The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1863.

FIELD-MARSHAL LORD CLYDE,
G.C.8., K.S.I.

After a lingering illness Lord Clyde expired yes-
' terday morning at the house of his friend, General
Eyre, at Chatham. For more than half a century
he had served his country in every quarter of the
globe. But his honours came perhaps too late, for
he was near 70 when he received them, and three
or four years was too brief a period to enjoy the
repose which be had so nobly earned.
Born on the 20th of October, 1792, of humble
parents—for his father was a cabinet-maker in
Glasgow—he entered the army in 1808, and became
a lieutenant in the following year. How great
must have been the perseverance, the courage, and
the discretion of such a friendless and penniless
boy to have raised himself to a peerage and to the
Colonelcy of the Coldstream Guards can be known
only to those who understand the aristocratic
traditions of the British army. It is need-
less here to recount in detail his numerous
services. But it may be interesting to
recall the account which Lord Clyde once gave
a Committee of the House of Commons of his own
life when lie appeared to give evidence against the
purchase system—" I am now," be said, "in my
63rd year ; I entered the army at 15. I was pre-
sent at the battles of Vimiera and Corunna, and in
the expedition to Walcheren ; and I came home
before I was 16. I served in America in 1814 and
1815. I passed seven years in the West Indies,
where I was constantly ill of fever, but I stayed
there seven years, thinking it would be considered
a merit by sticking to my regiment. In the West
Indies I was brigade major a part of the time, but
sharing in the duties of captain of my regiment.
I was afterwards upwards of thirteen years
in China and India, and the greater part of
the time in command of considerable bodies of troops
in the field. I was borne on the rolls of my
regiment, the 98th, from 1835 to 1853. I was in
actual command of the regiment for nearly ten years,
and present with it ; but it was only after 25 years
that I obtained my Lieutenant-Culonelcy, even by
purchase, and the money for that purpose was only
obtained with the greatest. difficulty. Whilst still
on the rolls of my regiment, I served as a Brigadier
in China, and subsequently as Brigadier command-
ing in the garrison of Lahore, before the overthrow
of the Sikh government Subsequently I com-
manded a division in the Punjaub campaign, and
afterwards a field force on the Peshawur frontier,
where we were constantly engaged in war with the
tribes inhabiting the mountains which intervene
between the valley of the I ndusand the open country
of Affglaaniatan." Such were the services of Cohn
Campbell before the Crimean war, and yet in
that war having been some fiveand-forty
years in the British army—he was appointed
only a brigadier, being still a colonel, and had
the honour of serving under those who had but
half his years and no service to recommend them.
Though he had contributed much to the victory of
the Alma—though he had watched day and night
the lines of Balaklava —though he had met
the onset of the Russian horse with the famous
" thin red line," disdaining to throw his men
into square—though he had proved himself the
ablest officer who was left with the British army
after the death of Lord Raglan, he was des-
tined to be passed over by two men, who, however
excellent as men of business, or as copious letter_
writers, were immeasurably his inferiors. Fortu-
nately Sebastopol was taken, and the British army
returned to England ; and it was not long before
the services of Sir Colin Campbell were urgently
required.
In 1857 the great Indian mutiny broke out, and
the Peninsula was in a conflagration. The system
of appointing worn-out officers and men about
town who had once been ensigns to command the
great armies in India had broken down. A man
was required to save India, and within 24 hours
after receiving his appointment Sir Colin Campbell
was on his way to the East ; nor did he go
alone. He took with him as his chief of
the stall that able !and accomplished officer Sir
William Mansfield, to mature his plans and to
issue the orders by which those plans were to be
executed. These events are too recent to need re-
capitulation. Suffice it to say that his plan of
operations was completely successful, and he left
the rebels subdued and India pacified. Honours
were showered upon him. On the 18th of August,
1858, the Scotch cabinet-maker's son was made
I Lord Clyde ; in 1859 he received the thanks of
both houses of parliament, with a pension of
2,0001. ; in 1860 he was made Colonel of the Cold-
stream Guards ; and in 1861 he was nominated
Knight of the Star of India. But it was too late :
a life of labour and anxiety had exhausted his
strength. The death of Sir James Outran and of
Lord Herbert of Lea grievously affected him; and it
was evident to those who saw him that his etreugth
was waning. In the spring of the present year be
was seized with an alarming attack from which be
never completely recovered. Some weeks ago he
suffered a relapse whilst at Chatham, and
after a lingering struggle, he has at length suc-
cumbed.

