122 RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES OF OOODWOOD 



of 1847, is exactly that which was desired by those 

 to whom this distinction ouQ^ht to be granted. The 

 complaint originally was that a medal had been 

 granted for services performed in Flanders, and at 

 Waterloo, and that a medal was, on the same plan, 

 subsequently granted for services performed in the 

 East Indies ; and that such medal was not granted 

 to those who served in the Peninsula. I consider 

 that the very line adopted, that is to say, the granting 

 medals to those who had been engao-ed in services 

 which had been already held deserving of the com- 

 mendation in which those services were held at the 

 time they were performed, was a measure that would 

 give satisfaction to all concerned. 



"Your Lordships must observe that it was the 

 Crown that conferred these distinctions, and they 

 were valuable because they were conferred by the 

 Crown ; for whatever officers and soldiers may feel at 

 receiving the approbation of this and the other House 

 of Parliament, it is not this or the other House of 

 Parliament that creates the value of this distinction ; 

 it is being conferred by the Crown. There were 

 many wounded men in this country long before the 

 year 1794, but it was never proposed to reward them 

 by distinctions on account of their wounds." Not- 

 withstanding the Duke of Wellington's avowed 

 feelings in the matter, tantamount to a disap- 

 probation of it, the motion was passed. 



