VICTORIES ON THE SUTLEJ',

THE SPEECHES
or THE

HT, HON. SIR ROBERT PEEL, BT.,

THANKS OF THE HOUSE

"
THE ARMY ON THE SUTLEJ,

Foa TllE VICTORIES

MUODKEE. FEROZESHAH, ALIW AL,

AND SOBRAON.

I~ TJIE

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Monday, Marck 2nd, and Thursday, April 2nd, 184G.

ErrnACTED PROM

llANSARD 'S PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE S,

1846.
 1.<' )< 1) 0 1< :

" " O KG II \\' OOJ! I' ", L L "'Nto ~ O N.

A'''.',''''A'I', .W'~>" ", .~""

 THANKS TO THE ARMY IN 1NlJIA .

VICTORIES OF MOODKEE Al'iD FElROZESUAll .

8m R. PEEL rosc Dud took hill 6tll.1lu nt the Table, when

~1n . En I G lIT intcrpo6cti, !l1ll1 locggcJ le l!.\'c to prIlscnt a.
potition. \Vc understood it to be from Rending, IlDd to pray
thnt the Uouse would not ro te thnnk~ to the Indil\\l army, O~
the 11'001' 8 WCrIl engaged in lin unjust ami impolitic warfare.
Sm R. PEEL thon spoke 8 S follo ws : 1 11m about to ]l fOpOell
thnt onc of the llighcst rcwll nls that clIn be bcstowcol upon
sllccessful mlour shall be conferred by this lll)ulIc. [ am
nbout to propose tllM th e TllonkB of !.he Commone of this great
Empirc eh.o.lI be boil'OIl to the officers IlIlll mOll who recent ly on
tho Lanks of the Sullcj , undor ycry tl'Ying circuUlstallces, by
their discipline. by their fortitUllo , by their l\rillillllt valour.
have 6ustainetl tI l(! rCIllltotiolI of their country. nnd proved
thelllBelves worthy of th o ~ervi CII to whicb th ey helong. And
I wn ~ prepared. nntil I wn~ interrupted by the bon. Gentleman
lue Member for tbe city of DlJj·hOln, to heliove tlHl.t it would
be impossible that 1\1Iy body of Englisbmen couhl bl! fowld.
who, seeing what Iroro the circulllst n.nccs of unprovoked ng-
gression which called fortll til e exert-iOIlS of these gnl1 nut mell
-seewg whnt. in II jnst eBnse, was th eir devotion to the
interests of tll eir eouutry-,ronld sign a pet ition gmdging tho
gratoful nckllOw lcdgmcnt of courage nud devotiou whicll we
propose to offer. (Much cllccring.)
The Rcaolutious with which 1 shnll coucludc will 1I0t tOllch
upon nny matter of purely political COllec rn, l)ll t nrc fromed in
conformity with c5tnblillllC<:i Ul!Rgc-thnt usoge Lcing consonant
with reBson and justice. The Rc!!Olutionij wi11 be confin ed to
the acknowledgmen t of mi!it.nry skill, abilit,y. !lilt! yolour:
I1n.1 lh Oilc who may Le di sposed, if any tlLf'ti.' two to qUl!BtiOll
, 2
 +
the policy of the I"Jian GOI-onllnent, will not be;1I ti le sliglltcSI
,leg!'''c l:omp"Omi9cd by giving 0. rendy ncquiC'!lccncc in th e
Moti vn 1 8111111 ~l1bmit. U C)\\'(wcr cony;ncc.\ I mny 1~ of tI,e
justice. the moderation, nml th e wis'\mll which hll"c dunne-
tc~iz cd !.he conduct of my gallallt .Frionu the Goycrnor GIl-
tlI~rRI, yet 1 shall stUlliously abstain, ill tIle oilscn'atiollll which
I lllllkll, from any rcfcl'c(lco to matters of puLlic policy, ex.·
cepting such liS i~ IIcccssnry to elucidate the military opel'!\,-
tioM Irhieh IITIl tlu'I sulljcct of the UCBolutions I ~hllll move.
With the ]'ositioTl, witl, the G ovcnUllcnt, witlL the ]lOpulll.tion
of the Sikh tCl"I"it(Jry. WI). hll,Vll- becomo (flillil;r,!, throllgh events
IllIIt hal'C occurred within the last few ycal'S. TluJ state of
the country nud the histury of tlu! PUlljuuu nre ]lrohnuly well
known to all whom 1 nUl nthiresJliug, from the rclntion in
which we stood townr<1l it , during our opcrlltionJl in th c ncigh-
houring count ry of Atl'glillnist"u. Tho House is probnbly well
nwnl"n tlmt by th o nuil ity and energy of em individulll (R ul1ject
Sing) suprcmacy was \lstablif:lhed by hiiU in (he PllUjllUb:
Ilild thut for Illony yenTs, tl'fl>llgh thut ohility nud onergy. he
rulcd tIle destinies of thnt g rout country. nnd kellt in sllujee-
tion nnt! sllilonliuntioll n powerful nl~ny. Sincc his deuth,
which took pince in the ycn l- 183D, the GOVCrD.lllent of the
PunjQlIU .hlls JlI'030tlted II aorics of nets of cruelty, of intrigue.
of a rapid succ essiun uf governors, ill conseCjuence of the
mllrdtlT of the rrc\leccs~or lIy the BtlCCCaSor ; it uns exhivitct!
a picture of li ceutioualles~ nlHi tlelmuchery so e.dravngant,
that it migbe vo cnlculnted to pro\'oke a amiin if it werc 110t
for tile influence such liceu ti{>Ul:lllesa nllt! t!cbnucllcry must Cl:-
ercise over tIle welfure of lIlilliollS. The nc ts of tllll~ Gon~ru­
Illent hllve LeQ)1. lllnilliy directed l)y tlmt powerful sololicry
ovcr which Runject Siug est ahlished his Bwny ; Lut wllich
aill ce his t!cll.th hns Loen ill the constant hnuit of controlling
the conduct of tIle civil nuthorities, a nd even of the Illilit.o.ry
eOmmaU(\eTS, vy repe nted aetg of inslivordilllJ,tiOIl, IUld repeated
murders, for th e purposo of extorting incrensed pay. Perhnps
tho ilest idell one call g ive of the nnOlllnlous comlitioll of nffui.·s,
and of the difficulties of apcclt!llting upon nny [lCtS thnt llllly
he committ()ll, or upon nny measure thnt lllny be resortcd to i~
tllis---that it i ~ f!l lito cleM tllnt the ]Ullin lliJjcct of t he go-
 5
\'crlJOI'R of that country, nud of the prillcip!!.llll.utlc\l pro}ll'i()tUTS
lIud chiefs, hils Leen to pnH"okc colli~iolL witll the British
/l.tllly. not for the purpo~e of rcsentiug nny wrOllg, or of SUII_
tllining the mili tnry reputation of their country, Im~ of freeiug
thCillijdn:s frow suhjection to nn insubordinate and \iceutioll8
force, by pro\'okiug n. conflict with Grent Britnin, in wilich
thllt force sholllU fall n sacrifice. That Ims bccu tliC main ob_
ject, and tho strange principle of public policy, that hRl! for
Some time gUiliud tIle decisions and rcgulnted tlu~ nets of the
rulcrs of the Punjo.ub.
I well know what was the object of my l~I"iOIllI, Sir ncury
I1 nrdingc, ill undertaking tl10 government of hulin. H e made
grcnt 5f1crificCB from n BOllse of 1111blic duty; my gnllnut Frienll
heM n prominent pl(lce ill the Couucils of ITer M nje~ty: he
wllS, I heliove, without IlllY J'cfcrenee to purty divisions, holtl
in gencrnl esteem in th is Honse, (IS weU by his political op-
ponents n ~ \)y his}lolitic llol friends. ITe wn s reg-ardell loy the
army of this eountry ns it'! friolHl, becanse he was the fricnll
of jnstiee to aU ranka of that army_ It was PfO]IOHCd to him
lit 110 time of life, when, porhnps, ambition is (I le~s powerful
8timulu~ tlJll,ll it might hll.l'e heeu at !lon earlier periOlI-it. wn~
proposed to him to relinquish hi s plnce itl the Councils of his
SO\'ereign-to fOI·ego th e sn tisfnetion he IUIlSt \lal'e felt lit
what he couW not fnil to sec, thnt he wns nn oloject of gcn~ral
respect nnd esteem. He scpllrated him ~cLf from thnt fnlllily
willell con~tit lltcd tJIC chief lll!.ppillcs~ of his life, fOI" lim pur_
pOliO of llerfofmillg 110 public duty he Ol~etl to his Sovereign
and W~ conntry, by tnking the nnluolls (Iud re!!pollsiblo sit ua_
tion of Chicf GOI'cmor of ollr Indiun l,ossessiolls. no wen l,
out witll " high l1lilitllry rCIHltation, aolieitoull to cstahlish llis
fllme in cOllllexion witL oW'llldinn Empire, 1I0t by [llCaliS of
conqnest., or the exh ibition oflllilitnry skill ntlll \"l\lollr, lout by
obtniniug for himself 11. nllme itl the I1lLtllI.ilI of Inc.li,~, M tho
frieud of pCflce, Ilud th roogh the jlrolliotioo of tho secinl in-
tcrcatH !LUll wclfllre of the inhilloitnnls. It wn~ IIlllinly 011 ne_
cOlm!, of tho llIilihll'y elmrnctor fln\1 higlt rqml ation of Illy g:d _
lant Friend that he WI\S euubled \0 cOlitrolllllll keel' in e\1<.:ck
111 0 nspimtiolJs or more nnlul1 l. and impetllous lIIi1l\1~ Lonl UI' OIl
th e im'nsiou IIlId cOII'p\C~ 1 of the Puujllub.
 Tbe view whieh my gallant. Friend took of the policy to be
pursued in regard til tho Punjauu, was Bhortly thill: he th ought
tl10 dominion! of the British Crown in Iudia wl!l'e sufficient for
cI'cry purpoae-that the interests of tho Empire would 1I0t he
IJromoted by tl10 a(hUtion of the Puujllub to the posselillions
nlready BuLject to our 011'11 nlle, ITe \l'IlS determined, there-
fore, to resist nuy temptation to tcrritorilll uggl'll;udizement.
His des ire was to BCIl a native Government estnblished in the
Panjaub, capllble of lIIuilltaillillg its iudependcnce, of restoring
BuoordinatiQn in tllc mnks of fI grent flrmy, eOUlllOsell of meu
of high nfltnral cournge, of grco.t 1)bY6icnl strength, accustomed
to Ilieeiplinc. nnd tmincd to military habits by Eu:ropelLD of-
ficers Qf distinguished reputation. H is wish was, thllt a Sikh
GOTernmeut should be estaLiished, fIe deprecated the fOTnI-
ntion of aM:ussulmall GOI'Cl'l1111cnt, or tho llominutioll of nlly
other than Sikh uuthurities. At lJIIl same time tbat he was
detcnniucd to res i~ t the temptBtions t o direct aggression, 1m
refu.sctl l'cpeated proposals tlmt, were made to him to interfere
iu the liome~tie affaira of lac Punjllub. Although nothing
could have been moro easy; althougb but !\ wonl from him
would hnl"e hCtln lIoccssary to indueD th e Aluu ullilall inhabit-
nnts of tbo Punjnub to rise against tbe Sikll authorities, wbo
were contlucting tbemsch'e~ in 0. manner so irroconcilcablo with
lIOunu policy or comlllon sell~e, he resoh'ed stendily to adhere
to the line. he had chnlked Ollt; to abijtnin frOUl nIl interfer·
1'.111'.0 in tLo tl ome~tio affairs I)f the Plllljo.ub j and to obael'To
literally e,'ery obligation of gotXI. faitIl,
But wllile tlmt WflS his I'iew of tIle IJolicy tlll\t ought to be
pursued, he was IIOt inBensiLle to the \lllnger to which our
Illdiau Empire WIIS constantly eXp<lscll from the IDllintcunncu
on its frontier of a profl.ignle Ilud debullehcd Govenu1)ent., COIl-
I·ro\loo by nn insuhordinate mid lieentiou IIrmy. My gn\lnllt
F riend, tllCrefore, took o,U Ilr ecautions, lIe hlld to gllal·tl n
frontier c.l('tending on tho banks of th o Sutlej at lcast 100
miles. The fromier from Perozepore to Roopu:r was at least
100 miles: from Porozcporo to Lootlial1A about, 77 miles. My
gallaut Fricnd, cn ntiously nbHtlliniug from tha col\ecticu of
any force !Ill the frontior wlliel1 coulrl)ustify ngg l'cssioll, or
evell rcmO Il ~ tl'n1\e l', 011 the part of lilc Lahore Go\'emmelll,
 7