Looking back upon the career of this sturdy and
gallant soldier it is impossible to suppress a feeling
of honest pride that this country should have owned
him as ner son. Few men labouring under such
difficulties as must have beset the career of young
M‘Liver—for that was his original name--would
have had the courage to persevere for nearly half a
century, or would have had the ability to take
advantage of the opportunity when it presented
itself. The case of Lord Clyde will of course be
quoted by the advocates of the present system of
promotion by purchase, as a proof that, even under
the most adverse circumstances, such men must
rise to the top of their profession. But
those who know the real story will blush to think
that it needed more than forty years of arduous
service, a Russian war, and • tottering empire,
before such aman could obtain promotion or reason-
able reward.

As a military officer it cannot be said that Lord
elvde was a great strategist. The operations which
Le undertook were no: such as entitle him to be
placed in the same category with Napoleon or
Wellington. It may even be doubted whether his
military genius would bear comparison with the
best officers now engaged in Ainorica. But he was
thoroughly efficient in every situation in which be
was tried. Others might be more daring and in-
genious in devising combinations and in planning a
campaign. But in the face of the enemy Lord
Clyde was in his element. Hi i coolness, prudence,
and fertility of resource seemed to be quickened
by the presence of the enemy. That roughness
of deportment which characterised him on ordinary
occasions disappeared with the sound of the first
gun ; his irritable temperament was soothed, and
he became abnormally polite. Amidst the smoke
and din of battle his senses acquired a supernatural
acnteness—he could interpret the changing signs of
the bath!the movements of the
enemy with a faultless precision which was almost
miraculous. This strong and cool judgment ever-

eised in the most trying circumstances amounted
almost to genius.

Nor was he destitute of the power which is pot-
sensed by most great soldiers. of inspiring confi-
dence in the men under his command. Like most
Scotcbmen, whose enthusiasm for their country is
proportioned to the few years spent there, ho lost
no opportunity of advancing his fellow-country-
men, and they requited his attention with no com-
mon veneration. But indeed wherever he held
command he earned the confidence of his su-
yerior officer and the love of the men
under him. " Rude was be in his speech" on
ordinary occasions, but yet in the crisis of
a battle he could utter words which thrilled
the hearts of those to whom they were addressed.
" Highlanders !" exclaimed Sir Colin Campbell, as
they came to the charge on the heights above the
Alma, " Grant me a favour. Let me have to ask
the Queen's permission for you to wear a bonnet.
Don't pull a trigger until you get within a
yard of the Russians." The Scots obeyed
the command, and won the bonnet. Again,
when he announced to his men that they
were about to assault the Redan, he said,—
"General Simpson says we are to take the Redan
to-night ; so be prepared. Recollect, I shall lead
ycu myself." But the Redan was abandoned, and
the assault became unnecessary.
Such was Colin, Lord Clyde. He is gone ; but
his name will rank with the great soldiers who
fought under Marlborough and Wellington. All
that now remains is to lay his shattered body side
by side with those who repose beneath the shadow
of Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

Japan are to June 14. On the day previma to that date, I
ambassadors had arrived from Yeddo, and matters were SS-
RIM ing a peaceful aspect. The pecuniary indemnity of
120,0001. wan ready t, be paid, but the Tycoon's authority
was not sufficient to enable him to give up the murderers of
Mr. Itichardsoe. The latest advice' say that Colonel
Neale had agreed to accept the proposed terms, 1,
on condition of their allowing the remainder of
the ultimatum to remain in abeyance until he re-
ceived directions on the subject from England. It is
probable, therefore, that amicable relations will be resumed.
The reports current u to the internal affairs of the country
and the real views of the government on the whole
question, are various, and not always consistent with each
other, or with previously-entertained facts. It appears
to be quite certain, however, that the " foreign" question
has lately been much discussed in:Japan, and that some well'
informed princes have given their voice against war with
western nations. The Prince of Satsuma is reported
to have proclaimed his continued hostility to foteigners, and
surrounded with an army, it is no wonder that he should
defy any attempt on the Tycoon's part to coerce him.
Among other changes in Japan, one recently made calls for
particular attention. The Tycoon bat gone to Maker, where
he is likely to reside ; while the Prince of Mito, whose late
father was hostile to foreigners, is installed at Yeddo as
Acting Tycoon. The house of Mito has long been
foremost in its opposition to foreigners, and it
is not easy to perceive what policy lurks under
the present change. It is stated that Prince Mild and the
Tycoon are close friends, and probably the former may not
have adopted the politics of his family. Thus ends the
Japanese question fur the present—one thing being certain,
that a considerable sum has been paid to avoid hostilities—
• fact, of itself, in some degree proving that foreign arms
are not despiser' by this strange and would-be warlike
people. This fact, we, think, gives strength to a growing
conviction that the large armed retinues of the Damien are
not fully relied upon for service in active warfare.