Sitting of 23 June 1815

THANKS TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, PRINCE BLUCHER, AND THE ALLIED ARMIES.
Lord Castlereagh,in rising to call the attention of the House to the last splendid triumph of the British arms, was at a loss to express the feelings which he experienced in common with all who heard him. On various occasions he had had the honour to address them on the exploits of that illustrious Commander, who was the subject of the motion with which, he should conclude; but never, even among the mighty achievements which had swelled our military renown, since that exalted character was placed at the head of our army, had it been his lot to submit to Parliament a proposition founded on an event so glorious as that which called for the expression of their gratitude this day. The present was a triumph of such a character, that, without disparagement, to those actions in which his great genius had formerly displayed itself, he might say of it—it had never happened, even to him, to confer so great a benefit on his country before. It was an achievement of such high merit, of such pre-eminent importance, as had never perhaps graced the annals of this or any other country till now; and when considered, not only with a view to the immediate loss inflicted on the enemy, but with reference to the moral effect which it must be expected to produce on the war now commenced, in the issue of which the fate of this country, of Europe, and the world were so closely bound up, it must be felt that it opened to our view a prospect so cheering, and so transcendently bright, that no language could do justice to the feelings it must naturally inspire. He sincerely felt this to be one of those instances in which the victory gained must be depreciated by the inadequacy of language faithfully to represent the vast service performed. He might, therefore, do best to abstain from offering any observations of his own, to introduce the vote which he had to propose, satisfied, as he was, that those to whom he addressed himself, would act from what their own feelings, their own understandings, and their own hearts suggested, and not upon any thing that might fall from him. But there were some distinguished features in this victory which he could not be content to pass over in silence. It must be felt, that there was in this case something in the situation of the hostile armies, which, without at all detracting from the high merit and military skill of the great commanders, who placed the

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allied force in the position it had occupied, gave the enemy a decided advantage in the first instance. The war not having actually commenced, though certainly it had been understood it was immediately to break out, had caused arrangements to be made different from those which might otherwise have been thought necessary. The combined armies, it had been found expedient to distribute where sustenance could most conveniently be procured. In the then situation of things, their policy was evidently to act on the defensive; and consequently the power which had to choose the period for acting on the offensive, must necessarily have an advantage over the Allies, from the extent of their line, in that part of it against which it might think fit to direct its first attack. This was unavoidable, as the enemy had the choice of the point on which be would commence his operations, and as the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blucher could not concentrate their forces without leaving a large portion of the frontier of the dominions of the King of the Netherlands open to the incursions of the French. This, without militating in the slightest degree against the skill of the commanders, necessarily gave the enemy, in the first instance, the advantage he had described. A person in the situation of Buonaparté, would naturally, and, he might say, properly consider, while contemplating the operations about to be commenced by the armies now assembling along the whole line of the frontier of the country under his control, that the course which it was for him to take, was that which he (Buonaparté) had determined upon taking. Whatever might be the risk of assailing the armies under the duke of Wellington and prince Blucher, it was obvious that if he could bring them into action before they could be supported by the armies advancing to co-operate with them, the chance of success would be greater than that which would remain to him after they had actually got up. Buonaparté considering this, had certainly formed his resolve with all that judgment and decision of character which belonged to him, when he determined on the forward movement that led to those operations which had terminated so gloriously for the British and their Allies. In considering the amount of the force by which the attack had been made, it should be remembered that besides the Imperial Guards, Buonaparté had under him the five most complete
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corps of the French army, and nearly the whole of its cavalry and artillery. It was but justice to the enemy to say, that in the actions which had taken place, they had fought with determined courage, and well sustained the renown they had acquired in former wars. This circumstance served but to add to the lustre of the triumph obtained, as it had been gained over an army composed of the most experienced and best disciplined soldiers in the world. The number of troops who had fought under Buonaparté could not be estimated at less than 130,000; and perhaps they would not be overrated if they were taken at 140,000. They certainly were the flower of the French army, brought together from all parts of Europe where they had been prisoners or otherwise dispersed, and concentrated for the purpose of making this first attack. They were in a high state of organization before the return of Buonaparté to France; and since his restoration to power during the last few months, every care and preparation had been accumulated upon them to add to their efficiency. It was obviously the design of the enemy to bring the whole strength of his army to bear on the Prussians and English, in the hope that striking one great blow against them before the other allied forces could get up, a most important object would be effected, and the hopes of the Allies so considerably diminished, as to give him advantages which he could not expect by other means to secure. It appeared that, in consequence of his being able to bring superior numbers against any one part of the line of the Allies, on the 15th he succeeded in forcing the Prussians back, and on the 16th, in consequence of the superior numbers which the enemy could bring against him, it had been thought advisable by prince Blucher to fall back upon Wavre, to strengthen himself by means of the approaching force of general Bulow. Notwithstanding the intrepidity for which the Prussians had always been distinguished, and with which they would ever fight under a commander so dear to them as prince Blucher, yet the French had advanced in such masses against them, that his posts had been driven in, and he had been forced to draw back his right wing. The whole of the operations of Buonaparté on that day were not directed against the Prussian army. Two divisions were sent against the English. These were met by a body of

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10,000 men, and this small force had given an earnest of the exertions which were to be made by the army on this occasion, by repelling the attacks of the two divisions of Buonaparté's army, and maintaining their position till the close of the day. The duke of Wellington had, in the first instance, taken up a position before the commencement of operations on the spot on which he thought the battle ought to be fought. Marshal prince Blucher, however, having found it necessary to draw his right wing in closer, and to unite with the army under general Bulow, it became necessary for the English to fall back. In this situation things stood on the evening of the 17th, when Napoleon having, as he believed at the time, such an advantage over the Prussians, that it was unnecessary longer to direct so considerable a portion of force against them, totally changed the plan of his operations. He now sent but one division to watch the Prussians, and united the rest of his army on the neighbouring heights to act against the force under the duke of Wellington. From this statement the House would see more distinctly than it appeared from the dispatch of the British commander, who, from that innate modesty which distinguished his character, had not dwelt on the fact, that at this period he was immediately opposed to him who had been called the greatest Captain of his age—(Hear! Hear!) Though it was not generally known, this was the situation in which he had been placed, and in this situation for nine hours had he successively repulsed all the attacks made by the French army directed by Buonaparté in person. The powerful and often repeated efforts directed against him wholly failed. It was impossible for him adequately to describe the merits of this action. During the whole day the British line stood immoveable, and there was no species of heroism, or of military science, which could adorn a field of battle, which was not here displayed by the duke of Wellington,—(Hear, hear!) It would be invidious to make a distinction between the different troops engaged, where almost all displayed equal merit. Great, however, as that merit was, it was fit that he should remark, that with the exception of the English force, the army engaged might be called a green army, as those who composed, it had, for the most part, never been in action before. The greater part of the farce engaged had been newly
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levied, so that the duke of Wellington (with the exception of the English army) was at the head of troops almost wholly unaccustomed to war. The Allied army, from the very nature of its constitution, must have been more difficult to manage than an army consisting only of the troops of one nation. It was a young army opposed to the most experienced soldiers in Europe; and, besides, it was to be remembered, that 25,000 men under the prince of Orange, had been detached from the army on the 18th; and when the other deductions which had been made, were taken into consideration, it would be seen with astonishment, that the number of men who remained under the command of the duke of Wellington could not exceed 64,000.—He had described the course which had been taken, up to the moment when the British commander found himself able to act on the offensive. On this, as on former occasions, it was proper that it should be known how much we were indebted to the cordial assistance afforded by our Allies. On this memorable day, we owed much to the illustrious warriors of Prussia—(Hear!) Had they not done as they did, the duke of Wellington, consistently with those military principles by which his conduct was regulated, could not have acted on the offensive. Had not they shown themselves as they had done, to promise success if the attack should not be in the first instance unfortunate, to prevent disaster if it failed; the duke of Wellington would not have been able to lake that course which the energy of his mind prompted, and which was encouraged by the example of his person. It was painful to reflect that that invaluable life had been exposed to more danger than that of the meanest soldier. The common soldier had only his local duties to perform, but the duke of Wellington was every where in the beat of the action, and every where in the presence of danger—(Hear, hear!)—Having remained on the defensive for nine hours, the moment at length arrived when he saw there was a prospect of acting on the offensive with success. He then ordered the line to advance. The shock was irresistible—the French could not resist our attacks as we had resisted theirs; their ranks were broken—their first line thrown in disorder on the second; they were compelled to fly in the greatest contusion, and the English and their Allies became masters of at least (as he should suppose) half the

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artillery of the enemy. He apprehended such splendid trophies of victory had never before been captured under such circumstances.—What the final result might be, he could not yet say; but it was glorious to reflect that the duke of Wellington was enabled at the close of a day in which he had obtained a most splendid victory, to hand over the pursuit to the Prussian army, which, compared with the English or the French army, was fresh, and ready to receive the charge—(Hear, hear!)—The plan of Buonaparté, however completely frustrated, did not appear to have been unwise; for if he could not beat the forces under the duke of Wellington and prince Blucher while they were unsupported, he could have no hope of finding a more favourable opportunity when the Allied armies, now advancing, should have come up. Defeated by the valour and the military skill opposed to him, he was now thrown back upon France, and new strength was added to the Confederated Powers. The painful reflections which must be caused by the loss we had sustained, he would not enlarge upon on this occasion. The friends of those who had fallen, would have the best consolation that great and feeling minds could know under such a calamity. Their distress would be softened by the reflection, that their relations had laid down their lives in a cause the most just, and in achieving a victory, than which one more glorious never adorned the annals of this or any other country.—It might be unjust to particularize individuals, where all had deserved so well of their country; but some of the officers who had fallen in the late operations, were so particularly well known to the nation at large from their former services, that it was impossible for any man, who had even known nothing of them personally, to refrain from the liveliest expressions of sorrow on learning their fate. If, on this day, he did not call the attention of the House more particularly to them, it was because he was afraid, if he attempted to do so in the present instance, some names might unavoidably be omitted, which ought not to be overlooked. He would, therefore, now confine himself to the more grateful duty,—to that which was most exhilarating at the commencement of a new war like the present. He was happy to be enabled thus early in the contest to call upon the House to pay that tribute which they must feel they so deeply owed to the officers
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and men engaged in this glorious action, by recording the expression of their gratitude to them and to our Allies. The confederated soldiers who had fought under the duke of Wellington, the subjects of the king of the Netherlands, the Hanoverians, and the duke of Brunswick's corps, were entitled to the Thanks of that House, as well as our own countrymen; and the Prussian army had the same claims on our gratitude. He felt that any further attempt on his part to bring the subject under the consideration of the House, would be worse than useless, and would therefore conclude. The noble lord then moved,
"That the Thanks of this House be given to field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, for the consummate ability, unexampled exertion, and irresistible ardour, displayed by him on the 18th of June, on which day the decisive victory-over the enemy, commanded by Buonaparté in person, was obtained by his grace, with the Allied troops under his command, and in conjunction with the troops under the command of marshal Prince Blucher, whereby the military glory of the British nation has been exalted, and the territory of his Majesty's ally the King of the Netherlands, has been protected from invasion and spoil."
This motion was carried in the affirmative, nemine contradicente. [The Speech and Motion were followed by loud and long cheering.]
Lord Custlereaghbegged shortly to call the attention of the House to the distinguished merit of the prince of Orange, who stood first in the next Resolution he should have to propose. It was a proud reflection for Europe, that in that illustrious young warrior they had a soldier bred in the school, and in the principles of the duke of Wellington. He had already distinguished himself in war, and it was to be hoped that the whole course of his life would prove him true to those principles which he had received from that distinguished chief, and anxious to contribute in every possible way to the peace and happiness of Europe. To show that the sentiments of the prince of Orange had already produced the best spirit in the Netherlands, he referred to a letter which he had received from the Dutch Ambassador, in which it was stated, that nothing could exceed the good conduct and the fidelity of the Belgians to the

