The Sun.
London, England, 1827-02-13 00:00:00

tend in 1134, with that corps which disembarked at Lisbon in
1826 ? These were the last words I heard from the lips of his
Royal Highness. The Duke of Yotk had himself commanded a
British Array in Holland before he was raised to the office of Com-
mander-in-Chief, and when he came to it, he declared that nu
other Officer who might-hereafter command on foreign service
should be subjected to the same disadvantages that he laboured
under...--(Hear,hesee)...../io other but a man of professional
experience could trace the progressive steps by which this disci-
pline and efficiency had been effected in the- British army. Tc
do so it would be necessary to detail the several rules which have
been adopted and watched over with great attention, in order to 1
the correction of abuses and the supply of many defects in the British
Army ; the many regulations by which the welfare and comfort
of the soldier in the subordinate ranks of the Army were secured
with respect to his religious instruction, his duties on foreign ser-
vice, the education of his children, and the economy of his regi-
mental intercourse. To give effect to these would require profes-
sional knowledge ; but I do not think a lengthened allusion to
them necessary, I attribute the general effect less to the operation
of particular rules than to the influence of the more large and ex-
tended system which he adopted towards the troops. It is in the
example which the Royal Duke set to the Officers in his own
person, of gentlemanly and courteous attention to the wants of
the meanest soldier—in the stimulus which such an example
• leave them to do their duty—in the conviction which he made
every. man feel, that however low his station, justice would be
,dotie, and protection afforded him against oppression. In these
particulars, I say, and in these effects, are to be found the
manses of the Army being made that wonderful ma-
chine which, by regularity of movement, and submis-
sive obedience to authority, retains the energy which ever
distinguishes the soldier of a free State from the tools of a
despot...=-.(1-1ear.) In the thirty years that the Duke of
York tilled the situation of Commander-in-Chief—a long period,
comprising, Y believe, 10,000 days. Ido not exaggerate when I
'say, that there was not one of them which he passed without de-
,
szoting some part of it to the performance of his public duty.—
Never was there a letter received at the office over which he pre-
'a'ided, without being noticed, if it *as susceptible of an answer.—
If it contained a signature, the reply was, without delay, trans-
mitted to the proper address. And it ought to be stated, to the
teanntieef the deceased Duke, that the answer so sent was not a
'Mere dry, official communication, referring the party to some
:ntherdepartment, but that, upon every occasion, his Royal High-
meal showed an anxious desire to facilitate the despatch of business,
ialfhongh it might not be within his own department.—(Hear.)—
If the letter had no signature, but preferred a complaint, it was
not necessarily rejected because it was anonymous, but immediate
inquiry was made to ascertain whether the particular charge was
well or ill-founded. And upon every occasion of promotion in
the Army, I think I can appeal with confidence to the House it-
*elf, Whether there has not been auniversal wish here to do justice
"io the strict impartiality with which he discharged that most im-
portant part of his duty ; and I address myself more particularly to
'the Hen. Gentlemen opposite, whether they had had reason to
'cornpiain, that in any case, a man's political sentiments presented
etly bar to his receiving the reward of his merit in the Army.—
Olear.l-4 tun sure they will agree with me, that no objections
were made to a man's promotion from aeything like personal
hostility, and that his Royal Highness always showed an
earnest disposition to forget and overlook all associations
es connected with any claimant for reward, other than his
actual meritt ea- demerits. But, Sir, I do not conceive this
to be his highest merit. In th, administration of this high
office, 'tht exalted individual has not merely to guard
against the influence of personal prepossession, but he has to
7xeteise a reasonably jealous apathy with respect to the fame of
e.Hividuals.; for, if he suffers himself to be dazzled too much by
The eeiat of military glory derived from actual service, he may
he tempted to overlook altogether those others who, deprived of
the opportunities of distinguishing themselves, are panting in fo-
reign countries for such opportunities. Upon all the occasions
which the Duke of York had to bestow promotion, he acted with
impartial justice to all—not only to those who had merited dis-
tinction by their valour, but also to those who had shown a dis-
position, but had not had the means of distinguishing themselves;
and theheet proof which I can give you of his strict impartiality
is, to recite one or two facts. In 1825, when an augmentation
of the army took place, no Lieutenant, with a solitary exception,
was promoted who had not entitled himself by service. From
1810, I can state confidently that no favour was shown to any in-
dividual, with the single exception which I have stated, and that
was a case which can reflect no dishonour on the illustrious de-
ceased. One Lieutenant, whose standing was only from 1814.
