The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-31 00:00:00

THE ARM).

The Pensions due on the '34th instant, to the widows of the!
Commissariat, are now payable at the Treasury Chambers.
The undermentioned services, due the 24th instant. will be in
course of payment on Tuesday, the 13th of April, viz retired
Hill and half-pay of Adjutants of local militia; allowances to
reduced Adjutants and Serjtant-majors of militia; foreign half-
The 3d (or, the Prince of Wales's) regiment of dragoon
smolt' has received orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed to
Ireland.
The 3d Dragoon Guards are suddenly ordered to Ireland. The
Hon. Capt. Abercomby's troop, stationed in norbarteck, expect
their rout hourly. The eonchict of the officers of the Hussars
is supposed to have occasioned this unexpected movement.—Shrife!d
Indrp.7rident.
Alajor-General Sir John Lambert, tz.c.n., having inspected
the 3d Royal Veteran Battalion, under the command of Lieut..
Colonel Coghlan, on the 24th instant, war pleased to issue the fol-
lowing General Older :
" Assistant-Adjutant-General's Office, Cork,
3larch 24, 1824.
"The Third Royal Veteran battalion bring *bent to be re-
moved on the British establishment, 31ajor-Gcn. Sir John Lam.
bent cannot allow the regiment to embark witnout expressing his
perfect sail:lac:on at the good state of discipline that prevails
throughout the battalion, no less attrjhu. able to the zeal and at-
' tent ion of the officers, than the orderly atsd soldier-like conduct of
the non-commissioned officers and men, and which he shall not
fail to report, in the strongest terms, to the Lieutenant-General
commanding in Irefatid."

The TENTH' 1111.5- SARS god CORNET BATTIER.