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cause of the Allies. He next took occasion to lament the death of the duke of Brunswick, who had died while fighting with that valour which he hoped would ever distinguish the princes of his illustrious House. He then moved,
"That the Thanks of this House be given to general his royal highness the Prince of Orange, Knight Grand Cross of the most honourable Military Order of the Bath; lieutenant-generals the earl of Uxbridge, K. G. C. B.; lord Hill, K. G. C. B.; sir Henry Clinton, K. G. C. B.; Charles baron Alten, Knight Commander of the most honourable Order of the Bath; major-generals sir Henry Hinuber, K. C. B.; sir John Ormsby Vandeleur, K. C. B.; Geo. Cooke, sir James Kempt, K. C. B.; sir William, Dornberg, K. C. B.; sir Edward Barnes, K. C. B.; sir John Byng, K. C. B.; sir Dennis Pack, K. C. B; lord Edward Somerset, K. C. B.; sir John Lambert, K. C. B.; sir Colquhoun Grant, K. C. B.; Peregrine Maitland, sir Colin Halkett, K. C. B.; Frederick Adam, sir R. H. Vivian, K. C. B.; and to the several Officers under their command, for their indefatigable zeal and exertions upon the 18th of June, when the French army, commanded by Buonaparté, received a signal and complete defeat; and that his grace the Duke of Wellington be requested by Mr. Speaker to signify the same to all the officers above named, except lieut, general sir Henry Clinton, K. G. C. B.; and major-general lord Edward Somerset, K. C. B.; they being members of this House."
This motion was carried in the same manner as the last. It was next resolved, nem. con.
"That this House doth acknowledge, and highly approve the distinguished valour and discipline displayed by the Non-commissioned Officers and private Soldiers of his Majesty's forces serving under the command of field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, in the glorious victory obtained upon the 18th of June; and that the same be signified to them by the commanding officers of the several corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant and exemplary behaviour.
"That the Thanks of this House be given to the General Officers, Officers, and Men of the Allied forces, serving under the immediate command of field-marshal the Duke of Wellington, for the distinguished valour and intrepidity displayed by them on the 18th of June; and that
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his grace the Duke of Wellington be desired to signify the same to them accordingly."
On the Resolution, "That the Thanks of this House be given to marshal Prince Blucher and the Prussian army, for the cordial and timely assistance afforded by them on the 18th of June, to which the successful result of that arduous day is so mainly to be attributed; and that his grace the Duke of Wellington be desired to convey to them the present Resolution,"
Sir Francis Burdettdid not mean to oppose the motion, but he wished to take that opportunity of saying a few words on a subject which he had much at heart. He concurred in all that the noble lord had said with respect to the great merit of the officers and men in our army; but there was one observation which had been made by him, that was of a tendency to create a difference of opinion, which on this occasion it was most desirable to avoid. He alluded to what had been said by the noble lord of the consolation which the relations of those who had fallen would derive from the justice of the cause in which those they mourned had fought. It would be invidious to go into this subject now, but he thought it was not fair in the noble lord to hold such language with respect to that on which he knew such different opinions prevailed, on an occasion like the present; when those who denied the justice of the cause, must either seem to acquiesce in the description thus given of it, or be compelled to appear unwilling to assent to the motion for a vote of thanks where it was so well deserved. Whatever opinions might exist on the justice and expediency, or the injustice and inexpediency of the present war, there could be but one opinion as to the merit of the English and their Allies in the late struggle—there could be but one opinion on the surpassing glory with which their efforts had on this occasion been crowned. What he would wish to propose was this, that the troops who had deserved so well of the country, should receive a more substantial reward than a vote of thanks, however great the honour might be of a vote of thanks from that House. He wished to lay in his claim for an amelioration of the present military system, and hoped, when the Mutiny Bill should be brought in next year, gentlemen would not think that the English soldier, who had deserved so much of his

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country, was the only soldier in the world for whom the degrading punishment of flogging was necessary. The hon. baronet sat down with expressing a hope that this subject would be attended to.
The motion was then agreed to, nem. con.

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE RESPECTING AN ADDITIONAL GRANT TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
The House having resolved into a Committee of Supply,
The Chancellor of the Exchequerrose and observed, that the opinion which the House had just expressed as to the merits of the distinguished individual to whom he also had to call their attention, would relieve him from the necessity of saying much to induce them to concur in the vote he should have the honour of proposing. He was anxious, however, to state some peculiar circumstances connected with it. It had long been the opinion of that House and of the public, that there was no extent of honours, or of pecuniary provision, which could be equal to the glorious services achieved by that great captain; but still, as honours and rewards were the only means by which the approbation of Parliament, or the gratitude of the nation could be testified, it became their pleasing duty to confer those tokens upon him. Very liberal sums had undoubtedly been voted already; though, at the same time, large as these were, he was convinced that all who heard him would agree that they were not so large as the rank which the Crown had bestowed upon him required. He wished to state, that since the resolution of the House last session, and since the passing of the Act by which it was carried into effect, much inquiry had been instituted by the trustees to find a suitable estate and mansion for the duke of Wellington, but they had not as yet been completely successful. Many designs, also, for erecting a dwelling had been submitted by various artists, whose uniform opinion it was, that a smaller sum than from 150 to 200,000 l. would by no means be sufficient to erect and furnish such a mansion as would become the gratitude of a great nation for such services as the duke of Wellington had performed. At the same time, he was quite satisfied that a mansion adequate to the wishes of the duke of Wellington might be obtained for a much smaller sum. [Hear, hear!] His intention, therefore, was, to
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move in the committee, that the sum of 200,000 l. should be granted, and vested in the hands of trustees, either to erect or purchase a suitable mansion; and if they were enabled to accomplish the latter, at a less expense than the present vote would cover, then the surplus of the grant was to go to augment the fund, by which the dignity of that illustrious, and, he hoped, perpetual family, was to be maintained. Before he sat down, he hoped the committee would allow him to make a few observations upon the transactions of that memorable day, which his noble friend had so forcibly described. He understood that the illustrious commander who guided the course of that momentous struggle, transcended, in his own personal exertions, even the great deeds of his former campaigns. He had himself received a letter from an officer of high rank, who was on the field of battle, and one well qualified to form a correct judgment, who stated, that the personal exertions of the duke of Wellington were incredible, and threw all his preceding achievements completely into the shade. At a critical period of the battle he took possession of a high ridge, from which he declared he would never stir, nor did he stir, until he quitted it in triumph. At another, when his position was strongly attacked, he threw himself into the centre of a square of infantry, which was furiously charged by the enemy's cavalry, but which, fortunately for his country, and the world, resisted the shock with dauntless intrepidity. "I mention these things," said the officer, "because they are precisely those of which you will not find a word in his own dispatches. [Hear, hear!] Every person around him was either killed or wounded." There was another characteristic trait of that illustrious commander, which he could not abstain from communicating to the House. He had seen a letter from the duke of Wellington, dated from Binch, a town in advance of the place where the battle was fought; and in a postscript he says, "I forgot to mention, in my public dispatch, that 5000 prisoners have arrived at Brussels, that 2000 are on the road, and that more are expected." The right hon. gentleman concluded by moving, "That a sum, not exceeding 200,000 l. net, be granted to his Majesty, for the better enabling the trustees appointed under an Act of the last session of Parliament for settling and securing an annuity on

