“At the particular request of this officer, it affords the Colonel much pleasure to release from confinement to barracks, and punishments of every description, all soldiers now under their sentences; he only hopes, and is ready to believe, that they will prove sensible and grateful for Colonel Smith’s kindness, shown up to the very last moment he remains amongst them, in addition to every noble and honourable feeling which all soldiers ought to show in the performance of their duty and conduct on every occasion, by a determination to relinquish every habit tending to injure the good of the service, their corps, and individual respectability, comfort, happiness, and future welfare.
“A. Norcott, Colonel.
“Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 4, [? Jan.] 1827.”
[[92]] Algernon Frederick Greville (1798-1864), younger brother of the author of the Greville Memoirs (see p. 216), after being present as an ensign at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, served as aide-de-camp during the occupation of France, first to Sir John Lambert and afterwards to the Duke of Wellington. When the Duke became Commander-in-Chief, January, 1827, Greville became his private secretary and continued so during the Duke’s premiership.
[[93]] See pp. [340] and [97], [98].
[[94]] For an interesting memorandum on the diet and treatment of military prisoners, submitted by Harry Smith to Sir B. D’Urban in 1834, see Appendix III.
[[95]] With this and the four following chapters, compare Appendix II.
[[96]] This disposes of part of H. Cloete’s dramatic story, which, however, should be compared (Great Boer Trek, pp. 78, 79).
[[97]] The following characteristic story of Harry Smith about this time is told by Mr. H. A. Bryden in Temple Bar, April, 1902. “In the Kafir War, when irregular troops were much employed, odd scenes occasionally happened. A corps of Grahamstown Volunteers was drawn up and paraded before Colonel Smith, then Chief of the Staff. As he passed down the ranks, one of the men touched his hat. ‘None of your d—d politeness in the ranks, sir,’ was the response.”