In consequence of the statement of Cornet Haag, re-!
specting his treatment whilst in the kWh, the Marquis of
Londonderry, Colo•-el of the Regiment, addressed his
Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief on the subject,
which produced the following official communication from
the Military Secretary :
TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE MARQUIS OF
LONDONI/ERRY,
(Core.)
MY Loan, Uone Guards, March 22, 1824-
I have had the honour to receive, tied ley before the Commander.
in-Chief, your lertiship'g letter of the 11th instant, and I am di-
rected to say. that big Ronal Highs.'" is not surprised that the 1
statement ot Mr. Battier, wnieb appeared is several ['spent, should
have filled you • ith ariettiohment and indignation.
Hi. Royal Highness reiniote, however. that your Lonlship's let.
tel offers to him the opportunity of muting some observations upon
that statement, and of coaveying to at, the auch use as you may
thick tit to make of it, los %kir of Mr. Rattier's arent proceed. 1
ings, anti I will endeavour in execute his Rand Higlieess's hinnies
tions to that effect as briefly as the subjtet will admit, and without
entering into any murrrres r y detail.
Your Lordship is aware. that when Mr. Bartley applied for the t
exchange to the 11th ilesetrit, he produe-d testimonials of his pre.
vious conduct in the 3th Dragoon Omsds, and the 13th Boners,
which were wandered by his Royal' Hirt:tees perfeetiv re-isfactory.
These testimonials were Piped by LientecantsCetonal Gordon. of '
the bah lhagoon Unar.oe, Colonel Murray. sad Lieut.-CIA II
of the 111th Hussars, and they spoke. ait4oat ~core, of Isis qua-
' lifiattions as an officer and a gentleman.
Upon his joining the lthh Hussars, he ciperienced a reception
and a treatment front the officers forming the mess of thy corps,
which neither his apparent incapacity and unfitness fer the duty of a!
reginitne of cavalry, taw any el:caption !aim, to h.s manner ate[ tip. 1
pearance could justify, and which acre. nuron his representation,
censured in the ectongtet terms by the Coamitander-in-ehief, and
drew upon those coneerned the expression of his Royal Highness's!
unqualified disapprobation . The communication upon this subject
was made to Lord Comberinern, who was de sitcd to reprimand the!
officers, and to admonish them not to persist in a course which
would expose them to marks of more serious displeasure.
Before, however. my letter reached Lord Combenuere, the affi.
cm concerned had been convinced of the impropriety of their con-
duct, and had acknowledged their error t and although they may
not have felt inclined to place themselves upon a footing of easy or
familiar intercoutve with :Ur. Battier, it does not eppear that they,
ea a body, or as individuals, sebgequently aliimied to hint any eause
of complaint width °Dahl warrant further remonstrance, or call
for notice lutist higher authoeity, or which could provoke bittyto
" personal wiliness." On the contrary. sit Colgtihoun Gnat
stated, that Mr. Battier acquainted him that he and his friends
were satisfied with the manner is which his representations had
been met, and the whole affair arranged s ith his brother officers.
Reports were, however, nude by Colonel Sir George Quentin,
through Lord Ceinhermere and Sir Colquhoun Grant, of Ms. Bat-
tier's utter unfitness for the duties of a cavalry officer, and of the
improbability of his ever being sufficieraly improved, by drill or
instruction, to become capable of doing justice to his situation, or
to the regiment. These representations were afterwards confirmed
by a special report from Sit C. Grant.
Mr. Battier was, in consequence, told, by order of his Royal
Highness, that he had better remove front the Ilith Humus, by
miring to haft'-Cap ,or (as there was nothing in the reports made
which could affect his character tea Gentleman), with the option of
'purchasing a half-pay Lieutenancy of infantry, whenever an op.
portunity should offer.
To this Mr. Battier subscribed, and it was clearly understood
that be should quit a regiment and a branch of the service for which
he had been proved, and, its fact, had acknowledged himself to be
unfit, and in which he never would have been replaced, if his Royal
Highness had not been misled by the testimonial" of his previous
commanding officers.
Thus stood manna until the period of your Lordship's visit to
your regiment, and hoed Conibermeteg review of it.
Upon the occasion of the inspection of the regiment by Sir Col-
quhoun Great, on the 19th of November, Mr. Battier conveyed,
through Litetenant-Colom.l Taylor, his earnest entreaty to Sir Col-
qtthoun Gram, that be would not expose his innompeteney by ex-
hibiting him in the third dam of riding drill, and he again no:-
knowledgcl his unfitness for the situation he held.
Sir Colgilhoun Grant acquiesced in his request, and told him, in
the presence of Sir George Quentin a-d Lieutenant. Colonel Taylor,
that as be could net appear at the review, he would give him leave
of absence, of which lie might instantly at-nil himself; Mr. list.
tier seating at the same time that it would be unpleasant to him.
under these ci.-eurnstances, to remain with the regiment, and Sir
Colquboun Grunt, knowing that 31r. Battier was to be removed
from the 10th Ilan:tea, concluded that he wowed at once take his
leave—an impression which was confirmed by 31r. Baffler's tearing
the barracks in plain clothes. and ceasing to do any duty, or to
appear in uniffron, according to regulation.
Upon the 24t' November. when your Lordship inspected the
regiment in the morning, Mr. Battier did tan appear, and was re-
ported absent on leave, the official notification having been con-
veyed to him on the 23d, the lease having been given verbally by
Sir Colquhoua Grant from the 19th.
In the evening of the 24th, when your Lordship dined at the
mess, Mr. Battier thought fit Mau) to make his appearance as an
officer of the corps, and upon this occasion, the ciremnstaneui ac.
cuffed which form the subject of Mr. Battier 's letter to me of the
7th December, whieh he has published.
Upon receiving this letter, the Commander-in-ehiel ordered me
to desire teed Combermere to call upon Sir Geroge Quentin for his
reply to 3lr. Battier's complaint. and not being satigfieal with the
explanation therein given, he directed me subsequently to write to
your lordship, and to express his "'uprise and regret that you
should, by your proceeding on the 24111 November, have appeared
to sanction, and have actualiy sanctioned, a preview's course of
conduct on the part of the officers of your regiment which had
incurred his Royal Highness's .displeasure, and had been marked
by the exprrosion of his serious disapprobation.
Your Lorship's reply stated your enti.e ignorance of the proceed.
intro which had incurred his Rona Highness's displeasure, and of
the reproof conveyed to the Clifioars concerned; it denied many of
Mr. Battier's% assertiong, newt porticahwiv that which stated dust
you had tier:stencil to take steps with his !royal II ighnegit, the el.
feet of a inch would be .1 serimuly to injure hi. prospects in the
.Irmy, if he did not retire from the Mess, and it assigned, as a
reason for your proceeding, the feet previously aimed to you by Sir
ehltiehoun Grant, that he had five dale before given to Mr. Battier
leave to quit the Regiment, of which Mr. Battier had actually
availed himself by not attending any duty since the 19th, your im.
recision (as well as Sir eolgtihoun errant 's) being that he had left
the head-quarters of the regiment. This statement of your Lord-
ship's is corroborated by lair George Quentin, who was present at
your interview with Mr. Battier on the '2 Ithi

