Mr. Speaker,

As I have before had the honour of stating, I must feel, Sir, that to others is due from me, while receiving the highest honour that can be bestowed on a British soldier, the report of their admirable conduct during the actions in question; supported as I was by my gallant friend on my right, by such corps as the 92nd Highlanders, or the 50th British infantry, I should have been without excuse if a less firm stand had been made on the positions of the Pyrenees than was made; I should have done injustice to the design of our great Captain and to the instructions of my own immediate commander, if I had less exerted myself than I did on these

occasions.

That our endeavours have met with the approbation of our country, and have received from you, Sir, so generous an expression of that approbation, is the proudest event of our lives; it ought and will ani

mate us to devote our best exertions in

the future service of that country.

Major General William Henry Pringle

then said,

Mr. Speaker,

I am highly sensible of the honour I have just received by the thanks of this House; I consider their approbation as the most honourable reward which a military man can receive, and one far beyond what any feeble efforts of mine can deserve. The able arrangements of the general under whom I served, and the bravery of the troops I had the honour to command, left little to be done by any exertions of mine; which I feel more than amply rewarded by the approbation of this House. The satisfaction I feel on this occasion is still further increased by the very flattering manner in which you have been pleased to communicate the thanks of the House to me.

Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton, Lieutenant General Sir William Stewart, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, and Major General Pringle,

You stand amongst us this day to receive our thanks, for great and signal victories won by British arms in the fields of France.

Descending from the Pyrenees, surmounting in adverse seasons, all the difficulties of a country deeply intersected, and passing with unparallelled skill and boldness the formidable torrents of Navarre, after a series of arduous and sanguinary conflicts you came up with the collected forces of the enemy posted upon the heights of Orthes. Attacked on all sides by British valour, the troops of France at length gave way and commenced their re treat; pressed however upon each flank, that retreat was soon changed into a flight, and that flight to a total rout: pursuing their broken legions across the Adour, and seizing upon their strong holds and accumu

lated resources, you then laid open your way, on the one hand, to the deliverance of Bourdeaux, and on the other to the lamented but glorious day of Toulouse.

It has been your fortune to reap the latest laurels in this long and memorable war; and leading forward your victorious columns from the Tagus to the Garonne, you have witnessed with arms in your hands, the downfall of that gigantic tyranny which your own prowess has so materially contributed to overthrow.

Informed of these triumphant exploits, this House lost no time in recording its thanks to all who had bravely fought the battles of their country. But to those whom we glory to reckon amongst our own members, it is my duty and happiness to deliver those thanks personally. And I do now accordingly, in the name and by the command of the Commons of the United Kingdom, deliver to you their unanimous thanks for your able and distinguished conduct throughout all those operations which

concluded with the entire defeat of the enemy at Orthes, and the occupation of Bourdeaux by the allied forces of Great Britain, Spain and Portugal.

Upon which Lieut. General Sir Thomas Picton said,

Mr. Speaker,

I return my thanks to this honourable House for the honour conferred

upon me.

Lieutenant-General Sir William Stewart then said,

Mr. Speaker,

I feel overcome by the repeated honour which you have now conferred on me, and can but ill express what I am sensible of on this occasion of high personal honour; I can only say, Sir, that myself, as well as those who were under my command in the memorable actions alluded to by you,