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Arthur Duke of Wellington and his heirs, and for empowering the lords of the Treasury to advance out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain a sum of money to purchase an estate in order to accompany the said title, to carry into effect the provisions of the said Act with respect to the purchasing a suitable residence and estate for the Duke of Wellington and his heirs."
Mr. Whitbreadsaid, that he had not the slightest intention of opposing the grant, as it was the only means now left for the nation to testify its gratitude, beyond that vote of thanks which they had just passed. It remained for the duke of Wellington to do that, which he alone could do, to add to his own great military fame; and he had indeed done more than was ever done, he believed, by any single commander [Hear, hear!]. It was undoubtedly gratifying to the House, and it must be gratifying to the country, to hear those individual traits of heroism in that illustrious chief, and especially the one which the right hon. gentleman had related, connected as it was with his entire confidence in the bravery and fidelity of his troops. If such a trait were recorded in history, as having occurred ten centuries ago, with what emotions of admiration and generous enthusiasm would it be read—[Hear, hear!]. To see a commander of his eminence, distinguished above all the commanders of the earth, throw himself into a hollow square of infantry, as a secure refuge, till the rage and torrent of the attack was passed, and that not once only, but twice or thrice in the course of the battle, proved that his confidence was placed not in any one particular corps, but in the whole British army—[Hear, hear!]. In that mutual confidence lay the strength and power of the British troops. The duke of Wellington knew he was safe, when he thus trusted himself to the fidelity and valour of his men, and they knew and felt that the sacred charge thus confided to them, could never be wrested from their hands [Hear, hear!]. He should have been sorry if the votes of that day had passed without his presence, to express his most unfeigned approbation of them. With respect to the loss that had been sustained, and which had plunged so many illustrious families in affliction, he could not advert to that loss without dissenting from an expression used by the noble lord, and lamenting the grievous fact, that they had fallen in the prosecution of a war into which this country had
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neither occasion or right to enter. Neither the events of victory or defeat could alter the principle of the war, and his opinion remained unchanged upon that subject. He could not sit down, however, without discharging what he considered as an act of duty. He had always been one who looked with an eye of extreme jealousy to the proceedings of ministers; but their conduct in the prosecution of this war, waving for the moment all consideration of its necessity or policy, was such as extorted his applause; and he had no hesitation in saying, that every department of government must have exerted itself to the utmost to give that complete efficiency to all the component parts of the army, which enabled the genius of the duke of Wellington, aided by such means, to accomplish the wonderful victory he had achieved—[Hear, hear!].
The Chancellor of the Exchequerbegged leave to add this observation, that the army of France which was beaten was a select army, composed of picked troops; whereas the army of the duke of Wellington was not a select army in any senses of the word. Even the British troops that were with him, were only such as the country could spare him, at a time that a strong detachment of its most veteran troops had been sent to America, and had not yet returned.
Mr. W. Smithsaid, he wished it were possible that some other mode could be devised of rewarding such transcendent merit as the duke of Wellington's, instead of a pecuniary compensation. However, as all other modes of approbation were exhausted, he must at least express his desire, that the sum now voted should be employed in the erection of a palace, rather than in purchasing one. Every Briton must look at Blenheim with emotions of pride and satisfaction very different from what would be felt if it were merely a house that had been built for another, and purchased for the duke of Marlborough. For his own part, he would rather add 50,000 l. more to the present vote, if by so doing he thought the erection of a mansion for the duke of Wellington would be secured.
Colonel Gore Langtonexpressed his warm sense of the merits of the duke of Wellington, and was convinced that no individual in the country, from the first peer to the lowest peasant, would grudge his share of the contribution.
Sir W. W. Wynnwould prefer a grant of

