The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-29 00:00:00

EVENtNG 147, DITION

men, and mere particularly •from that of officers still
connected with the service. Btu in what one point has
Captain Reynolds forfeited the eeem and respect of
g
gentlemen or of ofii:rers of the army ?
I have no hesitation in pronouncing that there is but
one general feeling pervading the army or society at
l arge of cordial sympathy' towards Captain Reynold!,
and that there is not one individual in the service that
would not heartily grasp him by the hand, and trium-
phantly testify to the world, that though he was impru-
dent in this one case, yet that his honour and character
ever
as a gentleman remain as unimpeachable as they
did during a period of fifteen years of service. Had it
not been for the curse of the re-infliction on the service
of the Earl of Cardigan, who had given such evident
proofs of his total unfitness for command, and of de
we have well-founded reasons to believe Lord Hill was
fully aware, a young and promising officer would have
continued an ornament to that profession which he had
graced daring fifteen years.
What has my Lord Cardigan to exhibit during his
holiday career ? He, forsooth, once left the country toe
proceed to India, to have the honour of bringing hour
°1:13
the regiment he now, unfortunately for the service,
mends, fully knowing that, as the regiment was under
orders for " home," his absence would be but a few
months. And this is the man that presumes to allude
to officers that have served in India with a conteinnt°lll
sneer.
There is in the service a corps that yield to 00081:
efficiency, commanded by an officer known t° '
whole cavalry, and probably by the army generally,
one of the most promising officers our cavalry Psi
sesses—talented—gifted with the instinct of comina.a._
—and who will (should the country ever require bit
services in the field) find that every man and ofie.;
in his regiment will repose that confidence in be
which leads to victory, and which our Noble Dukel?!,^
so well how to inspire into all ranks of his invinin:
army. In this regiment, my Lord Cardigan, but
true, served till he arrived at the rank oft ajor ;
what opportunity lad he of acquiring
twiny of a regiment, or following the bright es°ffiPb
eat
(be
exhibited to him and every officer in that regi His n 3
the talented individual at the head of it
?
was then Lord Brudenell) presence with the regimes,
was like " angels' visits," few and far between ; f
Par
°l4
was in Parliament, he availed himself of bis
a consid.etro
liamentary duties to absent himself during
able portion of the time he ought to have devoted
the interior ecol;
learning the duties, feelings, and what has to be sou
nutted to by an officer in the subordinate ranks. Me!
and interest pushed him on ; he purchased promotioonthoe
the unattached, and changed back on full paY 10t •eg
regiment again by paying the difference, thus ate
over the heads of officers previously senior to him;aity,
eventually, having pushed himself up Thepe majority
to
loineeaovafitlehde
thwimo smelafjoorfs thea peearrmailsrsyionr,e to ac r
the unattached lieutenant-colonelc ! gear., S
All this took place in the short space of X
period during which very few, under the Inclit'oool,
able circumstances, with the command of interest, In
.11
or
.having distinguished themselves, arrive at efc_
majority ; in fact, it is known that six years' servic%i
established before which an officer cannot beepedrornot "a
to be Major. The Earl of Cardigan enr tassel
DCoereneemtbMerafyi, 61,8138,3.4, wHaes
IperftomaootyetdhioLgieutenont'C° °A* '-
idea behind him of his qualities for combmutanadf3id"turbr ebrerelu.
giment in which he first served, the Bth 110"ars•ma°Y
gimenta,llowe
cent
is an anecdote respecting him perhaps known to
t.og
in the service, but which has left a laughable and 1'6.10,4
iwmhpernesstihoen
roefgliimimentin
wasthe regiment. d On one °ecti:l,-..
quarters, if I remember rightly, at Diigtindi
quarters at Armagh (but the names of the stations.a,,,
indifferent, the fact related being otherwise substanto.')
correct), the Lieutenant-Colonel, the Hon. G• 13' ce,
lyneux, had gone on temporary leave of OW.
whereby the command devolved on the Sen;or gaPr'
who was then present at head-quarters. a to
The senior Major, while in command, !laPPee rev'
suffer from a slight indisposition, areikla,nad,od eldri;
dered it advisable for him to ken his roomthi thong
r itta
ftel;
days, in no ways incapacitated him from carryings lizv
duties and official business of the regiment. Tbiftsh;o)
indisposition happening to reach the cars of mY k
be
Lord Brudenell, who commanded at out-quartersci
to
took it into his head that he was thereby instifieadd
quit his detachment without leave or author
proceed at once to headquarters to assume the
eithereu
mend of the regiment. The officer in commaadi tor
from a wish to humour Lord Brudenell's pencheil,:gd-
from a want of sufficient firmness, permitted his of
ship to indulge himself in a " field-day," at the rr
the year when all that have served in the cava'Ar'lioa
cognise the injurious effects on the coats and eelw„lout.
of" the troopers" of unnecessarily knocking thee'
That field-day will long be remembered in the l'OP,ct is
while an officer or man then in it remains ; butt Lord
notqwcuiatarhrdt
without
eugrttasl
Cardigan
eopa
wascuyi
erapi
homo purpose. e. The. error in judgment °I t
tipaierueteshuoommrimitnyag,nadtnodoflectahoivrneeirnehggisimodepenti.oell:ole,:ao
When the efficieat Lieutenant-Colonel, who 1". t
at
distinguished the
headof
pthosetr)egriemteunrnt
e(dautdolorensgummaeyhhiseci:_appod;
_ to_
his surprise and indignation may be conceived, hit', 00
faithfully described. Suffice it to say, he inflicte`.,o
Lord Brudenell a reprimand that ought° of itself to of
been a sufficient check upon his fallacious judgraedt;ir
the rest of his military career, and despatched
with
back to his detachment (to use a homely phrase)
a flea in his ear."
I cannot close this letter without expressing the Pitilise
sure I, and many that I have conversed with 0°
sub ject, feel at noticing a disposition to notify by
',be
scriptions for a testimonial to Captain ReYo°lds' bY
sympathy of the public in his misfortune. and therchr
to show that the world at least consider him still as
nourable man and a gentleman.
When 1 learn that a Committee (or any recogoisileat
board of management), has been appointed for raits'
:ind collecting subscriptions for the above °big
ri
shall with much satisfaction give my pecuniary
cc)nt
hution thereto.
I am, Sir, your obedient, humble servant, rs,"
A RETIRED HUSSAR AND AN " °LP 8
Junior United Service Club, Oct. 28.