Chapter IV: First Part of the Long European Peace (2)

The period 1829-1832, will ever be memorable in English history as one of great trouble, anxiety, and difficulty. There was considerable distress among the working classes, especially in 1829,—due, according to some writers, to the currency laws which then came into operation.[151] But besides this, and far more important, a wave of agitation swept over the face of the country with a terrific force, unknown since the great Rebellion. Violent riots and great disorder were of frequent occurrence; and civil war, though happily it never broke out, was imminent, and was believed by some to be inevitable. During this period, Catholic Emancipation was carried and Reform was passed; the landmarks of the then existing British Constitution were obliterated, and the political principles, which were held by many to be the basis of national prosperity, were uprooted. The death of George IV. at this critical juncture, contributed in no small degree to fan the flames of discontent, and to produce the uncompromising changes in the government of the country, which were effected in 1832. But events abroad also served to shape the destinies of England; for, added to the trouble at home, Europe, too, was convulsed by mighty disturbances, which shook to their foundations some of the principal Continental nations, and influenced the course of agitation in this country. Belgium, at that time subject to the Crown of Holland, rebelled, declared her independence, and succeeded in establishing herself as a separate Monarchy under the rule of a Prince of Saxe-Coburg, who assumed the title of King Leopold I.[152] In France the spirit of revolution, vainly smothered in 1815, and ignorantly dealt with by the Bourbons, again reared its head, and Charles X. was hurled from his throne. The ancient Monarchy of France was finally and for ever extinguished, and a Citizen-King, surrounded by Republican institutions, was invited to reign by the favour of the Garde Nationale—the armed representatives of the populace. The insurrection, that succeeded in vesting Louis-Philippe with a semblance of Royal power, and that effectually tore to shreds the constitution fixed by the Allies in 1815, began in Paris on the 26th of July, 1830, just two days after the dissolution of Parliament in London. The general election took place about a month later; and in the excited state of men’s minds, when widespread sympathy was felt and expressed for the aspirations of the Orleanist faction in France, the result could not but reflect the movement that was carried on there, and give impetus to an agitation which had already acquired considerable strength.

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Footnote 151:

Alison’s _History of Europe_ , 1815-52, iv. 214, etc.

Footnote 152:

King Leopold I. was a near relation of our Royal Family, being uncle
of Queen Victoria, brother of the Duchess of Kent. His first wife,
moreover, was Charlotte, only child of George IV., by his Queen,
Caroline. Had this Princess lived, she would have become Queen of
England, and her husband, like his nephew subsequently became, would
have been Prince Consort.

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Parliament opened on the 26th of October, and three weeks later, on the fall of the administration of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Grey was called to office. The winter passed gloomily, and a wild spirit of revolt was abroad. The southern counties around London were “in a state of open insurrection;” the agitators, frequently referring to events in Belgium and France, inflamed the passions of the people; outrages and excesses were committed, and so great was the consternation created by the fear of disorder, that the King’s visit to the city (November 9th) had to be given up. It is unnecessary to describe the various vicissitudes which attended the great struggle for Reform. Suffice it to say that the country continued to be the prey to an increasing agitation, unparalleled in modern British history, and that the Bill was finally passed into law by a large majority, June 7, 1832, because those that opposed it were intimidated into silence, believing that further resistance would end by plunging the nation into the abyss of civil war.

The army, taking no part in the effervescence that seethed around, was occupied in the uncongenial duty of preserving the public peace, wherever it was disturbed. In London, a system of Metropolitan Police had just been organized (1829), to replace the watchmen, who up to that time were responsible for good order and for the prevention of crime. The new force had only come into existence, nor was it sufficiently strong to cope with the serious emergency that had arisen. The Brigade, therefore, was frequently held in readiness to aid the civil power, and in November, 1830, all Officers were recalled from leave, while Non-commissioned officers and men on furlough were ordered to rejoin their corps without delay. A detachment of two Subalterns and fifty-seven men were stationed at North Hyde, furnished by each Battalion in turn, the reliefs being made fortnightly, until March 1, 1831, when it was found by the 1st Battalion Coldstream, who proceeded to Windsor on that date.[153]

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Footnote 153:

On November 10th, an allowance of ninepence daily per man was made for
the purchase of refreshments to the troops assembled on piquet duty,
in and near the metropolis. It was ordered that this money should not
be spent on spirituous liquors. The following 1st Battalion Order,
dated June 7, 1831, was issued: “The Commanding Officer has much
satisfaction in making known to the Battalion a communication he has
received from the Mayor of Windsor, expressive of the obligation the
civil authorities feel themselves under, for the assistance afforded
by several soldiers in securing offenders against the public peace
during the past week, and particularly on Saturday last.”

