Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-07
THE LATE DUKE OF YORK.
RY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Duke of York we may Justly say, III the Ian
euaye OF Scripture, "lhcre has fallen this day
in our Israela Prince and great man" he has
from an early period OF his manhood, perform
ed d nostimpor,ant part in public HE. In the
early wars Of The French Revolution he COM
ma led the British forces on the Continent and
although We claim no, for his memory the adj
m,ra,ion due to the rare and high gifts, which
70 in our latter times must combine 10 form mil
itary genius Of the FIRST order, yet il has never
been disputed that in the field his Royal High
mss displayed intelligence, military skill, and
his family attribuie--the most unalterabie cour-
aye. He had also the universal testimony oil
the army for his efforts 10 lessen the distresses
of the privates, during the horrors OF an unsuc-
cessful campaign, in which he acquired, and
kept 10 his death, the ep!thst OF the Soldiers
Friend.
But il is not on account Of these early servi-
ces that we row, as boldly as our poor voice
may, venture to bring forward the late Duke OF
York's claims 10 the perpetual gratitude OF his
country Ii is as the reformeI and Regeneration
Of the British Army, which he brought from
state nearly allied to general contempt, 10 such
a pitch OF excellence, that we may, without
much hesitation, claim for them equality
with, if not a superiority ever, any troops in
Europe The Duke Of York had the hrnness
10 look into and examine the causes, which es-
err since the American war, though arising out
of circum stances existing long before, had gone
as far To destroy the character Of the British ar
my, as the naturally good materials OF which IL
is composed would permit. The heart must
have been boId that did not dispair al the sight
Of such an Augean stable.
In the first place, our system OF purchasing
commissions,--ilseif an evil in military poIut
Of view, and vet indispensable to the freedom of
kal hs.n had Far &C IN
pen the way to every sort Of abuse No science
was reQuirsd, no service, no previous expert
ence whatsoever; the boy let loose from school
the last week, might in the course of month be
Field Officer, ii his friends were disposed TO
be liberal Of money and influence. Others there
were against whom there could be no COM
plant for want Of length OF service, although
il might be difhc1l, 10 see how their expert
ence was improved by it. TWAS no uncommon
thing for commission 10 be obtained Tor
child in the cradle; and when he came from
college, the fortunate youth was al least Lieu
tenant Of some standing, by dint Of fair promo
ton. To sum up this catalogue OF abuses, com
missions were in some instances bestowed up
on young ladies, when pensions could not be
had. We know ourselves one fair dame who
drew the pay Of Captain in the-Dragoons,
and was probably not much less I'll for the ser
vice than some who, at that period, actually did
duty; for, as we have said, no knowledge Of any
kind was demanded from the young officers. Ii
thew desired to improve themselves in the els-
mental parts Of their profession, there were no
means open either Of direction or ofinstruction
But as zeal for knowledge rarely exists where
its attainment brings no credit or advantage,
the cay young men who adopted the military
profession were easily led into the fashion oil
thinking, that it was pcdantry 10 be master
r 10 IS . ,yhI rh tLpvi
wers obliged to perform. An intelligent SER
jeans whis pered from time to time the word of
command, which bis Captain would have been
ashamed to have known without prompting,
thus the duty OF the field day, was hudded over
rather than performed. Ii was natural, under
such circumstances, that the pleasures OF the
mess, or Of the card or billiard table, should oc-
cupy too much Of the leisure OF those who had
so few duties to perform, and that extraya-
gance, with all its disreputable conse quences,
should be the characteristic of MANY, while 9TH
ers, despairing Of promotion, which cou,,l only
be acquired by money or influence. sunk into
mere machines, performing without hope or
heart a task which they had learned by rote.
To this state Of things, by succession OF
well-considered and efftctual regulations, the
Duke of York put stop with firm yet gentle
hand. Terms Of service were fixed for every
rank, and neither influence nor money was per-
mtteti 10 force any individus, forw ard, until he
had served the necessary time An the presen,
grade viii ; ne held. No rank short of tina, OF
the Duke OF York-no courage and deternina-
ton inferior to that Of his Royal Highness,
could have accomplished change SO impor
taat to the service, but which yet was so unfa-
vourable to the wealthy and to the powerful,
whose children & proteges had formerly found
brief way promotion. Thus protection
Was afforded to those officers who could only
hope TO Use by merit and length Of service,
while, at the same time, the young aspiran, was
compelled to discharge the duties of subal- |
tern before attaining the higher commissions.
In other respects, the influence Of the Com
manderin-C chief was found to have the same
gradual and meliorating influence. The vicis-
STUDIES of real service, aud the emergencies to
which individuals are exposed, began to render
Ignorance questionable, as it was speedily
found that mere valouf, however fiery, was un-
able on such occasions, for the extrication Of