resolulutions which I have to move, and I think it better to read them at once. My Lords, I propose to your Lordships to resolve— That the Thanks of this House be given to Lieut.-General Sir Robert Napier, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., for the exemplary Skill with which he planned and the distinguished Energy, Courage, and Perseverance with which he conducted the recent Expedition into Abyssinia, resulting in the Defeat by Her Majesty's Forces of the Army of King Theodore and the Vindication of the Honour of the Country by the Rescue from Captivity of Her Majesty's Envoy und other British Subjects, and by the Capture and Destruction of the strong Fortress of Magdala. That the Thanks of this House be given to Commodore Heath, R.N., C.B., for the indefatigable Zeal and great Ability with which he conducted the Naval Operations connected with the Transport of the Troops and Stores upon which the Success of the Expedition materially depended. That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Charles Staveley, K.C.B., Major-General G. Malcolm, C.B., Major-General E. L. Russell, Brigadier-General W. Merewether, C.B., and the other Officers of the Navy and Army for the Energy, Gallantry, and Ability with which they have executed the various Services which they have been called on to perform throughout these arduous Operations. That this House doth highly acknowledge and approve the Discipline, Gallantry, and Endurance displayed by the Petty Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Navy and Army, both European and Native, during these Operations; and that the same be signified to them by their respective Commanding Officers. My Lords, I think no further tribute of praise need be paid by me to Sir Robert Napier than is embodied in these Resolutions; but, passing for a moment the other officers engaged, I will ask your Lordships to recollect that General Slaveley was the officer who first arranged a base of operations at Zoulla, and being afterwards sent to the front, commanded the troops that fought the battle in front of Magdala, and was present at its capture. Let me also remind your Lordships that General, Malcolm had command of the chain of communication between Zoulla and the most advanced posts of the army, and though he and the officers under him were not present at the taking of Magdala, yet their services were equally im- portant; for the communication here was like the chain attached to the anchor of a ship—if one link were broken, the army, like the ship, would be destroyed or at least be in the greatest danger. This communication was maintained with the utmost possible energy and intelligence, and was of the greatest importance in securing the safety of the advance. And now I would also mention the name of Major General Russell. Sir Robert Napier was most anxious that he should receive by name the Thanks of Parliament for his services, and Her Majesty's Government have thought proper to yield to that desire. Major General Russell was taken from his post at Aden at the request of Sir Robert Napier, who speaks of his services in maintaining the base of operations at Zoulla as of the greatest value. The name of Brigadier General Merewether is more familiar to your Lordships. From the very beginning, and, indeed, before the Expedition landed, he showed the greatest intelligence in maintaining what are called "political relations" with the various tribes and chiefs, first upon the coast and afterwards inland; and Sir Robert Napier speaks of his services also in the highest terms. Nor ought we to omit the great services of the navy on this occasion. The services of Commodore Heath and the other officers employed are spoken of by Sir Robert Napier in these words— I am very happy in this opportunity of saying how cordially Commodore Heath has conducted the naval duties of the Expedition in connection with the army. The spirit of their commander has been emulated by the officers and men of the Royal Navy under his orders. The labour under a hot sun of landing supplies and water, and re-embarking troops, followers, and cattle has never, for a single day, ceased since the arrival of the first transport in Annesley Bay.…Greatly, too, are we indebted to Captain Tryon, R.N., the able Director of Transports, I may also mention the name of Captain Edye, of Her Majesty's ship Satellite, who rendered most useful assistance in superintending the distillation of water for the army. In that country it is impossible in the dry season to find a sufficient quantity of water for the troops, and the distillation of water, therefore, became a point of vast importance. Not the least agreeable part of my task is to ask your Lordships to acknowledge the discipline and gallantry of the Petty Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Army and Navy. No campaign ever showed more conspicuously the energy of British troops, and their constancy in enduring the privations and overcoming the natural difficulties of the country. Their labours were immense. Sir Robert Napier in his despatch describes them as all working with the spade, every regiment being furnished with tools; and I think we shall never again hear, as we have so often heard before, that the English soldier can only fight, but cannot dig, and is