Star.
London, England, 1827-02-03 00:00:00

MONUMENTS TO THE DUKE OF YORK.

The Provisional Omitting/I:7bn hese hadertakea the ge-
iget el the preparatory Tem M.,* taken previous to hbiding Is
folk Meeting ea -the 'tibias 01 keeling a National Tostimedill
to tie memory of the late C,onsansder.in-Chiefs mkt yesterday et
the Freemasons HA Several letters remind front some of the
Aht personages la the kingdom ba mew* M iontatirleatidos from
the Magi,* Sittrelt#ll, pia taws. were read. Among when who
deed their williagnees so become memberi of the General Cont-
i", worr.-11se Oakes of Portland and Wellington, the Marquis
of LondoodernE..the .KM of Chatham. Lord George Beresfurd,
Lord Rolle, Sit W. Corti!, General.Maitland, and W. A. bl'Ein-
hos, Esq. F.A.S. The draft of some Resolutions to be proposed
to the General Meeting, which will be held in about three weeks,
wis also read.
EGINBURGH,II6I. I.
Yesterday a• numerous Meetinji was held in the
Waterloo Tavern, of. Noblemen, Lrentlemen, Military
Officers, &c. called by public advertisement. to consider
of entering into a subscription for erecting in Edin-
burgh x Monument or Statue in memory of his late
Royal Highness the Duke of 'York.
• *maw these present we observed the Earl of Elgin, the Mar-
os or queetaberry, the Lord Provost, Lord R. KerAllon. Gen.
-itawasr, Colonel Hants p. Sr John Homo of Pinkie, General
Dog, Leos General Sir!. Hope, Sir J. Oswald, Durham, Ma:-
,e,ll, Stirling, Mir John Dakrytnple, Sir George Leith, Sir S. Beek.
work, Stratton, Ryall, and M' Kensk ; Colonels Loraine, Oswald,
Lathan. M' Elio, Mill, as* Walker; Admiral Sir P. Durham,
Ikkrl Nodal, Esq. of Anthers, Dr. M'Laggan, Dr. Short, and
mini ether Officers In his Mallory's service.
On the motion of the Lord Provost, Lieut. General
the Earl of Elgin was called to the Chair by acclamation.
Lad &our said, that before enteting on the busi-
ness of the Meeting, he trotted they would believe him,
that although he had entered heartily into its object the
first moment it had been suggested to him, yet he had
rot the slightest conception that such an honour would
be dont him, as to propose him to fill the Chair. But
devoted and attached as he had been throughout his
' whole life to the illustrious Prince, he could not decline
that honour; although he felt that it might be better
filled by many individuals of rank prearnt, whether
military or civilian ; and more particularly by a Noble
Friend near him (the Marquis of Queensberry). In order
to put them in possession of the object of the meeting, the
Noble Lord read the first resolution. His Lordship pro-
ceeded. This was the object of the meeting, and which the
Committee had aut'iorited him to submit to their consi-
deration. It was intended to comprehend alt classes civil
as well as military. The great and leading feature in the
public life of his Royal Highness, was his long and able
administration of the affairs of the wary. Ile was sur
rounded here by many who, from their own knowledge
and experience of that administration, could well trace
to it that high sense of honour, those true principles of
discipline and good order which had become. under his
Royal Highness, the characteristics of the British army.
...Par, hear, hear) —From the intimate relation in
which be (Lord E.)had stood frith his Royal Highness,lse
I could state his conviction that it was not fortuitously
that he had entered on the great work of reforming the
British army:His Royal Highness had passed many years
inGermany,where he had studied the military profession.
While there, he went to Potsdam, at that time the great
military school of Europe, where Frederick the Great,'
that able judge of military tactics, after with his acute'
eye watching the progress of the Duke of York, did
pronounce regarding him, that he had seen no Officer
so conversant in those leading principles which were
essential to the formation of an army—(Hear).—What
he had now to state was partly connected with his owe
history. He happened to be British Minister at Brum
sets whistler Duke of York came to that country,. Anti,
all who had . paid any attention to the events of that
pet iod must recollect the trilling armament be had then
under • his-command, compared with the weight and
respotuibility=which attached to him as a Prince of Eng-
land—or to the scale which England then and always
field in the coalitions against tevolutionary France—an
army,he would venture to say. not more disproportioned
in point of numbers to those of the allies aho took the
field along with his Royal Highness, than it was in point
of discipline and military habits. and from the want of.
which it was painfully paralysed in vigour and activity.
Bat his Royal Highness's knowledge of what a tlritish
army then was, and at the same time of the elements
be had tit/operate upon, formed a powerful excitement
,to call forth all his energies, so .to organise the army
and its equipments, that no future Commander might
suffer what he bad done. nor the power of England be
so inadequately put forth. But his Royal Highness's
feelings and anxieties were not confined to his own dis-
appointments. He (Lord E.) spoke from his own know.
ledge. While he was overwhelmed with these weighty
considerations, his warns and ardent patriotism was
moused by the discovery that his allies were then pie-
paring insidious practices 'against him, and that he
could depend only on his own forces, which every Gen.
damn connected with the army must recollect were
greatly inadequate to contend with the overpowering
numbers opposed to him. The headquarters of the
Austrian army was then at Tournay. Having been then
successful in opening a passage into France, his Royal
Highness conceived, and with the concurrence of several
of the Augriais Officers, proposed, a forward movement.
His Lordship then went along with his Royal Highness
to the head quarters of the Austrian army, to propose
this movement. It so happened, that while in the
Quartermaster General's Office, the charts were utast-
. vertently *hewn to them, in which the retreat of the
Anglian army was marked oat in detail, and which