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The Coronation of the King and Queen took place in Westminster Abbey, September 8, 1831, the day after the Reform Bill had passed the committee stage in the Commons. The ceremony was sufficiently magnificent, but was shorn of much of its ancient splendour, and, in accordance with the economy of the age, His Majesty was prevented from giving the usual Coronation Banquet in Westminster Hall.[154] The Brigade lined the streets in the vicinity, the 1st and 2nd Battalions Grenadiers and the 1st Scots Fusilier Guards[155] occupying the west side, the 1st and the 2nd Battalions Coldstream—a portion of which had been brought from Windsor—and the 2nd Scots Fusiliers, the east side, the left of the Coldstream being posted near the Abbey. Piquets were also held in readiness in case of disorder, which happily did not occur. The troops, in review order, wearing white trousers, and Officers in gold sashes, were in position at 7 a.m. The _largesse_ of “Platform money” was not distributed upon this occasion, but an allowance of one shilling, to each Non-commissioned officer and private under arms, was made for refreshments, half of which was spent, the remainder being given to the men in the evening.[156]

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Footnote 154:

For a full description of this Coronation, see _Annual Register_ ,
1831, “Chronicle,” p. 140, etc.

Footnote 155:

The Third Guards were called by their new title, Scots
Fusilier-Guards, in Orders, dated, June 24, 1831.

Footnote 156:

Present at the Coronation, and drawing the shilling: 1st Battalion
Coldstream—27 sergeants, 19 drummers, and 526 rank and file; 2nd
Battalion Coldstream—14 sergeants, 12 drummers, 266 rank and file.

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The pleasures of political agitation were somewhat marred, and the intensity of the strife was perhaps blunted, by the first appearance in England of the plague of cholera, which occurred towards the end of 1831. This terrible disease, having broken out in Bengal in 1817, spread to Persia in 1823, where it remained in a more or less dormant state, until 1830, when it revived, and extended rapidly through Russia, into Austria, and North Germany. In spite of severe quarantine regulations, cases of this fatal illness were reported in Sunderland on October 26, 1831; and before the end of the year many persons were attacked, and succumbed to its violence, in the north of England and in Scotland.

In February, it appeared in the port of London, and from thence it spread through every part of the kingdom, and continued its ravages into Ireland. The panic created by this unknown epidemic was great. Medical men were naturally at a loss to understand, much more at a loss to treat effectively, the new disorder; but, though severe, it was everywhere less fatal than preconceived notions had anticipated, and, when it gradually disappeared in the autumn, surprise seems to have been general that so much apprehension had been entertained.[157]

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Footnote 157:

_Annual Register_ , 1831, “History of Europe,” p. 298; _ibid._, 1832,
p. 304.

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The results of cholera were not, however, unimportant, for the visitation served to introduce more sanitary and cleanly habits among the people, and to put an end to the billeting system and to overcrowding in military barracks. Every precaution was naturally taken to preserve the health of the troops, and to guard them against infection. The 2nd Battalion, being at the Tower, in a dangerous quarter, stringent orders were issued to secure this object. Frequent medical inspections took place, certain districts were placed out of bounds, drunken men were isolated until visited by the Surgeon, the water supply was not neglected, and the men were “earnestly desired to report themselves directly they felt unwell, as it is found when remedies are applied in time fatal results seldom ensue.” The order (dated March 21, 1832) added that—

the Commanding Officer has great pleasure in observing the orderly
behaviour of the men in general during the last week, and he trusts
that by abstaining from absence from barracks, drunkenness, and other
excesses, and a strict compliance with the above regulations, they
will continue to second his efforts as much as possible, to keep the
barracks free from disease.