look t!'OHCl prccll.Ulious ,,·hich Il'ould effcc~unlly pre\'cnt suc-

o.:cssful nttnck 011 their pfU't. At FcroZoc£lorc be slnlioncu II.
force (If about 8,000 mell , cOllllisting of ono EUropl'nn regi-
ment, SCVOll regiments of no.tivil infRutry, two regiments of
Ilative cRvnJry, twenty-four light guus, IIml hlLd mounted in
poaition nt Ferozepol'c thirty or thirty-frye pieces of heal'Y nr-
tillory. ile iutClldcd th is to be the llc.l vllllced ]lost of th o Bri_
tish n.nuy on the western side of tho front ier. At n. ilia-.-
tance of abont seventy-six milOl:! to the cll.s twnl'd, highClr II!'
the Sutlcj, Ilt Loodilmo, he colleetcd IL force of noon! 5,000
men. My guliaHt }o'ricnd though t thnt these two u!111iu, or
two divisiolls of aIL IInny , stntiouc<l a.bout Bcvcnty_sil: miles
from oneh ot.her, acting 011 the flanks of IlllY force from tho
Punjaub, imlucetl by capr ice or by the t emerity of their
rulers to in.va de the Dritls}! terr.ito!'Y. wou ld 'be sufficieut to
keep it ill effectual control. At II. distancc more in the inte.
rior, namely, lit [JlUbnlll1h, he stationed an olhor division of
7 ,500 men at. the lellst. My gallaut Fl·iouu \I'M undoubtedly
under the imprcaaion thllt it WlIS highly improbable Ihat o.oy
o.ttack woultl be mlldo by the nrmy of tho Punjnub upon tbe
British positions. ITe Knew-Ihat no conuuct on hiB part eoulll
pro\'oko:l or justify such UII attock; and he felt evcry nssur·
ance wo.t could be felt, ~ o fo.r as justico and rcn~on sanctioned
the infcreuce, that the army uf the Puujaub \~ouM not bo mad
cllOugh to lIeek n contliet witi! the Btitis1! forces 011 the left
bank of the Suticj.
Thero were good rell.sotlswllY my gailimt Friend did not
Keep together for the last. two or Ihree years au immcnso Bri.
tish and nnti ve army on tho llflliks of the Sntlej. Constant
efforts \'''ere mado by tho Govcrnment and by tho military
leatlers of tllc nrmy of the P unjnub to corrupt OIiT nllth·c
troops. The constitntion of the Rrmy of th l! Punjll.llb is purely
uemocratic: the pril'ate soldiers clect repl'CNC1Jl!l.til'ca, five in
number from elleh eOlll pany, to coutl"ui tbeir officeI'll, t o depose
them Wbe l\ they tllink fit, 01' to Nubjel.lt them to ucnth whcn it
i~ deemed expedient. Tho pny of an lufantry Holdier of the
Puujanb ill about 258. n tuonth; while tho pay of 0. Sepoy in
Her Majesty's scrrice is oul.r sbont 14~. or 156. 110 nlllllth.
CO tltitlllit exerti ut15 wero lnadc, Ity liired aud illl.lirod means,
 8
a ided by community of language and of religion, to shake tile
fidelity of the native troops; but 1 r ejoice to 68.y thnt tbllY
wern made without success. Tho loyalty of tho sepoya, witll
!lcarcely IL single exoeption, hILs been untainted. All tho
offers of n proftigll.te Government and a liccutiolLH soldiery
were wlIl.Yniling; but still it was prudent in my go.llallt
Friend not to Lring together on thll frontier, for Oil illllefiuite
t ime and for no specific object, all immense native forco, scoiug
thnt withill n few miles thoy would be exposed to the injurious
eXlLID.plc of 11 soJdiery froo from all restraint, and cOllstantly
resorting. to throats of actunl violence towards their leaden.
There wcrc, tlmreforc, political reasons fOl' not kcopillg ow'
troops ns it were in immediate coninet with such on Cllomy.
Hnd thero wore miHttlry rClI.'IODB equally powcrful
rt was, in tho first place, impossible, if aggre~sion were
intended, to forosee at what point !IJ1 invasion would be made.
On the left bank of tho Suliej were many States belonging to
the Punjaub, and somo of tho chiefs of thow StlltOIl men of
doubtful DltcHty. In those dominions On t1lo loft bank of the
Sntloj are many fort~ of cOllsiderablo sille aud atnmg th. A
force controlled by no GOI·ormllcut" ilnpcllctt by tl\o Ceur of
losing it-ll pay, or tho hop o of extorting more, is not govonled
by ol'uiunry ooullill"crntiODII of prudoneo, like tho annies of re-
gular 8tnte9; emd if the Imny of tho Punjauh meditlLted IL
sudden irruption ilito Lhe British territory, it wall ,liffielilL to
fo rosee at what point tho deacont would be ml\tle. Between
l<'oroz eporo and Roopur thero aro not fewer than Llvellty ford s
ayailable for the pnsaago of troops; 1101' is it easy to aseol'taiu
their exnct position, since, frolU the nature of the river, thoy
11.1'0 constantly changing. lily gnllant Friend thought, thcrc-
fore, that tme militalJ policy rceommenlled tI\(I counfl 1m IlIlS
pursued, not thnt hia whole army should be concentrated 011
tho bnnkJI of the Sutlej, hut that our territory shoulll 1)0
gUllrdod by a sufficient force stationed a.t Feroz.eporc Rnd
Loodinnll.. Seeing the superior furee of cilyairy ill the "rillY
of the Puujllub. the despera.te rn sh neslI of II lieentiOllJl 11m))"
Dot gO\'erned by the ordinnry !'Illes of cOUliud, it was within
11m limit of l'o~aibility lhat n tillsh !night be made at lJelhi, or
sOllie "itnl rllrl of the ludhul Ewpire. My gl1l1nnt Friend,
 9
therefore, mOllt wisely ami prudently, kCI)~ a cOlIsiuera ble £or('(1
II~ Umballah, 80vouty-ail Ulilea to the BOuth_cll.!lt from Loodialltl ,
!Iud I/. still lArger body Qr t roops in th e neigllhourhoo(\ of
Delhi. Thiu whole force Wil.l auctn1l1cd by "fray of precrlUtiop
Itgaillst the possible ILttcmllts of tho Lnlloro army; end It.
conei~tcd in the wIlDIo of not f ewer tho.lI thirty regiments of
untivo infantry. of nine rcgimculll of Europcnu infantry. of
twolvo regiments of native cnvalry, lind of three regiment. of
EUroJlCllU cavalry. All this WIlS quite coDsistent with for-
benrance on the part of tho GUI'cn lor General, and with hill
determinatioD to be seduced by 110 temptation to aggression
on the cncmy_
It i8 quite clenT that my gnlln.nt Fricud the Governor Ge-
uemi did take c\'cry precaution to CllallfC the 8IIfet1of the
British t1ominioHIl in 1ndill, iu case of sutlUIlU unu unp n;IVoK'::u
nttl\ck_ l u tho early part of lho yeflt-, lOt, tho timo WllOU \iu
IVI\.I! occupieo.! with his f\illctions ns Govel"uor General, and
when it wns mo~t lllfttcrinl tlmt IlIl IIhould perform them in
eonjuncliou witb h~ Council li t Calcnttll j in 0. minute. tiMed
on tho 16th June, he SUilIUiued to tll1l Council bis 01100011
tllnl our relations with lile Court of l.nllore bccllDlO 110 uouJ..t-
fu1 , tlmt, great I\.!I WI\.!I the iueOll\"cnienec of IICpnl'1l.ting tho
Govenlor General nnd his Council. it ...as desirable, with
referene e exclusively 10 I.ndinn interests, thnt he sllO uhl pru-
cced tn the len hank of the Sutillj. in order that on the spo t
Ito migh t he ennbled to give snch tlir~tions ns nppenred
neceBMry, nno.! Ivhicb. if gh'CIL nt th o ,liBtanee of II. tllOusnnd
miles, mig1l! bo inapprop l';nte, The unanimous opillion of till)
melUbcl1l of the Council W4IJ, thnt ib was for tho pnblio
interest thnt the Govel'nor General should proceGli to j uill the
anny: IlUd, in tonformity with this "Ih'i~~, in tIle month of
October he took llis t1cllnrturt -for tho left Lank of tho Sutlej,
UII to lUI early f'criod in December, the opinion of Illy gallont
Friend (Sir Hellry Hanlingc) \\'118, tllnt IIlCrc would Le 110
irrulltion from the rigl't lin n!.. or t.hc Sntlej into lhe lIritish
territory , lie feU eonfitlCllt cllOt the SiJ,:hs mus t be convince,l
tha t such nn attempt could only cnd in 8ignnl defeM, l!.ml
th erefore thnt it would Hot IKl IUnd(', So fllr as 110 co uld r(,"!1011
fl't)Ul experience, he lUlU n right to nrL'i,'c nt thiM eom}lnsiou, I II
 10
1843, the nnny of Lnhore left the c>l.pital and auvnllceu to 11m
Sutlcj ; but nftar retllOuet)'ll.uce 011 our part it retired agaiu and
abandoned we enterprise. III 1844, cmctly the !lOme conduct
was observed; the Punjnub anny, eager for pay. or for uooty, if
II!}! could not be obtained, awl, instigatc(\ by tho Govcrumcut
nnd tilO chiefs, nppClucd to contcml,lntc nIl irruption; but, ill
1844. as in 1843, tho Ilrmy \\'ithdrcw to the interior. Ac-
counts, however, rcached my gallant Fricod towards tho (lull
of r..~ ovember last, which led him to believe tIll'lt lUI inwl.siou of
the Bdtiab territory wile soriously monaced. Tho H OUliIl .... i11
find by tho Papen! recently presented by command of ITer
Majesty, that on the 20th November, Major Broadfoot ad-
dreesed a letter to the Commauder in Chief, Dud IIDother tD tlJ{l
Govel1lor General to this effect;-
" Go~"rnor , Gcnernl'. Agency, 1'0" , 20, 1845.
"Sir-Since I had the honour of ,,:litifJg on your Excellency to-da y,
I have rocci ..ed Lahoro lotter-. of the 18th mount (, ,,orning). During
the n igh~ of the 17th, thu cmcr. ho.d ngreed 00,11[1(1 the Durhar had
ordered in writing, th~ full(n.ing pbn M operntio".. 'I'lle army "M to
be divided into ... ven di.'i'ion~, one to remain at Lahore, IUId the relit to
proceed ngllin8t Roopur nIld our hill., Loodinnn, Ilureckec, ~'ero~epore ,
and Scmd", "hila oue " ... tQ I"'oceed to Pc,h",",,"; mild m force nllder
IUjal' Gola~ Singh mL& \ 0 ba acnt \0 AUock."