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Crown lands, according to the precedent of the reward to the duke of Marlborough. To that general a considerable grant of lands was given, on the condition only of presenting annually to the Crown a flag embroidered with fleur-de-lis.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerthought, if a suitable mansion could be obtained at less expense than that which would be incurred by building one, not to adopt the former course, but to erect a palace, would be to sacrifice some of the comforts of the duke of Wellington to national splendour.
Sir T. Aclandcould not but feel anxious to mark the sense of the nation on this victory in the most distinct manner; and he should be much disposed to favour the idea of building a palace, if he did not feel that any suitable mansion purchased for the duke of Wellington in consequence of a vole of that House, would bear the same character which would attach to a palace purposely erected for him. If he thought the effect would not be the same, he would willingly consent to a grant of half a million or a whole one to accomplish so desirable an object. The duke of Wellington had greatly raised the military character of England. In India his conduct obtained for him the approbation of his country: he had been praised as the saviour of Spain and Portugal. One thing only was wanting to complete his own glory and that of his country—a triumph over him who was said to have conquered every other general to whom he had been opposed. This object was gained. It was reserved for his last triumph, to supply all that was wanting to the consummation of his glory. Many had heretofore doubted what would be the result of a contest in which he and Buonaparté fought hand to hand; that doubt was gone for ever. We now saw renewed the splendid days of Cressy and Agincourt, and this we owed to the duke of Wellington, who had now gained the last triumph necessary for his own fame, or for that of his country. This he could wish to have recorded in their proceedings.
Mr. Whitbreadthought, as the resolution of the House stated the victory to have been gained over the French army under the immediate command of Buonaparté, it would be unnecessary to add that the duke of Wellington had triumphed over the greatest captain of his age.
Mr. Ellison expressed his concurrence in the vote; after which the Resolution Was agreed to, nem. con.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
In the Committee of Supply,
The Chancellor of the Exchequerrose to propose a grant for the amount of stores captured by the army under the duke of Wellington, during the whole series of campaigns in the Peninsula, to be distributed among the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, their widows and children. The right hon. gentleman stated, that the grant now proposed, was the fruit of twelve general battles, and five sieges; and formed also the value of the stores captured on a variety of other occasions. He stated, that this was not near the actual value of the captures, as a great portion had been delivered over to the auxiliary troops serving under the duke in the Peninsula. The amount of the grant proposed was 800,000 l. instead of the exact valuation which had been laid before the House. The period of the grant comprised the whole period of the Peninsular war, from 1807 till 1814. After some detailed explanations respecting the nature of the stores, and the portions delivered over to the different Allied Powers, he moved "That a sum, not exceeding 800,000 l. be granted to his Majesty, to be distributed to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, serving in the British army under the duke of Wellington in Portugal, Spain, and France, during the years 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814, for captures taken from the enemy, and appropriated to the public service; and that the said sum be issued and paid without any fee or other deduction whatsoever."
Mr. Prestonobjected to the motion. He thought the right hon. gentleman had chosen a most injudicious time to bring it forward; besides which, he did not conceive there were precedents for such an application of the public money, and was averse from breaking in upon the practice of our ancestors. If such distributions were fit to be a law of the land, an act ought to pass for them; and the army, would then be entitled to their regular benefit. It was a bad precedent for future times, and particularly for an army which had been paid as our army had been in the Peninsula.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerreplied, that so far from taking the House by surprise, in consequence of the auspicious news which had excited the most generous feelings towards the army, he had given notice of his intention to move this grant

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many days ago, and before any intimation had been received of the late victory.
Mr. Calcraftcontended, that this was a vote of right, and saw no reason why the army should be deprived of it, any more than of stars and ornaments which were bestowed on them as designations of their bravery. He was sure that no man would hesitate to vote double the sum, though they might vote it with stronger feelings of their hearts on a day like this.
Mr. Roseobserved that there was nothing new in the principle of the grant. It was thought fit to put the army on the same footing as the navy, in regard to prize-money, as the navy had, from time immemorial, been entitled by Act of Parliament to the proceeds of their captures. This principle had long been acknowledged and acted upon.
General Gascoynecontended that the receipt of the value of captured stores had long been considered a matter of right with the army. It was usual for the army to estimate the amount of their prize-money by attaching the value of twenty guineas to each gun that they captured.
Mr. R. Wardaffirmed, that it was a vested right belonging to the army, and that so far as the Ordnance department was concerned, there was every year an item in the estimates of money for ordnance stores which were captured.
Mr. Forbesobserved, that from what had been stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it appeared that the sum claimed by the army amounted to 900,000 l. He confessed, be regretted, that instead of taking 100,000 l. away from this sum, they had not added 100,000 l. to it, and made it a neat million. He was anxious that the army should not be deprived of a single shilling of what was their due, and was inclined to move that instead of 800,000 l. the grant be 900,000 l.
Mr. Bankes, adverting to the right of the disposal of captured property being vested in the Crown, and to the grant arising from an intimation of the Prince Regent to resign this right in favour of the army, wished to know when and how such an intimation had been given? The appropriation of the sum seemed altogether completely new. He should like to accede to what had been done on former occasions; but was not inclined to agree to any vote that should have the consequence of rendering the war we were now engaged in more expensive to the country than it otherwise would be.
Lord Castlereaghconceived there could be no danger in agreeing to the vote. It would be deemed extremely unjust and unfair to do less by an act of prerogative in regard to the army than had been done by an Act of Parliament in regard to the navy. It had been a principle, from time immemorial, to give to the navy the value of all the captures they made. But with, respect to the army, Government did not buy from them the whole of the stores and property that they captured, but only what was serviceable and useful. Perhaps, if the particular stores in question, which included a vast quantity of provisions, had not been purchased at the time of their capture, our army in the Peninsula might have been in the utmost want of supplies. The grace of the Crown allowed what was valuable to be purchased, and the remainder of the property was got rid of by the army how they could. The vote of the House ought, therefore, to make good the value of what the public bought from them.
A desultory conversation continued for some time on the subject, between Mr. Bankes, Mr. Rose, Mr. Calcraft, sir H. Montgomery, Mr. Lushington, and Mr. W. Smith, in the course of which the last-mentioned gentleman said it would be desirable to know what became of the money, supposing the Crown had not granted to the army the whole amount which the public had paid for captured stores, and to what fund it had been applied. The question for the grant, as proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was then put, and carried.

