before alluded to. Did the honourable member ever hear of that most distinguished victory, which the British forces achieved at Toulouse? It was one of the most brilliant feats of arms in which the noble duke was ever engaged. He defeated Marshal Soult, he drove him from an entrenched position, which even his own officers conceived too hazardous to attack; and he displayed, during the whole conflict, a combination of valour, skill, and coolness, which had never been excelled before. But, though this was one of the most gallant achievements of the whole war, it was not noticed by Parliament; because a cessation of arms had taken place before the intelligence of it reached England. In consequence of such unexpected forgetfulness, the late Duke of Norfolk had asked the noble lord, who was at the head of the government in the other House, whether it was not intended to thank the Duke of Wellington for that his last and greatest battle? Unquestionably his noble friend felt that the importance and magnitude of that battle gave the noble duke a title to add another vote of thanks to the numerous votes which he had before received from the gratitude of Parliament. But what was the statement which the noble lord made in his place in Parliament? It was this,-that as the war had ceased, he did not intend to propose a vote, which might tend to keep up a spirit of exasperation between the two

nations

Having stated that fact, he would now sit down, leaving it to the good sense of the House to decide, whether it would, in this case, create a precedent which, if created, would be attended with inconvenience to the best interests of the country. Had the conflict which gave rise to this proposed vote of thanks taken place with a power with whom we were at war, he should not have had any reluctance, even though it was a barbarous power, to confer the honour of

their thanks upon Sir E. Codrington and his brave followers; but under present circumstances, he was obliged to withhold it, not from any wish to impute the slightest blame to that gallant officer, but from a wish to guard the country from future difficulty and inconvenience. He would not move a negative to the present motion, lest it should be supposed that he meant to deny the gallantry and skill of Sir E. Codrington; but he was sorry to say, that the reasons, which he had stated to the House, convinced him that it was his duty to move the previous question.

The motion was withdrawn,

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

February 15.

Mr. Secretary Peel this day moved the re-appointment of the Finance Committee. On the names of the members intended to form the Committee being read, Mr. Baring expressed his surprise at the omission of the right honourable Secretary of State for the Colonies. This struck him as most extraordinary; for without meaning any dis...... respect to the members composing the Committee, he might say, that the aggregate amount of their financial knowledge bore no proportion to that possessed by the right honourable gentleman. His information and research had penetrated into every corner of our financial and commercial systems, and to except him from the Committee, was to shut out the greatest light that could be thrown upon the subjects to be therein discussed. Mr. Brougham also added his entreaties to those of his honourable friend, and declared, that the knowledge of all the other members combined, was as dust in the balance, compared with the resources which the right honourable Secretary could bring into play.

Mr. Secretary HUSKISSON said, he considered it necessary to offer a few words, after the manner in which he had been appealed to by the honourable member for Callington,

seconded, as that appeal had been by the honourable and learned gentleman. He certainly had, in the first communication with his right honourable colleague, on the subject of becoming a member of the Committee, declined the proposition, on account of the numerous official avocations which pressed upon him, and occupied nearly the whole of his time. He could assure both the honourable members who had appealed to him, and the House generally, that it was not for want of the most anxious desire on the part of his right honourable colleague, that he did not form part of the Committee. Having, however, for many years of his life, devoted the whole of his time to the public service, so far as his health and strength would permit, he was now willing, if it were in accordance with the feelings of the House, to attend the Committee occasionally, and give so much of his assistance to it, as his health would allow, with all the zeal and ability he possessed. On this, as on all other occasions, he yielded to the expressed wish of the representatives of the people.

Mr. Huskisson's name was accordingly added to the list of the committee.

MR. HUSKISSON'S EXPLANATION OF HIS CONDUCT, IN ITS CONNECTION WITH THE DISSOLUTION OF THE LATE, AND THE FORMATION OF THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION.

February 18.

On the premature death of Mr. Canning, and the consequent formation of Lord Goderich's ministry, Mr. Huskisson, in September 1827, succeeded the noble lord as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies; and on the sudden dissolution of this administration in January, he was induced to retain the situation in the new administration formed by the Duke of Wellington. Upon the meeting of Parliament, an early opportunity was found for requiring an exVOL. III.

planation respecting the dissolution of the late ministry, and the establishment of the present. Lord Normanby having this day called the attention of the House to the subject,

Mr. Secretary HUSKISSON rose, and spoke to the following effect :-*

Sir, from whatever motives the noble lord may have felt it his duty to make the observations which he has now offered to the House, I beg to return him my very sincere thanks for the manly, straight-forward part which he has performed. He has made upon me that call which I had been assured, day after day, from the hour of my return to this House, was purposely reserved to have been made upon me last Friday. The causes which led to a change in the intentions of those who had expressed their determination to produce from me an explanation of my conduct, whatever may have been my disappointment at such a change, it was not-it is not-for me to surmise; but the noble lord may rest assured, that the contrast between his open appeal and the sort of proceeding on Friday night, especially seeing the use which has since been made of it, will not speedily be effaced from my recollection.

Although I greatly rejoice that an opportunity is this evening afforded me of entering upon an explanation of my conduct, in its connection with the dissolution of the late, and the formation of the present, Administration, I certainly offer myself to your notice under feelings of greater anxiety and embarrassment than I ever before experienced in rising to address this House.

If no other interest attached itself to the transactions, to which I am about to advert, than the protection of my own character and personal honour, from the known indulgence of the House to all its members, under similar circumstances, I should confidently appeal to it; but, Sir, the

From the notes of Mr. Huskisson.

public character of a public man, and especially when that man is honoured by his Sovereign with the management of one of the highest offices in the state, is not an individual interest it becomes a public interest. On that ground alone I venture to claim the kind attention of the House, persuaded that it will be afforded me by every man of right feeling, however much he may be opposed to me in the honourable warfare of general or party politics.

Before I proceed further, I find it necessary to state,and I do it in the most positive and unqualified manner,— that neither directly, or indirectly, have I had any communication, of any sort, with any one of my colleagues in the present Administration, in respect to any thing which I may be reported to have said at Liverpool, or which they, or any of them, or any other person, may have been reported to have said elsewhere, nor in respect to any thing which I may have to say to-night. I trust that honourable members will bear this declaration in mind, during the whole course of what I may have to address to them, and consequently consider that for any thing which may fall from me this evening, I, and I alone, am responsible.

My reason for shunning any such communication has not been want of confidence, or cordial feeling on my part, or any doubt of a reciprocal feeling on the part of the noble Duke at the head of the administration, and of my right honourable friend near me ;* but to avoid the possibility of its being supposed that we had, as it is called, compared notes,-that we had concerted and rehearsed together our respective parts. This shyness and reserve may possibly have been mistaken by my noble and honourable friends; but it was a course in which, however inconvenient, I was resolved, until after this explanation, to persevere.