'rho dcciaioll theD tllokcu hy the L llhore DOl"bnr ..,.l"l9, that four
divisioDB were to be employed in IIll nttnek upon the Britiah
territory, but they were UOt to make n concentrated or silLLul·
t8.llcoua movement; and the policy of the cour80 adopted by
lhn G()VCl"uor Gencrnl Wn5 thWi dcmonstrntcd. The Lnl'ol"c
n.rmy, in four diviaiollil, was to make four sCllnratc attneks on
differcDI. puints nluug the ri.'er-the first dh'ision wn~ to force
th e ens tern extremity of the liue; ll.uether to attack Leodiann;
n third pass the rivcr nt Ilurcekee; Iilld the fourth nttn.ck Fe-
rozeporo, Thow diviaiou8 were to cousist of about 8,000
lII en ench. Tho lleuse will see by reference to the Papers
l/lid hefore tJlelU how difficult it was fo r nny pcnon, c\'en th o
1L10S~ eXJlerie nc cd, to SJloculn.to on we decision to which the
gO"cming }lOwera at Lllhorc mi ght arrive. They will sec, too,
IhM tho Minis ters, or those who held the rems of govcruDteut,
~pCD t their d.o.y~ iu such eontiuuou6 ,lruukcuuc86 aud dc,
hnuchery, Ihll~ 110 {csolu liolL of theirs could he dopondoo Oli.
 11
All account writteu by tlu;) Agent l\ ~ Lahore, to the Secretary
to Government, (Inted Ullluallnh, NovcnHl()r 2 Jst,. fOUlldad 011
informat ion received direct from Lllhore, presents this picture
of the councils of the PUlIjnub : -
" T110 Il.nne<l (\ I~~t i~, the "'gent . tbe IlKIthe~ or the infant Mnhnrnjl\b)
compln in<Ml tlint whilst t he t.roop" were urgi ng the march. they we,...., still
,l!oing home to their vHlD.ges n. f;lJlt ... thoy got their p.n)'; nnd Sinbr
Sham Si ng h Atrn ..... eomU"h dec lared hi . !;>eliof that unl cM IIOmcth;ng I'I'U
dODO to stop thi • • ho "'auld find himllClf ou hi. way to Fcro!OIJON! with
empty tenUl. 'rhe brut of moncy to be pD.;ll. nnd to Recorn"""1 them ..;lJI
al ao offcrud, Rnd tit length the Durbar broke up M two r.... Gl'I'at cou _
~ul t11tioHlI look [llace in the afternoo n ; bui. I know onlY!H'" re~ult, th:>.t
tho R:meD had to give hcr I""cr hil fotmal di ~mi$ll.'ll, alIt! tl~~t he (Rajah
I,.,,! Si ngh) MtlLOII, 'went into the cnmp or th e S,~ ... ar. lu). i& 10 cO ll1 m~nd ,
and pitched hill tent. What. the Ra nee ..1YB i&quite tn,s of tho ""po,.,.
dilpe .... ing to tl,c ir hou ~ ; tho whole alfu.ir has 110 . udden!y rcllOh(...t ll~
1',..,••",1 Leight, Ihat many of Ihe UI~n Ihcm6dvcI Ihillk ii "'ill como to
"olhing, and 8tll11110TO ",ho I~~t! taJr.en Ih~ir t!c[lo~nUJ'C t!o Dol, t."lic'·o it
""1';011.8 cnough t o go b.~ok. 00 til e ,jnr "ftcr Ihi, eceno toolc. place, t. ~.
Iho lllth, Ihe u~",~l ~tre,' m of ocllOr', ""Ii \'cs of the proLect".] Sta!.C8, who
ha d got their poly,poured aero." thtl Sutlej, at llu[C<lkec, 0" the way to
thei r home."
There appears nlso IW ncoonu t (If Il.uother eonver~ l1tion. in
those Pnpers, which took plnee between the Rnjnh Lal Sligh
and Bbneo Rum Singll. one of t110 principal officers and ndvisen
of the Lahore Government, nml who seems to hlll'e beeD the
only one of th em in whom, from his chnmetcr and wisdom, the
Blightest eonfideDeocoult! be plMed, In o. lettcr fromLnlIorc,
dated tho 24th day of No\'ember , the following conversntion
was t!lltnii('d: Bhuoo Hum Singh, ndd.ressing LII.I Singh. ijnid-
.. 'I'bo E ngl;"h hMO interfered ill ~o ~ffolil"ll oft hn Kl,~lso.; ...Ilnt i, II,,]
... il!dom of your mJlking r-eUgioWl wlIr ~t t.he ~idt!ing of the ..,hli~ry '
Nond 0( the 110hlu h.1I'o dl'lcO"crcd tho rr~l intention! of tho Engli8h.
The Govcraor Genera!'. IIgent, who iB ~ .te"t!y frient!, hu I'I'ritWII in thu
pl";,,c.t tcrmY, th,,~ !.be £lIgli8.h GOvern llle nt dClin.'!I only friuulhlIip lilte
that of the Inte Ma harajah I{un.iee~ Su'gh; but tlutt if Jlny thing .... rong I,
dono by tho SikI, ~ r"' 1 , the ,·"lel"ll of thn kingdom willlia lICIt! ""1"'0_
,ibl", for rulor. mURt account for tlte acts or their trooJ.>5 ""d .objoou .
Be cautiou s ho w you mnrch 10 IIun.ockc-e ll'ilh the troop. . The It.lj~l,
..~id • • llI",eo Snhib, ",hnt con 1 do' if I ren"u n, tho >IOld i er~ seizo me Ii,.
tho thront.' ..
In a wort!, the councils of the Durbllr seem to hnve been ~hln­
illg from dny to dllY, lind no olle eOlllt! spc-culnt o with BUY
degne of eouJidcuec ns to th e prohable result ,
OD tIle 9til of December, the GovcrnOl' GCllernl, til inking
QUI' reln.lioll~ with lh e Pttl'joniJ I'cry critical, lind tlul~ it lvall
dcair/Ll;ie to take el'ery prcc!luti,)u IIglli u6t /Lily ~uddcn irrup.
 12
lioll, gnvo Orcle!"B that the divi~loD oftrooJlII at Um lHlll"h, eon~ist­
iug of 7,500 men, 8110UId move to\\'n l'(l~ tlill Sutlcj . On DeclltuLcr
11th, tho. "rry day on ",hic\1 the Lahoro nnny cl"OBsed the
Sutloj. the Bri ti~h nnd nntive tro ops of that divisiotl werc 0 11
tbdr mllrch from UmlJallnll to the frontier. The wholo pro-
ceedings of tho GovernOr Geo!lrni IIml tho Oommander-ill-
Ghi(Jf, subsequently to thnt dllY, as well 1I9 before it, WOi"\!
chnrncterizc(i by the greatest prudence. skill, nod foresight.
I~rom Ullll11LUa11 the troops IIlnrcllcd to 1\ place called BUBeau,
where, owing to the llru!icllt prccnutiou~ of the GoYcl'nor GIl-
noral, th ey foumlnll amp!o supply of food and slorcs. I t ,filS
l"\l~oll'cd thnt a junction shoultl be effected with the Loodinun
!lh-ision, lIml that it would bo better to ineur ~O!IW risk at
1..00<1i&nl1o, rather tluw forego the m\vantnge of 110 jUlletio!J
,vilu tho LoOOinu!l. division of the a rmy, Tho~e troops ad-
vllllceu accordingly towards Fcrozcpore, and learned by Ih~
II'ny thnt tILe army of Lnhoro, amounting to uot lcss llLan
60,000 mcn, brut cr08Bcd tho rivcr, aud were propared to at-
tack tho British amlY, 'l'be cxpectations of tho Govorn()l'
Gcoornl woro Clltircly justified hy tho l'csult, 'Phol'o wero in
FeroZClpoTll 7,500 mOil, 35 heavy guns in position, nml24
pieces of field nrtillery, ill addition to tho heavy orduuucc,
Tho army of Lllhoro 6hrunk from the a ttnck of so fomlidnhlo
a post, ami Forozepol'O was entirely snfe, neeording to the
a ntieiplltions which hn{t heen entertainod l)y the Govel'1lQI'
General. Tho anny of LnlLOI'C, not \'UlltUJ'ing to attack FerO-
zcporc, d ctennined to give hattIe to tho Bl'iti~h forces 011 tl mi r
nmroll from Umbnlln h, nud all tlHl 18th of December mnlic II
sluhicn attaek on th em, On tlLnt Uny tlJC troops luu! reuched
Moodkee, after il!l.l'illg m1l.I'ehed 150 11I i1e~ by fll l'ced mnrcl108,
Th o mOll 1fcro sufferiug sovcrcly frOln wnnt of water, Gml
froIU (ll:hnustion, allil yet Bnch was th ei r ,liscil,line nud gal.
luntry, tlmt they I'epelled the who le (if tho attnekillg nrmy,
thou gh greatly ~upe l'i()r to them in number, ,\ofentiug fL
rorell treUi(! their nmonnt, /tnd sllceoodiug iu tho cnl,tllro
of seventeen of th ei l' J;\lliS, The army ,-,r LnllOrc, thus re·
pulsed by our fill~C!1 nl\valleing rrom Umhnll"h, "etired lI'iliLiu
>,cry funuitlul,lc eutrcuc1uuents u~ Fel'f)~e$hl\h, Thoso ou-
il'elLchmcnl5, cunbistiug uf ~t rollg bl'enstwQl'ks, weI'" in till'
form of a l)aral!(,\o~'I'alll, of "'llich the opposite fnee ~ were
a lIulll ami hfllf a Illite iu length, respeclil·ely. I II the face
of th ose fOl'fllhlnLle wor.k~, proteeteu by 151) gUlls of llenv)'
calibre and exccllent workmnnsllijl, null Ilefenued Ly ncur
60,000 men, the Governor General and the CommanUer.
ill.Chief uctcrmineu to effect 0. junction with the l1il'i6ion of
the army wlJich was statioueu at .l<'crozellore. Tho troop$
Il tl wlIlcmlnccoruingly within three rnilo~ of tho enemy's posi-
l ion, llnd mnn(envreu 011 Ius "lcft Dank; Lut the Commander-
in-Chief having givell llrcriolls notice to Sir J. Littlcr, madll
n mllTch to his left, and on the 21st Decembor c;:ficct(lll n
junction with the Ferozepore= division, which thll8 gnvo nn
lllltlition of 7,500 men. At this timo tuel'o remai noll bllt
threo how's to sunsct. It WIlS resoll'ed, however, to Mtnck
the l)()sitioll of the cuomy. My gallant Friond (tllc GOl'erllOI"
Gcneral) offcrctl lti~ ~CI'l'iec s n.~ ueoond in commallu, ~erviec~
which wore oheerfully HIIlI promptly acecpted by tIle Com-
mamll'r-in-Chicf. Dotenniued uot to wait till uext lIlofuiug,
the irutllllt tlwy effected theil' j Ulloti01J with tho diYisioll WIder
Sir Johu Littler, tho commnnuers resolved to nmke un nltack
"l)on tho cntrellehcd I'limp. 'fho re ~ult, Sir, of Ihnt nttnck
pro\'cd the vnlour of our Eu)·opell.lI nnd Indian forces iu n
prc-emineut degree, and hns ontitll'u them to the wannest ac-
knowledgmo nts of l!liS House and of tIm oOlmtry. The ltigllt
of tl.e 21 st Dccember 11'08 Olle of tIle most lIleUloJ"IlMo in the
militnry allnols of Ihe British Empire. Tho enomy wcro well
defended within strOllgly CUI·tified eutrcnclulltmts-tlieir gUlJ/I
werc servetl with the grentest preoision, mut \.old on our nd·
\'nncing colllnllls with greot effeot. The righ t of the British
Ill'JllY was led by the Commander.in-Chief, whilst the lefe
o.entrc was hendl'llLy Sir n. Rartlingc. Ollr forces IIIndo nu
nttnck on tlte enemy'B camp during the three honrs which I1S
yot remained of da)'light j Lut tho), hntlllot ~lIf1ieient time to
cOlllplotc that victory, whieh was glol"iou~ly nchim·ctl on the
following day. The Dritisl. arlllY, howe\"er, wauc. good their
atlack, IIml occupied II. l)nr!; of the enemy's cnmp. In tho
middle of the night the camll took fire, and futthlJr coniliel
was for 11 time suspeoded in consequence j bllt as soon IIH it
Iwd eenset.! tIle nnnyof Lahoro 111"0llgllt forw nnl their llen,'y
:n·!illery. and pon rllli a. most t.!cs lru ct i" e fire upon our troOJls.
Tho det ail~ of those occurrcnces hnl'o iJeen g iven wilh ad.
mirable c1cnrne8~ in the despat ches of botll commnnd01,!!; {Ili l
there lu).l'c bcen privRte letters reeeil'c(1 wh ich spook of them
witli lcs6 of fonunlity, Ilnd perhnp~ gh'c truer find more faith_
ful accounts of Illese actions thnn dIe official documents.
Perhaps Lhe House will o.~eUllc me if 1 rend an extract from a
privato letter from thc GOI'cruor GellernllO IL mcmber of his
own family. The right han. :Baronet then read a s foUoll's ;-
.. The night of thc 2h~ W!I! Ihe mOat utraonltnllry of my life. r
hkoUBCked wilh the men, without rood or covering, nnd our night. Ill'<!
biuer cold. A bnrning caml' in Our front, our ~rnve fellow. lying dow"
IInd" r :' he~'1' c~lL llonade, whicb oontilluod dllring the whol .. night.,
rniletl with tho wild eric" of the Sikh., ou r Eng!i sh hUlTILh, tLe tmmp of
men. nnd tho gro.'n~ of the d~ing. In Ih!! Slat<:, ... ith n l~~n,lfu! of mell •
...1, 0 h.~o! Mrriod th<l ~ ..ttl'';~s th~ night \.H!fori', \ rern~in~d tiU Dlorll ing,
t::Lkilig ,·cry ~hort i"tarmls of re~ II,. lying '\o""n with ,·ntiou~ regiment.
in ~u ece", io". to Mccrtnin th~ir tUlIll"'t, !llId ]"(l\'i'·e t.heir s!,iriu,."
.My gllllrulL Frielld, liS you ~cc, Bl'0ut that cI'cntful night pMS-
illg f!"Om regiment to regimont, cheering tIle mcn \Jy his UWIl
c.mruple of constaue.}' and eonrage--Uoillg nll tllllt ilUlDll.l!
mealls eQu id do to ensure vietol·y to onl· IInn ~ . "1 found,"
my gnllnut Friend goes 011 tu Hny-" I found myself Ilglliu
with myoid friouds of the 29th, 31st, 5011" Ilud fltl l, nil ill
good hoart"-rogimcntA with which be had served in the P e-
nins ula alld Ivith them that regiment which hns enrncd immortnl
fllme ill the nnnnla of the British army-Her Mllj csty's 80th.
R egilncnt-
" 1'.1,. IInll«r to ~n an,! overy m,'n WII", d,~~ we ml\8t light it oot,
nlt:wk the enemy vigorollll!,. at daybrenk , b<ont him, Or di o honolll'llbly in
lhe 110M. Tho ga!lnn t old geno",,! . kindhearted, lind heroicn!!y brll~e,
enti .....!y ~oillcided witb me."
Let the LIousc observe how IInxious my gnllnnt 'Friend i8 to
(10 justice to his companions ill anns.
" Duri!>g the night I ocOll.lLio",,\ly c"l.1cd on Ollr \".,,,,e English 'I(Ihlicr.
10 l'uni.h tbe Sikh. when !.bey came too e11ltO nntl lI'eI"<! impndcnt: IIn,1
... hell morning broko wo weut lit it [n tn(O Eng!ish st.ylo . Gough wat! on
the ~ighl. ',,"'ceu my ... !f, and dear Uttle Art,hur [hi~ !IOn] ~:r my .i,le,
in tbo cnlltru, about thirty yard. in front of Ihe men. til prevent their
IIring, "",! we drovo tho enemy without n hnlt from one oxtrt:Olity or th e
camp to th e ut her, en]'t "';n/[ thirt)· or forly glLn> nl we went along, wbioh
tl rNt lit \lI'ontl ]ll'CC! from " ". nnd ,,"CI'f! ""!rv~d oh"tinRte!y. Tho brayc
m~II .!row "pin an cxtc l!cnt !in.... nn o! r.h("'r~"t 00\,);10 ~"'! my.~ U· n~ wt)
rodo IL[' th~ line, the "'gimentll.! Co lour. lowerin g to me nl .. n r~r"'! c.
'l'ho ,noun,f,,! J'L.,rt i. the he,,,",, 1~6 I hnv~ ott! tninN] in my Offloor. . I
 15
h.~l'C ba~ ten "io.lcl_d&oCaIDp hoy, tk coIRlml, he L:il1e</ a"o.l6~e wow,d.,.J ,
'r be fire of grRpe "'&9 "CfY hC:lry from 100 pi""u of eannon; the Sikh
anny, drilled "1 Freud, office"', and the InCII Ih~ moit w"dike in
India,"
From my nffcctionnto rcgn rd for 111;s gallant mall. 1 11m proud
to be ellllblod to exhibit him on snch n night all thn t of IIle
21Ht of December - going through the enmp -lln~sinS'
from regiment to regiment-keeping up the ~piri t ll of 11,0
men _ cllcouroging them - a nimating their ardour - an d
having lost ten l!.idcs-uC-CRrup out of twelve-placing hill
,Young son, 1\ boy of Bc \'cnl cCII or eighteell years of age, in tho
front of the linc, in order thnl the British troops might 1,0
induced not to firo Oil the enemy. but drive HwlU bnck by tho
force of the British bayonet. It 1'\'IIS chnrnctcrilltic of tile
man to read the$e detailll. lIe had two sons pre8cnt. oue of
,,·hom wa.~ a ci" iliaZl, and the oth el" ill the arm)". On the
night of the 2111t, he seut the eil'ilian to the rear of t.he anny,
~aying d'at his presence distuructl hiUl, ami tilM, if Ilc l·cfwlIlJ
to retire, he would send hilll all"uy in arrest liS n prisolll!l' ;
bnt the presence. he said, of his you ngll!" eon, un ullicer. wlloae
duty called him tu the field, only mado the fath er llJore des-
porntely reMlme in the discharge of his duty. au the 22ml,
af\('r tho battle II"ll"~ over, he took his eldest 80U, when viait-
ing the sepoys and tIle wouDtlcd: nnd he ahowed them II
Governor General of I ndia. who hlld IOBt his hand. ami the sou
of a. Governor Goneral who hnd l ost his foot, and endeavouroo
to console thorn in tllcir sufferings by pro" ing to the.m thnl
men in the hig hest rnnk were e:J:po~cd to Ole same ells\1altiul!
flS t.hemselves.
As I hefore obscrvcd, the ILcriiOWlts of all the Illilita.r.v Opl'-
riLtiona nro g i,·en wi th admi rable cleurness in the despatche~
In.i.d befQre tIle IIouse. They must have been rend with such
a ttention by el'ery Member of ~he IlousC', I,hat I will IIOt
weaken their effed by Il minute referenoe to military details.
The pride and satisfaction we must all i1eril'll from UmBO
galla.nt exploits lire no dOllb~ cOllnterbalnucod by deep regrot
for the loss of 80 many mOll of the highest distiuction and
promise. We hUI'e JUld tho misfurllllle-the great misfor·
tune--of IOBing: thnt gallflnt officer, who on former ooensioll8
hfl~ so freqllolltly disti11guished himself-S ir Roben Sale.
 IG

