HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



29 



might have been convenient for 

 the eneni}' to leave them on the 

 field. With regard to the rein- 

 forcement of 36,000 men, which 

 was advancing to support the 

 French, why did not lord Wel- 

 lington know of their situation, 

 and the probability of their ap- 

 proach ? It was the duty of every 

 general to have such information. 

 The earl of Suffolii, considering 

 the amount of the British force in 

 the peninsula, and that only so 

 small a portion of it was brought 

 into action at Talavera, there was 

 here also much ground for repre- 

 hension. And this conduct ap- 

 peared to be in perfect confor- 

 mity to that of the same general, 

 in bringing up only half his forces 

 to act against the enem)', at the 

 battle of Vimeira.* 



The Earl of Grosvenor was ap- 

 prehensive, that if the House were 

 to be called upon to vote thanks 

 for every instance of the display 

 of valour, the proceeding would 

 draw after it injurious results. If 

 a single detachment, nay if an in- 

 dividual had exhibited proofs of 

 determined bravery, their lord- 

 ships might be called upon to vote 

 away thanks. The battle of Tala- 

 vera was one, which, in all its cir- 

 cumstances, did not appear to him 

 to be entitled to such a reward. — 

 Lord Mountjoy maintained, that 

 no general was better skilled in 

 war, none more enlightened, none 

 more valiant than lord viscount 

 Wellington. The choice of a posi- 

 tion at Talavera reflected lustre on 

 his talents; the victory was as bril- 

 liant and glorious as any on record. 

 It was entitled to the unanimous 

 approbation of their lordships, and 



the eternal gratitude of Spain 

 and of this country. 



Earl Grey agreed with the 

 earl of Liverpool, as to the pro- 

 priety of bestowing rewards where 

 rewards were due, and of con- 

 ferring the high honour of the 

 thanks of that House on transcen- 

 dant merit; but not that the battle 

 of Talavera was an event that 

 ought to be characterized in such 

 a way, or remunerated by that dis- 

 tinction. Before, however, he 

 should enter into a discussion of 

 the subject immediately before the 

 House, he begged leave to say a 

 few words relative to the victory 

 of Maida. The objects of the ex- 

 pedition to Italy, under sir John 

 Stuart, had not completely failed, 

 as stated by the noble lord. If 

 they did fail, the failure was re- 

 mote. A French force was, at 

 that period, assembled on the Nea- 

 politan coast, for the purpose of 

 making a descent on Sicily. To 

 destroy this force, was the object 

 of the expedition of sir John 

 Stuart ; and in that object, in the 

 battle of Maida, and the conse- 

 quences that resulted from it, he 

 completely succeeded. The ene- 

 my did not, after that action, re- 

 tire in regular order, nor take up 

 a position within sight of the field 

 of battle. They were completely 

 dispersed, and as an army, anni- 

 hilated. The battle of Talavera 

 had neither succeeded in attaining 

 the general object of the cam- 

 paign, nor the immediate object, 

 namely, that of dispersing the 

 enemy's army. 



The general object of the ad- 

 vance of lord Wellington into 

 Spain, lord Grey took to be that 



* See Vol. LI. 1809, History of Europe, p, 225. 



