bined the army of the North, the army of the South, the army of the Centre, and the army of Portugal; therefore in gaining this victory, he had triumphed over the great mass of the French disposable force of Spain; and if the loss of the enemy in killed and wounded were not so great as might have been expected, had the cavalry, from the nature of the ground been permitted to pursue with that sort of success which under other circumstances must have resulted from so decisive a victory, it was nevertheless very severe. But for those impediments to the pursuit which he had mentioned, he thought it was not too much to say, that scarcely a man of that army would have been allowed to return to his country to tell the tale of their defeat. As it was, it was difficult to state what their loss had been; but taking it at the very lowest estimate, to be double that of the allies, it could not amount to less than 12,000 men. In looking at the transactions which had ended in a victory so decisive and complete, that the result was that the enemy was left without the common means of again shewing his force as an army, it would be an act of injustice, not to couple them with the great efforts previously made, which in this, as in every other campaign with which the illustrious name of Wellington was connected, marked the genius of a great commander as much (he might almost say more,) than the victory itself. He had had occasion to call the attention of the House to this distinguishing trait in the character of lord Wellington, when describing the events which had led to the battle of Salamanca. He had then contended, though the last campaign ended with the English army retiring into Portugal, that in all the movements of lord Wellington the genius of a great commander was displayed, and none of those circumstances which had led to the present victory had escaped him (lord Wellington) at that time. He (lord Castlereagh) had then said, that though he had found it necessary to retire, he had delivered the south of Spain, and changed the character of the war. He had compelled the French, who had entered Spain as a conquered country, and who had dispersed themselves over it as a country conquered, to concenter their force, and instead of controuling and commanding all around them, to make arrangements for their own safety.-During the winter he was employed in making his own army more fit for the

great task which they had to perform, He (lord C.) had said lord Wellington did not relinquish the advantages he had gained, but while in Portugal he exerted himself to put his troops in that state, that when the proper time came he might again push them against the enemy with that force which should ensure success to their exertions. So it had turned out. He had not suffered the French again to occupy the most important points from which he had driven them, and he had not only during the winter prepared his own troops successfully to make head against the enemy, but he had availed himself of the means which he then for the first time possessed, as commander of the forces of Spain, to give the Spanish armies that military character which before they had wanted. This, in conjunction with a most distinguished officer whom he admired as much as a soldier, as he esteemed him as a friend (marshal Beresford), he had been enabled to effect, and it must now be felt, that we were no longer contending against the enemy in Spain, with our own military power alone, but that we were powerfully aided by the military genius of Spain, which had always been acknowledged to be great, but which, till guided with care by the fostering hand of genius, was incapable of producing such great and brilliant results. Lord Wellington, thus occupied, had not appeared in the field of action so early as some might have expected, but in what manner had he at last emerged from his repose, that repose which had not been marked by looseness or inactivity? In one short month he had pushed the enemy with such vigour, as to force him to fight that battle, which was as much distinguished by its particular character as was the commander by whom it had been fought, by his transcendant genius. He did not mean to make any ungenerous comparison between the efforts made by lord Wellington and those made in any other country, but such a movement as he had made in one month, from Freynada to Pampeluna, he believed had never been equalled in the military history of any country. Lord Wellington was aware of the difficulties he had to encounter, but his genius overcame them, by perceiving in what way those points on which the enemy chiefly relied might be turned.By that trait in his character which above all endeared him to his army, and which must endear him to the country, lord Wellington had availed himself of ha

placed on the highest pinnacle of fame, from which it never could be shaken. If any thing could add to the interest of the battle, it was the field on which it had been fought. An illustrious chieftain of former days (Edward the Black Prince), had fought on the same ground-had fought to restore a rightful monarch to his throne. He had conquered, and the fame of his arms, it was probable, was not forgotten on the day of battle. In looking at this proud triumph, it was impossible that the House should not feel gratified at reflecting, that while it raised us, it also raised those with whom we were allied; and he trusted, in the moment of victory, that that would not be forgotten which was the legitimate end of all war-a secure peace; a peace consistent with the credit, interest, and engagements of this country; a peace that would not only prove beneficial to England, but conducive to the happiness of all the nations of Europe (Hear, hear, hear!)-He had only one observation to add. It was the wish of ministers, that the list of officers to whom it was proposed to vote the Thanks of the House should be correct. He could not, however, feel confident, that the list he had was complete. He hoped, therefore, that if any omissions should occur, that the names of those left out would be afterwards admitted, and that it would be understood, the vote of this day was intended to convey the tribute of their gratitude to all engaged in that glorious achievement which they were assembled to celebrate. He then moved, "That the Thanks of this House be given to field marshal the marquis of Wellington, knight of the most noble order of the Garter, for the energy and distinguished ability with which he hath conducted the late operations of the allied forces in Spain; and particularly for the splendid and decisive victory obtained upon the 21st day of June last near Vittoria, when the French army was completely routed, with the loss of all its artillery, stores, and baggage."