..........
His Royal Highness ordered me, in reply, to assure you that
your explanation was satisfactory, and to censure in strong terms
the conduct of sir George Quentin, in omitting to apprise you of
what had posses', and in suffering you to remain in ignorance of it
when you desired him to speak to 31r. Battier, and to prevent his
dining at the Mesa, adding, that his Royal Highness was confident
that if you had been duly apprised of the previous occurrences,
and of his Royal Highness's view of their, you would, in spite of
Mr. Battier's ill-judged and ill.timod appearance at the Mess.
have felt anxious to concur with his Royal Highness in checking
proceedings inconsistent with the principles of subordination, and
the acknowirdipal rule* of society, which therefore his Royal
Highness must condemn wherever they occur, and in maintatnow
that respect for superior authority, of which some Officers of the
Tenth had ',cat sight in the adoption of a litre of conduct this: had
drawn upo.t them a reproof of which they had acknowledg.l the
justice..

Haring given this general statement of the circumstances. as
detived troll: the official documents in my possession, I shall pros
teed, in obeiti.:nce to his Royal Rights's:Vs commends. to snake
sonic observations upon Mr. Uattier's statement, which iv are ape
peal to the feelings of the army and the public against the Com-
mar.der.in.Chief, whom he most unjustly and incorrectly accuses of
having disregarded his complaints. co: less than it is a lard upon
your Lordship, and upon the regimen, from which he has retired,
for the arownd purpose of resorting to such a course.
The first parts of it are hardly deserving of comae:it. Mr.
Rattier complains that the Comma:lcier-in-Chief had in private
visited the conduct of the officers of the inth with his censure
and reprimand, '• but had cot been pleased to publish throughout
the Army any manifestations of this displessure."—llis Royal
Highness conceives that he may sec his discretion in Coe manner
of noticing ally representation or appeal mad; to hint s:.t: ti.at
upon this occasion he adopted the course hest suited t., ,:iTatin-
stanct.s, such as indeed did produce the desired result. Ls muse
appear from the statement of facts I have given, and flu:-
tier's own admission.

Mr. Battier states, that while the Akers of the 10:h placed him
in Coventry, and withhtkl from him the marks of courtesy, which,
in civilized society, arc considered doe to n gentleman and a
stranger, each member of the corps observed the cautious policy
of shunning all risk or personal