In February, moreover, Warley was converted into a Depôt for all Brigade recruits, who were taken from the Recruit House in London; and the Royal Waggon Train, being removed from Croydon, the barracks there, were placed at the disposal of the Foot Guards for the occupation of those convalescents or weakly men, who were unable to perform the usual military duties in town. During the same month, married soldiers and others were sent to Croydon, Chatham, and Brighton—at which latter place there was then accommodation for 336 men. In March, also, certain houses in Hanley Road, Hornsey, were hired for a year, fit to receive five Officers and 463 men. New barracks were constructed, or the old ones improved, and, in November, 1833, the King’s Mews were changed into St. George’s barracks,[158] and the Recruit House into the present old wing of Wellington barracks, called at that time, for a few months only, Westminster barracks. On March 1, 1834, the Brigade occupied the following quarters: Grenadier Guards—1st Battalion, Tower; 2nd Battalion, Portman Street; 3rd Battalion, Wellington (Westminster) barracks: Coldstream Guards—1st Battalion, Windsor; 2nd Battalion, Knightsbridge, Kensington, and the Magazine barracks: Scots Fusilier Guards—1st Battalion, St. George’s barracks; 2nd Battalion, Dublin.

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Footnote 158:

These barracks are now smaller than they were then, a portion having
been given up to increase the National Gallery.

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It may be stated here, that a company was also stationed in Buckingham House, usually found by the Battalion occupying Knightsbridge, and that the latter barracks were given up in May, 1836, and St. John’s Wood substituted for them. The Brigade continued to occupy these West-end quarters until the Crimean war broke out—that is, Portman Street, St. George’s, and Wellington barracks accommodated one Battalion each, while the fourth Battalion was divided into detachments, the head-quarters and three or four companies being in St. John’s Wood, the remainder in Kensington, the Magazine, Buckingham Palace, and St. George’s or Wellington barracks.

In July, 1832, the 2nd Battalion proceeded to Dublin by Bristol, returning to London in the following summer. Ireland was then passing through one of the phases of popular discontent and resistance to law so common in her history, and which have for so long troubled the government of that island. The anti-tithe agitation was then in full swing, and was accompanied by incidents very similar to those that occurred during the recent anti-rent struggle, with which we are familiar. As a means of pacifying the disturbed districts, troops were quartered in them, just as was done in 1880. The 2nd Battalion furnished three companies for this duty during the latter end of October, when it appears that this force, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Hon. J. Forbes, was stationed at Leighlin Bridge, in Carlow, and was quartered there for a fortnight. The Battalion gained the approbation of the military authorities in Dublin, shown by two orders (dated May 23 and August 12, 1833), testifying to the high opinion entertained by them of the “exemplary conduct,” and of the discipline of the corps whilst serving in Ireland.

The next two years passed without much incident until 1836, when the Regiment was put into mourning by the unexpected death of the Lieut.-Colonel (Colonel MacKinnon), who, having served in the Coldstream throughout the whole of his military career, from the early age of fourteen to the day of his death, in every rank from Ensign to Lieut.-Colonel, through the Peninsular war and at Waterloo, where he was wounded, may be considered as an Officer peculiarly belonging to the Regiment.[159] In spite of illness, he remained at his post until the middle of June, when he obtained a year’s leave; but he was unable to avail himself of it, for a few days later, on the 22nd, he died, only forty-six years of age, respected alike by the Officers and the men. The public exercises of the Regiment were immediately suspended till after the interment of the Commanding Officer, and, on the 8th of July, the following order was promulgated by Colonel Sir W. Gomm, who succeeded him, on the occasion of an inspection of the two Battalions by Lord Hill, the Commander-in-Chief:—

The Lieutenant-Colonel feels much pride in communicating to Colonel
Milman, Colonel Fremantle,[160] and the Officers and men of both
Battalions of the Coldstream, the marked satisfaction expressed by the
General Commanding-in-Chief at the high soldierlike appearance,
steadiness under arms, and precision of movement, which they both
displayed at the inspection—qualities pronounced by Lord Hill to be so
eminently characteristic at all times of the Corps to which they
belong. The Lieutenant-Colonel, while imparting these gratifying
sentiments of Lord Hill to the Regiment, would be greatly wanting in
what he feels to be due to his Lordship and to the Corps at large, to
the memory no less of its late distinguished Commanding Officer, did
he fail to communicate, at the same time, the strong expression of
condolence and regret with which Lord Hill adverted to the loss
freshly sustained by the Regiment, and the Army in general, in the
death of Colonel MacKinnon—a regret which Lord Hill felt assured was
so largely and so duly shared with him by all ranks and orders of the
Regiment.

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Footnote 159:

Colonel MacKinnon is the author of the _Origin and Services of the
Coldstream Guards_ , a work remarkable for its research in the early
history of the British army.

Footnote 160:

Upon the death of Colonel MacKinnon, Colonel Milman became Senior
Major (1st Battalion), and Colonel Fremantle was promoted Junior Major
(2nd Battalion).