Mr. Fremantle seconded the motion, and hoped that it would be carried by acclamation. He thought the character of the late glorious achievement exceeded that of any other in the British annals, both in the combinations and their result. No language could express his sense of the zeal and science which had been displayed by the illustrious leader of the British troops. The victory of Vittoria

had established the military glory of England on a basis never to be shaken. It was but justice to give his Majesty's government great credit for their exertions to prepare the army under lord Wellington's command. But giving them the amplest credit for those exertions, he was not disposed to withdraw a single particle of his admiration from the noble lord who had so indefatigably availed himself of the advantages that had been so liberally afforded him. It had been his (Mr. Fremantle's) peculiar good fortune to hear during the last three days, many interesting details of the conduct of the army, which could never be sufficiently extolled. With respect to the loss of the enemy, he knew from private reports, he knew as well as it was possible for him to know any thing which had occurred immediately under his own eye, that it exceeded double the amount of that stated by the noble lord opposite. Reverting to the character of lord Wellington, he described him as a man highly estimable, not as a hero only, but as a private individual-a most sincere friend-most generous to those who required his assistance-and distinguished by the utmost frankness and urbanity of manners. These were qualities which rendered him not only admired but beloved. Nursed in the lap of war, his heart was not steeled against the impulses of humanity. Vigorous in his attack of an enemy-when that enemy was conquered, he was the first to protect him. On most occasions, he (Mr. F.) felt diffident and distrustful in addressing the House, but this was a theme on which tre could go on for ever. He could not help thinking that some peculiar honour should mark the present occasion. If he might venture to suggest such a thing (but he would not presume to submit a motion to the House) he would hint the propriety of addressing his royal highness the Prince Regent, requesting that he would himself send the thanks of the House to lord Wellington by the aid-de-camp who had been the wel come herald of the glorious intelligence. Such a proceeding would, he was persuaded, be highly gratifying to "the Great Lord." Distinguished as the recent victory had been in its character, it ought to be distinguished in its reward.

Lord Custlereagh, adverting to his statement of the loss of the enemy, observed, that he had taken it at the lowest possible calculation, and that he had not included those who were killed or put hors de combat

in the period that intervened between the commencement of the advance from Sa Jamanca and the battle.

Sir Eyre Coote.-I congratulate the House on the splendid victory now under their consideration, and sincerely do I accord with the motion of thanks to the noble lord. Most happy am I to have it in my power, in my place in the House of Comnons, to offer my tribute of applause to the glorious achievements of the noble marquis and the brave and gallant army under his command-why should I say brave?-Bravery and intrepidity are the characteristic of the British soldier! It is not bravery alone that I admire, it is, Sir, the celerity, the decision, the promptness, the rapid movements, added to excellent arrangements, and what is more, most admirable combined operations, that gained the glorious victory of the 21st June. This marked the conduct of the noble marquis, gained for him additional honour, added increased lustre to the officers and soldiers of the army under his command. The greater number of the general officers I have the good fortune of being personnally acquainted with. I have seen them in action, and myself have had an opportunity of being a witness to their gallant and meritorious conduct, It affords me particular pleasure to reflect that the noble marquis has attained the rank of field marshal. He justly deserves that exalted rank. I am persuaded, Sir, that the officers and soldiers of that highly distinguished army vied with each other on that memorable occasion to share the glory of the day, a proud day for England,-a

-a day never to be forgotten by Englishmen. A day that, I trust, will contribute beneficial consequences to Europe, and possibly tend to the restoration of peace, and the repose of mankind.

Mr. Canning said, he felt in common with the hon. gentleman who had seconded the motion, and with the gallant general who had just addressed them, the difficulty (a difficulty in which no man had more frequently placed their friends, the House, and the country, than lord Wellington), of expressing, in adequate terms, the feelings which filled the mind of every man in the country. And he was persuaded, that the strongest language he could use would be but a faint echo of the public sentiment on this glorious occasion. If the hon. gentleman (Mr. Fremantle), from his private feelings on this occasion, and if the gallant general, from $

his feelings as a soldier, could not refrain from trespassing on the House, however unnecessary their apology for doing so; he trusted the interest which he had ever taken in the cause of Spain would excuse, him for offering a few words on the same, subject. It was now five years since this country, involved as it was in difficulties, and engaged in a contest the end of which it was impossible to foresee, had the glorious prospect opened to it of what this splendid achievement led to the hope of having brought to a happy consummation. At that particular period, amidst the pres sure of events and all the troubles pecu liarly her own, she had not hesitated one moment in becoming the friend of those whose only claim to her friendship was their being the victims of tyranny and oppression. This choice was crowned with success; but it was a choice which they would not have had cause to regiet, even had the struggle ended in hopelessness and disappointment. Thank Heaven, the result was of another character, and proved that generosity and justice, while they were the most liberal, were also the wisest system of policy, and that honourable feeling for others was nearly connected with our own national safety. At the period to which he bad alluded, there were many who despaired of the success of the cause, and who, though forced into the current, had expressed their disappro bation of it. That enterprize, which many thought rash and hazardous, which many believed almost hopeless, had ended in a blaze of glory, that will live recorded on the glowing page of history, even if glory should be its only result; but he did not despair to see added to it other pages of political arrangement and final settlement, calculated to promote the happiness and secure the liberties of mankind. With regard to the honours to be bestowed upon lord Wellington and his companions in arms, they could not be too lavish of them, but, to this subject the word lavish' could not be applied; but, while they expressed their sentiments on this subject, they ought also to pay the tribute merited by those whose pains, care, anxiety, solicitude, and attention, had been unceas ingly cherished to prepare at home the mighty means for the accomplishment of this mighty achievement. Not only his Majesty's ministers, but this House and the country had also to congratulate themselves, as well on the generosity and wisdom of their first determination, as on the