DEATH OF LORD RAGLAN

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 61, 27 October 1855, Page 4

DEATH OF LORD RAGLAN

The distressing intelligence of the daath of Lord Raglan reached England on the Ist of July. It was previously known that he was ill— had been attacked with dysentery — and everyone felt that at his age— sisty- seven— his life hung by a thread. The ihreatl broke, the spi>it ha 9 fled, aid Lord Raglan belongs to the past — lo history.

Many of the faults which Lord Raglan committed — and who has«not committed faults? — will be lost sight of in sympathy for the fate which has overtaken him. Death disarms illiberal criticism, and Englishmen are always more disposed to for«ive faults of the head than the heart. Lord Raglan was not a Wellington nor a NapoleoD, nor even a Soult. He was a high born gentleman who had sseeu Peninsular service, was the personal friend of the greatest soldier that ever lived, and was fortunate enough to induce those to believe who bad the giving away of great appointments, tbat the mantle of miluaiy yeniaa had fallen upon him. Poor fellow— be lived lung enough to undeceive the world.

But Lord RittUtn. akhouuh an indifferent soldier, was an excellent civilian — a hard-working clerk of the hisihet.t ch&s, and, bo doubt, the statistics of the tiutioh army in the Crimea will attebt his power over figures. Had he remained in England, instead of taiung the command in the East, there i« every reasou to believe that much of the official blundering which occurred at home might have been spared— much of the Crimean misery anticipated— for,, in writing peremptory official letters, as in writing despatches, his lordship bad no superior. Had the contest with

Russia been confined to the pen, Lord Raglan would always have been master of the field. He died in time to preserve intact the French alliance. Since Pelissier succeeded Canrobert, the heads of the two armies have not worked in unison — certainly not with that cordiality essential to success. The subject is well known to have formed a painful point of discussion between the two governments; for an impetuous, energetic commander like Pelissier neither appreciated nor understood the better features of Lord Raglan's character— his excellent sense, and the cautious, albeit tardy, process by which he arrived at conclusions.

The successor of Lord Raglan is stated to be General Simpson — an Indian officer, of wliom little is known ; but what in known is favourable.

We hope the man will justify the selection. He has before him what all soldiers covet— if he can turn ihem to account — fame and fortune; glory here; imperishable renown in the future. These arc prizes worth contending for, and if General Simpson is not able enough to grasp them, there are eoldiere, we ihink, in the Crimea who would do so, under the favour of Downingstreet.

The merits of Lord Raglan have been full}', we might say eulogistically, paraded in both branches of the Legislature. His shortcomings, such as they were, hare not even been planced at; and the great English journal which assailed him so virulently when living, is content to swim with the stream — to allow these posthumous compliments to go uncriticised— and has even added to the number.

War Department, June 30, 1, p.m.

Lord Panmure has received int-lligence from General Simpson, announcing the fatal termination of Lovil Raglan's Ulnes*.

Until 4, p.m., on the 28th, his lordship had been progre>sing to the catisfaction of his medical attendants, when alarming symptons developed themselves, attended by difficulty of breathing, which gradually increased from 5, p.m. He was unconscious from that period. He gradually sank to 25 minutes before 9, at which hour be died.

The event has plunged the whole army into the most profound grief.

Pahis, July 1. — The Moniteur publishes the following :— Already, some days since, lettersfrom London stated that Lord Raglan was serious y ill. A despatch from General Pelissier received to-day, dated June 23. 10, p.m., announces the death of the excellent General whom the Government of Queen Victoria had selected as Commander-in-chief of our Allies in the East. France will share the regrets of General Pelissier. His despatch to the Minister of War is as follows: — "It is with deep regret I have to announce to you tint the venerable chief of the English army expired this evening, at 9 o'clock. We are the more affected by his death, as during the preceding twenty- four hours his health seemed to have considerably improved."