. was actually pet in execution, and occupied a period of •
sit weeks. 'What mtist have been the feelings of his
Royal Highness, these who knew the Mike could only •
-appreciate, on seeing his whole hopes of the campaign
thus fiustrated, the great military barrier against France
thrown down, and Europe cloned, without even a
blow being struck,. to be inundated with all the
. horrors of the French Revolution. Under such a sue-
- cession olmisfortunes, and left with such a small force,
he had seen his Royal Highness oppressed with griefs
which he would have thought it impossible for man
to sustain. •• He had seen him rendered utterly in-
capable of utterance. But he bad never sera him,
even under these circumstances, receive an official
dispatch that was not instantly answered without em•
batrassment•=all the movements of the army were
carried on, •and important dispatches written, with that
ability and characteristic perspicuity which marked all
' his correspondew—(Hear.) His Royal Highness poss.
• eeszed•a clear and c saspreheasive judgmsnt—a prompt
and easy decision--combined with an innate candour
. knd sincerity that never forsook him. In private life he,
added the charm of the most engaging cordiality—and,
&here was another feature in his. character,-which must
fare • been observed by all who knew him, namely,
a Llegree of *modesty, almost a withdrawing from the
' medic due to his own exertions, and which gave a
eAtnp cf props iety to the measure now proposed. His
• merits rte e engraven en the hearts of the people
at' ation ; and in proportion u they felt them,