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Sir W. Gomm did not long retain the command of the Regiment; but, as will be seen, he returned to the Coldstream a quarter of a century after he had left it, when he was appointed Colonel of the Regiment. Becoming Major-General, the Lieut.-Colonelcy devolved upon Colonel Milman, and Colonels Fremantle and Walton succeeded as Senior and Junior Majors respectively (January 10, 1837).

The Coldstream now stood—

_Colonel._—Field-Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, K.G., etc.

_Lieut.-Colonel._—Colonel F. Milman.

_Majors._—Colonels J. Fremantle, C.B.; and W. Walton.

_Captains._—Lieut.-Colonels A. Wedderburn; C. Shawe; G. Bowles; and C.
Bentinck; (_Mounted_).

Lieut.-Colonels T. Chaplin; H. Armytage; H. Bentinck; C. Short;
W. Cornwall; B. Broadhead; C. Hay; H. Gooch; J. Rawdon; Hon. T.
Ashburnham; W. Codrington; E. Wigram.

_Lieutenants._—Captains W. Stewart; Hon. J. Hope (Adjutant); G. Knox;
Hon. A. Upton; F. Paget; Hon. E. Wilbraham; Lord M. W. Graham; J.
Pringle; J. Clitherow; Gordon Drummond; Lord F. Paulet; C. Horton
(Adjutant); J. Forbes; R. Vansittart; C. Windham; C. Wilbraham; W.
Tollemache; J. Elrington; H. Daniell; Hon. R. Boyle; F. Halkett; H.
Dent.

_Ensigns._—Lieutenants C. Dundas; R. Hulse; D. Chisholm; S. Conroy; Hon.
F. Villiers; H. Brand; G. Herbert; Viscount Alexander; Hon. R.
Lambart; G. Johnson; W. S. Newton; Hon. C. Grimston; G. Mundy; P.
Bathurst; E. Milman; Hon. L. Hope; Spencer Perceval.

_Quartermasters._—T. Dwelly; and W. Morse.

_Surgeon-Major._—G. Chenevix. _Battalion Surgeon._—W. Hunter, M.D.
_Assistant-Surgeons._—F. Gilder; and J. Wedderburn.

_Solicitor._—W. G. Carter, Esq.

The reign of William IV. was now drawing to a close, and a few months only elapsed, when, by the death of the Sovereign, June 20, 1837, our present Gracious Queen, then just eighteen years old, ascended the Throne. The funeral obsequies took place as usual at Windsor, and were fixed for the 8th of July. The 1st Grenadiers were stationed there at the time; and the 1st Coldstream had gone to Dublin in 1836, whence they did not return until August, 1837. About one hundred men from each of the other Battalions of the former Regiment, as well as four companies from each Battalion of the Scots Fusiliers, and the whole of the 2nd Coldstream Guards proceeded to Windsor to take part in the ceremony.

Before closing this chapter, it may be well briefly to record one or two points which affected the Regiment during the reign that has just come to a conclusion. Towards the end of 1829, gratuities, in addition to the pension, were granted, on discharge, to specially selected Non-commissioned officers and men, who, by their length of service and meritorious conduct, were recommended for reward; and on the 30th of July of the following year, the silver medal for “Long service and good conduct” was instituted, and presented to them. Later, in 1836, good conduct badges—or “marks of distinction,” as they were then called—were introduced, and worn on their uniform, by men whose character deserved recognition. Each “mark” added a penny a day to the recipient’s pay; and, if in uninterrupted possession of it for five years immediately preceding discharge, the same amount was added to the pension.[161] During this reign, moreover, a Commission inquired into military discipline, more especially into the system of flogging, then in force in the army. The final report, dated March 15, 1836, was in favour of retaining corporal punishment, but recommended that “no pains may be spared to endeavour to make its infliction less frequent.”[162] Regimental numbers, identifying soldiers, appear to have been introduced into the army about this time; they were at first applied only to the men’s records, but gradually they were more generally adopted (_Regimental Order_ , January 2, 1836).

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Footnote 161:

“November 14, 1829. With a view of rewarding meritorious soldiers when
discharged, and of encouraging good conduct in others whilst serving,
... a gratuity, in addition to the pension, may, in certain cases, be
given to one sergeant or corporal and one private annually in every
regiment of an establishment of 700 rank and file and upwards. The men
to be recommended, must have completed twenty-one years of actual
service in the infantry; they must never have been convicted by
court-martial, and must have borne an irreproachable character, or
have particularly distinguished themselves in the service. The
sergeants must have ten years' service and the corporals seven years'
in their respective ranks as Non-commission officers, and must have
been discharged as such.” The gratuities amounted to: Sergeants, £15;
Corporals, £7; Privates, £5.