incapable of throwing up intrenchments like the soldiers of other armies. Again, the march of the 45th Regiment is one of the most extraordinary on record. Having been detained in the rear, and being anxious to come as soon as possible to the front, they marched 300 miles in twenty-four days, and accomplished seventy miles in four days over a pass 10,500 feet high. The exploits of the cavalry appear to be equally admirable. We can easily understand what a difficult country Abyssinia is for horses; and yet Sir Robert Napier described the manner in which the cavalry behaved as most extraordinary considering the obstacles they had to encounter in such a mountainous country. I have mentioned the names of the gallant Generals who have led our troops to victory; and I should now like to mention two names of another class in our force—the names of Drummer M'Guire, and Private Bergin of the 33rd Regiment, who were the first two men at the storming of Magdala. Nor was the humanity and good conduct of the troops throughout the Expedition inferior to their courage and endurance. Sir Robert Napier says— Not a single complaint has been made against a soldier of having injured or wilfully molested either property or person. My Lords, I do not believe that of any army in Europe or in any other part of the world could the same be said. As your Lordships are aware, Magdala was taken, and finding himself in a desperate condition—believing, perhaps, that the same cruelty which he had inflicted on others would be exercised towards him—this savage King put an end to his life with his own hand. The atrocities he had perpetrated were such that I think there cannot be a single person who would extend to him the slightest compassion. The cruelties he committed within three days of his death are too horrible to be repeated; but, if anybody doubts that the monster was unfit to live, he has only to study the first part of the Papers laid on your Lordships' Table, and I would refer more particularly to page 693 for a description of horrors almost incredible. I believe that, here and there, it has been objected that, when once King Theodore had given up the captives, an attack on Magdala was unnecessary. It has been suggested, no doubt from kindly motives of humanity, that Sir Robert Napier might have accepted the submission of Theodore instead of deciding to storm his fortress, and in this way put an end to his existence. But there can be no greater mistake than to suppose that such a course would have been pursued without risk of very great misfortune. In the first place, it is almost certain that if he had been left there with the whole or with any considerable part of his army still under his command, when we had begun our retreat in that very difficult country—a retreat almost as arduous as the advance, except that we then had to make no roads—the King, with the little faith to be found in barbarian rulers, would have attacked or have harrassed our troops as long as he could have done so. There was another reason why Sir Robert Napier could not adopt such a course—namely, that in his advance he had obtained the support of the chiefs of the country on the understanding, and a thorough confidence on their side, that he would put an end to the tyranny of King Theodore, who was as hateful to them as he was to ourselves. We should, therefore, have broken faith with those chiefs who supported us in our advance to Magdala if we had not destroyed the power of Theodore. One more criticism has been made very often during the progress of the Expedition by amateur soldiers, and that is that it was extravagantly large. Now, I think, that even if you had not received the statement of Sir Robert Napier himself to the effect that he had not one man too many, it would still have been evident that, looking at the long chain of communication, extending over 400 miles through that difficult country, from the coast to Magdala, it would have been impossible to have employed a smaller force with a fair prospect of success, or to listen to suggestions made that the prisoners might have been rescued with a couple of flying squadrons of cavalry. That has now been shown to have been wholly impracticable. I will allude to one point more, and that is the very small loss of life which has occurred during these operations. In other wars, we know how heavy has been what is called "the butcher's bill," and we know what numbers have generally perished by the sword and. by disease. But there seems to have been a special Providence over this army, and it is not unbecoming to say that the justice of our cause and the crimes which called for punishment from us may have brought upon our army the Divine blessing, without which no science and no gallantry will avail. The army feels, and justly feels, that a debt of gratitude is due to the illustrious Duke who sits upon the cross-Benches. All are aware of the assistance he rendered, and the zeal he showed in prosecuting this Expedition to a successful end; and I have myself heard the strongest expressions of the value of his co-operation. It is with pride and pleasure I hand these Resolutions to the Lord Chancellor; and I am assured they will be accepted by your Lordships with the same readiness and satisfaction that I feel in proposing them.