• it was their duty to forward such a patriotic and public
'measure was now suggested, to rescue from oblivion
those merits, *thigh thelananaraing Alicia? of his own.
excellent mind never 'gratis' have songht—(fieeig). If in
our part of the ltittidom wirarere eager to testify,
our respeet and gratitude for the meinory of his, late'
Royal Highness, ample reasons would he found in those
recollections of the progress of- his able administration
which prevailed. Ail acknowledgkd how much he had
done to gratify our national pride. They must all
recollect the great glory which his Royal Highness had
thrown around the memory of an Abercromby, a Hope-
toun, and a Moore—(Hear) and the lustre he had shed
on the names of a Baird, a Lynedoch, a Dalhousie, and
many others near and Ever to them. There was not,
he was sure, in Scotland, a soldier, or'an-cifficer, or a
regiment, who would not concur in bearing testimony
to his Royal Highness's unwearied kindness, impar-
tiality, and attention to, the claims ind the welfare of
all. The military were the peculiar objects of his care
—and he was sure the public and our military country-
men of Scotland, would heartily concur in acknowledg-
ing with gratitude the sense they entertained of his
merits. His Lordship concluded by moving—
" That a Statue or Monument he erected in Edinburgh to per-
petuate the memory of Ms Royal Highness the Duke of York, and
that a subscription' be immediately entered into to defray the ex-
penses of whatever may be decided upon by the Committee."

The LORD PROVOST, in rising to second the Resale-
don. observed, alter what had been so eloquently Mated
by the Noble Chairman, of the invaluable services, and
of the public and patriotiC Virtues of the lamented !Nike,
although it is the natural, lay the envia►le prOvinc4of
his brethren in arms to take the lead in.ehis tributtoof
affection and of gratitude to a memory so justly dear
to every Briton, he felt. and he was proud to feel, that
they would be joined by all classes and by all rank( of
the people, in recording to future ages the distinguished
excellence of a Prince, to whose noble, zealous, and
impartial administration of the high and important
office committed to his charge, the glory and welfare
of our country is so deeply indebted. As Chief Magis-
trate of this City, which is destined to be the depository
of so honourable and proud a memorial to that 111us-
' trious Person, it well accorded with his feelings, as it
did with his duty, to give every support and assistance
to an object so noble and so worthy—and he well knew
that these sentiments would be echoed by his colleagues
in the Council. He rejoiced to see the subscription
was to be open to civilians, and he was sure it would be
most eagerly embraced.
The liosolotion moduli carried unanimously.
Sir Jona OswALD claimed the privilege of an old
soldier, of expressing his admiration of that system
which had been introduced by his late Royal Highness,
into a service to which he (Sir Johns had from his earliest
youth been devoted; and he would use the freedom of
adverting to the circumstances which had led the Bri-1

tish atmy from a state, he would not say of disgrace, i
but of disrepute, to a station of pre-eminence, which
threw far behind them the armies of every nation in I
the world—(Harr).—Subsequent to the American war
the soldier was ill paid; the Officers equally ill treated,
with loads of arrears running up to an indefinite period
—so mach so, that in every march and every move-
ment they made, they were so cramped, that, unless
assisted by opulent friends, the spirited and gallant
Officers moved through the country like prisoners.—
The army in those days was a powerless machine;
but there was still in it that latent fire, which the
Gallant Prince, whom they now deplored, had since
fanned into a dame, which bad illuminated sad pro.
tected the world —(ffent; hear).--Arthe breaking
out of the Revolutionary war, the British army was in
that state so admirably described by Sheridan in one of
his excellent farces, where he makes one of his charac-
ters exclaim-46 Bring out that convicted thief, now fit
for a soldier"—(A laugh). In those days, when all
the crimps in the aorld were employed to recruit our
troops; when all the jails were cleared for this purpose,
Falstaff s description of his regiment was a mere joke to
those who were brought forward. We had then Cap-
tains in leading strings, Majors weeping over their por-
ridge, and Colonels who 64 never set a squadron in the
field, nor knew any more of the division of a battle
than a spinster"--(A laugh). With such an army
the Duke returned from the Continent, where he bad
learned, by bitter experience, that it wanted all the prin.
ciplesot cohesion—that it was ineffectual in the field,and
mote formidable to its friends than its fees. The Duke of
York, when he assumed the command of this army,
evinced a troly British spirit. There was not wanting
people who told him be must do away entirely the
British system—he must Germanise it. But his Royal
Highness knew better. AU he did was British : -all he
was anxious to do was to foster the British spirit. He
regulated all ranks—he conferred upon superiors great
power,but he at the same time prevented the abuse of that
power. He established the principle, that no man should
obtain or retain command who was not found capable of
performing the duties. Those who were not were displaced.
He removed from the service those who were ineffi-
cient, with a firm but tender hand. It was a painful
duty to himself; but he knew that it was a duty he
owed to hi. Swereign and his country—and he per-
. formed that duty. In the year 1799 his Royal High-
, ness adopted a measure which he (Sir John Oswald) had
alWays held as one which had been the salvation of

