causes of these disasters in consi deration of the inquiries pending in India. He believed that the officer who had the command of the ill-fated army which was driven out of Cabul did not possess the power of preventing the evils which had occurred. He was in very ill-health, and subsequently a fall from his horse wholly incapacitated him for active exertions to remedy the evils with which he and the army were surrounded; but after the first few days, parti cularly after the negotiations at Cabul had commenced, it became hopeless for him to think of main taining his position, for it was evident that sooner or later a movement must be made to march the troops from Cabul into some place of safety. The Duke high ly commended the efforts of the present Governor-General in carrying into effect the orders is sued by the late Government for collecting the troops in the Indus with a view to relieving the forces still remaining in the Affghan territory. He shewed the great obstacles which were to be overcome, and the difficulty of procuring sufficient means of conveyance. He spoke with admiration of the maintenance by Sir Robert Sale of his menaced and dangerous position at Jellalabad, of the wisdom of the instructions issued by the Governor-General of the 4th July, 1842, and of the gallant execution of them by General Nott. He considered the Governor-Ge neral entitled to much commendation for the mode in which these instructions were conveyed. He had read many documents of that character, but he had seen none more deserving of eulogy. MajorGeneral Nott accepted the offer

prompt execution. He (the Duke of Wellington) honoured him for it. (Loud cheers.) He did not hesitate for a moment in undertaking to carry into effect the Governor-General's instructions. But the willingness with which he seconded the Governor-General's wishes was alike honourable to all parties engaged in the transaction. He hoped that their Lordships would unanimously concur with him in the vote of thanks which it was his intention to propose to Major-General Nott, for the valuable services which he had rendered to his country. Prior to his receiving these instructions he had been engaged twice with the enemy, once at Candahar. On the 5th of August he defeated an enemy very superior in force to the army under his own command. He obtained a victory over the enemy at Jellalabad, as well as at Ghuznee. The forts of this latter place were attacked, the enemy were compelled to evacuate, and possession was thus obtained. In the meantime, the Governor-General had been in communication and correspondence with General Pollock, who was in the neighbourhood of Jellalabad. He was supplied with the means of conveyance, with provisions and ammunition. The same success attended his march between the Khyber Pass and Jellalabad, and on the road to Cabul. He advanced with the force under his command, aud in the very valley in which he (the Duke of Wellington) had stated that the massacre had taken place he achieved a great victory. This brave officer was exposed, day by day, to continued attacks until he reached Cabul, and planted the standard on the heights of that

Major-Gen. Nott, after defeating the enemy in several engagements, succeeded in forming a junction with the other portions of the army, at the spot where their disasters had commenced in the middle of September. He (the Duke of Wellington) had stated, that the Governor-General had landed in India on the 28th of February; his (the Governor-General's) orders relating to the first transaction which took place after his ar¬ rival were given on the 15th of March. Between that date and the 16th of September the great misfortune to which he had referred was redressed. He (the Duke of Wellington) trusted that their Lordships would permit him to hope that, as her Majesty had been pleased most graciously to express her approbation of the valour displayed by her troops engaged in that war, the House would sanction unanimously the vote of thanks which he had the honour to propose for its adoption. (Cheers.) There was another subject with respect to which he had a few words to address to their Lordships. The enemy was in possession of several captives: these were delivered up between the 16th and the 21st of the month, by which time all were in the hands of the brigadier-general. General Nott had succeeded in rescuing many from captivity and slavery. From the period at which the Governor-General landed in India and when his first orders were given, more was done to remedy the misfortunes which had taken place during the months of September and July than the most sanguine minds could have anticipated. (Cheers.)

Lord Auckland seconded the

temperate, judicious, and impressive manner in which the noble Duke had brought the subject before their Lordships." On his own part, he explained, that the Government of India were advised that the force at Cabul was more than amply sufficient for every emergency which called for it; and he had even been pressed to reduce a part of the force there. He had sent home his resignation three or four months before the outbreak at Cabul, when tranquillity reigned there: when intelligence reached India of the disasters, he would gladly have re mained to grapple with them; but his successor was already on the sea, and all that he could do was to provide the means of meeting the difficulties. The want of carriages was mainly caused by the desertion of the camel drivers ; but Major Outram had already exerted himself in collecting camels and stores, and 3,000 were sent to General Nott. On what might be supposed to be questionable points he said nothing; but, by the order of the 4th of July he thought his successor became a partner in the expedition from Candahar to Cabul, and in the combined operations; the consequence of which had been the wiping off the stain upon our military honour, and the conferring an immense benefit on India.