lie, Sir, IJas closeu 11 long cnrccr of g lory by that ucntJl LO

wldeh I l)cl icve he iJims()lf looked forward ami which he
covctcu-tllllt death in the field wlLidl entit les me to say ~hl1.t.
even in his OWlI c~ti mntion, he was "felix ctium opportunitatc
mOI'lit." Sir, I do hope that this Ho use will on 110 «ietrln!
day Dll1rk their clllccm nutl respect for the memory of Sil'
"rloLcrt Sale, Ly 111unuly representing to ncr M(\j c~ty tllcir
Imanimoua wish thot She mno:; be pleased to recoru Uw grl1ti-
tml c of th o country by the erection of a monument to Sir
Robert Sale.
We have, S ir, nlao, to deplore the loBS of Sir J . M'Cus.Kill ,
to "'hom Il lU'icf but touciling testimony of approbation iB borne
in tIle dcspntclL of the COllllllllllllcr-in.Chicf, ns well u.s of ouc
of the most eminent men III the eLl'il umI militury sorvicca of
Imlin-Major Broadfoot.. In thnt gontlcmnn the highcst COI1-
fidence was pluccU by o\'cry oue wllo eume in contuct wit h
him. He oLtnined tiiO applause of overy civil and military
nutllority in the conutry, nnd. Ilia pnllienec and skill as a
eivilillli were only cqua.l.J.ed by his ardour und bruvery iu tho
fl eh!. He was, I hclie\'e, the Inst of three broth ers, all of
wholl1 have di(!d in the service of their country on the fl eM of
\,aulc. Major Broadfoot ',1'1\9 present with Sir R. Sale duriug
the siege of J ellulalmll , und took a most eonspicllous PlJ.J"t in
it ~ dofence. It is mOllnlflli, Sir, that wo should hava to de-
ploro the loss in tile same conflict of two gallaut men so dc-
vOled to thoir eouutry's servieo n.I! Sir R. Sale uud Major
Dromlfoot.
1 shall not rofc r by uume to officers of lower mnk who hllo\'e
fullell in this conflict; for whoro all lvere ""0 dist inguisheJ, it
must bo invidiolls to JlurW::ulurize; but whatevcr their rank, I
can nssnre their s1U'Viving rel at ives that th eir country will do
justice to their memory. I h ope the Thanks of t.he H ouso will
be convoyed to ill th e men of every regiment engageJ in this
brilliant ex})loit. wit.hout exception. If !.here were occusions
on wl lich the reputation for valour of some regiments mny
np})enr not to Il uve bc~n upheld, considering ilwir formo r ser-
vicell--their kn own gallantry-their sllvere 10llSell--the re-
membrnnec of one moment's default is altogether obliterated
I!] tIle recollecti on of tlleir former eminent conduct., nnd of
 ~he &ervicea Ihey I'enuereu 011 that ,'cry dOj!. '\111 'luitllllcr,
lain, Sir, that tho men of fi el' ~hjeBly'5 621111 Regiment, of
tile 14t11 Nath'o TnflLntJ'y, and tho other gallant nath'll regi.
ment on tllIl flank of Hor Majesty'!! 62nrl Regiment, ,,-ill not
suffer ill tlltl estimatiou of the country: that the willing tlumh
of thiM nouse will be gi"en, without uce.ption, to "lIlho regi.
mellts engaged in IhM action.
I hope, Sir. there will be an unanimous acquiesccnce in this
Vute of Thanks ttl tire .EUrflp"lLn and Indian army. i trust 1
have Mid nuthing 11111.t cun prol'ok" disC\1ssion OJ' lliesellt in
nuy 'lUll,rter of the IIousc. Tlwrll is not11ing ill the RC50111·
t,iou to whiel, any llIan-wlmtllvcr may be his opinion3 I\S to
the pulicy of the Governor Genet(l.l------call l'Iujllct. 'Let us on
this oeco.siou keep 1,0litiol\l nmi PIU't,Y diIl'llrllOCCS altoget.her
ill tho background. Let us all. without DUY division of politi-
cu] purty, co ncur io bCHl.riug t c~u buony to th o t;ril1io.nt sor vice.;
of nlt'n so worthy of 111C nnm e of Ellglislnnen, There nevl'r
hns beeo a grenter exnmph.l of oxtremo forbcDtaocc, strict
justice. ond 0 resolvo to resist IIIl the tcmp tatiollll to which tho
arnJy was oxposed-tLmro neVC1' WUII n gl'Cllter comhination of
tllOse high lJ,unlities with tllO most brillinnt talent nnd wllonr
in defenco of tho British B11l11irc in Indi!!.. Tlle gallantry of
those \VIIO fell in tllnt conflict w ·m lI(1t be without ih fruits .
Thcu' lives will not have bllCll encrificcd ill vl1.in, Tho remctn-
brnnee of tlleir conduct constitutes one 1)£ lJIC brightest pos-
~cssions-one of tho gren t \lefonces of this country. "\VllCll
we reUect what eM ue effected by disciJlline nud VAlour, such
ns wns mllnifosted by our cOlilltryrucn 011 thcso IUcruorllhie
llays, wo feel t1l1lt in 0. just ~lfIu se our country l1lust 1)0 ,·ic-
lorious. Tho memor)" of thosu men who IHwc fnilcli through
thcir devotion to their country williong serl'c to nnimnto th e
British nrmy. It will Illn.kO us lJrOlid of thllt nnmo wlJich we
uenr, and encOurAgo liB. if ncetl 1m, to omulAte their ll1lr(,ic
exertions, Dnu cruiuit eqlml uevotiOIl, eq1\ni persm'cr:11lCfl,
equnl cournge, in tilo eAust) of Illir common count ry. (Great
uud enthllsillatie cheering grectea the right hon. TIuronct from
1111 a ide~ of tllc Houso ill tho prog ress, nnJ nt the (;onciusiou,
of hi ~ speech ,) He mO"cd the first of til C following scries of
Resol utioliS : -
 IS
"Til." lho ThalLkI IJr l!.is !Jon..., !.r gi"~" 10 tl,,' Right 11",'(lu ....L1..
L;U"IC"J"' ~ G ~"cr,,1 Si r H~nry UfI,..J i"!!,,, lO o\,~ I'"ol' G"""... I of 1",1 ..,.
1\:";1;:" (orAnd eto... "r t ha Order of t hu n"lh, for tile ""tI.sy ........ ,,"ilily
"'ith ... I.;~h hu dlre.:teol d.u hlili'''"1 "''''',,. IJ.{ hi, ,lii[lOQl, \0 ,"" "'1....11.
inl: "f t he IlIIl' J"Ovokcd inYa3ion 1/,. tho Sik.h n.my "r Ihn ,Ior"in l,,"~ uf , h..
Uri,uh V<)f"nlmem, mild of tho 1·.... t.....,IN SIM~ upon tho loft, (mok nf
11,0 SulllJj: ",,,d "]fO, (or ' ]HI li nnnea nn,] ",!lntl!,.,- wi t h whieb ho <Ii·
"""1(~llho oparAlio". nf dl~ t [lIm inD of tho "'my umlur hiJ imrne,lio.le
COIl1l1l",,,I, In tli .. nikrnoon ~I"l n;gll~ of [~mJKlr 2111, I!H6. Rnu On
tho mo.nl hg or the Z~nd, u]l(JH which !)eel"';OI' \1'0 nnemy'. dcr~nct' Wt'-re
cnr .. I~<l hy Ilorm, th e 1:I'il"lcr 1':I,"t of th~ l r nrtlll~ryc~!>tnT1,!ll. "lid the ir
."bOl)<j llt QI"ttemf\tl to rtlg~in what they II,,~ IOl.t r~tK:.'ty,lIy ,I ~ r,,~te'l •
.. Th.,t tl,~ 'l'IL,"k~ Olf thi. Hoose be ghnr, t o G'Uleml Si r lIug h Ooogh.
Bnrollo~. Kn;JlM Gran,1 Cro". of tho Or~ijf Qf tho Bath. CUIl" ..uu<ier III
Uhi"r(lf th~ Fore~. ill tllII 1,,,0, JII<ii~ •• r"r tho ~itti"f!'u;.hcd vnlour with
which 1.0 ,lil'l.-'Ctcd "nd led tho """ornl .. tlacks 01'011 tho CII~"'y , ""~ rOf
t h., "]uiuo,,t ""r l';""" ...,,,,lv,,,,1 hy him in the 1I"u.lol of tho 18th, :tht,
""d 22",1 or Ilt-oomber, 1845, di.phying.~. ho ,1;,1. I" c(",junction with
the Go,'nn10t Ge:ne:rai , A brilli" nt e"'"''''l''e 10 tho troop., of PO~"Ct:l .. ct<
"",I ~~"MlJ;c in " riti""l eir'C" m~I""c~", Alld or Irre:olltibtu anionr in t he
IIC"er.o.1 ntt" ek. mlllio "lIOn t.h~ ""em"
"1'I ... t Iho '[tlll"k. of Ihi& 1I0use be gi,en IG }.flljor Ccnem l Si r
flonry GOOtgd S,u;th, KIIIlht COIOD1anru-r u( Iho Oni," of ! he lJ.~I I, .
II> M:oj '!. e~IIcl'lll W<lIt". {nlui/:h em...,rt. "lid 10 Majo. Gcu~rnl Sir
J\,I", ilumor Little., Knight ComnJ..~nd~r or the Onier of thll [bth,
nn~ III t he ""vern l Ofllt:cn<, ~;uropenn "m[ Nntlvo. und er thd. Com m~nd,
fur t.l16 ollll n.. llt Sll rri C{l1 .... n d~rcd tly thom in Iho recen t <lrd"ou~ <In<.l
ne,,~.rul Opor.'I ;ol1l,
"'1'hnt the ·!·h,,,,k. of !.l,u, [Jouoo be gi.'cn to tho Non·eommi~.io"".]
Oilk.. ,ra ~"J I'ri'-:IIO Sol d'~r. . Ell....,"""" ~"'I N~th'",. r(lr 11011 l'~r.w­
vc,",»P.O a",1 t\,rtll"~~ n,,, lmainl'ti by t hcon lit M<:i<.HlJ;~ Oil thu IS1h of
1;"""",1", •• !flU, 111111 fur tho .bring" V"ionr w;lh ,,'hleh ~hoy foreed the
Ene'"y'l i nt .... nr.hmen ls nt I-'cl'Ow'!L,I, 011 tl,o 21st ~nd 2211,1 of n""en,·
....·r. cnl'tured "'Olt of [';8 e""., "ml fi"nlly C<J"'l"lllcd the Si kb Army. of
grcMI,r allpcrior Nu",t",ra, 10 ret i .... with]I< Ihci. 0"'1< Fnml ;c• •
"'I'h~ l !I,il Rciolul;on bo 8i,;nificd 10 t hem b, II", Comm"ndeR of til<!
llererai Corp","
"lk,{",...d-Thn t tho mid Itc..o1u ,iQ11!i If<) Irnn'lIlllled lIy Mr, SF",,,k.r
,.) t.he GO''ol nl(tr Cenci'll! of ""lb. nn,1 d~,~ I,e I.e ""'l"Clll'li to tomll\UII;.
e~l~ It,,, "'m~ 10 tI'l! Ifl"tml Offi<:cta ",f"rred \.Q tll1'l'11;"'"
 VICTORY OF ALIWAL.