the country, and had secured the peace of Europe—
he alluded to the recruiting of the army from the
militia. He could never forget that from that mo-
menethe character of the British army was entirely
,changed.—From that moment a. fine body of British
youths were placed around the veteran standards of
the army ; and he himself had the pleasure of seeing
a battalion cif two hundred and forty men stretched
out into the lengthened line and deep column of
fourteen hundred. This was the measure that first
gave efficiency to the 'British army. In chusing the
(liters of his staff, he had shewn his penetration in
discovering those most capable of performing their
duties. He (Sir John) had always held that wise men
only chose wise ministers. This was a saying of an old
Save:eign of this country. It was true that those who
executed the commands of others, were always the
better of being 'looked after, and of :knowing that they
acted under the eye of a vigilant arid able master. The
Duke of York, by the measutes he adopted for asca-
taming every detail, gave an impulse to the exertions
of all his officers, who knew also that be was never
backward in rewarding their merits. He had also
raised the morals of the army, and had engrafted on
the troops those sentiments of religion which made
them brave men in the field, and valuable in society.'
His exertions was not confined to thCelicouragement
of schools for tLe higher officers. Witness those
asylums which he had instituted for the orphans
of soldiers, and which he watched over with more
than paternal feelings: •He appealed to many.present,
, vrhe must have known the long and anxious days

the Royal Duke had paw.' with his Majesty's
'Ministers. and the calm and indefatigable zeal he then
clieplaiddato obtain the tett% hseitad in vreetoshich
nothinibut hts il/2talen end influence could 'bat* carried.
thiongt. After the Anxious hours spent in this employ.
rent, his Royal Highness, regardless of personal fatigue,
in his audiences at the Horse Goards, reetrieett rut well
the Ensign as the first Duke in the realm—refusing
none to approach him who applied en their own behalf.
or with any suggestion which they considered might be
for the good of the service. ' Along with this be might
also appeal to many present, bow often they had seen
gliding into the presence of the Royal Duke the vene.
rable mother inquiring for her lest son--the widow
weeping for hir hushand—and the destitute orphan
for a father. AU these found sympathy, regard, or
protection. in the benevolent feelings of the Royal
Duke. and retired with enlightened countenances,
offering ap prayers to Heaven for blessings on the
head of their protector. for benefits bestowed upon
them—(Hear, hear). His Royal Highness lived in the
hearts and affections of a large family, for he considered
the Army his family. He had left among them a cba-
ratter of father of the fatherless, the widow's help, and
the orphan's stay. Levies hope (said Sir Joha) that his
vittues have ascended to Heaven, where they would
receive the reward of a -life of active virtue and pure
beneficence—tHeer, hear.)
Dr. MACLAGOAN said, that after the.eloquent and
gratifying statements made by Lord Elgin, and the
distinguished persons who bad address* the meeting,
it might appear presumptuous in so bitmble an jade.
vidual to occupy their nutrition ; but belonging to a
department of the service which, though leis immedi-
ately connected`with the late lamented Commander in
Chief, had so many opportunities in the discharge of
their dirtier to observe the effects of his adnainistra.

