ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

[Speech on proposing vote of thanks to Her Majesty's forces, July 2, 1868. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gladstone, who pronounced a high panegyric not only on the troops but also on the conduct of the Government.]

MR.

R. DISRAELI: I rise to move that the thanks of the House be given to those who planned and accomplished one of the most remarkable military enterprises of this century. When the invasion of Abyssinia was first mooted, it was denounced as a rash enterprise, pregnant with certain peril and probable disaster. It was described indeed as one of the most rash undertakings which had ever been recommended by a Government to Parliament. The country was almost unknown to us, or known only as one difficult of access, and very deficient in all those supplies which are necessary for an army. Indeed, the commander of this expedition had to commence his operations by forming his base on a desolate shore, and by creating a road to the land he invaded through a wall of mountains. Availing himself for this purpose of the beds of exhausted torrents, he gradually reached a lofty table-land-wild and for the most part barren-frequently intersected with mountain ranges of great elevation, occasionally breaking into ravines and gorges that were apparently unfathomable. Yet over this country, for more than 300 miles, the commander-in-chief guided and sustained a numerous host, composed of many thousands of fighting men, as many camp followers, and vast caravans of animals, bearing supplies, more numerous than both. Over this land he guided cavalry and infantry, and-what is perhaps the most remarkable part of the expedition-he led the elephants of Asia, bearing the artillery of Europe, over African

passes which might have startled the trapper and appalled the hunter of the Alps. When he arrived at the base of this critical rendezvous, he encountered no inglorious foe; and if the manly qualities of the Abyssinians sank before the resources of our warlike science, our troops, even after that combat, had to scale a mountain fortress, of which the intrinsic strength was such that it may be fairly said it would have been impregnable to the whole world had it been defended by the man by whom it was assailed. But all these obstacles and all these difficulties and dangers were overcome by Sir Robert Napier, and that came to pass which ten years ago not one of us could have imagined even in his dreams, and which must, under all the circumstances, be an event of peculiar interest to an Englishman—the standard of St. George was hoisted on the mountains of Rasselas.1 If we turn from the conduct of the expedition to the character of the person who commanded it, I think it must be acknowledged that rarely has an expedition been planned with more providence and executed with more precision. In connection with it everything seems to have been foreseen and everything supplied. It would be presumptuous in me to dwell on the military qualities of the commander; but all must recognise, and all may admire, the sagacity and the patience, the temper and the resource, invariably exhibited. I shall, however, perhaps be justified in calling attention to the rare union of diplomatic ability and military skill in the conduct of Sir Robert Napier. Indeed, I do not think a public man has ever shown more discretion than he has done. Had it not been for his management of men-not merely in the skilful

'Mr. Justin M'Carthy, in his History of Our Own Times, says, the idea that Johnson in Rasselas had in his eye the actual geographical mountains of Abyssinia, made all England smile. Lord Stanley of Alderley has called attention to the fact that the description of the mountain in which the Abyssinian princes were confined, given by Francesco Alvarez, in his narrative of the Portugese Embassy to Abyssinia (1520–1527), a work which his lordship has translated, closely corresponds with Johnson's description of it in Rasselas, and he remarks very justly that as Johnson's first work was a translation of A Voyage to Abyssinia, by Lobo, a Portuguese Jesuit, it is clear that his attention had been drawn to that country. Boswell himself makes a similar remark; and it is pretty evident, therefore, that those who laughed at the speech laughed too soon.

handling of his troops on an exhausting march, but in the way in which he moulded the dispositions of the native princes-the result might have been different. And he moulded them to his purpose without involving his country in any perilous contract or engagement. Under these circumstances I am sure the House will heartily offer and vote its thanks to this distinguished man. It has been said by the greatest soldier who ever flourished, that at least in modern times-that the thanks of the House of Commons were a compliment the most appreciated by military men, and that, next to the favour of their Sovereign, the acknowledgment of their services by Parliament was the reward which they most valued. I have no doubt that Sir Robert Napier is influenced by those feelings; but the House of Commons at this moment will remember that this is not the first time nor the second that it has offered to him its thanks. Happy is the man who has been twice thanked by his country! By his splendid achievements in Abyssinia, Sir Robert Napier has only fulfilled the promise of the plains of India, and consummated his exploits on the Chinese battlefield.

