Lords Sitting of 12 February 1827

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF YORK— ADDRESS OF CONDOLENCE TO HIS MAJESTY.
The Earl of Liverpoolrose to move an Address of Condolence to his Majesty on the Death of his royal highness the Duke of York. He was sensible that the general feeling of regret was so much in accordance with his own, that it might be thought even intrusive in him to say any thing in proposing the motion which he intended to submit to the House. But he confessed that he felt it as a melancholy duty—a duty imposed upon him by recollections both pleasing and painful— that in proposing the address which he should submit to the House, he should make a few observations, in which he meant humbly to bear testimony to the merits of that illustrious individual now no more, who had been the first subject of this realm, and who stood in the situation of heir presumptive to the British Throne. They had likewise many and strong inducements to approach the throne on this occasion with their sentiments, and to state to his majesty their feelings of regret. No man, at all acquainted with his majesty, could doubt the feelings of affection which he entertained to every part of his family. But with respect to his late royal highness the Duke of York, there was this
414
particular distinction, that he was brought up and educated together with his majesty. It might, perhaps, have been said, that differences of opinion sometimes existed between them, but in a country constituted as this was, how could differences of opinion be avoided? There had always, however, existed between them the strongest brotherly affection. With respect to their lordships and the public, they had however to contemplate the illustrious deceased, not only in the relation which he bore to the royal family, but in the relation in which he stood, as having; for a period of more than thirty years filled the high and important situation of commander-in-chief. He certainly, for one, remembered the appointment of his royal highness. He was so circumstanced as to know something of the army at that time; he was enabled to watch the progress of all the acts of that illustrious individual; and it was impossible for any person who had so observed him to withhold from him the highest praise. With respect to the command of the army, it had been made a question with some whether a person so near the throne ought to hold such an office; that was to say, whether such an arrangement was for the public interest. He was of opinion, that if this question was looked at as an abstract proposition, it would be impossible to come to any general conclusion upon it. But, leaving that question undecided, he had no hesitation in admitting, that inefficiency on the appointment to office of princes of the blood, would be far worse than any inefficiency which might occur in the hands of other persons. But he could himself say from experience, and all who knew any thing of the British army, and he believed the greater part of the public, would also say, that the interests of the army had derived most essential benefit from the administration of the illustrious individual, who, he was sure their lordships would concur with him in saying, had, in his situation, done much good, had done all the good in his power, and had in many instances done much good, which none but himself could have done. If their lordships would look at the state of the army at any period before the late illustrious person was appointed Commander-in-chief,—if they wished to compare its efficiency, they must look at what the army was before and after the royal duke was appointed to that high situation.

415
It was above all to be recollected, that it I was that army which had been gradually formed under his administration which turned the fate of a war, in the result of which the best interests of this country and of all Europe were involved—which turned the fate of the great war in the Peninsula, and enabled his noble friend near him (the duke of Wellington) to prosecute that war to a successful termination, to penetrate into the interior of France, and to bring the contest to a final conclusion by the victory at Waterloo. If their lordships, after recollecting the efficiency of the army, looked to the comforts of the soldier, he was confident that every man who heard him would concur with him in the conviction, that in the administration of any service, never was more attention paid to the comforts of those individuals whose lives were devoted to the service of the country, than had been paid by the late illustrious commander-in-chief. In the next place, if their lordships looked at the patronage of the army, and to the distribution of that patronage, it would be allowed to be a difficult matter to avoid giving offence, where there were so many claimants, and so few but what would be disappointed; yet he must say, that he never heard less complaint of grievances, injustice, and unfair partiality, than during the administration of his royal highness; and in every part of the exercise of that power—a great power he admitted it to be—which he had had to exercise for more than thirty years, he could fairly say, that no power was ever more moderately, more justly, or more beneficially executed for the interests of the country. He might appeal to most of their lordships, to all those individuals who ever had occasion to come in contact with his royal highness on matters of business connected with his official situation, if ever they found any public man more easy of access, more fair and upright in his dealings, more affable, more simple, he might say, in his manners. Having said thus much with respect to the character of the illustrious individual whose loss they had to regret, he should feel it unbecoming in him to trespass on their lordships by more particular details. It was, however, impossible for him to refrain from observing, that his late royal highness possessed all the peculiar characteristics of an English gentleman. Whatever failings he might have, there appeared in all his actions an openness, a sincerity,
416
and a kindness so striking, that it was impossible for any persons to have lived near him, or to have had any intercourse with him, and to have failed to have their minds impressed with the possession of those qualities by the illustrious Duke. It had been said of him—truly said of him—that "he never broke a promise, and never deserted a friend." He must still further say, what he felt to be of importance, because it added strongly to the value of the illustrious Duke's character in his mind, that though he was in a public situation which brought him in contact with a great variety of persons, yet to all who came to him he was easy of access, and though in the discharge of his official duties he was more exposed to intercourse than had usually fallen to the lot of persons of his rank, yet he never lost sight of what was becoming on his part, and never acted so as to make any one forget what was due to his character and station. All who approached his royal highness felt what was due to his illustrious character. Under these circumstances, he proposed to their lordships to move,
"That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to assure his Majesty that we fully participate in the deep regret which has been so generally manifested by his Majesty's loyal subjects on the Death of his royal highness the Duke of York:— To convey the expression of our sincere condolence with his Majesty on the loss of his beloved and lamented Brother:— That we take this opportunity of again recording our sense of the eminent services which were rendered by his royal highness the Duke of York, in the capacity of commander - in - chief of his Majesty's Forces;—That we witnessed, with the utmost satisfaction, the continuance, to the; last period of the life of his royal highness, of that unremitting attention to the duties of his high office, and of that strict impartiality and justice in the exercise of all its functions, which have so essentially contributed to perfect the discipline, and exalt the character, of the British army:— That to the expressions of those feelings of grateful acknowledgment of the public services of his Royal Highness, and of sincere sympathy with the present 'affliction of his Majesty, we add the dutiful assurances of our loyal and affectionate attachment to his Majesty's sacred person."
The Address was agreed to nem. diss,