Sm R. PEEL spoke as fol1ow5: I nm r.nnUietl, I. will nOl

say throngll tIle eourtesy, but the publiu Bpirit ami gcnel'Qu~
feeling of mnny Members who hall Motions entitled to prece_
dence over millc, to briug fonVllrd that of which [ gave lIotico
immcilintcly on the r eceipt of the inwlligence of our reCOIn
II11CCCSl!Ca in India. Thnt Motion, interposcU nil it is between
tlisc ussions of grOllt political importance, lClldillg to nlllcll
enger Bnd oven nngry controvcrllY, nml to serious dill'c\'cnccs
£If opinion, will, I know from past experience, obtain the
hearty and unanimous concurrence of thi s HOII.llo. (ChCtlJ'B
from all sides.) That Motion will unite tho rcpreacntntin~M
of n gront Empire, proud of it B militnry g lol'Y, ill nckuowlc llg-
ing in tIm first plllcc the protec ting hand of AlmightJ Gotl,
the gil"er of nil victory, and in then e.t prcssing tlleir exulta -
tion thnt new Cl:amples of heroism Imve mnintnineil null ex-
nlted tJle militllry ehorueter of tl lCir count ry . (Cheers.) TIm!
Motion ,,;11 eMble us to pay n tribute of eordilll aml gmteful
ncknowledgmcnt te tliC gencrnb, to the officers, n.nd to tho men,
who hlll"c nchieved aignal victorics in n fnr tli~Ul.nt Innd. It.
will enn.hle UB also to minglc with the admiration of va-
lonr tiiO expression of a Inll.uly but hcartfelt Borrow for the los8
of t,lO "unretunlillg hrn\"o"~(cheers)~who llnve IIncrifieed,
willingly slIl: rificcd, theiJ' \ive8 in tho defellee of their cOlmt ry'8
il\te~s t M, nrlli in th e mainten nnc e of their country '~ honour.
(Mucl, cLeering.)
 'rb.;! R.;!~()ILLii() !l 8 I 8Ilall p1"op(lBe vdll c(lllvey th e thnnka of
Lhis Bouse. for Bpl('nditl victori es IlcIlie"cd within [l "cry limited
pcriod, nnd ",itIlin Il vcry limitcd gpnee; bm I hov e: fclt it.my
dllty not to incorp(lTiHo vurllckno"'ledgmen t3 f(lf these triumphs
ill 1\ ai llg le rcw luti(l u, but t(l fes erve t(l enc h triumph the se-
pamte recugnition fi(l j ustly due to it. jChccrs.) It will
flllY c hewn my good fortune since the n]()nth of Febl'unry,
1843, (In /iYtl distinct oeC ll8ions, to propose Ihst the Thrmh (If
t he Comm(llls of England shoulrl be eonmyed til the anuie s,
Eur(lpen n nml nnti,'c, cngngctl in the service of tho Orowu
in !Julin, Including, imlceli, tllO VO\(I (In th(l gl(ln(lu6lcrmi-
nation of tho Chincee WAr . on Sil diffarcnt occasi(lns.
wi!1 the ThanK s of this FIona.:: hlLve been nwnrded. The
relICtitiun of t!J eee Vot cs tcuds in no degree to dim or
disparage their yahle. (Oheel1l.) Nntiounl gratitudo must
Keop pace wilh national glory; and every fresh ILChlo,'emen t
nelds new value 10 tJli\ rowar(\ 11'0 confer on skill and vnlour by
tll(l pnLlie llck no",letlgm cn t (If our grntitudc. 1 iulend, there.
fore, to sub mit two sepClo rnte ;\IOlions; one, acknowledging the
di stinguishod Mrl'ices of Sir Hen ry Smith. nntl of tho division
of Ille amlY utulcr his comm nnd, f(l r the bll.ul o (I f >'\.liWlll ; anli
the otllCr, 'eollYrying aIL equal ackooll'lecl gment for tho gl(lrionB
~erviecs of tho army undor !.he immediate eommnnd o'f Sir
nu gII Gough. (Cheel's.)
Since tIl e termi1l!lti otJ of t1105e bnu[eB, ",·hieh have already
entitled Il le IudillTl nrmy to tho th nnks of Parlinment, (the
battle~ of Moodkee und FerozeBbnh,) th o euemy with whom we
hlLd to contend, has dispbyed. tllfough 0. 6erie~ of oporntions,
grelLt military skill, ond thnt ChllTllCtcr for unuaunted brayery
for whi eh they aro justly dietinguished. Nelwithstonding th e
rerersos 'they met with on tllo 18th find 2ht of December they
Appeared without delay on the bll.nks of the Sutlej in eon-
shlernble force, pr(ltected 1)J' II. powerful artillery, nenr 'the ford
of HUl'ekoo. Tlmy established 011 the Tight bank o~ tbo river
a largo army, retn.ining possessiou of n bri(lge, ove r whi ch 1hey
IlllMml from tho north bnnk of tIle Slltlej to th e south; they
established nlsoo.t1:le dc pOllt 011 th e left bank, and entrenohed on
Ihn t 11111lk R force which !Jy eOllstant acce~Bions I'1t IA8t included
not less thnn 35,000 m ~ll , slIpported by I\ bout 90YC'Uty Jlicc e~
of ennnoll. The artillery WM of !.eaUliful 'V (II'klllnn,dli p.
'LlIII of LWIL"y .::nEure, Not only ,lid IllIl enemy e staLLi~h
thlLt large army aud !,l... nt that artillery in the fncc of the
British t roops under Sir Hugh Gough: hu~ they t1llspntched
a. foreo of uot -fewer til(lU 20,000 llIen, oouduclc;.1 with the
utmost ~killlllld courage, towanls the city of Loodillua, from
which our forces had \.leen at fint withdrllwn iu Imler 1(1 nuist
in the battles (If lloo(lkce Ilud l~ crol':Cshnh. They ad,yptcd tLis
operntion, not merely fo r tlUI purpose of oceupyiug tln). city of
I,oOllinnu, but for ' the llUrpose of thrent.euing to interrupt our
communication with Delhi, allli to intcrecpt tho arrivnl of our
nrtillcry hy the rond of Bus~ellll, It wns in order to prevent Illc
success of thi8 skilful ami dangerous c utorpl'he, thut Sir Ilenl'Y
Smith wns detnehcdby Sir Uugh Gough amI Sir [lenr! HlLr-
dingo--grea.tlyweakening the rOflle rtltniucd in front of the muin
body of tile Sikh Ilrmy, It was n cee~surJ' huwt:l"cr, to tlo LLis
iu ortler to defllflb tho f(,rmidIl.LLe body whicll eroasetl the cil'er
from Philloor iu orller to intercept our eOllllllullicnliuu, !Lntl if
possible to trnl1!lfer the sent, of "'Ill" from the lleigh\.lourllOod of
Ferozcpore to Loodinua, It was inteuded, locfore Sir ITenry
Smith attacked the Ilnny uIlller the Sikh chief, composed of
not less (linn 24,000 weu, sUllported by Ilbout. sixty piooes of
nrtillery, thnt he should cli'cctnjuuetiollwitll tho British troops
ILt Loodiann under Majo r Guhl\.ly, Ilnd with nnother Lody of
mell aellt to reinforce him undor Colouel WhcclCl', Tho HoltSe
is awnre thnt the junetioll was ultir,ULtcly cflceted; nml tho.t Sir
Henry Smith WIIS str cugtLcll,etl hy the ndtlitiou of !l,O force
from Loodinun. nud of thlLt under Colonul Wheeler, A
desperate action wns nftcrwul'ds fought by the dh'ision under
Sir Henry Smit.h, tlH~ re~ul t of wllieh WIlS tile uttur J.iscum6-
turo of the enemy. the enptllre of nIl his gUliS, tho disorgnniz-
ruion of bi~ wholo army, lind the ftigllt of that anny acron tllo
Sutlcj nfieT tho Be l'urc~t 1088, These operatiolls a.TC describeu
with such preti.aillll-{bellr. hearl-urc d<:tuilcd with such ful,
ness nud \.le<i. utiful clell.rllcss-(chcol'S}---o.nd IllUBt be ao £alUuil:J.I'
to "U whom I ntldress-(benr, hC(l.r~thnt 1 ",ill not. we-akon the
eft'oct of their porueul by n.ttemptillg to go O\'er tho Bll.mO
groulIIl. ThQ hnlld thnl hellL the pell, used ii witll the
sa.me slteeOij~ with II'hieh it lmd wic!rlcu Ilw ! lI' ord, (Ge,
 !!2
H~roJ chcorilLg.) [hl1l'c yN I\I[vertoo ouly ~o tho). ~ue ­
ced&t!~ of Sir ITcury S mith ; Ill'" I will spellk , ami ~I'euk
with confidence, IIwl ~ pell.k tu hill I,ollour, of intorru ptioJlli
lLuol ch ec k ~ to Ihat 611eeC55. Thore cnnnot bUl be vici$~itudcs
in lhe opcrlltions of war i Il.nd that IUnll ia til he honoured, wbo
l'UCQ Vcrl! frum temporn ry ,lifilcult icR alLll Ui~llppi!intIllC!1U _
(ebeera)-llUtl th llll o.d(iJ; brighu.cs. 10 the glo ry of his ncuicI'c_
mCllt ~. (Cheerll.) I "W i ~h, therefore, Cor the 1\1I'1105e (If exult.-
iug tIle me ritl! lind lIerrie~'S uf Sir Denry Smith, lo presell t to
tho U OUI D IIOme oceurreneu dlilt preeeol,.'d the bll tt.le in whic h
Ill! WIIS 110 emil>ent!y Queeeufu l- l wish tu pl"CllCllt, fro m Re-
Ilo ru Oh[y reecmly reech'cd , IlU Aceoll nt of the diffic ulties Il uol
olisIlPI)Qln tlll clll~ !.to cUCQuutm'(al wit h the 'Illll() spirit. lluo.I eon-
~tullcy which 110 Jisl,l nyc,1 ill dc tol'Y ; nuJ which, in my
opinion, cutitlo him to Cflll nJ uJ!l'lnu Hc. The gTeM l)[ttU () ul"
Ali\\'nl was flJUg-h t ..HI tho 28tb of Jnllullry; Lut curlier ill lila"
IU Olltit Sir lIclI!"y Smith haJ &UB tjjjn(.~\ ... Illlt 601l1C mig!l t JuJ.vc
c()usi ,jcn.~l a re,·cI"SC. I nllude to Il period l.Icfore hi. jUllttiou
willi Colonel Whceler, MId 1\'illl the he rx,gimellt' f/VIII
LooJianll . In th o uL,enco of 1111 intelligence be enOOl1llteN!J
the encmy; Il.IItI but fur hie eminent skill nmi resolute valour,
lIlig ht 1!llfe been cr[MJl!OO to IICriuII' hnUln!. Lei me stille ill
whn t p U llUlll r hI! Clltric.n tCo.l IlimfIClr. W riti ng to Sir D ug-II
Goug h (.011 the 2ht, j ust nfto.r he IUld succeet\e,( ;n rd;c\'ing
LooJillna, Ito !l1I;'l Ihnt 110 hall Ilccomi'li~ l.tcd tlillt obj ect, but
JIUUOI" oircul1Ist.nIJCCS not ({uite ~o fori ulIllte a~ ho duil"cd; oUlI
he UijCI J thcM U.\!lfC6Siolls:-
" \l'h,," witbi.:. R milo a n<.l 1\ hnlf w "')" luft of Bu,lttulOal , '~O\'i"g
,,·n.
1 I n~). II"'1
,~ r.'II"1 with m1 "olun", l .. hl cli tight in frlO"1. reR<.Iy I" ",1. . ..,[ Intu
Q" jdemly f",. I h~ PUTJlOecI "r [nt".ru jltlng m)' lUt.-ft "C~, I .....
til .. en"'"1 . N"tlling ~"Ould 10(1 .tron~CI' ror thll ~lUlmy tlJ.1.n t./UJ ~""n _
limll.'Ii UIIU of villllb"-," whicL " Cl"tl in 1,,1 frtInl.
.. 11" ..u 1U"~i"l': 1,1 l'OIUIa, ... hno I .a. mu";".!! o~cr "'I"")' he" ~1 .... nd_
!,MI. H" _1\11 in IId ~"n ... &ir loo10n<.l. 00 Iii)" right tb llk: 110 ur did h'
"'lend , .. rnillO D1lDICn'l,,1 ,lid he ,ho1" hi. lI,r..,,11"")' D,,,1 guM, '..111 10 ..ell
,·I"JOo()n r<lr hl nl "':OS tho Ii.... or "lllIIg"I, 1 1~~t ... illo my force 10" "II, POI \.CI
I.... _[1.·<\; "lid he (lpc.1t!<! II fil rio~~ Cllnll!lrlllOO or t'rom Ihirty_fh .. In
ftonY"lIIo or v~ryl:u"l!n ca!ihO'\!, _nd ....o IIeu"l, right ... eU "'T~",I. My
ubjecl Lot.lng I.. u"iw lII,.AIllf ,..ith the foren from I.Qodia. ..... ,.hill" e,'MY
"",,,,,,,,t 1up•.'CI.od 10 Rl'I...~r in .ighl- for it "'"~ ,,;uo ,,'doc k~1 "''',·... 1
I''''olld " 'Ith the c"~ m~·. '''..... t..\ ,,~ tn Rl tark t h'l 1<.0mo1<1. tim Lt> ... Ii",,"
1'...... ' pll"l'adll~l llIe. Bu, I'o ...,,~or, .... l"">let! u1'on m", lhn]. I II I,,·u r.,1 hi
"''', I""IT "')" ~le "c" ~"". "r"'" 101", ... illt 11111<.101,·,.,,1.\.. ,·,r'·,·I, 11,,,1 11,"",·,1
"I' !h~ 31" . 0".\ ..." PI'c l,",,;n!; to fllnn Inw "I"'" !I,;. n"~;HI~ n 1. ~'hr n
tbe cllemy lIl!Joe "'pi,ily f!J"med " lin<! (If ""ren r~s-i"le"t~, wieh ,heir gUll"
hdwl'<)J), nt ri;!ht nngl,," with tltd Uno I """. nhout to .ltt;lek, whilo " COt< _
"idcrnLI~ force W:l'! UII)\'iug rouud my right lind front. 'J1m. ~n~~loped
"lid o...,rll"\Johncd Ly numbe r_, "11d I ,,~h " .upllI·;or!ty of gUM, r bad 11 0-
thi",: for it but to Uu'Q,," b.~ck Ill)" linn on i ~ right. which "'pr~lIC lltc<I 3
Inlnllli no on d,u hY]loll,~nuoc of It. tri:uJgle."

