resolutions of the House of Lords of the 26th April, expressing the approbation of their Lordships of the conduct of the army under my command during the late campaign in Portugal; which I have communicated according to their Lordships' desire, to the allied British and Portuguese army.

The approbation of the House of Lords must be highly gratifying to the general officers, and officers by whose able assistance and support, and to the troops, by whose good conduct, discipline, and bravery (under Providence) the service has been performed, which their Lordships have been pleased to distinguish in this manner; and I request your Lordship to convey to the House of Lords the expression of my gratitude for the favour with which they have been pleased to view my endeavours to serve His Majesty, and for the high honour which their Lordships have conferred upon me.

I likewise request your Lordship to accept my acknowledgments for the handsome

terms in which your Lordship has conveyed to me the sentiments of the House of Lords.

I have the honour to be, My Lord, with the greatest respect, your Lordship's most obedient and faithful humble servant,

WELLINGTON.

The Right Hon. Lord Eldon,

Lord High Chancellor, &c. &c. &c.

Sabbati 15 die Junii, 1811.

Sir,

Elvas, May 25th, 1811.

I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 26th of April in which you have enclosed the resolutions of the House of Commons of that day, conveying the approbation of the House of the conduct of the army under my command in Portugal, during the late campaign, which I have communicated to the allied British and Portuguese army.

I attribute the result of the operation of

which the House have been pleased to approve (under Providence) to the support and assistance which I have invariably received from the general and other officers and to the good conduct, the discipline and bravery of the troops; and it must be highly gratifying to them, to find that their ser vices have been deemed worthy of that distinction of which all are ambitious, the approbation of the House of Commons.

The favour with which the House of Commons have viewed my services, and the honour by which they have been pleased to distinguish them, have made an indelible impression upon me; and I hope, by the continuance of my zealous endeavours to serve His Majesty according to the best of my judgment, to prove my gratitude to the House for their favours.

I beg that you, Sir, will accept my acknowledgments for the handsome terms in which you have again conveyed to me the sense of the House of Commons; and I have the honour to be with the utmost re

spect, your most obedient and most faithful

humble servant,

WELLINGTON.

Right Honourable Charles Abbot,

Speaker of the House of Commons.

Lord Wellington in the glorious career that was now opening to him, pressed his objects more than proportionably to the operations of the French General, and in consequence, the batteries before CIUDAD RODRIGO being opened on the 10th of January, that place was carried by storm on the 9th day; and BADAJOZ being invested on the 16th March, was in the same way carried in a short time.

To the vote of thanks on the first occasion, Lord Wellington thus replied :

Mercurii 13 die Maii, 1812.

Fuente Guinaldo, April 29th, 1812,

My Lord,

I have had the honor of receiv

ing your Lordship's letter of the 15th of

February in which you inclosed the resolu tions of the House of Lords of the 10th of February, expressing the approbation of their Lordships of the conduct of the general officers, officers and troops under my command in the siege and assault of Ciudad Rodrigo.

I have communicated to the general officers, officers and troops, the honourable testimonies of the approbation of their Lordships.

I request your Lordship to convey to the House of Lords my acknowledgments for the high honour which they have conferred upon me; to assure their Lordships of my gratitude for their repeated favours and of my desire to prove myself not unworthy of their Lordships' notice by my continued exertions in His Majesty's service.

I beg your Lordship will accept my thanks for the handsome terms in which you have conveyed to me the sense of the House of Lords.

I have the honour to be, My Lord, with