CIVIL LIST.
The Chancellor of the Exchequernext moved, "That a sum not exceeding 534,713 l. be granted to his Majesty, to make good the deficiency of the Civil List on the 5th day of April 1814: and that the said sum be issued and paid without any fee or other deduction whatsoever." The right hon. gentleman observed, that this excess resolved itself into two branches,—the increase in the diplomatic arrangements resulting from the peculiar circumstances of the war, and the excess in the household. In regard to the latter, after allowing for the expenditure occasioned by the visit of the foreign Sovereigns to this country; and also for the charges incurred by his royal highness the Prince Regent on assuming the royal authority, it would be found that the Civil List had not exceeded

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that proportion of excess which was estimated by the late Mr. Perceval in 1805. In 1812, there was an excess of expenditure beyond the former year of 124,000 l.; but it must not be forgotten that a considerable charge was thrown upon the Civil List by the arrangements of that year. It remained for the liberality of Parliament to provide an increase of allowance, for the purpose of meeting the ordinary expenditure without any excess. At present, however, he should merely propose to the House to make good the arrears already incurred.
Sir C. Burrellwished to be informed, why no reply had been given to the Address of the House, respecting the regulation of the Household, and whether it was intended to defer the answer till the next session?
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that the estimates had not yet been received; but he certainly concluded, that his Royal Highness would be recommended to give an answer to the Address before the rising of Parliament.
Mr. Barclaywas of opinion, that some provision should be made for the liquidation of his Royal Highnesses debts, and also that some arrangements should be made respecting the other branches of the Royal family.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that a specific provision had been made for the liquidation of those debts which were ascertained when his Royal Highness assumed the Regency. A considerable portion had been discharged, and in no long time the remainder would be liquidated, when an appropriation of 50,000 l. a year would be placed at the disposal of Parliament. As to the other branches of the Royal family, he did not think it proper for him to make any communication whatever to the House without the express direction of the Crown.
Mr. Bankesexpressed his approbation of the sum proposed to be granted, and agreed in thinking that the farther consideration of the subject of the Civil List could be better discussed in the next session of Parliament than now. It might be proper to grant an increase of allowance, as the expenditure had progressively increased, in consequence of the price of all articles of consumption having rapidly advanced since the accession of his Majesty, and particularly in latter times; but he trusted, when this increase should be made, that as much
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care would be taken as possible to prevent a recurrence of arrears.
Mr. William Smithcomplained of the great excess in the Civil List during the three last years, and declared that he gave his vote for the sum with great reluctance. The money, however, must be paid, as the loss would otherwise fall on those who ought not to suffer. If the regulations and arrangements proposed by the select committee upon the Civil List should be adopted, the expense of the Crown would be kept within due limits, and future applications to Parliament for the liquidation of debts would be avoided.
The Resolution was then agreed to.

THANKS TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, PRINCE BLUCHER, AND THE ALLIED ARMIES.
The order of the day for summoning their lordships being read,
Earl Bathurstrose, pursuant to the notice which he had given, to move the Thanks of the House to the duke of Wellington, and the Army under his command, for those transcendant exertions which led to the victory of the 18th of this month. He was aware that their lordships must be eager to discharge the debt of gratitude to the duke of Wellington, who had now so gloriously opened the campaign, and relieved them from the anxiety which all must have felt for some time past. However sanguine any of them might have been as to the final result, yet there were none who must not have experienced the utmost anxiety with respect to the turn which the campaign might take at the commencement. That campaign was begun by Buonaparté himself. He had not, for this time at least, to blame the elements. He had not to accuse the seasons, nor the defection of those from whom he expected support. He could not say that he was obliged to commence the battle by those to whose measures he was compelled to yield, contrary to his own better judgment. It was completely his own act and choice. He had the choice of the time, of the place, and of the adversary with whom he might be desirous to contend. Under these circumstances, he had begun the battle, and he had failed. His attacks were repulsed; the order was reversed—he was attacked in his turn. His boasted genius shrunk under the ascendency of the mightier genius of him by whom he was opposed, and the result was the complete rout and overthrow of the French army. As most of the transactions which had taken place on this memorable day must be fresh in their lordships recollection, he did not feel himself called upon to enter much into detail: but there was one point connected with the duke of Welligton, to which, on this occasion, it was not out of place to call their lordships attention. It had been observed, with reference to the campaigns in the Peninsula, that the duke of Wellington's system had been, not to attack, but to wait for the attack of the enemy, and take advantage of the situation of the enemy when they were repulsed;
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and many thought that he acted in this manner, from a prudent attention to that part of the military science in which he found himself strongest. The duke of Wellington had, indeed, acted on this principle, during a great part of the time when he was employed in the Peninsula: but this was owing to the necessity of contending with inferior numbers against the enemy. When, in the year 1813, he was enabled to commence operations with forces more nearly approaching to an equality, their lordships knew how the system was changed. The rapid advance to Vittoria, and the splendid victory which had been there acquired, and to which the present bore a strong resemblance, could never be forgotten. The duke of Wellington then proved that his great genius was no less powerful in the military science of attack than it was in that of defence. In this battle both these attainments were displayed in the most remarkable manner. Before he came to the operations on the 18th, he was anxious to make one or two observations respecting those of the 16th. It was due to the brave men who fell on that day not to pass it over entirely in silence. On the evening of the 15th, the duke of Wellington received the intelligence that the Prussians had been attacked by the enemy, and the forces in the neighbourhood were immediately ordered to advance. The Prussians were driven from their posts at Sambref with loss. On the 16th, general Picton's division, with the duke of Brunswick's corps, and the Nassau regiment, were attacked at Genappe. The battle lasted the whole of the day. The Prussians were likewise attacked in their position, and Buonaparté claimed a victory over both: but it was clear that the Prussians maintained their position; and so far were they from being driven out, that they did not leave it till the attack for that day was concluded. Our troops likewise maintained their position; they passed the night there ready for a renewal of the contest next day. But the Prussians having lost 16,000 men on that occasion, from their refusing to take quarter, and a great proportion of their forces not having yet come into line, it was deemed by marshal prince Blucher most prudent to retire upon their reinforcements. In consequence of this resolution, they retreated, and the duke of Wellington also retired with his troops to Waterloo, maintaining his communication with the Prussians, so