Tlmt is to say, the two dh'i.sions of tho enemy formed two

sides of a tl"inngle, Sir lIenry Smitll ,l.nU hi s force ueing ll1nced
tctwcen them on [\. ~ho rter Ii lie, and lIenrer tl,c centre tlmu
tho rellHl,ining side of the triang le. TIe goos Oil n~ fo11ow8;-
"The enelllY th"3 out..ll.~"ketl me nnd my whol~ forco. I thereforo
gm ,l" nU)' witt"l...,w n,)" inf, ,,tr)" In cchdlon or I.'Mta\i!J"', th" cM'ulry in
r chdlon of "'1","lro"., In tho direct;"n i)f \.,\(),Ii,,,,,,. momunt"rll~ eX_
I" ' ''\;''I;" t.(I sea til" "l'J'runci, vf th"t I~,rc<,'-,·i ... "no ",;!ilMllt of e.n"lry,
Ii,,, ~uu~, and f"", !\'lli"wltL. ~r illf'''llry, whell I wo"I,1 10''''0 ",,,de,, "i _
r:0l't,iU" hLtauk . '1'1Lu grr. ",,,) w,,~ V" • .'" d<.",,!, "nd ""ntl.'", "",I t1oeNf" r" "cry
,li Hlcu l ~ LO m",·., 0 " . Th .. enemy c,mti"",,,l It) m(>\" .. UII ~. oo..orilJed \",
"!'W,u,,u Ilf ~" hQ"r, "nd ,mtll I k,ww tha Lf>(Jt:linnn fure... wail "'(Jvjul:
"')~ "n""kut .. no A..,.1. ","othillg 00 ,,101 Ill(c-e<~1 th e ~!<':! .lillCl!lo (;of Lhe
lrvill'~' 'l"ho li"o ".~. t.hrown b~cl<,u,,,I~r Lhi . clu",o"".le. us if"" pnI":1J",
NnLi..... u "'d! u lh·it ;"h. "ud Ihe n",'·Clllent. (lf th .. w,,;.lry, "mler Bri.
g.~Ll i " r (; urul«n, we,.... , ""it1o,,1I1. n"y c ""'"l'tion, tho rnO.t p"rf.."Ct llLing 1
11,1), ~1W, "nd whioh J ~Rnllut ~cocril.>e: ·

So f,u frum with!w!Jillg this nnl"ratil"D of his cxtricatiou from

Ioi~ difficulties, I t hink it 01111 nJd s to the proofij uf his ski ll nwl
I'1l1011r. ami il!ustnl.t(!6 I,i!! uigh <:l'II<:II;lor Its 1\ COHlluimtier.
(Cheers.) linvi,,&: uecu di ~:\ l'p<.>illt(!d iu dr~utillg lli~ jUliclion
witl. the t,·oops fl"(>Il1 L ()(XU,l.lIl1, nuti tla,se expected to IIrrivo
IIlHler Cul,.m;:! 'Vheolcr, he e.\ tricnted I,imsolf from his formi·
oIlI\)le Otllbnrrns8meut with ellHHllUlUHth~ coolness lIud jmlgmcnt.
in Rtelt<1 of uespouding nllder hi ll tcmpornry di~t\Jl!,lIjutllJ\)lIt, IHI
wlLS !lvle to Jiroct nil his eHllrg ies to Ihe eutir" Ili~collifittll'e
of the enemy only II. few days (Ift(!rwll.r.J ~ . (C hecrs.) or tl,e
IlItttlo it.~t"lf I will not fipcnk; tho victory "'lUI CIIJlll'iele, nnu
it bns been so II\Jmiru.uly dcacrived by tho illnstrious COlll-
mllnder, thnt. 1 will not ,,'eakeu tho effect of bis IInrrntivll.
(Cheers). Anti iB this victory hill oilly title to our aelmow.
I c Jg!Ilell~ ~ What bu. .. c beell the sc rvi eell of th is gallaut
Om~or 1 Th e~e recent Ilvents bo.vo g iven now lH~tre tu I, i ~
prcoe.ling enre.::r. It iB Olle uf Ullusual ili6~inttion. Sir H e nry
Sm ith W;ll! at the e:lptllrc of .,\1"onto Vidco--ot. t he attlluk UI'Oll
Bueuell A)"rll~; hu surv eIl iluri.ng Ihe 6,·~t ClUllP'ligns of tim
renin sili ur W,If, f!"tllll the hullic of Vjmcirn.IO th ai of Cor 11111111 .
 He was o.~ the battles of Snbagal amI Fuente li'Onor, nt tLe
sieges of CiuunJ Roddgo nu(1 BnJo.j09, at tho battles of Sala_
runnell, Vittoria, Orthea, Iho.Pyrences, autl Toulouae. (CLoera.)
Ho was at Washington nlld nt New Orlenus, and finally he was
at -Waterloo. (;\[uch clwering.) Whnt a aeries of noLle ser-
viccs-(loud eheers) - rmd how rejoiced I alll tlmt there
~hou1d be nn opportnnity, through this new and signal vic-
tory, of bringiug lefore the gladdened eyes of 0 grateful
country a [ollg lifc of military exertion, and III unbroken series
of military hOllours. {Chec\'8 from nll sides.} After IIC hall
aehie"ed that BUCCOSB for which we arc about to gi ve hilll OUI'
!!pecial thnnks--after he had uriv('l\ bock tho cncmy ncros~
the Sutlcj, he instantly returned to rujoin his commanding
officer. Sir Hugh Gough, He nlTived at head-qulIrtclll on the
8th FcbrllMY, two duys uefore tho decisil'o l'ictOl'Y gaulcJ by thc
foreea undor Sir Bugh Gough and Sir Henry llardiuge, 1103
took, thorefore, a disting uisllCd part in t11C battle of Sollrnon.
But for Ilia servicC-'s in the victory of the 28th of Jnnunry. I
propO$e that there sllOuld be II. distinct ami separate votc-
distinct nnd sepllrate from thut which I &11111 recommend for
thnt not more glol'ioll~, though Ilcrhnps yet more important
and decisive aehie'·emClIt accomplished at II. later dntc ly the
whole British army. (Cheers.) I aay I will 110t weaken the
effect of the recital ef tho. particulars of that second battle and
"ictory, 119 detailed ill the despatches of thc gallant offiecrs ill
eOUlwllu(l, by attempting wha t mus!' be ill cOUlparisoo 1\
1100r nud inefficient narro,th·o, (ITear, henr.) J will do
the Members of this Ilouse, the fellow,eountrymcn of tile Be
lustinguisheu OfliCefij. the justice to hclie\'c th t they lLIe
familiar with all tho details of these signal exploits. Let
us not forgot, in COmmOlllOTlltiug the \'UIOlif of 01lT 0,,'11
countrymcn, 10 give due praise to the akill and brll.Yery of our
.lefcntcu cuemy. Aflcr our successes e\·cr them 011 the 18th
IlDU 2ht December, they ao flU' recovered fro m their dis-
asters. thnt. unduunted/ thoy met 011 tllC nelli, oSter thl;
14P8,03 of a fcw weeks, the wholo force of tLe British anny,
Si~ TIcnry Bnrdinge. spenk ing of their COlluuct ill the bnulc
uf Subraoll, says, .. Such was tilu bravery of the clleuly.
that being defeu lcd th ey wlliked n"'ny, ~ml. ill the middlc of
 the river, disdained to 119k for quarter." (llellr, heal',)
But I wilt not enter into partieuiaTs - for every mllil
',dlo honrs me i~ mnster of the details of the battle fought
on the 10th Februnry; be is aware thllt the well-ap-
pointed. army of the Sikhs suffered a conlplete nud Il
signn.l discomfiture: that their 10sII WI\lj enonnou~; thnt.
after tho exLibition of grent valour, thoy were driven across
the Sutkj; nnd thnt the British army, crossing at tho
Sutlej near Fcrozepore, liS well as lit the point where the battle
WIlS fought, united ih fOl'ee~ and marc.hed togetller towllrda
the capital of the Sikh territory, AU this was lIecomplished
in 1'1 period not exceeding oight weoks frolll the day Oil II'hiell
tho first incursion of tho enotny took place: !lud !luring
that period of l'ight weeks the enetny was triulllpllllntly de-
feated wherever he was eneolllltcretl , (Cheers,) E ve ry guu
which the Sikhs had brought tIJ betH on ollr troollS wa~ cnp_
tured; and after a series of decisive ';etories, Vo'C now probably
oceuI'y the capital city of the Punjaull, 1 belie"o dint not
more t11an one-tllird of the whole force engaged eousiated
of Europeans, nnd tho c,tnmp1c which those Europeans set
was werthy of being followed 1lY the native soldiers. (Gheen.)
TIley did follow it-(ehecrs)---nnd on every oceD.~ion during
tho four successive and ues porate conflicts in wIliel1 til ey
wero engaged, wns tho honour of thc British name wor-
thily sustained by the CO=lLnders. the officers, nnd tho llIell_
(Chcerft.) The "ietary, this sllceession of ,;clorie8, hag beou
interrupted by no single failure; it Willi unsullicd by lI.lly im-
putation on our arms nnd chll.ractcr. 'Vc hnve not been influ-
cneed by IL grasping spirit of nggrnndizemcnt-wc Ill'Ive simply
repelled a n attnck mnde upon U8 in Il time of Il rofolUui peace
--all national ellgagenlenb on our }lnrt. having been faithfully
kept, therc not hnving been a pretext, even ill the shape 0'(
justifiable prepnratiou IIlld defence, for the aggrcs~ioo that wall
made UPOIl liS, Thostl Sik.h chiefs with whom we 1la,'e had
eommurucllotion sineo tho defeat of the cuem,., who disa\'o\v auy
participnHoli ill his pertiu),. IIml profllss to di~approvo of it, IlILvo
f~RnkJy aclmowledgeu tho object they IIIHI in view. By their
powerful arti1lm'Y, fllIIll))" the ir formi'lable iufaillry lind eflvalr].
they thong-ilt to OVClllOWCl' the. two dl'tnchmelll ~ nf the British
 2G
farces !>!alioned Ilt d w ().UrcllliticB of th o frontiel' lWc- F cfO~":­
\lU re nnd LooJin nA ; ha ving overpowered th elll, tbey lutelliled to
UlflI'(!h li t OIiCo to Dell.i, nml ho,lCt! ily their sueecslI 10 1I1ULko
the Allegianco of our Tndian loldiory . T hat ...as the e" owed
oLjcct tliey hlul in vicw. Il WtU mimiLtcll that thero Will 110
Cl:CU!l.(1 fllr thi~ nggro!l;lion from nlLy proceedings on (l ur IIRrt:
I\"U bad hco n guilty uf 110 LTcnch of t!'caty, flntl hnd douo uo-
lhing thnt coul, ] j ustify l,ostility. 1'ho sli me l'c r8U D ~ ntlmittcd
also tlmt thoy slu)uld derive eo nsoillti ull even from tllll fniJuru
uf II. reLdl i01l8 1lllll lll ut inous lJ rIIly- tlmt Iho next bellt thing to
,· jew ry "'ault! 110 :1 dcf<!nl , since it "oulo.! lend to tho d i! l~r8iu lI
und RlUlihilnti{m of 11 force which it WM imf11luihlc to coulro1.
(C hccu.) Por l ucc:ess '0 gninet1, 11111,1 for trium ph ill Ii COli·
ttic t so unpro voked, 1 think there will be 1m! one Iluivonml nml
llIuULimOlls o:tpl'eniou of grntitlldo withill tllcsc wnllB, (Luud
dlccn from 1111 sid1.:s.) Theru i~ lUucil to Ildorll und nothing
to lIully our \';clory j und I do Lope Illut now it hil a ken
nciLievell it will gh'o lrls ting lIC:lce lu India; thut n gc.ncrlll C<lll-
"jclion will 00 rd ! of our po wc r- n colll'iction (.If the superiority
of llritish linne, thnl will olnsuro II. long cnjoyment of tranCJuil.
lity to thnt country. I trust d.nt this runy he (Iur Ill! ! l!tlule,
I1l1tl thn t herenfter "'0 may he cllnl,lold t .... tl irect Ollr wl uil·it!cd
attention t o th o nmoliurntiOIl of tho coudition of (lllr l mlillll fd.
10w-slI hjec tll, I\ud tlill improvemcnt of IIHlulIlllrni rCSOllnlce of our
Indian Ernl)iro. (Cheers_) lu Ihnt. nniicipnlion tho DoWlo will, 1
Btl! suro, llCnll;t me to refer to somo eil'c UllllItnucC!I whioh mlly
well fill our hcnrt, .... ith j oy nmi exultnti on. 'r ho two Icatlol'3 of
our ,-ictoriOllll army, tile GUfllru or GIlllcMll ami tho COmID llllLlcr·
in-Cilh:f, liMe througllout thc~o o!lllrn tio n ~ aN till cxn mple of
eordilll. COllcQrL anti unjuu-lll) Ilttllr forgctfuu,css of tJ)cm.
~cl \'cs , to whit'h th e 1.fljlp)' rcsult i, g renlly to Lc nttribut.cd.
(eileen.) All matters of pUlictilio W!.lro B(LClrificoo, ami S ir
!loory Dnrdiugc t'Onsen tcd to aen'C li B M.'Co tJd ill cOllllunnd.
(UCllr,) 011 the olher hand, thero ,...o.lI not " lIuggt.~ti O Il
offen.'t] by S ir Henry lJnl\]illgo which " 'All 1I0t tlll:lllkfully (LCl.
cepted loy Sir B ugh Gougll. DOlli ng , 118 I have !llIi,l, dlll~
Ihi~ IIl11y 00 tl.e lCl!t l.lIlcl1sio)) fin 'wl )ich I al ll111 have to I,orronll
tho gra tifying <lilly ,)r pl'np<l~i lt g n pu blio lIckll owlc.lgmcn l fur
l'iotory, lind II I'uhlic oXI' rc ~siOIi uf Illimirnti(tn fl,r thu hig h
fjuu.iilies uf lOur illw;triuus cuuntrYUlen, I will, with the p.=rmi",-
sioll of the Uoua<l, refer tu II ,JOCUUWllt, not of II pllllie e1m-
r(letC I', dUI1 lm~ l,ce" put into DIy hnm! si nce 1 .e ntered tI,..:
H ousc this cl'elling-it is (L kUer, from Sir llllgh Gough,
which was never intcmlco.l to Ifl CcL the puLli!: (lye; but it uoe~
him so much hOllour, tl mL I cannot refuBil myseU' tho pICn~UT!l
uf I'cuuin;; it. fIe snys ; -

