Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/47

Rh Act in favour of Queen Isabella. Colonel (afterwards Sir) De Lacy Evans was appointed to command the Auxiliary Legion, and landed at St. Sebastian in July, 1835. The Tory party in Parliament vigorously assailed this policy. It was contended on their part that the Government had gone beyond — and had even contravened — the terms of the Treaty. In 1837 a motion was brought forward condemning the Order in Council. Mr. Roebuck supported it, with the view of putting an end to the policy of intervention in the affairs of the Continent, while Lord Palmerston replied in his happiest vein. The House divided, and the motion was negatived by a majority of thirty-six votes.

In the meantime, Sir De Lacy Evans's Legion had been employed in raising the siege of Bilbao, in conjunction with the naval force under Lord John Hay. Other operations followed, in which the Legion fought gallantly, but under the disadvantages of want of training, want of supplies, and want of officers of experience. This led to the return of Sir De Lacy Evans to England, where he had to defend himself against the numerous critics who had sprung up. It was on this occasion that Sir H. Hardinge made one of his forcible speeches, in reply to the explanations offered by the commander of the Legion in the House of Commons. He reminded Sir De Lacy that the Liberal and Tory press had criticised him with equal asperity. He compared the medical arrangements made by the Spanish Government with those of the Peninsular War, showing that