such circumstances I may have claim to the permanent regulation of our military system, I am amply recompensed by the acknowledgments of the House of Commons; and I feel happy in the consideration of any facility which such endeavours on my part may have given to the Duke of Wellington in the execution of the arduous services he has so gloriously achieved, and which have so deservedly ranked his Grace among the first Captains of the age. I am, Sir, (Signed)

FREDERICK, Commander in Chief."

"The Right Honorable The Speaker."

On the 4th of July, 1815, it was ordered by the Commons House of Parliament :

"That the Thanks of this House be given to Field Marshal, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces, for his continued, effectual, and unremitting exertion in the discharge of the duties of his high situation, during a period of upwards of twenty years, in which the British Army has attained a state of discipline and military science hitherto unknown, and which, under Divine Providence, have contributed in a great degree to acquire for this empire its present height of military glory among the nations of Europe." "Sir,

"House of Commons, 4th July, 1815.

"I have again the honor and happiness of conveying to your Royal Highness the Thanks of the House of Commons for your Royal Highness's long, eminent, and meritorious services in the command and administration of the British Army.

“The many splendid triumphs obtained by the British Forces which served in the Peninsular war, had established their character in the military annals of Europe; but the late memorable and unrivalled victory in Flanders has proved to this House and to the Country, that the system so ably planned, and so steadily and impartially executed, has extended its influence alike throughout all branches of the military service under your

Royal Highness's command. And the name of your Royal Highness will, we doubt not, descend to our latest posterity in conjunction with that of the great Captain of this age, who has employed so victoriously those mighty means which your Royal Highness had so wisely framed and placed under his direction. I have the honor to be, &c.

"To Field Marshal,

(Signed) C. ABBOT, Speaker."

His Royal Highness the Duke of York."

"Sir,

Answer.

"Horse Guards, 5th July, 1817.

"In acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated yesterday, I know not in what terms I can sufficiently express the deep sense of gratitude I feel on finding that my services in the command and administration of the British Army have once more been distinguished by the Thanks of the House of Com

mons.

"It is to the natural energy of British soldiers, to that firm and persevering bravery which forms so distinguishing a feature in our national character, and to the pre-eminent talents of that great Officer, the Duke of Wellington, to whom the command of our army on the Continent has been entrusted, that I must exclusively attribute the late brilliant career of his Majesty's arms.

"But it is with peculiar pride that I learn that the favor of the House of Commons has induced them to ascribe to any effort of mine, the smallest share in securing those splendid successes which have at once insured the future tranquillity of Europe, and crowned our exertions with unparalleled glory. I am Sir, Yours,

(Signed) FREDERICK,

Commander in Chief."

"The Right Honorable The Speaker."

In 1818, on the death of Her Majesty, the Duke of York was appointed to the charge of the person of His Royal Father.

II. FIELD MARSHAL, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS EDWARD, DUKE OF KENT, K.G. G. C. B. and K. S. P.

THE Duke of Kent, fourth son of the King, was born the second of November, 1767. At the age of seventeen he was sent to the Continent to complete his education, and His Royal Highness's first abode was at Luneburg, where he remained nearly twelve months. From thence he removed to Hanover, and there continued till October, 1787, in command of the Hanoverian Guards, of which corps he was appointed Colonel the 30th May, 1786. He next proceeded to Geneva, and during the period of his stay there, His Royal Highness was appointed, April, 1789, Colonel of the 7th Foot, or Royal Fusileers. In January, 1790, he returned to England.

After passing only ten days with his family, Prince Edward, in obedience to the commands of His Majesty, proceeded to Gibraltar, where for several months he commanded the Queen's Regiment, and until the arrival of the Fusileers as a reinforcement to the garrison in the month of August of the same year. His Royal Highness remained with his regiment at Gibraltar till June, 1791, when he sailed with it for Quebec.

