Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-07


most distinguished at head quarters, ana mos'
certain OF promotion. Thus taste tor study
ing mathematics anl calculations appiicaoie 70
war was gradually Introduced into the army
carried by some officers 10 agreat length, whi'c
a perfect acquaintance with The routine OF inc
6eld-day was positively demanded from every
officer in the service as an Indispensable quail
6cation.
His ROYAL Highness also introduced spe-.
cies of moral discipline among the offlcers OF
our army, which has had the highest consequent
ces ON their character. Persons OF the old
school of Captain Plume and Captain Brazen,
men who swore hard, drank deep, bliked trades
men, and plucked pidgeous, were no longer al
lowed TO arrogate character which they could
only support BY. deep oaths aud ready swords.
If tradesman, whose bill was unpaid by an
officer, thought proper to apply to The Horse
Guards, the debtor received letter from mead
quarters, requiring TO know if there existed any
objections 10 the account, and Falling IN render
ing a satisfactory answer; he was put on stop
pages until the creditors demand was satisfied.
Repeated applications ofthis kind might endan-
ger the officers commissions; which was then
sold for the payment Of his creditors Other
moral delinuuencies were al the same time adj
veried 10; and, without maintaining an inquls-
i,orial s,rictness over the officers, or taking too
close pee lion of the mere gaieties aud loliies
Of youth, a complaint Of any kind, implying
de parture from the character OF gentleman
and man OF honour, was instantly inquired IN
TO by the Chief, and The delIn-
quent censured or punished, as the case SEEM
ed to require. The army was thus like tamil
ly under protection Of an indulgent father, who,
willing 10 promote merit, checks, with time
~ irown, the temptations to license and extra
yagance.
The private soldiers equally engaged the at
ten,ion Of his Royal Highness. In the course
OF his superintendence Of the army, military
dress, the most absurd in Europe, was altered
for one easy and comfortable for the men, and
suitable to the hardships they are exposed to in
actual service The severe and vcxatious rules
exacled about the tying of bair, and other lri-
fling punclilios (Which had been found some
times TO goad troops into mutiny,) were abol-
ished, and strict cleanliness was substituted Tor
a Ho,tentot head dress Of tallow and -FOUR
The pay of the soldier was augmented, while
care was at the same time taken, that il should,
as far as possible, be expended in be,,ering his
food and extending his comforts. The slight
est complaint on the part of private sentinel
was as regularly inquired into as il ii had been
preferred by General officer. Lastly, the use
Of the cane Ga brutal practice, which our Off
GERS borrowed from the Germans) was entirely
prohibited, and regular corporeal 2unishmenis,
by the sentence OF Court Martial, have been
gradually diminished
If, therefore, we find in the modern British
Officer more Interrogation, more regular course
Of study, deeper Acquaintance with the prin-
ciples Of his profession, and greater love for
its exer,ions-f We find the private sentinel
dischaI ging bis duty with mind unrmbittercd
by petty vexations and regimcnial exactons,
con sCious Of immunity from caprcious violence,
and knowing where to appeal If he snstains in
iury-if we find in all ranks OF the army d love
of their profession, and capacity OF matching
themselves with the finest troops which Europe
ever producec-to the memory of his Royal
Highness the Duke Of York we owe this change
from the state OF the forces thirty years since.
The means of improving the tactics of the
British army did not escape his Royal High
ness's sedulous care and attention. Formerly
every commanding officer mapeuvred his regi
menr after his own fashion; and il brigade Of
troops were brough together, it was very doubt
full whe Their they could execute any one combi-
ned movement, and almost certain that thew
could not execute The various parts OF it on che
same principle. This was remecird by the sys-
ten oil regulations moiled by the late Sir Oa-
vid Dundas, and which obtained the sanction
and The coun,enanoe OF his Royal Highness.-
This "ne circumstance, Of giving a uniform
prime pile and mode of working 10 the dlfferen,
bodies, which are after all but part, Of the same
great machine, was in itself one of the most dis
tisgtished services which could be rendered 10
national army, and il is only surprising that,
before il was introduced, the British army was
able to execute any combined movements a, all.
We can2ct but notice the Duke of York's es-
tablishment near Chelsea, for the orphans Of
soldiers, the cleanliness snd discipline of which
are model for such Institutions; and-the Roy
al Military School, or College at Sandhurst,
where every specie. Of scie:,tifc Instruction is
afforded % those officers whom it is desirable
to qualify for the service Of the staff. The ex-
ceieDt officers who have been formed at this
institution, are the best pledge of what is due
to its founder. Again we repeat, that il the
British soldier meets his foreign adversary, not
only with equal courage, bu, with equal readi
ness and taciii!y Of the British
officer brings against his scientific antagonist,
not only his own good nearl and hand, ou. an
improved ard enlightened knowledge ofhis pro-
tesslon. 10 ,he memory OF the Duke OF York The
army and he country owe ,hsm