Ile adm;is this. iciprep,cs the fceliog under let!ch Le quitted

the corps--a feeling of decided hostility—a feeling which leads him,
when he had crossed t'se water, and as soon as he had ceased to
bear a commission in it, to insult and defy, not one member of it,
'but the whole corps indiecriminately ; and yet this individual, who
would seem, from his own account, to have courted personal col-
lision," and who now discovers grounds for insulting a whole corps
!which had been denied to hint by " the cautious policy of each
I member of it," did not hesitate, very unnecessarily and very indis-
I evenly circumstanced as he was, to appear at the mess, after leave
of absence had been given to him in consequence of his entreaty to
!Sir Colmthoun Grant that he might not he exposed
.to ridicule.
It is reasonable to ask, what could be Mr. Battier's motive for
appearing. at the Mega at each a moment, and with feelings such as
he avows in his published statement ? \ Vete his intentions amicable
lor hostile? If amicable, his subsequent invectives would betray
strange inconsistency.; if hostile, ar.d supposed to he so from any
!previous expression in other qnarters, of those sentiments now pub-
hilted, 14 better justification could be fouLd for your lordship's ex-
elusion of him from the circle to which be sought admission.
After these remarks, his Royal Highness considers it wholly un-
necessary to notice the general reflections with which Mr. Battier
has favoured the corps of officers.
I proceed to 31r. Ilatticr's continents upon the Commander-in-
Chief's conduct. Ile states that, "in coosequence of your Lord.
ship reporting him unacquainted with his duty, and unfit for
cavalry service, his Royal Highness was pleased to take no notice
I of lint appeal, further than allowing him to purchase a half-pay
' Lieutenancy of the Ilth Dragoons."
I As .Mr. ;tattier thought ht to publish, without any previous pee-
-1 mission obtained from his Royal Highness, my letter of the 17th
February, which acquaints him that hts Royal Highness had more
than once expressed his disapprobation of the conduct observed to-
wards him by sons Officers of the 10th Homers, it may be pre-
owned that it was not from delicacy or discretion that he abstained
from publishing also my reply to his letter of tile 7th December, of
I which I now subjoin a copy, tor your lordship's information, and
from which it will appear that Mr. Battier has taken care to give
to the public so much only Its would serve his own purpose, and to
withhold Ow reasons assigned by his 'loyal Highness for not no..
dicing further what had passed.
I am directed to add that, however disposed to admit that Mr.
Bonier had expenenctd a treatment, while a Member of the 10th
Hussars, which was calculated to produce much soreness of feeling;
and however willing to allow for the impression under which he
quitted the corps, and even for the impression he may have enter-
, mined that his complaints had not met with the attention to which
! be considered them entitled,and which was in fact shewn to them—
Mr. Battier's publication &limited to his Royal Highness to be so
gross a breach of discipline, that his first intention was to have
recommended to his Majesty that he should be dismissed from the
'service; and I was therefore ordered, on the 13th Inst. to write to
him, and to desire he would state whether he was the author of it ?
But as thik publication, independently of the insult offered to your
Lordship, his late Colonel, and to the whole corps, contained also
comments upon Lis Royal Highness's conduct, which might he
pros. nmed to be personally offensive to him.. his Royal Highness
has abstained from following a conrse which a sense of duty to the
service would have otherwise prescribed, lest it might be supposed
that he had been influenced by feelings of personal irritation to-
wards an unfortunate and misguided individuaL
I am directed further to say, that his Royal Highness cannot
sanction your Lordship, or the Officers of your regiment, taking
any notice of Mr. Llattior's statement ; and to repeat, that you may
m,ke free use of this letter and the inclosure.

41;ve;A;.- --
(Signed)

H. TAYLOR.

• llorse Guards, January 13, 1824.
"Sir—Having laid before the Commander-in-Chief your letter'
of the Bth Deeriuber last, and having, by order of his Royal High-
ness, made a reference upon the subject to Lieutenant-General
Lord Comberinere, and to Lieutendat-General the Marquis of
;.ntlonderry, I am directed to acquaint you, that as his Royal
highness had already, in consequence of the report made some
time since, of your it/Minces for cavalry !service, expressed his in-
tendon of recommending you, when the opportunity should offer,
for the purchase of a Lieutenantcy of infantry ; he does not consider
It necessary to notice further what has passed in regard to you in a
regiment which you will not be called upon again to join, the mere
especially as it ►ppears, from the report of 31ajor-General Sir Col-
quhoun Grant, that previously to your appearance at the mots upon
the occasion which produced your complaint, you had been allowed,
at your own request, to absent yourself from the review of the 10th
Hussars, and had obtained leave of absence, of which you had
availed yourself so lay as any duty or appeatance on parade were
concerned. " I have, &c.

(Signed) '4 H. TAYLOR.

" To Cornet Rattier, 10th Harm.,
Thompson's Hotel, Hones-street."