GREY (Charles, 1804-1870, Secretary to Prince Albert 1849-1861 and to Queen Victoria 1861-1870, General from 1865)

Long autograph letter signed to Colonel William Wylde (1788-1877, of the Royal Artillery), commenting on two papers on the instructing of officers at Aldershot, which Wylde had forwarded from the author for Prince Albert, heartily concurring with the second in recommending more attention to marching, small arms practice and as much "spade & pick ... as that given to the Sappers & Miners", which benefits soldiers both in the army and after discharge, recalling the views of his brother (Henry, 3rd Earl) when Secretary at War under Melbourne, and his own experience, that marching, halting for inspection, and taking up "a position" as if attacked from in front or behind, was very valuable, however taking issue with the writer's views in the first paper, that officers should receive instruction before entering the Army, commenting "in any system of education, whether for the bar or the church, a man's real education begins after he is 17", and "must be continued after he joins his Regt. - He should be considered strictly in statu pupillari till he is 3 or 4 & twenty ... no previous study ... will do much if ... not ... followed up", adding "the Sandhurst Officers generally prove failures", they join their regiment "bristling with self conceit", adding in a P.S. that "those who go, voluntarily to the Senior Department of Sandhurst ... almost invariably become useful officers & ... distinguish themselves if they have the opportunity. The Prince had not time to read the Papers himself - but I told him the purport of them", 6 sides 4to, Buckingham Palace, 11th March

Charles Grey was the second surviving son of the 2nd Earl Grey of Howick, 1764-1845, Prime Minister. Wylde had served in Portugal and Spain in the 1830s, helping Don Pedro and Isabella II. Prince Albert made him his Equerry in 1840, a post exchanged for Groom of the Bedchamber in 1846 as Wylde's Artillery responsibilities grew, but which still allowed Albert to send him on confidential missions to the Peninsular.
From the papers of Col. William Wylde, 1788-1877, who helped Espartero defeat the Carlists.

Item Date:  1855

Stock No:  53124      £275

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