Whilst in Canada, in October, 1793, Prince Edward was appointed to the rank of Major General, and in the month of December following, had orders to join the late Earl, then General Sir Charles Grey, who was on the point of proceeding to attack the French West-India Settlements. At the time His Royal Highness received the order, all communication by water was cut off, the navigation of the St. Laurence had been closed, and the ferment created in the minds of the Americans, from the captures made by British cruizers of their merchantmen, rendered it extremely hazardous for the Prince to attempt joining Sir Charles by passing through the United States.

These difficulties, however, were not sufficient to damp the ardor of the Prince. Immediately on receiving the order, January, 1794, and before his instructions could be made public, His Royal Highness quitted Quebec for the purpose of travelling through the United States, and embarking at Boston. So extremely perilous was the Prince's journey at this season,

that in crossing Lake Champlain on the ice, two of the sledges conveying His Royal Highness's equipage broke in, and were totally lost. Fortunately, soon after his arrival at Boston, an English packet, carrying eight guns and forty men, put in there; and in which His Royal Highness instantly sailed for the West Indies. In the course of the voyage, the packet was more than once chased by privateers, which there was every reason to suppose belonged to the enemy. Prince Edward, however, reached the army in safety, and was received by Sir Charles in a manner highly flattering to His Royal Highness.

Prince Edward arrived just at the commencement of the siege of Fort Bourbon in the Island of Martinique, and out of compliment to the gallantry His Royal Highness displayed on that occasion, the Lower Fort, called Fort Royal, has been subsequently named Fort Edward.

Fort Bourbon could not have been closely invested without attacking and carrying some heights, which were strongly occupied by the enemy, commanded by General Bellegarde, The attack of these heights was resolved on, and intended to be carried into execution, at one o'clock in the morning, and with the bayonet only. But the French General having also determined to make an attempt on a division of the King's troops at nearly the same period, and descending from the heights, directed his efforts against the left of the British Army. The French were received with the greatest courage and steadiness, and General Prescot reinforcing the corps engaged, General Bellegarde was compelled to retire with considerable loss.

Sir Charles Grey instantly availed himself of the opportunity of attacking the enemy's camp, weakened as it was by General Bellegarde's detachment; and, at the head of the flank brigades, he stormed the heights with the greatest rapidity and most complete success, driving the routed enemy into Fort Bourbon. The possession of the heights enabled Sir Charles to besiege the Fort, and such was the posture of affairs in the West Indies, at the moment Prince Edward joined the British Army.

The Prince took the command of the detached camp of La Coste above Point Pitre, and had under his orders the late

General Thomas Dundas. His Royal Highness's gallantry during the siege was the admiration of the British Army; and at the storming of Fort Royal, as well as the attack on the 9th of March, his life was frequently exposed to the most imminent peril. One of his Aides-de-camp, Captain, now Lieutenant General, Wetherall, was severely wounded, whilst executing the orders of his Prince.

The British Army after the capture of Martinique proceeded to St. Lucia, and His Royal Highness was again entrusted with the command of the Grenadier Brigade, which, in conjunction with the Light Infantry Brigade under General Dundas, formed the storming party, and carried Morne Fortunée, since named Fort Charlotte. The Army next moved to Guadaloupe, where the Flank Companies were detached under the command of Prince Edward and General Dundas. His Royal Highness shortly afterwards, in co-operation with that General, succeeded in occupying Morne Marscot and Fleur d'Epée; which commanded Point à Pitre.

The zeal and activity of the Prince during the remainder of the campaign, and the readiness with which he shared every danger and hardship with the meanest soldier in the army, acquired him the highest personal esteem of the Commander in Chief, and the admiration of every individual serving with the British Forces in the West Indies. The services of His Royal Highness were honored with the thanks of Parliament; and it may here be observed as an extraordinary fact, that he is the only Member of the Royal Family who has received that distinction for actual services performed in the field.

Upon the reduction of the French West-India Islands, His Royal Highness, whose health was considerably impaired by fatigue, and the effects of the climate, in obedience to His Majesty's commands, which directed his return to North America, embarked for Halifax in the Blanche frigate; and shortly after his arrival, he was appointed Commander of the Forces in Nova Scotia and its dependencies. On the 12th January, 1796, His Royal Highness was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

The conduct of Prince Edward during his residence in North