The Resolutions having been read by The LORD CHANCELLOR,

EARL RUSSELL

My Lords, it gives me great pleasure to second the Motion which the noble Earl has proposed, and to express my concurrence in all the remarks he has made. The noble Earl has stated that on the 16th of April, 1867, the Expedition was resolved upon, and that on the 13th of April last Magdala was taken; and I may odd that on the 2nd of July we have the Expedition wholly completed, and we have welcomed on his return the gallant General by whom it was so ably commanded and have now only to vote our thanks to our officers and troops for their successful conduct of the enterprize. My Lords, I quite agree with the noble Earl that it was right to show forbearance before we resorted to the dreadful issue of war and the uncertainty of military operations in an unknown and inhospitable country. I, therefore, think it was right to postpone until the time when the Resolution was taken the determination to undertake this Expedition: and I also think that determination was come to exactly at the right time, when forbearance had reached its utmost limits, and there was nothing left for us to do but to vindicate the honour of the country. We can all rejoice now that that honour has been vindicated in so triumphant manner. The noble Earl referred, in the next place, to the preparations that were made for the Expedition; and I think that to all the Departments of the Government that were concerned—to the Foreign Office, which carried on the communications with the Emperor Theodore; to the Indian Department, which was charged with the necessary preparations; to the War Department, and to the Department of the Commander-in-Chief—the Thanks of this House and of the whole country are due for the manner in which they performed the duties that devolved upon them. Then, again, when the Commander-in Chief was to be named, the Government acted at once with prudence and justice; for, having ascertained from authentic sources the character of Sir Robert Napier, they selected him and confided to his discretion the details of the manner in which the Expedition was to be carried out. Next we have to admire, through the period over which the Expedition has extended, the harmony that has prevailed among all the Departments of the Army concerned in carrying on the operations. The infantry, the cavalry, the artillery, the transport corps, and the pioneers all acted in harmony, and performed their duties in such a manner as to contribute to the achievement of the great result. And what is it which brought to bear upon bodies of men of this kind of many different nations, and trained in very different schools, distributed over a long tract of country—some of them Natives of it—makes them all act in harmony, and with that common purpose which conduces to success? It is due to the influence of the single mind which commands; and in this case it was the character of the man at the head of the Expedition which produced harmony, inspired confidence in all who followed him, and made them confide at once in his decisions, and do all in their power to carry out his purposes. I need not enter into any of the details of the Expedition, because Sir Robert Napier has narrated in the most simple, the most modest, and, at the same time, in the clearest language all the operations which he directed. I will only say that to all the brilliant achievements of the British Army in times past, I am glad that we have in our times added one other not less brilliant; that we have added another to the roll of those names which carry our military fame over the world. There might have been greater difficulties to overcome; there might have been greater obstacles to be surmounted; there may be some gallant officers and some brave men who may lament that the resistance was not greater, that there were not more military exploits to be performed, and that there was no long siege to be undertaken; but, for my own part, when I consider the purpose for which this Expedition was undertaken, I think it a merciful interposition of Providence that no cruel act was committed against the prisoners to induce us to prolong the campaign, which was undertaken with the desire to carry it no further than was necessary to effect their release. I feel quite sure—and every man in this country feels quite sure—that, whatever number of assailants had come against the British Army, whatever difficulties of marching they had had to surmount, their courage and their endurance would have overcome them all. I must say we ought to be most thankful that this Army, without having had such obstacles to surmount, has succeeded in rescuing the unfortunate men and women who had been so long kept in captivity, and that it has returned to this country without great loss of life by climate or by war. With regard to the last catastrophe of the war, it is a happy thing the Emperor Theodore did not attempt any further retreat; and, as for the loss of his life, I must say it is a benefit to mankind that such an odious monster should be removed from the world. I therefore beg permission most cordially and heartily to second the Motion of the noble Earl. This Motion concerns only the military and naval authorities, who were engaged in the war, all of whom deserve the Thanks proposed to be given to them; and although it does not come within the scope of the Vote of Thanks, I may add that I think the Government—for the determination they took, for the time at which they took it, and for the preparations they made for the Expedition, deserve the acknowledgments of the House and the country.

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE

My Lords, your Lordships may naturally and reasonably expect that I should address some observations to the House on this subject, and I do to with a satisfaction which is rarely experienced, because I believe I may say, without fear of contradiction, that in the whole course of this Expedition there has not been a single military step taken, which may not be considered a success and a triumph. I admit that these are strong terms, which may be thought to have a more appro- priate application to those stirring and brilliant military exploits which have often illustrated our history; but the triumph which has been achieved in the case of this Expedition is the result of sustained energy and unremitting endurance, as well as of courage; and may, therefore, claim its own special distinction. From the gallant General, who commanded, down to the youngest drummer, there has not been one man in the Army, who, from the day he landed to the day he re-embarked, did not devote his whole energies, physical and mental, to the service of his country. Success has been achieved in a most remarkable degree; and that success has been achieved by overcoming difficulties, and by contending with dangers, which nobody foresaw to the extent which were afterwards encountered. I have observed it has been occasionally said that the General might have been more rapid in his movements, and more pressing in his attack; but, so far from that being a charge against him, it is a proof of his talent and capacity, that he did not listen to advice—the very natural advice—of those who were not so cognizant as he was of the nature of what he had to do; and that he was not to be so far carried away as to attempt that which he was not assured he could accomplish, but would wait until the moment arrived when he knew he could attain his object, and then strike a blow with vigour. It is to the exercise of this discretion we owe the happy result of the Expedition. Such, in few words, are the qualities that have given distinction to the General who carried on these operations, whose anxiety of mind must have been great. At various stages of his advance he found himself called upon to diminish the comforts of the troops, to diminish their rations, to dispense with camp followers, and to leave behind various stores and necessaries ordinarily carried by an Army; and these sacrifices were made in order to attain the object in view; and I hope your Lordships will think he has attained it with no more bloodshed than in the performance of strict duty be was called upon to incur. I know it has been said he ought not to have done more than rescue the prisoners, and that having obtained them, he ought to have retired, without making any further demand. But I venture to think your Lordships will agree with me in saying that as a General, he could not have done that. As it was, even after the death of Theodore, and the destruction of Magdala, and the dispersion of the followers of Theodore, there was considerable difficulty in protecting the return of the Army from the dangerous and wild tribes of the country through which it had to pass. If therefore, Sir Robert Napier had not struck the blow home—if I may use the expression—if he had not entirely broken up the nest of robbers who had recognized the authority of Theodore, it is to be supposed that the forces might have been exposed to very serious dangers, which might have resulted in the General returning with a shattered, instead of a perfect army. It was, therefore, necessary that Sir Robert Napier should do what he did before he retraced his steps. It has been commented upon as singular that the force sent to Abyssinia was not under the immediate control of the Government Departments of this country, but was placed under the Indian Government. When Her Majesty's Government did me the honour to consult me as to how the war should be conducted, and asked me for my opinion on the subject, I could not for a moment hesitate to say that one thing was quite clear—namely, that the Government must allow the Expedition to be planned by one authority and one authority only. The question then arose as to what that authority should be—whether it should be at home or in India. My Lords, I ventured to suggest that it should be in India, and for the simple reason that an expedition of that kind could not be undertaken without employing a very large proportion of Indian troops. It was, therefore, much more reasonable and wise that the whole conduct of this war should be in the hands of an Indian authority, instead of being confided to anyone at home. Moreover—and perhaps this is the most important point of all—it had been decided by Her Majesty's Government that Sir Robert Napier was to have the supreme command of the Expedition; and it therefore appeared to me that there could be no doubt that the General officer who was to command the Expedition was the proper person to have the sole and undivided responsibility of making all the requisite arrangements. I think the result of this experiment—if I may so term it—should be a lesson to us. It is quite evident that when any great operation of war is being planned you must place the greatest reliance in the officer upon whom you intend to confer the honour of commanding the troops. Of course, it is natural, and, indeed, essential, that he should act in cordial co-operation with the authorities; but it is above all essential that he should be the ruling and directing spirit of the operations—that they should take their impress from him, and he will be stimulated to the exercise of his best energies by the knowledge that in the event of failure the responsibility will be his, Depend upon it that is the proper way to conduct such a military operation, and I do hope that the lesson which we have learnt upon this occasion will not be lost upon us should it hereafter become necessary to undertake an expedition of a similar kind. I wish also to point out that the Expedition has shown us how necessary it is to keep in a state of efficiency certain establishments, without which the Army cannot act. It is a very remarkable circumstance that at the beginning of this contest we were all of us—including, I believe, Her Majesty's Government, and certainly myself—considerably alarmed that the delay consequent upon our want of transport would render it doubtful whether the