HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



83 



plctcly conquered, in the course of 

 three months, and such had been 

 the exertions used, in the war with 

 Scindiah, in which we brought into 

 the field no less than 55,000 men. 

 Besides the importance of the con- 

 quests which those victories in India 

 had gained us, they were p'eculiarly 

 important, as adding to our glory 

 as a military nation. He believed 

 many of the exploits performed by 

 our troops in India, had been lull 

 as brilliant as any thing done oji the 

 continent last war, and our Indian 

 victories added to the renown our 

 armies had gained in Egypt. AVitii 

 such troojis, he thought nothing 

 was to be feared from an invasion, 

 by the enemy that now threatens 

 ■us, 



Mr. Francis thought the motion 

 ought to be postponed, as it would 

 be dillicult, indeed, to go fairly into 

 the consideration of the policy and 

 justice of the Avar, after having first 



jliven the governor-general the 



un- 



reserved thanks of the house, both 

 for its ])Ian and execution. Instead 

 of speaking with exultation of our 

 territories being extended, in con- 

 sequence of the war, it was a. prima 

 fade ground to suppose the noble 

 marquis had violated that law,which 

 expressly forbids entering into wars 

 for the sake of extension of territo- 

 ry. He thought the great danger 

 that genera! Vv'ellesley's army was 

 exposed to, was no proof of the 

 ])rudenc^ or precaution of the go- 

 vernor-general. 



Mr. Addington said, it was pure- 

 ly an accidental circumstance, that 

 exposed general Wellesley to such 

 a .superiority of numbers; for co- 

 lonel Stevenson's reinforcement, 

 amounting to 10,000 men, w'Vre 

 only half a day's march behind ; if 

 they had previously cileCtcd their 



junftion, there could have been no 

 reasonable doubt of the issue of the 

 a6tion. 



Mr. Foxobjeflcd to it as a new 

 and unusual thing to return thanks 

 to any b\it the military persons ac- 

 tually engaged in those services : 

 upon such a principle, the lords of 

 the admiralty might expect to bu 

 thanked, in this country, for every 

 naval victory which might occur : 

 besides, as the marquis had only the 

 title of captain-general, and had 

 neither the advantages of military 

 education or experience, it would 

 appear to be laughing at him, to re- 

 turn him thanks for military plans, 

 when it was perfe6tly known that 

 he had not military knowledge 

 enough to undertake, or be entrust- 

 ed, with the command of an armj^ 

 lie, therL'fore, moved the previous 

 question on the resolution for 

 thanking his lordship. 



]\Ir. A^'allace stated several in- 

 stances, where the governors of the 

 ditfcrent establishments had been 

 thanked for their share in military 

 ouccesses, in that part of the world. 



Mr. Johnstone said, it would be, 

 at least, time enough to wait till 

 the campaign was over, befor(^ 

 any thanks were returned for the 

 victories in its commencement. Such 

 had been the practice in the ca-e of 

 the duke of Marlborough ; and tho 

 recent instances of the house voting 

 thanks to the commanders for tim 

 success at Copenhagen ; and tha 

 first movements of the army in the 

 expedition to Holland, shewed, 

 that the house might be too preci- 

 pitate and hasty in such measures. 



Mr. Wilherforce wished, that the 

 question of thanking lord Wellosley 

 should be postponed, until the 

 whole of his conduct had been ex- 

 amined by purliaoicnt, in or ler 



a 2 th^t 