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that he might assist them if they should be attacked, and if he should be attacked, they might assist him. This position at Waterloo was a very strong one, and had been noticed as such by the duke of Wellington last summer. His grace then passing near it, the position struck him, and he made a minute of it. He stated at the time, that if ever it should be his fate to fight a battle in that quarter for the protection of Brussels, he should endeavour to do it in that position. He knew the importance of the place, therefore, even at that time, and the event has shown that he judged well. The enemy attacked our troops in that position on the 18th of this month, with the whole of his army, except one corps which was left to observe the Prussians. They fought with that intrepidity for which the nation was distinguished; but they were met with no less intrepidity by our forces, and with a resolution and firmness in which the British forces were not outrivalled by those of any nation whatever. In the course of this arduous and desperate contest, the duke of Wellington performed the duties of military officers of all ranks. As a commander-in-chief, as a general of division, as colonel of a regiment, he exerted himself in encouraging the troops to persist, and maintain their resistance to the repeated and desperate attacks of the enemy. Towards the close of the day, Buonaparté himself, at the head of his guards, made a desperate charge upon the British guards, and the British guards instantly overthrew the French. The battle lasted nearly nine hours, and at length our troops repulsed these desperate attacks made upon them by forces infinitely superior in number. Here, then, the battle ended, as far as concerned the attacks of the enemy. But the duke of Wellington, with his accustomed promptitude and decision, observing that the retreat of the enemy from the last attack was attended with considerable confusion, ordered the whole of those of his troops who had not suffered in the present conflict to move forward upon the enemy. The troops accordingly advanced, attacked the enemy in their position, drove them from the heights, and put them completely to the rout. He continued the pursuit of the enemy, till the troops, overcome with fatigue, could proceed no further, and then the Prussians were left to follow up the victory. The consequences of this victory, as far as he could at pre-
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sent state them, were these:—About 5000 prisoners had arrived at Brussels—2000 were on parole, and more were expected to be brought in; and besides this, a great quantity of ammunition and baggage was taken. He was not then speaking of what was accomplished by the Prussians during the pursuit, as no regular account of it had as yet arrived. Having thus stated the nature and extent of the victory, there was one point still which could not be passed over without observation. Their lordships must be sensible that an achievement of such magnitude as this could not be performed without great loss. It had been wisely ordained by Providence that we should taste neither of joy nor of grief unmixed, and the price at which this victory was gained must teach us to check our exultation. There were none who had not lately looked to our army on the Continent, upon the point of commencing hostilities, without anxiety respecting the result: but how much more keen must have been the anxiety of those who had friends and connexions among the troops. The result must in that respect be to many most painful: but still the friends of those who fell had this consolation, at least, that if those who were dear to them had paid the common tax imposed on the military profession, they had not paid it in vain. Who could recollect without admiration and sorrow the stern and manly virtue of sir Thomas Picton, the firm and amiable character of sir W. Ponsonby, or the heroic gallantry of the duke of Brunswick, who, having refused to be included in the armistice at Wagram, and traversed hostile Germany with his little band, had at length here terminated his life in a manner so worthy of his own conduct, and the race from which he sprung? No one could speak on this point so well as the duke of Wellington himself. His grace had written a private letter to the earl of Aberdeen, with intelligence of his brother's death, an extract of which letter he begged leave to read to their lordships. After adverting to the events of the day, and to the death of sir Alexander Gordon, the duke of Wellington expressed himself thus:—"I cannot express, in adequate terms, the grief which I feel in contemplating the Toss which we have sustained in the death of so many valued friends. The glory of such actions is no consolation to me, and I cannot suggest it as a consolation to you: but a result so decisive will in all probability be followed by

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the early attainment of the just object of our wishes and exertions, and this may afford us some consolation for our loss." In looking at the list of the wounded, their lordships found the name of the brave earl of Uxbridge, who had headed every charge of cavalry himself—(Hear, hear!). Their lordships would also find many names which must be familiar to them from the frequent mention which had been made of them on the account of their services in the Peninsula; and at the head of the list they would see the name of that gallant youth the hereditary Prince of Orange, who had shed his blood in defence of the Netherlands, and thereby acquired a better title to those dominions than mere formalities could afford. It would be in vain to attempt to do justice to the merits of all those who fell, of those who were wounded, and those who escaped; and he should, therefore, refrain from a selection of any particular individuals, lest the distinction should appear invidious. It remained only for him to advert to the conduct of marshal prince Blucher and the Prussians, to whom, as part of the allied forces engaged in these memorable transactions, it was his intention to move their lordships thanks. The duke of Wellington had expressed in strong terms the assistance which he had received from the Prussians. Without that assistance, though the attack of the enemy would not have succeeded, he could not have, in his turn, made that attack on the enemy which had terminated in his complete rout and overthrow. Prince Blucher himself, worn out with the constant exertions of the preceding days, had retired to bed; but as soon as he received intelligence that the duke of Wellington was attacked, he rose from bed, and himself headed a corps to assist the British troops. He hung all night on the rear of the retreating enemy, and no doubt amply avenged the fate of those brave Prussians who had fallen in the battle of the 16th, by their refusal to take quarter. He had now, then, only to move their lordships,
"That the Thanks of this House be given to Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, for the consummate ability, unexampled exertion, and irresistible ardour displayed by him on the 18th of June, on which day the decisive victory over the enemy, commanded by Buonaparté in person, was obtained by his grace, with the Allied troops under his com-
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mand, and in conjunction with the troops under the command of Marshal Prince Blucher, whereby the military glory of the British nation has been exalted, and the territory of his Majesty's ally the King of the Netherlands, has been protected from invasion and spoil."
The Marquis of Lansdownesaid, that it was impossible to add any thing to the statement of the noble earl opposite, the observations which he made on the circumstances attending this splendid achievement, and the merits of those who had fallen, whose loss the noble earl had so feelingly deplored; yet in the absence of those who, if present, would, with far1 greater grace and ability, have given their sanction to this motion, he could not bring himself to give a mere silent vote; and, therefore, on this most brilliant, and at the same time most awful event, which had occurred during his own life, or the lives of any of their lordships, he should, with their lordships' permission, say a few words. He was the more induced to do so from this circumstance, that when he first heard of the proposition, he had felt some hesitation whether he should comply with it. That hesitation, however, was not founded on any doubt whatever as to the magnitude and importance of the success, but on the appearance which the vote would carry, of anticipating those great consequences which might probably ensue, but the extent of which they could not then completely appreciate: but when he considered all the circumstances of this transaction,—when he considered the important consequences which must result from it, independent of its military or political effects,—when he contemplated the field of battle as the scene where, from the talents of the respective chiefs, the rival qualities of the troops of two nations were displayed, and the powers of every officer and every private soldier were brought to a public trial, and then looked at the result; great and indubitable as he held it to be, it was impossible for him to abstain from doing all in his power to render the record of that result as interminable and imperishable as the glory which had been acquired by it. It was not improper, therefore, in the present instance, to agree to this proposition, even before they could be apprised of its immediate military or political consequences. The event of this day would, in its effects, extend far beyond the fate of those who were engaged in it—beyond