Expedition could be brought to a close with safety. There was no transport corps in India at all, and therefore everything had to be improvised. I may, perhaps, be allowed to mention that at a more distant period I experienced the same inconvenience; and it is evident that if we do not keep up at least the nucleus of a transport establishment in time of peace we shall find it very difficult suddenly to improvise one in time of war. The zeal, however, with which the officers of the Indian Army worked in order to form an efficient transport corps was quite remarkable. Sir Robert Napier told me this morning, when I had the pleasure of shaking hands with him, how zealously the officers of the transport corps, brought together from every part of India, worked to produce those results on which we are now able to congratulate ourselves. He told me of one officer, whom he met at Zoulla, wearing a "wide-awake," and looking extremely tattered and shattered, but whose only object was to get his forty or fifty mules to the proper place. Any officer of the British Army would, I am sure, be willing, in order to promote the success of an expedition, to enter into services which were somewhat different from the duties of the special corps to which they may happen to belong. I am certain that every officer, from the highest to the lowest, has worked very hard in this Abyssinian Expedition. To add anything to what has been already said of the conduct of Sir Robert Napier would be quite superfluous on my part; but I cannot refrain from saying that this distinguished man, who has shown himself so competent to command and to express in suitable terms the exploits of the force under his orders, is at the same time one of the most simple, modest, and unassuming men I ever met. After seeing him this morning, the impression left on my mind is that he is an officer who thought nothing of himself, and everything of the troops under his command. I hope I may be also permitted to say that while I share in the feeling of your Lordships with regard to the ability of Sir Robert Napier, and the high merits of Commodore Heath, Major General Sir Charles Staveley, Major General Malcolm, Major General Russell, Brigadier General Merewether, and the other Officers, I cannot but express my admiration of the extraordinary determination, endurance, and vigour displayed by the Non-commissioned Officers and Men, many of whom were Natives. It should be borne in mind that these Native troops really vied with the European troops in the performance of their duty. They performed their duty as conscientiously and as well as the Europeans, and I am sure that both Natives and Europeans richly deserve their share of that praise and commendation which your Lordships, the House of Commons and the country have bestowed upon the Officers. In reference to the very slight assistance which I may have given to the Expedition, I can only say that I certainly did my best to give it every support in my power, and that in doing so I received the cordial support and assistance of all the Departments with which I had occasion to communicate.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, though this Expedition was planned and the troops were supplied by the authorities in India, yet there were certain supplementary services which were rendered by the Departments under the control of the War Office, and which have been recognized by Sir Robert Napier in his despatches. For instance, there was the Topographical Department, which has constructed from very scanty materials an excellent map of the country. The Royal Engineers also sent out a body of instructed men—telegraphers, signallers, photographers, and well sinkers, whose services were of the utmost value, while the Arsenal at Wool- wich designed and constructed two small batteries of artillery. An order was likewise received at Woolwich to provide 8,000 baggage animals for delivery at Suez in the short space of three months. From our experience in the Crimea it was at least doubtful whether they could be supplied in the specified time but, nevertheless, the task was undertaken, and in consequence of the zeal of the various officers, successfully accomplished. I regret to say, however, that one valuable life was lost. Colonel Clark Kennedy, who was sent to Egypt to superintend the arrangements, died of a disease which was caused, or, at any rate, greatly aggravated by the anxiety consequent upon the duties which he had to perform. He was an officer of high reputation, and had served with distinction in India and China, and was as much distinguished by his energy and activity in peace as in war, and was doubtless known to many of your Lordships on account of the active part he had taken in the Volunteer movement. As the representative in this House of the Department with which I am connected, I beg to add my cordial congratulations to the gallant General and to the forces under his orders, and I will add the expression of my sympathy for the relations of those—fortunately few in number—who have lost their lives in the Expedition. In India, when it was reported that the troops would be furnished from one Presidency, the troops in the other Presidencies also at once remonstrated and claimed to have a share in the glory and the danger of the undertaking. In this country also, the moment the Expedition was announced, the public Departments were besieged by eager applicants who wished to join the Expedition in different capacities. A force animated with such a spirit could hardly fail to succeed. To ourselves—the Members of Parliament—it has been suggested that such an occasion as this has also its moral. The incidents of a military campaign, the calculation of forces, the preparation for attack and defence, the sagacity of the leader who foresees success, and the endurance of the rank and file, which enable him to retrieve a disaster are re-produced in the circumstances of political life—namely, in the discussion and the conduct of public affairs in a powerful and free State; and when we assemble here to pay such honour as we can pay to those who have been mighty in war, and to offer the thanks of Parliament to the General and those under his command who have successfully conducted a difficult enterprize, we may bear in mind that men will follow us who will inquire with a keen scrutiny how we have conducted ourselves in the campaign of the national life.

