92 OUR INFANTRY. 



It may be said that this case makes in favour 

 of patronage. It would be unwise to come 

 to such a conclusion on account of a solitary 

 case. It is, on the contrary, melancholy to 

 reflect, that had the Duke of Wellington not 

 been the brother of the Governor-General of 

 India, but an officer without interest, he would, 

 in all probability, notwithstanding his great 

 military talents, have been compelled to re- 

 main the best part of his life performing the 

 simple duties of an officer in a line regiment of 

 infantry. 



It will probably be very long before so able 

 a general appears again ; but whenever this 

 country shall possess an officer having much 

 more than the average amount of military 

 talents, there should be no chance of his not 

 becoming early known to the commander-in- 

 chief, and by him quickly afterwards brought 

 forward in his profession. 



The great mass of our officers must, under 

 any system, be content to remain the best part 

 of their lives doing duty with their regiments, 

 and so long as they continue what they have 

 hitherto ever been — distinguished for their 

 bravery and honour — we ought to be well 