.. I, i. now ",ill! I'ridq nn,1 witl! pt~ll"U"" I end""" you ~ cOl'r of my

J~"I'~tuh, det.:.ilh'g uno of Ihe mo.~ ~JllcDdid n"d dcd8h-O o'; o\ori"" upon
n',o)ril-tbo II'nlurloo uf lr"li~. 1111"'0 en\.c ... <1 rw fully both imo dewl
,,,,,I ~"""ne",l.,tio,, III "'Y olc"lm(u11 \(1 (hu vo~~nlOr Gcncr:d, tlmL it would
IJO im[>Q&IIil.]u for Ill" to) cn!nrg<> "1'00 a &Ubjo;>eL mnbracinj( l hll wnrmrnl!
"-,,,H"l:" of my heart . 1'"I;ey, h" ....:o '·or, 1,re<:luduoJ me l,uhUely rocOrdiHg
my .emiUlc,u.. on tho splendid gallantry oC our f.~II~n foe, or t" re<:orll
tlou lieu of h.,..oi, ,,, di"I'I,,)·co,l. Mt onlr iwliridu"Uy, hut ;. Imost colWe_
li,ely, by tho Si kh Si ...h '" n",1 ~n",.: nnd [ d<lQbrc, ,,'uro it not frn m n
,1e"I' cmw ictiou tlUl~ my count,.,'s good " '<lui,.,,,,1 the !<~crifl "c, I could
In",'" wcp/. 10 lin'.., ... i!l\~""CiI 1.100 fuart'ul 8Iaught(·r of 00 ilU'·lltl..J. a 1x>dy of
rn~n. (I..o,,,loh,,,,,,,.) Noyer, in tbe /'''1(0 oC military history, luu thn
bru,,1 ul'll1l AII_w;rw ()CiHg t..'Cn MI ~i.'!mlly Dlanit~.ood: to lliw, the .......
foro, be thu glory : we , n. Id. iu.trulI"'''t.;o, fcd Ihe pride. (Loud ChCD ..... )
nu~ I CRunot ptt~" over-I ".,,,not 100 ~Iro"gly rucord- faota which,
whiliot ther "d,lluIITC 10 Lho "~l;"" artl'y, a lfonl to me, no iu head, ["cx_
prcui\'lc prid" omll'\"""UI"O. ( Lout! chcG r~. ) Fe,' III,ward. of n 'nomh,
when Iho t .... o annir~ w,·,.,..d""" in rront \If (noc ""Other, netwitl .. lnn,ling:
~Ioc "" mcro"~ te"'1rtnlion. hd, 1 ont. to Our Ml(lOY' loy mcn or t lu, ir own
coJ\l1lr au d l'c1i!:ioll ; namdy. grrolly incrca,"~I I"~Y' IrQ'" iC vCn to tw~h'~
rUI~a a tnpmh , ,tn ,1 luln,l.'dintc promotion . I. [",d Lut Ihl"l.'II !lc~rtio".
Crom thi. In''g<I for"". ((.ionti"" ed eh'~",.) I'\or .~oul' l I limit to "'UIl _
tion,,,",, proof of tllft hig h !flJl!.e of dl8Cil,liue ",f thi. ~,,]cndid Itrlny, lltll!
I",. to"""
I .... "" c"rrioo on u",.o""rv~.... ll r .ilOcc ""0 erO"Js~~1 t he Su ill'j iu th"
"""c rn[ Sikh tn .... nl M·(,,,,,,I ",hi~h o m ' ,Ih'i,i",," lu"... bt'l1n "occlIoIo1rlly
pIlle"'] for Ihe ,,"''' UI"''''CO uf wat<-r . 1110,1 thc .nlIW confl,lenc~ hs" hecn
~I",w" "" Ihvug h ,,·c weN ill ou~ or our loulI·esll>hli.hl..J. pruduce • ."
(Comiuuc,1 checring).

Tlle example ijC~ })y two galln.ut commnmlcrs of o.Iis:rcgnro.liug -

military pUllctilio, uno.!. looking' exclusivcly to thllir country'ft
honour nml to tIle ~afcty of Ihe anny, 1010.1, as might nnturolly
bl> erpeeteo.l, un ulose plnccd nntleT their oruen. Sir Hug h
Ouugh spcn k ~ of all oflicer 11'110 joineo.l ouly the night before
tbe lontlle, DUo.I puy8 him n t,rihuto which I urn proud t o mcn-
~iun . This ollie... r (Brigadier lrviuc) hall lundo every o:<er-
liou to j oin tho nnuy. ill lIm 11"1'0 of Leing: I,liu;:ed in thl)
prominont stntivn tro which hy hi~ rlwk he Wu8 entitled ;
".,,0.1, tiS J 11I1\'e ~ nio.l, lIe url'h'ot! only Ih .. nigllL h(lf"re th e
hllltle. The 1;omomuu 1I"0uhl ullturnliy IHlI'I)(lt·'·oh·col ul'''u him,
 28
bu~ ho uccliued to al!SUllle it. ill order dULl Ill! the cl'e,li~
might nttaeh to the officer wh o ill poillt of rank was infeL"ior.
but who had superi ntended the prepa.rations for the eomin,;
action. Wl1uc we are bl,!lItowing due prnige 1111 lIucb devotion
to public duty, let us IIOt forget the cxamplo that bad h()~n set
hy tho GO'l'ol'llor Gellcral and CommanUcr-in-Chiof. That ox-
ample had, no doubt, influcnced the conduct of othcr brave lIud
honourable men, who were willing to make a sacrifice, not
of mcrc p!lrBon.a1 interest, for that th!ly disregaro.lcu, but of
thll.t which we.. ren\ly doar to thorn, tll1lopportunity of,lel'!loJi IlI
distinction. (ClICCrs.)
I am sure thc HolI.!!c will permit me, nmong !lll:pre ! ~ion s of
gro.titude to the surviving conquerors, to mingle somo of decp
regret at tho Ion we llllVC 6ustaincd. (Cheors.) On the for_
mer occasion 1 hlld to In.mont tho I!!Icrifice of lifc. anu I met
with univcTsal and gencrolls sympo.thy ~ I had to condole with
the country on the denth of lhllt gallllnt officer Sir Roben. Salc,
who "'lUI knol\'l1 w most of us, and endean."!I to all who had ill-
tercourse with him, by the kindly frankness of his .leportmeut.
Ou this occlI.sion 1 ha.vo to dO[lloro tIle lo s ~ of sevoral offieetij
of the highest reputlltion, and tho first I BhnU nnmo ia Sir
R obert Dick. (Cheers.) 1 run confident tillLt the IIollBe will
I'!lrmit mo Bhortly to rccite what is tho extent of national grnli-
tude due for the fonncr services of this gallant officer. (Hen r,
bea.r.) Ho entered tho scrvice in 1800. fi o embark ed with
tho 78th Regiment for Sicily in 1806, nnl\ WAS wounded in
ba.ttle. He a.ceempnnied tbe expedition to Egyp t, nud WI).!!
prOlient a.t tbe taking of AleIRllllrm. H e embo.rked with the
42nd Regimeut in 1800, a.llll wn9 ngain wounded at Fuente
d 'Onor. TIe commanded the secenu buttulion of the 42ml
Rogiment at Ciudnd Rodrigo. ne wn8 at the bn.ttle of SalD._
ma.nca, li t tho storming of St. Michel, and WIlS present during
the siege of BurgOd. In 1815 he was severoly wounded, and.
after n lifo of honour, bo at last foll in the bnttle, for the happy
result of which we arc about to wake our gmteful aeknowledg-
lllent.il.
I deoply rogret that in the face of the H 01l8C of Com-
1IIona I enlm . . t do J UBticc t l) evary officer IInu to every man
WllO fdl ill litis cncouuter. lind &,Iuificcd hiB life in his
 29
count ry '.lonice. S ome l.iw.it, h l;lweYor, must ue iruPOM(HI 011
the menti on of indiridunl oftieert, an d the ie&ll t iuridiolUl limit
il tbat of nnk and standing in tllO anny. Not oUUlepping
tllll.t limit, I must deplore the los! of a.n o!her gallant IIOlditlf .
00 thtl dny which depriyeil UI for eyer of the lCJ'\'ieel of Si r
Hobert Dick, there also fell Licutona.nt Colonel T aylor of tho
29th Regiment. Thtl father of thiA ga.1lant officer , leading
into actio n th e 20th Light Dragoonl, of wbich he wall Lieute·
nant Colonel, lost hill lifo ill tho Penitt.8ula. Tho (athor (oll
at Vimior.-tbo lIOn ruel 00 eqUAlly g loriolUl death at th o
I,aulo of Sobrnon. I 1ril1, witll th o IlC.nw.~;on of th o Bouae,
briefly rccapitu1nt o the ~(!I'V;eel o( L ieutcnou\ Colonel Tay-
lor. lIe eommnnded the light comllll.ul of the 20th Foot.
in the expedition .gains! Kala.pol"C, in 1827_28; &i'! m* on
the (rontier Juring the Oanadian l'tlbellion, where, ill the
BlIecee~ful attQck of n. village occ upied h! the Nlhcle. bo
r1llldcrcd a n import n.nt service : commanded a brigade of in-
fantry in tb o acti on. of the 18!.h, 2ht. pnd 22nd of Dcecml>cr,
1845, wllcrcio he '!r1U! '!rounded; eommlUlded alllO d ie troop,
Bent to keep up the communication between S ir Henry Snlitb
and t he main .rmy, wh ilst the (ormer "., engaged in Iho (111)-
ra tion! which led to the battle of A1 twal ; IlIld II brigade of
infantry III the battle o( Sobm on. whe ro he fell. lIiB dentll is
thnB f1.nnoun cc!.l by Sir Bugh Gough:_
., 'l'ho anny h....lIItlilnoo ~ he... ~y 10.. by !JIG d..",U. orJ)rig:>di~r Taylor .
• most. mble olftcelo, alld '~"'1 ...on!!t to I....e '-tI at the bud or Uer
Majtllty·. 20th rogiment, by ...hieh hn .... belo-t and I"eSJW'ted."

II ow muy thore are who h.o."e loat tbei r IIOIU1 and relatiyo,
in theso roD6.iet, I need not lIB!; but I hayo beeo tbrown of
ll1to into freque nt and nec essary in torcoUJ'1!.C with 000, wbole
ga.ll.n.nt 8011 diet! on the field of batllo in Ihia ('ncoDnter. 1l
Ilnll been my !.luty, my painful duty in lome reepocl s, '<llioid
eOD5ulUt eODlDlWlico.tion willi Lord :P itzroy Somenot, whoBe
brave ofi'epriug, 111'111 he IUJ"l'ivoo, would lu~ve lupport.ed the
honour of hia famill' and trnnsm;IU'Il u> anothe r generation
Ihe high el larnete r of hi, (a ther. Lortl .F iu roy Somel'rot him.
!elf hall mn an ifiUlltrioUll career . (Cheer•. ) II e ~compa llioo
tho Duk e of Wollington throughout all the battles o( tlte Pe·
Il i n sula, aud Wa.1 severely oroundod III ,VIlI<lrloo. H nd hia Ion
 ~ l1f\·jyP'U, the ~I<t i sf!\c li ou tjf LorJ F'itzroy Somerset iu
cOlitelllplatillg tIle recellt ~l.l ni ccA lo r his fonner cOlllrad c~
'\'Ou M have uccn unalloyeu. H e hu now tQ mingle wilh
lluulirntiou of t.hei r "nlour th e sorrow~ of u rnther for ,..
pnillful I\nd irrepnrnule loss. If in mentioning tIle Il ltme
of the gallant and lnmcnted Somerset, I 11m t rnnsgTcss-
iug the limit r proposeu to ohserve, the services and
character, nnd atation of the f~t.h c r. llis rellltion to th e
Britiah rumy nnd to its illustrious Chief, will fully justify me
in offering this, the best consolatiou to the wounded feclings of
110 fallier and IL soMier. I wish I could do justice to my owll
feelings by nnming mnny ofhel's l!cnrcely len uistinguiBhed
or leM lnmentcd; but the list is so I\umcrous of tlwsc entitled
to grntcful remembrll.Dee, that I trllllt 110 reluctant silence will
not be imputed to nlly waut of 110 due senso of th eir claims ami
Tnerits. (Cheers.)
W1 ICn J reyiew the names (If those who M\'C taken a distill-
g uished part in thc ~e nud other recent victories in Indillr--tho
Mmes of Sir H enry IIllrdinge. Sir Hugh Gougll. Sir Henry
Smith, SirCIllLrles Nnpillr, Sir Robcrt Dick, nnu General ThRek_
\vell--(sm'era\ lI[embllr.~ here Ildu~ d rh e name of Gilbert)-l re-
flect witll snti8fndi on and pride thllt these (listiuf,'uished mcn re-
cci,'cd their militnry education under the auspices of the Duke
olf Welliugton. (Much cheering.) It add s new lus\ro oven to
1Ii6 immortal !lame, that bie school hn.~ produecd pupils wIro
Iln\'e BO profitetl hy his oxample. (C hl1ors.j Thore lire offieers
uot iCIffl eminont. who have not hnd the hOllour and advantage
of serving under the Duke of WellingWn; but on tbem Iris
precepts and e:mmJllo 1113.\'e not been lost. Such men as Nott,
and Pollock, and Gilbert, Il.nd other brigJ.t omameni! of Um
Indin ll army. hllxe treasu reu up the mcmory of "AsSl\yc, "
and the urillian t career of the Duke of Welling ton throughout
his Indinn cnmpnigns. TIis Illdinn Correspondence, hi., Com-
me llt~ on tIle R ctrcnl of Colonel 1ronsoll, his Lcssous on tlre
Art of Indiflll Warfnrc. hav c c.tercised th eir just influence on
those to whom, perhaps, his "jIeMlo n is unkn own.
It mny he thnt al this ,· r.ry moment th e Duk e of Wellingt()11
i ~ bcstowiHg, in the H ou ~c of recn, th e un ~tillted mce(] of lli~
prnise on ti U'S4' sig nlll ncl,iel·ClllcutS. I11)U is stnmpillg RI) nddi -
 31

tlOII111 vlllue even Oil the Th nn ks of Pnrli!l.Hl<)u t, by bellring

his hi gh testimony to tllo ~ki!lllml ynlour of tho~e to whow
tlll:!Y will lHl justly gh·cn.
With whnt conscious priue must he rctl cct on the llllmbCl'
of gallant mon di~tjllglli&hc(l:in ll\(~~o lllllinu cmtJl'niglls who
lm"o llcrcwforo fough t I1mI bled under his comnllloJ, and,
nfter the lapse of mallY yenTs, have now worthily followed his
Cx(ull]Jle l Allliiong roter he slHl,U hMe Leon gathered to hi8
futhera, will lhllt cl:Il.mplc instruct and fUlllnllio the Dritiah
nnny. h will teach them tbat success is ensured by the
~allil nml displlssiormlo calculation of remote contingellcics
- by th o preparation for IlII \'ici~8 itUllc9 of fortune-by Y(llour
tempore;\ acconling to the cligcocica thnt require its displny
-llOW patienl nuu enduring-now reckless nnd tl cspel'nt0.
l~ wi!! tooeh them fort·ituuc umler disnppoin tment, nnll mQuclI'Q'
tion in tho honr of ,·ictory. TI1(~ memory of 1110 high qu nlities
nnu thc grent deeds of tho Duke uf Wellington will be for
nges a tower of defence to his country, inapiring her miE·
tn ry cOllu~ilB with wisuom !lnu justice, nnu guiding heroes
thnt nre yet unborn in tho paths of glory. T co uc1l1dc Ly
mO\'lug-