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the other events and interests, great as they were, of the present times. It was one of those events which formed the most valuable part of national property and history; and like events of that description, to none of which this was inferior, it would become one of the clearest titles of the glory of the nation, the charter of its fame. He should therefore give his cordial concurrence in voting for a monument as imperishable as the glory which had been gained by the transaction and the means by which it had been achieved. He wished to be understood as likewise concurring in the vote about to be proposed for a further provision for the duke of Wellington, as an additional testimony of the sense entertained, by Parliament and the country of his transcendent services. The splendour and national importance of the event was such as almost to stifle the feeling of individual calamity, and to make us look upon the brave who had fallen as we regard the fate of those "quos neque lugeri neque plangi fas est,"—[Hear, hear!]
The Vote of Thanks to the duke of Wellington having been agreed to nem. dis., earl Bathurst then moved the Thanks of the House to the Prince of Orange, the earl of Uxbridge, lord Hill, baron Alten, general Barnes, lord E. Somerset, and several other officers of distinction; which was carried. His lordship also moved a Resolution of Thanks to marshal Prince Blucher, to the Prussian army, and to the troops of the Allies under the orders of the duke of Wellington. It was agreed to. [See the Resolutions in this day's proceedings of the Commons.]

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE RESPECTING AN ADDITIONAL GRANT TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
The order of the day for considering the Prince Regent's Message being read.
The Earl of Liverpoolrose and observed, that he thought it unnecessary long to occupy the attention of the House upon the subject of the motion which he was about to submit, especially after the eloquent speeches of his noble friend, and of the noble marquis on the other side, with regard to the merits of the great Commander, and the illustrious army, to whom the country owed such a splendid triumph. He doubted whether it was in the power of words to add to the eulogy which the House had heard, but he felt that it was not in his power to offer any thing which
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would not serve rather to weaken the effect of that eulogy. He was, however, called upon to propose a measure calculated farther to commemorate the glory of the duke of Wellington, by erecting to himself and to his family a living monument of national gratitude. Their lordships would consider the nature of our constitution, and what was one of the principal objects of that branch of the constitution which they composed. That object evidently was to transmit to posterity an hereditary distinction of the talents and virtue of the country; and he would ask whether a case had ever occurred in which any individual was more eminently entitled to have his merits so recorded—[Hear, hear!] A stronger claim to national gratitude could not, indeed, be adduced. It was, in fact, due in justice, not only to this illustrious individual himself, but to the nation, to confer upon him the highest honour. For it was obviously the best policy of the nation to show that it was never wanting in gratitude to those who bravely fought for its defence and security—who contributed to exalt and establish the national glory. For all history had shown, that when a nation had lost its martial spirit, whatever other virtues it retained, it soon became a prey to some jealous enemy. As to the expediency of the vote which he meant to propose, he had to state a few facts. He had the honour of being one of the trustees appointed to superintend the application of the sum which the liberality of Parliament had granted as a provision for the family of lord Wellington. Last year 500,000 l. was granted, and it was stipulated that out of that sum 100,000 l. should be applied for the construction of a suitable mansion. But the trustees, after the most indefatigable inquiry, found that this stipulation could not be consistently executed—that indeed it would be impossible to construct or procure an appropriate mansion for the money allotted to that purpose—that, as a monument of national taste, and of the honour due to the family of this great hero, it would be impracticable to accomplish the object. Nay, he could go farther. It was found, that if an obligation were imposed upon the trustees to purchase or erect a suitable mansion, a proper estate could not be obtained without sinking such a sum as would not leave sufficient revenue for the support of the dignity of the duke of Wellington and his family. Then, after such

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an action as that of the 18th of June—after a victory which combined all the virtues that belonged to his former achievements—which presented a display of all the great qualities of a general, whether for defensive or offensive warfare—whether for resistance or attack—whether for gallantry, perseverance, or skill—he would ask, whether, after a victory unparalleled in history, Parliament could be conceived to do its duty, if it merely confined itself to a vote of thanks, and declined to present any further evidence of public gratitude to the valiant leader of such a signal victory, if it refused to make an adequate provision for this celebrated conqueror and his family—[Hear, hear!]—if it left that family, after all his eminent services, in a state of incapacity to maintain its proper splendour. If any thing more than the duke of Wellington's public services were necessary, to interest their lordships or to induce the House to acquiesce in the motion he meant to submit, he had to urge the merit of that distinguished individual's personal character. He had for many years been both personally and politically connected with the duke of Wellington. He had, therefore, had ample opportunity of witnessing his grace's disposition, and he could bear unqualified testimony to his extreme disinterestedness. He had known him intimately in his official communications, and he had found that this gallant warrior, while commanding on the Peninsula, and even when poor, never received, for some years, his due official allowance. Yet he never applied for it. Although he made many applications for the benefit of others, he never made any for himself—[Hear, hear!] After farther enforcing the justice and policy of the measure, with a view to gratify the feelings of Parliament and the public, the noble lord concluded with moving a Resolution, in pursuance of the Prince Regent's Message, that the House would concur in granting such additional provision to field-marshal the duke of Wellington, as might be necessary to afford a farther proof of the opinion entertained by Parliament of his transcendent services, and of the gratitude of the British nation.
The motion was unanimously agreed to. Adjourned till Monday.