ships on this subject, without naming the army lately under my command. For . these brave men I shall always feel the greatest esteem and the most affectionate regard.

From what has fallen under my observation of the abilities of the generals, of the merit of the other officers in their several stations, and of the zeal, valour and discipline of the whole, I am confident, that wherever they may be employed, they will do credit to their country and to themselves.

I beg leave to offer to the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack, my best thanks for the most flattering manner in which he has been pleased to make this communication.

Martis 2 die Februarii, 1808.

Gloucester Place, January 30th, 1808.

Sir,

I take the earliest opportunity

of acknowledging your letter of the 29th

Eg.

T

instant, transmitting authenticated copies of the resolutions of the 28th instant, by which the House of Commons have been pleased to vote their thanks to the commander of the forces, to the general officers, and to the several officers of the army under his command, during the siege of Copenhagen, and to approve and acknowledge the regularity, discipline, valour and exertions, of the non-commissioned officers and private men employed on that service; the House being further pleased to appoint that these resolutions shall be communicated by me to the generals and other officers who served in that army.

I have to request that you will have the goodness to state for me to the House, that it affords me great gratification to have the honour of communicating these resolutions respectively and without delay to the seve ral general officers, named in your letter,. and to the other officers of the army lately under my command. Several of these distinguished officers and many of the non

commissioned officers and private soldiers, have already received the thanks of Parliament, or the notification of the recorded approval of their services on former occasions; and I am confident that all of them will feel as they ought to do, the high distinction now conferred upon them; and that they will do credit to their country and to themselves wherever they may be employed.

For my own part, Sir, I find it impossible to express the sentiments which arise in my mind, on learning that any endeavours of mine faithfully and conscientiously to discharge the duties of my profession as a British officer, entrusted with command on an important service, should have procured for me the Thanks of the House of Com

mons.

Suffice it therefore to say, that I most gratefully receive this distinguished honour with the most exalted respect for the House of Parliament from whence it flows, and the greatest humility in regard to my own desert.

I beg to offer my best acknowledgments to you, Sir, for the personal civilities with which you have been pleased to accompany the transmission of this signal mark of the approbation of the House of Commons; and I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration and the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

The Right Honourable

CATHCART.

The Speaker of the House of Commons.

Lune 1 die Februarii, 1808.

Lord Gambier,

By the Thanks which in obedience to this resolution, I communicate to your Lordship, the House has been pleased to express the high sense it entertains of your eminent services to the country; and it seeks to confer the highest honour it can bestow.

It is your Lordship's happiness at the

moment when your Sovereign has been graciously pleased to dignify by calling you to a place in this House, to find the House itself engaged in recording upon its Journals its grateful acknowledgments for the distinguished services which you have rendered your country, in a period of unexampled national danger.

The Thanks which your Lordship hath well earned, the House most gladly bestows: and it doubts not, while others are animated by great examples and encouraged by the gratitude which the House is ever ready to express where it is due, the country may look with confidence under the blessings of providence, to a safeguard and protection against its foes, however numerous or powerful, in the intrepidity, the skill, and the exertions of His Majesty's Fleets and their commanders.

To which his Lordship replied: