AND THE DUKES OF EICEMOND. 115 



who had served in the Peninsula, on the subject 

 of decorations conferred on the army engaged in 

 the last war ; and praying that the House would 

 interpose in behalf of the said officers, and bring 

 their case to the notice of her Most Gracious 

 Majesty. The petition was drawn up in so proper 

 and respectful a manner, that he felt the best course 

 he could adopt would be to read a portion of it to 

 the House. 



His Grace then read such portions of the petition 

 as he considered most essential, viz. " The petitioners 

 did not deem it necessary to trouble their Lordships' 

 House with any details of the services in which they 

 had been engaged, because the thanks of Parliament 

 had been repeatedly offered for those duties, and 

 because self-adulation would ill become the character 

 of the British soldiers. They threw themselves on 

 the recommendation of their Lordships, with an 

 earnest hope that the House would interfere in their 

 behalf by drawing the favourable notice of the 

 Sovereio-n to their case." 



The Duke then addressed the Lords at considerable 

 length upon the subject, and stated that he felt 

 that he "ous^ht to remind the House of the o-reat 

 importance which the operations in the Peninsular 

 War were to the ultimate pacification of the world. 



" The walls of Parliament had nig;ht after nisrht 

 re-echoed with melancholy forebodings that the 



