Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/298

This page needs to be proofread.

242


NOTES AND QUERIES. tias.vi. MAY 20,1920.


remember the rules of social conduct the Prince prescribed for himself, and how faithfully they were observed. We do not doubt that the future years of the HEIR APPARENT will show, by their fidelity to this example, the influence of the lesson he has had to learn, and that Englishmen will see exemplified in their KING that is to be a life purified from the semblance even of levity.

The Queen's letter is of interest on other grounds : it makes a suggestion which a few years later Delane carried out in a leading article of Aug, II, 1875, on the growth of extravagant living in London society : this article is largely quoted by Mr. Dasent.

The Prince of Wales, it is not necessary to add, was well known personally to Delane, both before and after the occasion of the Queen's letter. Two or three papers at Printing House Square are, however, worth quoting.

Delane's visit to Dunrobin in October, 1866, where he met the Prince and Princess, is recorded by Mr. Dasent : the following letter may be added :

Sandringham, King's Lvnn,

October 28th, 1866. DEAR MR. DELANE,

Let me thank you for the photographs of your- self you were kind enough to send me, and will you allow me to send you one of myself in return. I only regret that it is not a better one but since my visit to Dunrobin, my stock of photographs has nearly run out.

I hope you enjoyed your stay at Dunrobin as much as we did. I don't think I ever remember having paid so pleasant a visit, and nothing could exceed the kindness of our host and hostess. Believe me,

Very truly yours,

ALBERT EDWARD.

Two other letters from the Printing House Square collection may be not inappro- priately added here. In 1862 the Prince of Wales visited The Times office, as the


following letter from Lord Torrington, Delane's Court correspondent, shows :

MY DEAR DELANE, Derby Day.

Although you will receive a letter of thanks through General Knollys the Prince of Wales has requested I would thank you for your kindness &c., &c., in allowing him to go over The Times I office, and to say H.R.H. hoped to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. <S:c. He was really much pleased and interested in all he saw, but I suspect he would rather have seen you than anything else (small blame to him) but I took good care to make no attempt on your time or to pull you out. I confess I was more than astonished with all I saw. I hope some day you will make his acquaintance because it is far better he should know the right people. I think he is a good boy, and easily led in the right direction. What a beastly day for the Derby. I wish I was back, one always loses money on a wet day. Yours ever,

TORRINGTON.

The other letter dated Dec! 14, 1871, though the year is not actually given, is from Delane to his friend and colleague William Howard Russell, the 'famous war correspondent of The Times. The contents speak for themselves :

December 14. MY DEAR RUSSELL,

I suppose that this day month the odds would have been at least 1,000 to 1 against the Prince dying of the same disease as his father and on the 10th anniversary of his father's death ; whereas, they would now be not less than 10 to 1 that he will so die.

Still I am resolute in my optimism and believe that he will survive. Every hour that he lives increases the probability that he will live, and Quain thinks that if he can be kept alive 24 hours longer the congestion will cease, and the fever too.

So I still hope and shall, until I hear that bell. Ever yours,

JOHN T. DELANE.

C. W. B.


AN ENGLISH ARMY LIST OF 1740. (See 12 S. ii. passim; iii. 46, 103, 267, 354, 408, 433; vi. 184, 223.)

THE fifth Marine Regiment (p. 53), raised Nov. 21, 1739 (48th Foot), had buff facings to its uniform dress. It was " broke " Nov. 4, 1748, the officers being then placed upon half-pay.

The officers whose names appear in the Army List of 1755 on half-pay (p. 89), who were serving in the Regiment in 1740, are : Cockran, Murray, Hay, Barnardon, Cleland, Cranstoun, and T. Balfour.

Charles Douglas, who was the first colonel of the Regiment, had previously been lieutenant-colonel of the 3rd Foot. He was killed (" head shott off ") on Mar. 21, 1741, at the siege of Cartagena. He was succeeded in the command by Lieut. -Col. J. Grant from the 36th Foot. He was killed before Cartagena (at Fort St. Lazara) on April 9, 1741.

Colonel Samuel Daniel, lieutenant-colonel of the 15th Foot, was then appointed to the Regiment, April 14, 1741, but he died in Cartagena Harbour on the 25th and was succeeded in the command by Colonel James Cockran, who held it until the Regiment was "broke" in 1748.