THE EARL OF ELLEN BOROUGH

My Lords. I beg leave to say a few words on this Motion. I desire to be allowed to offer the tribute of my congratulations to the Commander of this Expedition, the English troops acting under him, and also—the more particularly because of the interest I have always taken in the Indian Army—to the soldiers of the Indian Army who took so prominent a part in this achievement. My Lords, you will recollect that I expressed an opinion that this Expedition ought not to have been undertaken. I did so because I thought the risks greatly exceeded the chances of success. I pointed out that the troops engaged in the Expedition would have to maintain a line of communication nearly 400 miles in length, between the point of basis on the coast from which their, supplies were to be received and the point of actual attack; and that there would be great difficulties arising from the character of the population and the nature of the country generally. Every danger that I anticipated has been encountered by our troops. Indeed, my Lords, the country has proved to be more difficult, the obstacles to the advance of our troops have been more serious, the embarrassments in respect of transport have been greater, and the supply of water has been more scanty than I had ventured to suggest. In fact, no one can read the despatches without seeing that sometimes—even up to almost the last moment—the Array was in the greatest peril. It is because I was more keenly alive to the difficulties of the campaign, that I can now regard the result of the Expedition with feelings of perhaps greater satisfaction than those entertained by your Lordships who did not share in my apprehensions; and that I feel, and am entitled to feel, greater pride and satisfaction at the triumphant success achieved by our arms. I think, my Lords, this Abyssinian Expedition has no parallel in. history. In all previous campaigns the contest was between man and man; with, perhaps, frequent difficulties arising from the nature of the country, but difficulties which had to be surmounted by both parties. But this was a contest, not with man, but with Nature—a contest waged for 400 miles. I know nothing in history to be compared with the difficulties which the troops in this campaign overcame with such spirit and determination. I believe that this campaign entitles those engaged in it to the highest praise which can be given to soldiers. My Lords, I remember the Duke of Wellington telling me on one occasion that the British Indian Army when he knew it came nearer to his idea of what the Roman Legion was than any army he had ever seen. I am glad that on this occasion the British Indian Army has maintained its reputation of those days. I recollect that in one of those accounts which from time to time were furnished by private hands and published in the newspapers this fact particularly struck me—that in the attack on Magdala the Belochees behaved so well that they received loud cheers from the British Army. My Lords, in those cheers I hear the death knell of the memory of the Indian mutiny; because I believe that henceforth in the recollection of common services and common efforts the British soldier and the Indian soldier will once more feel for each other those feelings of brotherhood which made the two armies, when formerly thus united, invincible. I trust, my Lords, that everything will be done to improve the organization of the Native Army, and that they will not be left to want the means of transport, with out which an army is useless. I trust the greatest care will be taken to establish an esprit de corps, so that the soldiers and the officers may know one another and grow old together. I hope, also, that in the treatment of the Native troops every consideration will be given to their religious feelings and their laws of caste. We ought, I think, to still act on the principles which guided us in the early days of our connection with India. I remember reading the opinion of a philosophic historian, that it is easy to rule our Empire by the means through which it was acquired. I trust that principle will influence us hereafter in our legislation for British India; that we shall endeavour on all occasions to conciliate the Natives and to obtain their confidence; and that, above all, our rule shall be characterized by that which produces the greatest effect in an Eastern country—the principles of justice. If we follow these principles, I believe the British Empire in India will be secure, that for centuries we may extend the blessings of our rule to a constantly increasing population, and that British India may last, endure, and be eternal.

THE EARL OF DERBY

My Lords, I do not apprehend that in your Lordships' House there will be any probability of a difference of opinion on this occasion; and though I am conscious that I am not entitled to speak on military matters with the authority of the illustrious Duke on the cross Benches, or with that of my noble Friend who has just sat down, yet I trust that, considering the post I had the honour to hold when this Expedition, was determined upon, I may be permitted to add my voice to the chorus of approbation which has been raised in Parliament and throughout the country to greet the victorious General and Army who have just completed an Expedition that will ever be memorable in the annals of our country. My Lords, perhaps I may be allowed also to congratulate my noble Friends in the Government on the success of an Expedition which I can assure your Lordships was, at the time we resolved upon it, a matter of deep anxiety to all the Members of the Administration. When entering upon this Expedition in a distant and unknown country, at a period of the year—and it could not have been undertaken sooner—which left only scanty time for preparation—we had to encounter all the difficulties alluded to by my noble Friend—difficulties some of which were exaggerated, others the anticipation of which fell short of the reality, and others which were not anticipated at all. We had also to encounter the doubts and obstacles of those who objected to the Expedition altogether, of those who thought the preparations too large, and of those who thought them too small. Some persons thought that the work to be done was absolutely insignificant as compared with the amount of power which we proposed to employ in its accomplishment. My noble Friend behind me (the Earl of Carnarvon) for instance, believed that the Expedition was on a scale of too great magnitude. He thought that the proper mode of action would be to make a dash with 1,000 men I over a distance of 400 miles.

The EARL OF CARNARVON

I beg pardon. I never made any such suggestion.

