PEEL (Sir Robert, 1788-1850, Prime Minister)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Henry HARDINGE (1st Viscount, 1785-1856, Army Officer and Politician) saying that he will “be much disposed to suggest to the Duke of Argyle, when he recommends to me Captain Duncan Campbell - that he ought to propose the appointment of a more efficient officer. My brother will mention to you that I approve of your suggestions for enforcing the existing law in respect to all future appointments to Militia Adjutancies - and for imposing some new restriction as to the age of the Adjutant. I doubt a little the Policy of excluding Embodied Militia Service - as a qualification for an Adjutancy, and confiining the appointment to the Line. It might increase the efficiency of the Adjutant, but we must take care not to dissatisfy the Militia Service...”, 2 sides 4to., Whitehall, 20th December

Peel was considered one of the rising stars of the Tory party, first entering the cabinet in 1822 as Home Secretary. In that role he introduced a number of important reforms of British criminal law: most memorably establishing the Metropolitan Police Force He also reformed the criminal law, reducing the number of crimes punishable by death, and simplified it by repealing a large number of criminal statutes and consolidating their provisions into what are known as Peel's Acts. He reformed the gaol system, introducing payment for gaolers and education for the inmates.
After serving in the Peninsular War and the Waterloo Campaign Hardinge became Secretary at War in Wellington's ministry. After a tour as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1830 he became Secretary at War again in Sir Robert Peel's cabinet. He went on to be Governor-General of India at the time of the First Anglo-Sikh War and then Commander-in-Chief of the Forces during the Crimean War.

Item Date:  1829

Stock No:  42508      £250

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