nation of military knowledge; a knowledge that promises to be so effectually secured by the warm and active part You have taken, in promoting the establishment of a Military School. Next to the KING-who is the uncontrouled head and director of the forces which are annually voted by Parliament for the benefit of the empire-You, Sir, are the executive source, and ultimate resort of military arrangements. You are responsible to HIS MAJESTY, and to the country at large, for the good or bad management of this complicated machine; under your immediate direction, the distribution of the army is made to correspond with the resources, and to answer the exigencies of the state; and by your wisdom and experience, the various branches of the service are rendered conducive to one system. To your praise be it said, no man, in your exalted situation of life, could have devoted his time and application to the ends of the great trust reposed in him, with more zeal, more eagerness to do justice to merit, or with more perseverance in official business, than You have done. This, Sir, is not the language of flattery; it is the tribute of conviction, and is offered by an individual who never but once asked a professional favour for himself; who has no pretensions to notice or consideration, although during the course of the late war, he frequently frequently sought occasions to be practically useful; and who has once had the honour of being temporarily employed, without having applied for the situation, through any other channel than a voluntary tender of his services against the common enemy. How far he corresponded with the expectations of the illustrious character * that distinguished him by his confidence, or did justice to the permission which your Royal Highness condescended to grant at that period, would not be becoming in me to say. I had the good fortune to satisfy the person who employed me; and the proud consolation of securing the good opinion of a man, whom all parties respect, and from whose integrity and honour even calumny withholds its whisper. Your Royal Highness need not be told-for the readiness with which You receive the most humble communications would invalidate the supposition-" That every The Earl of Moira. In 1795, I was mentioned in General Orders as Deputy Muster-Master-General to Lord Moira's army. I acted as Inspector of the French corps that had been at Quiberon; the remnant of which force I embarked for the Isle D'Yeu; and on his Lordship's command ceasing, I returned to Whitley camp, in Northumberland, to rejoin my regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel, now Brigadier-General, Clinton was my principal during the very short period alluded to. Perhaps I shall escape the imputation of egotism, when I add, that I was not benefited in any way, (except in the consciousness of doing my duty,) by the situation I held; for, although the person whom I succeeded, enjoyed full pay to the hour of his death, I did not receive the least compensation. This crcumstance did not, however, in any shape, concern the commander in chief, to hom alone I am indebted for my present standing in the army. man |