THE EARL OF DERBY

Then I must have lost my sense of hearing. I had indulged in the hope that my noble Friend, seeing how fallacious were his original apprehensions, would have come forward and joined willingly and heartily in the general congratulations on the success of the Expedition. [The Earl of CARNARVON: Hear, hear!] On the other hand, my noble Friend who has just sat down (the Earl of Ellenborough) stated, and I admit most frankly, that he thought our provisions for the. Expedition were insufficient. He pointed out with the greatest force the difficulties in our path—the difficulties of landing, the difficulties which might arise from the want of a sufficient supply of water, and the difficulty of keeping up in a possibly hostile, and, at all events, in an unknown country, communications extending a length of 400 miles. But my noble Friend has now come forward in the handsomest manner and acknowledged that the difficulties he had anticipated have been overcome, and that the strength of the Expedition was sufficient, though not more than sufficient, to enable General Napier to bring the operations to a completely successful termination. My Lords, what was the inducement to us to enter on an undertaking so fraught with peril and uncertainty to our Army, and so fraught with danger to ourselves—I mean to our personal and political reputation—if by chance it had ended in signal failure? I will venture to say that never was a war undertaken more unwillingly by any Government, more with a sense of its inevitable necessity, or with purer motives—motives more entirely devoid of all feeling of ambition and all desire of political or military aggrandizement. The object for which we undertook the Expedition was, in the first place, to vindicate the honour of the country, which would have been sullied forever if we had not adopted such a course. In the second place we undertook it because of that feeling of humanity which was naturally excited by the sufferings of our countrymen and other Europeans who were kept in prison by the Emperor of Abyssinia. No men can be more ready than the Government, which has just been crowned with success in this Expedition, to acknowledge that there are some circumstances attending it for which special thanks are due to a superintending Providence. It is obvious that the population of the country might have fallen upon our force, have continually plundered and interrupted it, cut off the supplies, and in various ways have offered opposition, annoying to a stronger force, but which would have been destruction to a weak one. No one, again, could have failed to remark the special direction which was given by Almighty God to the mind of Theodore at the very last moment, leading that capricious tyrant to abstain from exercising his brutality in putting to death the men we were anxious to deliver. The country, certainly, would have been deeply disappointed, and heavy blame would have fallen upon the organizers of the Expedition, if, instead of being able to rescue the captives from that imprisonment in which they had languished so long, the result of the Expedition had failed to accomplish the great object in view, and had only exposed them to a cruel death. I must say that whatever the merits of Sir Robert Napier—signally great as all your Lordships will admit them to be—I know of no point in the conduct of this Expedition that reflects more honour on his moral courage than the trial to which it was subjected at the very close of the Expedition, when he had to refuse the final offer of Theodore and to return to captivity those who had just been sent to his camp as envoys—being well aware, moreover, that his reply might lead to the destruction of those whom he desired to save. But the gallant officer exhibited the moral courage which was necessary to encounter so fearful a responsibility, and judged sagaciously of the demoralization of the enemy and of the effect which the previous success of our arms had produced on the mind of Theodore. Happily, his expectations were verified by the event, and the two officers who returned, as it appeared at the time, certainly to captivity, and possibly to death, had the satisfaction of meeting the whole of their fellow-prisoners on their way back, and of returning with them, in triumph to the camp. With regard to the Expedition itself, the only merit to which the Government can lay claim is that of having, by the advice of the illustrious Duke the Commander-in-Chief, selected the officer the most experienced and the best qualified for the service that his Royal Highness could point out, and intrusted to that General the absolute command and responsibility of the Expedition, merely saying to him—"What supplies you require that can be obtained from India you had better obtain them, and what cannot be had there shall be sent out from this country. Remember that you have only to ask and have; we tell you the object which we have in view, and we leave you entire control of the means by which, it is to be effected." I will not attempt to occupy the time of your Lordships with details, but I will ask whether, from first to last, it was not evident that over the Expedition presided a master-mind who was not to be diverted by any remarks to the detriment of his judgment, or by the pressure of unwise advisers, from the well-considered course to which he had addressed his energies, and by means of which he anticipated—and, as the event proved, correctly anticipated—that at the right time he should accomplish his purpose. There are some circumstances which rendered this Expedition one of a very peculiar character. The force under the command of Sir Robert Napier consisted, as has been already pointed out, both of British and Indian troops, the whole of which vied with each other as to the manner in which they should best perform the duties devolving upon them. And it is no light matter that troops raised in the centre of