It is, I may add, not the least interesting part of our business this evening to recognise the merits of another great branch of Her Majesty's forces. The army and navy have rarely acted together in the history of this country without successful results; but there have been, I think, few instances in which they have mutually assisted each other more effectually, and in which their combined exertions have been attended with greater success, than in the Abyssinian Expedition. I need not remind the House how much depends on the skill and efficiency with which the transport of troops and stores is conducted in such an undertaking. But I may recall to the recollection of the House, in order that they may clearly understand them, the very great difficulties attending the expedition in that respect, and the admirable manner in which those difficulties were surmounted. The number of vessels employed amounted to no fewer than 300, some of great tonnage collected from all parts of Her Majesty's dominions, yet all brought at the right moment to the right place, under the superintendence of Commodore Heath. The exertions of the navy were not,

however, limited merely to this important branch of public service. The unknown waters of Abyssinia were buoyed and lighted with a promptitude and certainty which cannot be too highly praised, and which were of the utmost importance; and it was mainly owing to the great exertions of the navy, that water, on which the success of the expedition greatly depended, and the want of which for a moment threatened the successful accomplishment of the expedition, was supplied.

The building of the piers and the establishing of the condensing machines were mainly owing to the exertions of the navy, who on all occasions showed the utmost willingness to devote their labours to the success of this great enterprise. But it was not to the mere transport of troops, not to the mere buoying and lighting of Annesley Bay, or the mere condensing of water, that the duties and labours of the navy were limited. They equipped and manned a most efficient corps, which took a very active part in the invasion of Abyssinia-the Rocket Brigade. They were present on that great march during which Sir Robert Napier handled his troops with so much dexterity— a march requiring so much endurance on the part of our forces -and they joined in that critical operation, the scaling of the fortress of Magdala. Therefore, under these circumstances, the House will offer its most cordial and grateful thanks to Commodore Heath, who commanded the naval force.

In acknowledging the great services of the distinguished man who was the chief commander of the expedition, and of the eminent officer who commanded the navy, we must not be unmindful of the conduct of the men, both in the army and the navy. I think we may fairly say that the conduct of the troops and sailors was alike complete and admirable. There have been instances, no doubt, of rapid marches and triumphant fields, which have occasioned greater sensation at the moment, in the history of modern times; but if you look to the exhibition of military virtue, I doubt whether the qualities of patience, endurance, and good temper, manifested under the most trying circumstances, have ever been more fully exemplified. I doubt whether the force of disciplined man was ever more successfully asserted. There was shown that gallantry on which we can

always count, and which enables our forces to meet any dangers and difficulties; but what was the most admirable, was the endurance and docility which were exemplified by the troops, and which enhanced the glorious result of the operations. The House, therefore, will, I am sure, acknowledge in a manner most grateful to the men, both of the army and navy, its sense of their services, and will take means by which that sense shall be made known to them through their respective commanding officers, making mention to each regiment the opinion of the House with reference to their services and conduct. There are many distinguished officers whose services they must also shortly acknowledge, and whose names were inserted in the resolution.

Before concluding, I would venture also to congratulate the House not on the conduct of the expedition, of which I have already treated, but on its character. When it was first announced that England was about to embark on a most costly and perilous expedition, merely to vindicate the honour of our Sovereign and to rescue from an unjust but remote captivity a few of our fellow subjects, the announcement was received in more than one country with something like mocking incredulity. But we have asserted the purity of our purpose. In an age accused, and perhaps not unjustly, of selfishness, and a too great regard for material interests, it is something, in so striking and significant a manner, for a great nation to have vindicated the higher principles of humanity. It is a privilege to belong to a country which has done such deeds. They will add lustre to the name of this nation, and will beneficially influence the future history of the world.