had been promoted, but it was under these circumstances :—At
the battle of Waterloo this officer, though a subaltern, became in
command of his regiment, all his senior officers having been killed
upon the field. This was the only one promoted who was not
of the required standing ; and could it be said that it was
a case unworthy of notice ?—(Hear.)—With respect to the En-
signs the same impartiality was shown. In 1825 twenty-two
Captains received Majorities without purchase. The grant of a
'commission without purchase affords a great opportunity of show-
ing personal favour, but it could not be charged in a single one of
these instarets. Of the twenty-two Captains who received Majori-
t'ies wi:nout purchase in 1825, their average service was twenty-
si: years--and of these seventeen were spent in their particular re-
kiment. Sixteen Majors were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-
Colonel without purchase, whose average service was twenty-eight
years, fifteen of which they had spent in their own regiments.—
There never was an instance in which an officer had been promoted
'without 'purchase over the head of his senior, unless where this
letter, by some misconduct, had forfeited his claim to priority ;
end where the promotion was by purchase the officers of the same
ktgiment were first invariably consulted. The first commissions
were granted without purchase in 1825, and three-fourths of them
were given to the eons and relations of Officers in the Army and
Navy—to young men who had no other claim than that derived
from the services of those who had gone before them. I
thought it right, Sir, to state these facts, because the simple
truth is the highest honour to the memory of the deceased
buke. That his Royal Highness possessed singular advan-
tages for his high situation was beyond doubt. In the first
place, having been in the Army forty-six years, of which he was
thirty-two Commander-in-Chief, he had opportunities of watch-
ing over the progress of a vast portion of the officers. Many of
their persons, and the length of their services, were known to him,
and be could detail the circumstances under which their wounds
were received. I need not tell the House that it was no small
consolation to the soldier to know that there is an eye which
constantly watches his progress, notes his services, and gives him
credit for his merits, for such a sense must greatly lessen his pain
and enhance his exertions. The service has derived many and
Most substantial advantages from his administration ; but perhaps,
of all, that is the most substantial which gives the soldier the con-
viction, and consequently the satisfaction and confidence, that his
merit, if he has any, will not be overlooked.—(Hear think,
therefore, that the House will be disposed to mix up with its ex-
pression of condolence upon this occasion, a repetition of that
sense of his Royal Highness's services which it has made more
than once before. Ido not know that it is necessary to offer
any additional observation to induce the House to acquiesce in the
proposal for this Address. Some persons may think that
all reference to personal qualities, upon occasions like this
is unnecessary, but no man can read the history of -the
monarchy of this and other countries without acknow-
ledging how far the personal character of the Sovereign influences
the manners of the age, and how much they strengthen the claims
of Royalty upon the people. It would be difficult to find an in -
stance in which there had not been exhibited, not only by the
Duke of York, but by every member of his illustrious family, the
warmest• dispesition to ptomote every charitable object, to enter
into every benevolent enterprise, and to contribute, not only by
their money, bat by their time, to the completion of these pur-
poses...4Hesse)...-We might all benefit by the example of these il-
Instrietwawarsons. 'Every one knows how painful it is, after a
long and-close applicatioq to business, to be called upon to attend
these Meetings; but I ask any one who has ever had occasion to
apply to the Duke of York in that way, whether they did not re-
ceive a ready answer, and whether he did not comply with a
cheerfulness too cordial to be put on, and which could only flow
from an innate goodness of heart ?—(Hear, hear. ).—Sir, I shall
here close the few observations with which I thought it necessary
to introduce this addreitto the throne. I trust that I have ad-
hered to the Intentions mrhich 1 expressed, of confining myself ,
strictly to the truth, awl otas
have abstained from every exag-
geration unsuited to the escoasiets. or to the character of him we
mourn—l- have-••"etUdiMISIY avoided everythingwhich •
have the effect-of
would or
Pronloting.angsy feeling,
una-
nimity so desirable cua this occasion, , abstainmarr from every
the
topic which would intake any ma, refuse.ine
his acquiescencee
in
y
this vote en the one hand ; and en the other, I disdain to take a
paltry advantage of the sentiments known to be entertained by
the deceased Duke, with a view to enhancing his memory with
the admirers of, and advocates for such sentiments.—(Heari)—l
am confident, that without reference to his political sentiments,
the
whole of this House will concur in this Address, which ex-
presses. no other feeling than that of sincere lamentation for the
loss of an illustrious Prince, who administered a high commis_
Sion with: great attention, great justice, great forbearance, and
singular.address ; who had improved the discipline, end raised
the character of the Army, and whose name will therefore be as..
sociatedswith the history of the brilliant successes of our Army
to the end of time.--(Hear, hear !)—Sir, I believe no man,
whatever his political sentiments may be, will refuse to partici-