Asia should, under the conduct of a British General, obtain a triumphal success in the heart of Africa, in a region which the boldest travellers had hardly ever penetrated. Then, with regard to discipline, it is, I believe, unheard of that an Expedition over such a country should have been conducted not only without breach of discipline among, but with almost entire friendliness towards, the barbarous tribes with whom they were brought into frequent contact. From the time of disembarkation till the re-embarkation of the Expedition there was not, I believe, a single complaint that any injury had been gratuitously inflicted by any soldier upon the inhabitants of the country through which they moved. Everything was paid for, and not a single instance of injustice or oppression occurred during the march. Hardly a soldier, in fact, was sentenced to any punishment during the Expedition. The difficulties which had to be encountered—not, indeed, from the enemy, but from the nature of the country—were enormous, and might hive appalled men less eager and determined to do their duty; but they were faced with excellent spirit. I refer especially to the extraordinary march of the 45th Regiment, accomplishing a distance of seventy miles in four days, over a pass 10,500 feet high, and across a country which justified the forcible, if somewhat homely description of the soldier who, being told that they were marching over the tableland of Abyssinia, observed that "the table must have been turned upside down, and that they were now marching over the legs." Although the march was aggravated by thirst, and laborious in the extreme, not a single murmur or falling off from duty was heard; on the contrary, it was the earnest desire of everybody to press forward to the front. And upon the last day, when the troops, exhausted by their weary march, and almost fainting from thirst, found themselves in the presence of the enemy, and heard that he really meant to fight, those fatigued and way-worn men went with loud cheers into the conflict, which terminated with such glorious results. It has been said that the British soldier is very good at fighting, but knows nothing of the other business of war. All I can say is, that not only did Sir Robert Napier show entire oblivion of himself in his regard for others, but his despatches bear emphatic testimony on this point—that the different portions of the Army, while performing their own duties thoroughly, were, at the same time, ready to assist their comrades in the discharge of duties specially belonging to them. My Lords, I must not forget the services of the Naval Brigade. We are not accustomed to consider sailors particularly at home in managing animals of draught; but among the various subjects of praise distinct mention is made of the fact that the Naval Brigade, with regard to the handling and breaking of mules, proved themselves superior to the rest of the army: there were no persons by whom those animals were more carefully tended, or, owing probably to the kindly nature of seamen, by whom they were more successfully and prudently handled. I ought, perhaps, to apologize for having ventured to say anything upon a subject of this extraordinary character. But, at the same time, knowing the difficulties which had to be encountered in the first instance in preparing for the Expedition, and the difficulties, likewise, which had to be surmounted by the General, and those under his command, in conducting the Expedition to a triumphant success, I could not resist allowing myself the pleasure of bearing my testimony, however humble and unimportant, to the great services rendered by General Sir Robert Napier. And I am perfectly satisfied that he will receive every mark of approval, not only from Her Majesty's Government, but also the grateful thanks of the country, for the deeds which he has performed. Resolved, Nemine Dissentiente. That the Thanks of this House be given to Lieut.-General Sir Robert. Napier, G.C.B., G.C.S.I., for the exemplary Skill with which he planned and the distinguished Energy, Courage, and Perseverance with which he conducted the recent Expedition into Abyssinia, resulting in the Defeat by Her Majesty's Forces of the Army of King Theodore and the Vindication of the Honour of the Country by the Rescue from Captivity of Her Majesty's Envoy and other British Subjects, and by the Capture and Destruction of the strong Fortress of Mngdala: Resolved, Nemine Dissentiente, That the Thanks of this House be given to Commodore Heath, R.N., C.B., for the indefatigable Zeal and great Ability with which he conducted the Naval Operations connected with the Transport of the Troops find Stoics upon which the Success of the Expedition materially depended: Resolved, Nemine Dissentiente, That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Charles Staveley, K.C.B., Major-General G. Malcolm, C.B., Major-General E. L. Russell, Brigadier-General W. Merewether. C.B., and the other Officers of the Navy and Army for the Energy, Gallantry, and Ability with which they have executed the various Services which they have been called on to perform throughout these arduous Operations: Resolved, Nemine Dissentiente, That this House doth highly acknowledge and approve the Discipline, Gallantry, and Endurance displayed by the Petty Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Navy and Army, both European and Native, during these Operations; and that the same be signified to them by their respective Commanding Officers. Ordered, That the Lord Chancellor do communicate the said Resolutions to Lieut.-General Sir Robert Napier: and that he be requested by the Lord Chancellor to signify the same to Commodore Heath, Major-General Sir Charles Staveley, Major-General G. Malcolm, Major-General E. L. Russell, Brigadier-General W. Merewether, and to the several Officers of the Navy and Army referred to therein.

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