“August 18, 1836. Whereas it has been represented that it would
materially tend to the encouragement of good conduct in the army, if a
reward to be attained only by a well-conducted soldier were
substituted for the additional pay, now granted to soldiers who have
completed certain periods of service, all soldiers who shall enlist on
or after September 1, 1836, shall have no claim to additional pay
after any period of service; but a reward of additional pay for good
conduct shall be granted to such soldiers, under the following rules—

“After seven years' service, 1_d._ a day, and to wear a 'ring of lace
round the right arm,' provided the man’s name does not appear in the
Regimental Defaulter book for at least two years immediately preceding
such claim. After fourteen years', an additional 1_d._ and two rings,
if the man has been in the enjoyment of the first 1_d._ for at least
two years immediately preceding such further claim. And similarly, a
third penny and three rings, under the same conditions, after
twenty-one years' service.”

Footnote 162:

_Annual Register_ , 1836, “Public Documents,” p. 315. Flogging was
finally abolished in the army in 1881; but it was done away with, in
1867, when troops were not engaged on active service.

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In the summer of 1836 it was ordered that the Battalions of the Foot Guards, and not the light companies only, should be practised in light infantry movements in extended order (_Brigade Order_ , July 11, 1836).

We have seen that the Brigade Depôt was transferred from London to Warley early in 1832. It appears, that the recruits of the Coldstream and of the Scots Fusiliers were ordered to Croydon in June, 1833, and the rest followed to the same place next year. A Subaltern Officer was placed in command of the station; but in January, 1837, a Regimental Lieutenant (bearing rank of Captain) was ordered to perform this duty, and he remained there for a fortnight at a time. An Assistant Surgeon, relieved every two months, was also quartered at the Depôt.

The control exercised by the Lieutenant-Colonel over the two Battalions of the Regiment was made somewhat more direct by the introduction of weekly reports, which were furnished to him by Officers commanding Battalions, and which stated what drills, exercises, etc., were performed, and whether there had been ball practice or marching (_Regimental Order_ , April 12, 1833). A scale of punishment was instituted, to equalize, as far as possible, awards made for minor offences (_1st Battalion Order_, May 24, 1831). On July 14, 1832, a Regimental Order was issued, which gives some idea of the system then pursued in the Regiment, as regards the discipline of the men:—

“Battalions will have evening parades. In London the Battalions will
always parade in Guard Order, when finding the public duties. No leave
is to be given from church parade, inspection of necessaries, or
Surgeon’s inspection, unless absolutely necessary. Men unfit for duty,
or parade, caused by liquor, to be punished as drunk. When a drunkard
appears in a suspicious state at evening parade, and that by leaving
barracks he would probably get intoxicated, he must be kept in, and on
no account be permitted to enter the canteen.... No soldier to have
leave all night, and only six men a company to have leave from parade,
or till twelve o’clock. To receive leave or other indulgence, the
soldier must have been clear of all defaulter’s list at least a month.
To get a pass or furlough, he must have a good general character, and
have been clear of the defaulter’s list two months. Soldiers must have
been two years in the Regiment, before they can apply for a pass.”

Lastly, it may be stated that His Majesty’s Commands for the part to be taken by the Brigade, at investitures of the Order of the Bath, were published in 1835 (_Brigade Order_ , August 19th), and were to be considered as a Standing Order for the future, when the ceremony should take place in St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle. The Sergeant-Major and fifteen Sergeants from the Windsor Battalion, and the Sergeants-Major and forty-two Sergeants of the West-end Battalions, were stationed in the Hall; the former at each of the doors right and left of the Throne, the latter forming a line from the Throne to the entrance; the whole under the Adjutant of the Windsor Battalion, whose place was near the King. At the subsequent banquet in the Waterloo Chamber, the Colours of the Battalion were crossed over the south fireplace, six Sergeants of the same corps stood at the doors, and the remainder formed a line from St. George’s to the Banqueting Hall, as the procession passed to and from the Waterloo Chamber; the Band was placed in the latter room, the Drums at the top of the grand staircase. Additional sentries were mounted, eight in the Quadrangle, and one on Queen Elizabeth’s Gate.

N. R. Wilkinson del OFFICER TEMP. JAMES II. Mintern Bros.
lith.
A. D. Innes & C^o. London
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