"That the Tl~~l1kA nfllti. UOU8C loa given to J'.bj or (;cn~rnl Si r n ellr,.
George ::""l~l,, Knig hL Comm:l,, ~or of the ""lSt ho"oOl·~111~ mi!i!"ry
Order of tho lbth. for hi ' ~kilrol an~ mctitoriou. con~ o~!'. whell h,
nomm alld of the Ilriti.h trooP" employeol Rg~in"t.~ I"r~ porti"" o ftl,..
Sikh army. of :;n:~( l y "" I>erior nllmiJer"; nll,1 fur the .i,i!"Il~1 Y.~1 o "r "nol
jOllgl.llC ll~ diol'l"y~-d ~Y hiw in the ~"ttle of the 26th of Jammry. ",hOll
Lh" cnCl oy·. foroo ""'~ tot..~l1r oIclcntcoi ••~nol new tu.tre RoI,leol LQ ~hc
reput.~t;on nf tho Ilrit u.h ntml .
.. 'l'h"t th .. 'I'!~~"k" of thl. Dou,"" be given ~" ~ho ""·er.~l OfflccrA.
~:urol"'l\n nn<1 ;.oMi.". unlle r (.h~ CQm"'~nol of Sir Hen,.,. Smil!., for the
oIigti "g" i~h"oI oon·;008 rendered by th~m nt the J.,~ttlo of AHw~1.
"1:I~~t thi. Hou!lO doth hli)hly appl'Qve nf. mnd commend , the
intrcl'i,lity" " d cxempt:>,.,. iliscip1HlO oIi"l'lnyeU loy th~ Non-conulli~.inIlL.oJ
Umcer. nnd I'riv:o.\c Sololicra. ~;u.apean ,, "ol Natiye. on tho 28th <of
J"n""ry. in their "tt.~ck on t l,~ <:mcmy'. "C>lition, loy "'l,i~h the Sikh
.. ore cOJlll'letely rout~'<I . not! liri."" in cO ll rn.ion :OCr<;J3. th~ Sutloj. with
thu 1o,. of "l1 th";" nrtjUcry and ",ili l,,,)" ",!uil'm ,'nt; anol th~t Iho MUla
..., .i"nific<i to thrm loy th o <:OIl\lnUll,I'!1"' of tho II<lveml COl'!'~' who Rrll
' 1 ~"i';' l to tl' ~lIk tl'~lll fur thei r gall""t. I/I·h:\\"ion, .
.. Th:lt. in T<lijucrtini!: tilt' Goyeruor GClIcro.i ur hulia to comn",ni""tc
t hel<! H"wl ut iuu. 10 (10" W'ly~",,1 Officor. rrfcl'TCd I~ th~rci". Ihis U(!u""
oI ....il'(!. W RcknU"'I~rlg~ tt,,, .~"l and j,,, I ~ m ,· "t ni"e",1 by Ihr. ri!(h L h"" .
l.i~vt ~n.~111 Gt " r l·a l Sll' Ih·,,,·y HRI"~ill~e. I'''ighl "rNll d Oro." lOr th"
\Irol!r uf lh~ lilith , r:'JH'n,,,,· Genf'ra\ 'IF [n,lia : ~u,[ ~I'\l hl" {l~ ,, " ,",,1 f$ir
H u;: ~ Gougt" lIarl"" Knight 01"'11111 CI"Q" of ,h"Order of the Bat/, "
Comml1ndor.ln.Chl~foflh.. I-'i1,""", in ["din " [n s" pplyi,,1!' Mnjor-Gene. a.l
Sir ! 1t-,,'1" Smith with . "d, rci"forc.;mc"t. ~ lId mill la..,. ,,,un, .., ellnhlc,j
him, \llld~r Oil"in e I'roYllk nc~_ '" "\"n,,·n'n ~ nlllh.. oh.w.c!e. thro"l"ll in
hi. way by " !ora.e IIn~ d ~tumlined enemy.'"
 VI CTOR Y OF SOB RAO N.

Sm R. PEEL thought that it would be unnecessllry for

him to trouble the B owso further ,lUlU merely to proposo the
Resolutio ns, embodying n Vola of Thn uka to Sir Hugh Gough
Bud Sir H enry Htu'wngc, ond the officen Rnu soldien ~crving
lLD.dor these dllltinguishcd genornl!. The gallant Officer (Sir
De Lnoy Evans) misunderstood him it ho !uppo!cd thnt be
(Sir R. P eel) intended to hnvc mnde the ,lightest rcfieetioil on
Sir lllUTY Smith, with re5pcct. 10 nny 105~ in the onggogc of
his Ilrmy : on tho contrary. in will" he had ~lIid be hlld been
most du iroull of paying nil nd.wtioolll compliment to tho gal-
lant Ge neral for hi! most ab\o n,lId judicious comh tct pre"iou!Iy
to tho nction of the 28th. I natcad of illlIllying nny
Bort of blame, he intended to oxpl'es! his opinion that tho
movement of the troops previously to tho bnttlo of Aliwnl
hnd been conducted witb tbe greatest skill nnd brnvery.
(Rellr, henr.) He wns fully o.ware tbnt it wns II mlltter of
delicacy to allude in thnt ITouso to the probable c.lercisc of
tile prorogative of lIer Majesty. no would Dot, howcl'cr, let
the opporlunitypnss of oblCmug thnt Her MajeslJ had &igni.
60d , within ODe bour nfter tho receipt of the dcspatchc8. lIer
graciolU intentinn of conferring the honour of tile British Pei!r·
age on Sit H enry HlU'dinge no d on Sir Hugh Gough. (H OAT,
holl'.) ITo would tnko tbot opportunity of alluding to e'l'ents
which ought not to pnes in sileneo. In a communication from
Sir Honry Hardingc. which ho rccci"cd ycstcnlny, that gallant
,
Officer bore testimony 10 ~h~ valour of tho di &tinguieLotl PrltS-
lIinn Prmcco.nu tboofficcl'iI who ILceompnnicu him iu tho cnmpnign
ill India. That di stingui8hmL pcrsonngo hnd left the army nIt tlr
tho battle of FCMl~cl,oro, but 011 hearing t hat tllCTO WD.' I\. pro-
bability of another cngngomc.nt. ret.urned to tnkc llD.r~ in it.
The Prince is lints alludell to iu tho dospnt.ch of Sir n ugh
Gough :_" We wore in thi3 bnttlc ngain honoured wi tll
the prescllco of Prince Walrlllll1llr of Pru!lsi(\., lind ll10 two
nobleUlen in his suit e, Count' Orioln 11)1[1 Grcubcu. ,. Uere,
IlS IH MooJkco nml FCl'ozcs.llnh, thc!IC tii!!tinguillhcJ \'i!i lors
Ilid not coolcnt lhemscl.. ~ ,..ith II. dil.ltnnt \-i.ew of ~ho actiou,
bu ~ throughout il were to b e $00 11 in front wherever dAngor
mou urgen tly prcs~ed. (Clip-ors. ) He hoped nlao to ho per-
mitto(l 10 supply o.n unw:sion wh ich 110 lltullnRde ill proposing
tltc Motion, uruucly, in 1I 0t doing sltfficient honour ll>
tlle distinguished ~elTiecs of M'njo r General Gilbert.. The
hig hest testimony wns borno to the dist ingnishe,L services
nnd meri ts orlh;8 gnllallt officer. (lIenr, hel'lr.) With l'eftpeet
to hia eOlultwt during the l"ccen~ opera.tions. he wonW refcr to
tll(l wordll or
Sir Hugh Gough. which ,,"cre [Dueh better thull
I'Iny to which he could give utterance : -
" I ..... nt ..ord. tn ~pre~. mr gn.tltude to U.,jur Gcncr~l (;nlJ.ert.
Not onl)' have I to recort! that. iu thl. great light all w,n ~chio \-cd b)'
him .. hleh, ,1,& Conun:\ndcr·iu·Ohlcf. I ('ouh\ delirt! t.o IL'\'·ol'U<l.ut.W: not
,;",1), on 11Ii_ dIly ""'~ hi. tli~iolon ClL3.hld, br hi. akiIJ :l1I lt l)()ur~8'~\.'ua
<ll'llm lll~. t.o triu"'JlI, o"er oll.!itAolc. from ",ll;ch II Icn 1I1~lont ' I';rlt
.... ould h"~G roooikod AI inaurmoun bblot: but .;noo the boW' in ",ruoll our
IflUling coluttlfl, moved (>u~ of Umballah, I ha'·c fom,,] lit Ih" M..j or
C1!u.,ral :1.11 Om~'<lr whQ 112.'1 OM ruCl'ely cal'l'ied OUL :1.11 mI ol'llers to the
tatte r. bu~ whol6 %elll :uut taet '~we eMhled bim in :l. hundred intulnee.
be,
cI]Ilkitl)' to l'e'CoumH:"d hllII " , yuu r EsceUcnc)" .
d\v\!ioMI com mll.Ullcr " r th" ltigben maril ," (Cbee ....
-rio.!
10 perlOM" ,·~I,.~ hla ... t~ices in .. ","cL nntici patiOIt or ItIJ' wi~h .." 1
nOli"e ..., '"

If he bntl innthcrten tly omiued to ne tice wilh till! honour

due to it tim IInlUe of Gener:..1 Gilbcrt, hc belia ,'cd t luH h<l had
now made am ple corufl~nsntion b," reciting th<l 11ighes~ tel·
timuny tIll\! could ue borne to h i~ cond uct. (TIell r . hCllf.) De
lIhould e Ollclull u with Jl ropo~iug the following nuoln ti(ln~:­
.. ThRt th ~ ·r.hnnk~ orthi, nou", be .:i~Qn toth~ Right lion. Lleutonant.
Cenci'll! Sir /len.,. Hanlin)!c. Knight 0 ,,,11<1 Cron nr the MOd
Uonour"I,Jo Millr..~r)' Order of t ho /.lath. Gover"'" GenerAl nf ImIIA. for
thllj"~8'mcnt. ~no rS')',.n,1 "hilll, with which thP relQ-Ureul ~rlh& Utililh
~:mrfiMl in In~i~ hII,-., be~n npplicd. iII rep~Hins: thu "oj" .~ and
'm~rO'roke\! )OTlUlOI> of dIn Ilrit1~ territory hy the Sikh nation: IIn<]
{(II' tho •.~lour Imd imlcfntig<3hl 0 elMloM .hieh be .Li!p]"yM .;10 the
10th Qi Ftbr"~ry. n\ the b.~ttlc of Sobr:lOD, when . by the bJn.sing of
"'!might ,. r..,.l, .. hich "'1' .\eairo m(>!<t ImoI L!,. to 3ckuow!edt:e, this
ho~til~ RIILI fYc:lc hcruu. fn .:..ioll "'3~ 8uee~ull1 defeatod •
.. That thnl'hnn kl ofthiA lIousn lie gi . cn t l) General Sir nugb Gongh,
8311 ., Kld!!h~ C,.,,,,,1 Crog of lhe Mo. t llonOllr:lhl1l Miliary Ord ~r or
Ib~ ll'llh, Coml"~h ,J'~T.U1.Chief or tho "Forces in Indi;., for tho .ign:.t
atnlil)' and vn lou, ..ith ... bleil , "JIOn tho l Oth of Fcb .lUIry, he directed
,,,,dl.-..J Ih ~ !tttJlck, .. h~1I Ihn tnemy'a en trlln~hm enb W~rO ~nllt,J. th eir
Qrtillery ~nl'lu...,d, tllt!ir 3rmy d~fn~u..·d 110'\ scattered. ami tl,,! Punj.,u b
jRi ,1 OJll'Tl I~ th" ndT:lDCO or ou •• ict(lri!l\l~ trOOP! '
.• Th..1 t be Thn nb nf Ihl. n Oll8O lie. gh'~n t o ~b.jQr·Gener3l SIl" Ilenry
rrt.-ilr;,'lJ ~mnll. Knif.'ht (Jonunlllldor of tho Most IIQntll1mbl0 MlHt/"·,.
Qr.ler of t l' e Uo.rh : ;\(;\jor·G~ncral Wlllier n ... loiglt Gilbert, ~nd IIhjor
r;"ner:.! Sir In''''l'h Th~ck ...~I!, K.Ilight Conunnndcr or Ille lHo.t
1!',nr,,,,,,bh· MI\lt~ry Ord~ r or Ill" ·R~I II .. ~nd 1.0 tile olh~r o mc~,.~.
E"T01 ~'nl ' It",l :-;ath"', for 110,· ,\.. tingl1j!hcd 8CT"\"ioos rendered by them ill
toOl ,'minonlly .",,~co, li!l oJ>!'r"li on~ nt tim b.u t.\" of Sobnon.
"J' hn l tl"l lI n,l$!" <I"th highl y n Pl,ro~" ot'nod commctul Iho ionnciLlc
ou ll"t'p"luY,I",rSC" ernn ce. aod i lend, discipline di .pIB~ by the Nun ·
~o mmiO!i"n~~1 u mc~1"\I and l'ri..ato S..,hlion, EIIl"Oprnm iUld N~tivc.olI 11m
l \ltb of F~br,~~ry. by..-!i lch the glory of the lklH.h Ilnnl lun bee"
""ccebfWly ,tt:t.intai nc ,l n.c",;n "t n determined and g rcIIU,. Wp<"lrio r furce ..
au ,j 1.10 • , n", » me Ix! ~itnifi l"l \0 Tb~m 1)r the cOIll Ul~ndcrt ofi.ha "",·..,,.1
eo rpo , wh" uro d,,~iro:J to t1~~nk them rQr their l:~lIalit behavio\lr."
(C !i~ ... )