The Marquess of Lansdowne concurred in a limited expression of thanks. He alluded to the "extreme caution" displayed by Lord Ellenborough, not for the purpose of casting any censure upon any one, but in order to do full justice to those officers who took the responsibility upon them.

in the most perilous circum

stances.

Lord Fitzgerald replied to this point of "extreme caution," that even the generals themselves were fully conscious of the caution which ought to be exercised, circumstanced as they were, in making any movement in advance. On the 20th of April, for instance, General Pollock said, "My situation at the present moment is a difficult one; and much as I deprecate any retrograde movement, such a step is by no means improbable, as I have not yet been able to get supplies in sufficient quan tities to warrant my remaining here."

The Marquess of Clanricarde took some exceptions to Lord Ellenborough's conduct, that he had obstructed the advance on Cabul, and had contemplated the abandonment of the prisoners; quoting passages from the official papers in support of his construction. Even with respect to the order of July 4th, any person reading that order, according to the simple meaning of the words, would say that it was a permission to advance, but an instruction to retreat. He would not say anything as to the taking away the famous gates of Somnauth.

Lord Brougham vindicated Lord Ellenborough from charges of vacillation and infirmity of purpose. "Extreme caution! I ask, in these circumstances and conditions could any caution be deemed extreme ?" He was cautious; he did reflect; did he hesitate? Lord Brougham read the despatch of the 15th of March, to show that Lord Ellenborough's determination was taken from the first. He contrasted the language used by the Opposition

tr

"My noble friends here speak smoothly, speak softly, on the subject. One may say of them as was said by an inspired poet of others, 'The words of their mouths are soft as butter, having war in their hearts.' Their words are smoother than oil, yet be they very swords.' But those who elsewhere have dealt with the conduct of the Governor-General show or wage thewar that is in their hearts'; they brandish the very swords,' be they more or less sharp, more or less trenchant, with which they are by nature endowed: but they omit the butter and the oil. I protest that in three long months of uninterrupted abuse and calumny, no phrase has been used more gentle than the 'base,' or 'un-English,' reckless,' dastardly,' cowardly' conduct of the Governor-General."

Lord Brougham also alluded to the Somnauth gates proclamation, and the order for conveying the gates. "Something has been said about a proclamation and about a despatch; and I heartily agree with those who lament that the Governor-General in one of those despatches suffered himself for a moment to be led away in alluding to the conduct of his predecessor, which remarks I think he ought to have spared. But that is not what they are harping at out of doors and elsewhere; it is at the language, the style of the proclamation. This language was open to observation: but the style of a proclamation or a speech is a matter of trifling importance; I am looking at the deeds of the Governor-General."

The Marquess of Lansdowne explained, that he did not condemn the "extreme caution," but only

sponsibility of the Generals, and therefore their merits.

Lord Brougham's vindication of the Somnauth proclamation called up the Bishop of Salisbury and the Bishop of Chichester; who differed widely with his excuse of it. Lord Brougham expressed his conviction that the words of the proclamation would not bear the construction that had been generally applied to them.

Lord Minto guarded himself against being supposed to concur in the more extensive construction which had been put on the vote of thanks to Lord Ellenborough.

The resolutions were carried without opposition.

Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons on the same day moved the same resolutions. He studiously abstained from references to merely political matters. He gave a graphic description of the operations and events in Affghanistan, beginning with the outbreak of the general insurrection in October 1841. Sir Robert Sale, sent to force the passes between Cabul and Gundamuk, was unable to return to Cabul, and therefore occupied Jellalabad. Captain Woodburn and 108 invalids were cut off in Kohistan; Sir Alex. Burnes and his brother were assassinated at Cabul. It became necessary that Lord Auckland should consider the steps to be taken: he recommended the concentration of a force of 10,000 or 12,000 men between the Sutlej and the Jumna; and writing on the 3d December, before he knew of the final disasters at Cabul, he said"It would be in vain to speculate upon the issue of the contest at Cabul; but in the extreme event of the military possession of that

having been entirely lost, it is not our intention to direct new and extensive operations for the reestablishment of our supremacy throughout Affghanistan." On the 19th February, after hearing of General Wild's failure to force the Khyber Pass for the relief of General Sale, Lord Auckland thus expressed himself"Since we have heard of the misfortunes in the Khyber Pass, and have become convinced, that with the difficulties at present opposed to us, and in the actual state of our prepara. tions, we could not expect, at least in this year, to maintain a position in the Jellalabad districts for any effective purpose, we have made our directions in regard to withdrawal from Jellalabad clear and positive; and we shall rejoice to learn that Major-General Pollock will have anticipated these more express orders by confining his efforts to the same object." He said at the same time, to show that he was not regardless of the state of the prisoners at Cabul, "The painful situation of the officers' families, and European and native soldiers, who are prisoners in Affghanistan, engages our most anxious thought; and any measures which we can adopt with a fair and honourable prospect of advantage for their comfort or release will be eagerly adopted by us." On the 10th February, Lord Auckland gave orders to General Nott, at Candahar, to "act solely so as may best, in your judgment, secure the paramount object of the safety of the troops placed under your orders, and may uphold, at the same time, the honour of the British arms.' In an interview with Mr. Clerk, who had been resident at Lahore, and who recom

in the most perilous circum

stances.

Lord Fitzgerald replied to this point of " extreme caution," that even the generals themselves were fully conscious of the caution which ought to be exercised, circumstanced as they were, in making any movement in advance. On the 20th of April, for instance, General Pollock said, "My situation at the present moment is a difficult one; and much as I deprecate any retrograde movement, such a step is by no means improbable, as I have not yet been able to get supplies in sufficient quantities to warrant my remaining here."

The Marquess of Clanricarde took some exceptions to Lord Ellenborough's conduct, that he had obstructed the advance on Cabul, and had contemplated the abandonment of the prisoners; quoting passages from the official papers in support of his construction. Even with respect to the order of July 4th, any person reading that order, according to the simple meaning of the words, would say that it was a permission to advance, but an instruction to retreat. He would not say anything as to the taking away the famous gates of Somnauth.

Lord Brougham vindicated Lord Ellenborough from charges of vacillation and infirmity of purpose. "Extreme caution! I ask, in these circumstances and conditions could any caution be deemed extreme ?” He was cautious; he did reflect; did he hesitate? Lord Brougham read the despatch of the 15th of March, to show that Lord Ellenborough's determination was taken from the first. He contrasted the language used by the Opposition

"My noble friends here speak smoothly, speak softly, on the subject. One may say of them as was said by an inspired poet of others, 'The words of their mouths are soft as butter, having war in their hearts.' 'Their words are smoother than oil, yet be they very swords.' But those who elsewhere have dealt with the conduct of the Governor-General show or wage the war that is in their hearts'; they brandish the very swords,' be they more or less sharp, more or less trenchant, with which they are by nature endowed: but they omit the butter and the oil. I protest that in three long months of uninterrupted abuse and calumny, no phrase has been used more gentle than the 'base,' or 'un-English,' 'reckless,' dastardly,' cowardly' conduct of the Governor-General."

Lord Brougham also alluded to the Somnauth gates proclamation, and the order for conveying the gates. "Something has been said about a proclamation and about a despatch; and I heartily agree with those who lament that the Governor-General in one of those despatches suffered himself for a moment to be led away in alluding to the conduct of his predecessor, which remarks I think he ought to have spared. But that is not what they are harping at out of doors and elsewhere; it is at the language, the style of the proclamation. This language was open to observation: but the style of a proclamation or a speech is a matter of trifling importance; I am looking at the deeds of the Governor-General."

The Marquess of Lansdowne explained, that he did not condemn the "extreme caution," but only