Filzroy James Henry Somerset, youngest son of the fifth Dolce of Beaufort, by the daughter of Admiral Bospawen, was born 30th Septenher, 1~38. Lord F. Somen-et was a cornet in the 4th Light Dragoons at sixteen, and rose in miltary rank as the boyish sons of dukes will rise over the heads of their seniors. He was a captah at twenty, went with the troops to Portugal, and fjught in the first great battle — that of Talavera — in which the French and English armies fairly and singly tried their strength against each o.her. Before he was two-and-twenly Wellington had taken him for an aide-de-camp, anil afterwaris he became the military secretary of the general. The duties of his various functions kept him diligtntly occupied during the whole of the Peninsular war, and, doubtless, trained him to that habit of industry and business aptitude which distinguished (he rest of his life. After ibis appointment he was present at all the great Peninsular battles.

In the interval of these important operation he was the medium of all the Duke'a commands and arrangement?. Wellington, it is well known, had a high opinion of his military secretary, and u»ed to say that, but for Lord Fiizroy Somerset, the success of the seven years' warfare would nothave been obtained. Uwe regard this opinion in connexion with the kind of duly in which Wellington employed the talents of his protege, we shall be able to arrive at a good point of view for judging of the young lord's merits. Lord Fuzroy Somerset became a major in 1311, and a lisulenant-co'onel in 1812; returned to Erglanl after Bonaparte's abdication in 1314, and marking in the August of that year the second daughter of Lord Morning ton, became the nephew, by marriage, of the Duke of Wellington. On Napoleon's return from Slba, he again placed himself by the side of the Com-mander-in-chief, and as his aide- dc-catr.p, was on the field during the three days that ended thewar. In the terrible day of June 18, he lost his am at the farmstead of La Ilaje Saititt*. He cane to England, and was at once made full colonel, extra aide-de-camp to the Prince Regent, and Kiigbt Commander of the Bath. He was secretary of embassy at Paris from ISIG to IS 19, attended the Duke of Wellington to Vienna and Verona in 1522, and in 1826 proceeded with the Duke to St. Petersburg, where he was sent to congratulate the Emperor Nicholas on his accession to the throne. He was appointed in 1819 secretary to the Duke of Wellington, Master General of the Ordi.ance until 1827. and in August of that year he was made military secretary to the Commander-in-chief, the functions of which office he performed until September 30, 1552. Rising at intervals in military rank, ho became, in 1333. a lieutenantgeneral. When the Duke of Wellington died and Lord Hardinge was made commander-in-chief, Lord Fuzroy Somerset became Master-General of the Ordnance, and was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Raglan.

Nearly forty years after it was supposed by himself and the world that his wars were- ended,' anil nine years after he had lost his eldest son at the battle of Ferozebhah, he was called to take active service abroad. Lord Raglan held in fuller measure than any man living the traditions of the great Duke. He hail seen armies not only commanded but made. None knew better our belligerent resources, the actual state of our army, and the entire military system of the country. Accordingly he was eelected for the command of the Queen's forces sent to the East, which he assumed in March, 1854. It is unnecessary to pursue further a career which has been the subject of daily public repoit and comment for more than a twelvemonth. The intimation of Lord Raglan's demise reached his widow at noon on Saturday, by the hand of the Honourable Robert Dundas, who was commissioned to perform the sad office by /the First Lord of the Admiralty. Within a very short period, his Royal Highness Prince Albert called personally to convey her Majesty's condolence in an autograph letter; and further to show that this expression ef feeling was not merely etiquette, he again repeated his inquiries in the evening. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent sent to make inquiries as toon as the painful intelligence reached her; and their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary, and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenberfl Strelitz, were among the earliest to offer their condolences. Her Royal Highnes3 the Duchess of Gloucester and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, also sent to make inquiries. The Queen's anxiety ou Lord Raglan's behalf was further exhibited by two tue;B3gei in the course of Sunday,