tion, he trusted he would be excused in expressing
what be knew in the m•dical department of the
army, as to thcimportant benefits his Royal Highness
had conferred on the service. The able and intelligent
Director-General of the Medical Department, and all
those medical officers who had most experience in the
service, bore a willing testimony to the kind support
they had ever received from the Duke of York, io the
discharge of their duty, as well as to the improvement
in the health and efficiency of the army, from his judi-
cious plans and regulations, by which the comforts of
the soldier had been so much increased, his moral charac-
ter raised, and his discipline improved, and by which the
power of the British army had been so much strength.
coed and their fame exalted. From their professional
duties, the medical officers had frequent intercourse with
the humble ranks of the army, who from wounds or

disease, either had, or sepposi4 they bad; additional
claims on the bounty of their country; and ethers in

humble life, from the death of relatirins, were making
inquiries atter their pay or effects; and the prompt-
ness, kindness, and humanity, with which their applica-
tions were granted or answered, greatly added to the
value of success, aid mitigated the pain of disappoint-
ment. It was this kindly feeling and attention tawards
the humblest individuals, sad which had pervaded the
whole department under his Royal Highness, which,
made the Duke's name a tower of strength to the army.l
and caused all ranks to regard him not only with respect
as their Commluider in Chief. but with deep affection
and gratitude as their guardian, protector. and friend.
It was no less gratifying to observe, that while such
was the feeling of the British army. it was the feeling
also of the British nation; and from the sympathy so
generally mani&sted on the death ofthe Debi of York,
he could not doubt that all classes of society Would join
in the proposed tribute of respect to his memory.
Major Dolmas, Superintendent of the Scottrih Naval
and Military Academy, then addressed the Meeting
nearly as follows Although the meeting of this day
assumes very much the melancholy character of condo-
lence, yet we ought also tarejoice at having so favour-
able an opportunity to express our unanimous and sin-
cere feelings of heartfelt regret for the great loss we have
sustained, and our eagerness tp pay the last tribute of
respect to the memory of our late much beloved Com-
mander in Chief, whose great name will remain enrolled
in the annals of history, long after the monument which
we propose to erect shall be mouldered into dust.—
(Hear, hear, hear.) He was, indeed, the soldier's
friend, and most of us assembled can bear testi-
mony to some favour conferred upon himself, and
all fondly recollect the kindness with which they
have at different titnes been received by his late
Royal Highness. When we consider the greatly improv-
ed state of the Army,the loss appears almost irreparable.
On former occasions when an erpeditioa was sent
abroad, it was necessarily composed of soldiers drafted
from one corps to another, and made up of detachments
of volunteers, and of officers without experience or mili-
tary education, unacquainted with their men, and con-
sequently serving without that feeling of mutual con&
dente in each other, so essentially necessary to command
success. Let us now view the promptitude with which
a branch of the army is dispatched on foreign ser-
vice, even in time of peace, and properly attribute
the praise of this great and favourable change, where
it is most justly due—to the great military talents
and watchful perseverance which guided his late
Royal Highness in is high and important duties. Nor
should we forget those excellent institutions, the
Royal Military College, and the Military Asylum, foe.
tered and protected by him; he also upheld and
"ported the fund for the Officers widows and orphans,
and it may be justly said, that be' made the walow's
heart rejoice, and dried the orphan's tear. He ensured
regularly educated officers for the service, whilst tbs
soldier's children were instructed, clothed, and fed. By
the orders of his Royal Highness, the worn-out soldier
was regularly provided for. and had no longer to dread
the want of subsistence in his old age, nor left " to beg
the bitter bread of life through the realms his valour
sawed" No; was an appeal of distress ever anode to
him in vain. Duriag the late illness of his Royal High-
ness, he provided for all the aged Captains, and his
last struggle was made, (whilst the hand of death was
upon him) to obtain the promotion of all the old and
deserving subalterns in the British army ; and I cannot
better conclude, than by using the words of Mak-
'peat—

