At the period of his appointment to the high and important station of Adjutant-General of the Forces, the want of efficient regulations, and of an adherence to a system founded on principles calculated to promote the advantage of every branch of service, was felt by all persons called upon to take a part in the concerns of the army, and serious inconvenience was experienced from the absence of such a system by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who, at two different periods, had to contend against powerful continental armies, with troops, though eminently brave, and endued with the true spirit of their profession, yet not formed upon sound general principles of discipline. His Royal Highness, being appointed Commander-in-Chief, applied himself with great diligence to the correction of abuses, and to the improvement of the condition of the army in every particular: and his efforts, which were honoured with the encouragement and approbation of His Majesty, were ably seconded by his staff officers, who were judiciously selected to carry his views into effect; the ultimate accomplishment of these objects reflected the highest credit on those who planned, and on those who executed measures which have conduced to the safety and glory of the United Kingdom and of its numerous colonial possessions. Among these officers, Sir Harry Calvert held a distinguished station. As Adjutant-General, the discipline, equipment, and efficiency of the army came under his superintendence, and to improve and perfect these, he devoted his best energies and unwearied attention. The general orders of the army, in the successive editions which were brought forward from the year 1799, afford abundant proofs of the value of his labours, in the numerous and excellent regulations made from time to time for the better government of the army. In the clothing, messing, equipment, and every other branch of the interior economy, improvements were introduced to promote the health and comfort of the soldier, and the efficiency of corps; and the establishment of confidential inspection reports facilitated the accomplishment of these objects, by furnishing the Commander-in-Chief, and the authorities under him, with the means of forming a correct judgment of the state of each corps in all its details,—of correcting what was wrong,—of supplying what was deficient, and of ascertaining the merits and capabilities of the officers. The energies of his mind were also directed to the improvement of the morale, as well as to ameliorate the materiel of the army. Being a man of high and sensitive honor himself, he wished to inspire all his brother officers with the same sentiments, by impressing them with a just idea of what they owed to themselves, both as individuals, and as members of the profession of arms. Conscious that no man can be truly respectable who does not respect himself, he was always anxious to uphold and encourage this principle; in accordance with which, he was particularly careful to afford every officer charged with misconduct the fullest opportunity of explanation, and, in conveying disapprobation or censure, he avoided the use of terms calculated to affect the officer's personal feelings, or to degrade him in his own estimation: his verbal intercourse was conducted on the same principle. Such was the kindness of his look and demeanour, and the courtesy of his language, that it was impossible to offer him any personal disrespect; and with whatever sentiments a gentleman might have approached him in his official capacity, he could retire with those only of respect and esteem. To the officers of his own department, who were in daily intercourse with him, his orders were conveyed in the form of requests; and the urbanity of his manners, tempered with self-respect, ensured prompt and cheerful co-operation. In so extensive a branch of the service, the preparation of many documents was necessarily confided to assistants, and the alterations which suggested themselves to his refined discrimination, were proposed with delicacy,—a trait of character grateful to the feelings of his subordinates, and remembered with emotions of respect constantly increased by continued intercourse. In 1807, when the recruiting of the army was placed under his superintendence, he applied himself successfully to the improvement of that branch of the service. He interested himself in the Royal Military Asylum, and in the establishment of regimental schools; the condition of general hospitals also engaged his attention,—he visited them all in 1814, and suggested many improvements in their conduct and management. The invalid and the pensioner found a friend and protector in him, and the representations of a discharged private soldier were received and considered with the same care as those of the higher grades of the service. In this, and in every other respect, he acted in accordance with the desires of the Duke of York, whose innate goodness of heart, and natural generosity and condescension, led him to promote and encourage every species of kindness to the humblest members of the profession to which he was so devotedly attached; and Sir Harry Calvert was the faithful organ of His Royal Highness's benevolent intentions, delighting in the good he was thus enabled to effect.
Having conducted, in conjunction with the able officers associated with him in the other military departments, the details of the British army, when it was on a scale of magnitude surpassing anything previously known, and through the whole course of the most tremendous contest in which the nation ever was engaged, and having witnessed victory achieved, by the valour and discipline of the troops under their matchless chief, with the glorious termination of the war, he was rewarded with the dignity of Baronet, in October, 1818; and in the beginning of the year 1820, he retired from that high situation which he had so long and so ably filled, carrying with him the cordial good wishes of every rank. He had previously been appointed lieutenant-governor of Chelsea Hospital; honored with the dignity of Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order; and in 1826, he was promoted to the rank of general. He died suddenly of a fit of apoplexy, while on a visit with his family at Claydon Hall, in Buckinghamshire, on the 3rd of September, 1826.
Thomas Lord Lynedoch.
Appointed 6th September, 1826.
This nobleman, whose services, when General Graham, were of a most distinguished character, was removed to the First, or Royal, Regiment of Foot, on the 12th of December, 1834, the colonelcy of which corps he retained to the period of his decease, which took place on the 18th December, 1843.
The Honorable Sir Charles Colville, G.C.B. and G.C.H.
Appointed 12th December, 1834.
Sir Charles Colville, whose distinguished services during the late war are recorded in the history of Europe, was removed to the colonelcy of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers, on the 25th of March, 1835, in succession to General Sir Henry Johnson, deceased. He died on the 27th March, 1843.