" He was indeed a goodly Prince. •
He was a nun. Horatio,
Take him for all in all,
Ws shall sot look upon his like make."
The Caatuur said, the manner of collecting the sebeeription
was deemed by the Committee a matter of didlculty and delicacy.
Being aware of that aniversal trennial= of red will which mined
towards kis late Royal Highness, the Committee were peculiarly
amines that no ides skald ri abroad, that there waa any Wended
to ended* civilians fray auliscribio, It was tree that the military
was the class by whom the subscription was to be opened, bat It
would not be confined to them.
Drone, of Arniston, bard to numeral that he bad re-
' edged artivority from .bis Melds rebailos, Lord SWAIM, sod she

•

from Lord Atercronsby. to juin their names to any altbseelption
that might be entered loco, and to impress their WOMB. CORM-
moos In the abject proposed. Lard Abeveromirys ha peetionixt
had wished to pet dews Ms name fora eery muddiest* atom ;
bet restricted as the soltecrielemsdlwereee, by the reeelodons.of
the Meeting, be (Mr. Dias44'
_course Wahl* &pub-
scriptioos thew Nibletbetto to sent•Umited.
Sir Jona Heim, G.C.H. raid, kit bad been requested by his
brother. the Lord President, to express his regret, that in eassee-
pre of as 'important nese which detained Mm in the Greet of
ea, be mold Dot be present at the Meeting ; and to for
himself eadlireshrma their couserenee and anxiety to iraa
•
la the ebjsop fee which it was assembled.
Lord anupor Kea was aotheeired by the dlgrgds of Bose to
express bit Weal en-Operation end wishes for the . sueito of the
1111WillitfIL
Colonel Ramsay said he had received a letter (rat his Grace
the Duke of Gordon, multed in similar terms; and audimplaing
him to subseribe is the name-of his Grace, and also in thSt .1 Din
Ma. the Marquis tif Hind!: •
The Marquis of Qoamtenitaar moved the thanks of the blearing
to the Earl of Elgin far his undoes la * Chair. The Noble •Ilar-
quis begged aise to take this Ippertanky to state Ids concurrence
la every seatesce which bad bees expressed by the Noble Lord
and Gallon Baronet. This Union wee seconded by Sir John Dal.
ern*. and carried by .
The Loss rawer: asweed the Thanks of the Meeting to Cpionel
Ramsay. for the great eaertioas he bad displayed on the subject of
the Meeting; which meshes was warmly seconded by Sir John
Oswald, and carried with dueller testiairmiviat applause.
blest of the Noblemen and Gendemen present haying entered
their named on the subsalpdon Bar the Menial aeliallifed•

SHIPWIti

YARMOdiriimaar 22.
Friday night this coast was rusted by a most tre-
mendous gale from E.N.E. that at once caused the
most fearful apprehensions for the isnmerous vessels at
anchor is these Roads. The preventive coast gcard
(who patrol the beach all night), actuated by *Wye*
'of humanity, as well as performing the orders given to
them, " to afford the most prompt assistance in cases
of thipureck, and to exert themselves for the preserva-
tion of those on board stranded vessels," did, with a
seal and alacrity that is above all praise, immediately
convey
,to the beach Captain Manby's hfe apparatus
under their charge. Scarcely had this service been
performed, when four vessels were observed to drive;
shortly after to part from,,their anchors, anJ quickly to
be stranded on the beach. The one appearinglo be in
the most dangerous situation, was its attended to rand
a rope connected with a shot, immediately thiosin by
a mortar over the vessel for establishing a communica-
tion, ready to apply in whatever manner the nature of
the case might require. A similar communication Was
also made with another brig for the like purpose; but
the vessels driving high up, and the tide fast falling, no
further use was required for the apparatus. Captain
Onslow, R.N. commanding the coast guard, his Lieu.
tenant, Mr. Eyton, the Preventive me, with that in.
mefid and highly deserving ii
man Mr: Denny (ctionwl.
der of the life-boat) and his praiseworthy crates wete
foremost in the suit, and using every exertion to Wring
the people from the stranded vessels.
MENNIPIEMIEIM