Descripción
A Large Collection of Approximately Forty Eight Original and Hand Written Letters/Envelope from Field Marshall George William Frederick, Prince, Second Duke of Cambridge 1819-1904. A collection of approximately 48 Letters including some envelopes Signed (invariably 'George'),1840 to 1898, to various correspondents, from Gloucester House, St James's Palace, Horse Guards, Rome (1840, announcing his return to England and asking for further leave of absence), Cambridge House, Royal Barracks, York, Chichester, Bad Homburg, Bangor, and Normanby Park, many with social content, but several touch upon army matters and appointments etc., one asks a clergyman to preach a sermon, another refers to loaning works of art for exhibition, he makes domestic arrangements for his brother-in-law, the Grand Duke, etc., the condition generally good with some occasional traces of mounting (one letter adhering to the remains of a mount), with some envelopes. Correspondents includes a Secretarial Letter to Queen Victoria regarding the death of Lt General Felix Calvert, Henry Lennon, (Lord) de Ros, (Lord) Claremont - 'no doubt in future European Wars, the losses in the cavalry will be extremely heavy, both in men & horses, & yet they will have to be put up with .', 30 December 1860; George Robert Gleig; Lady Hooker, refusing permission for a youth brigade to 'ply its trade' within the gates of Hyde Park during the exhibition (1862); the Dean of Westminster; Charles Banks, acknowledging his appointment as a Governor of the Royal Hospital; Sir Charles ('Charley') Hall, with whom he was evidently particularly friendly (6); sending his Christmas contribution to the poor of St James's; the Lord Mayor of London; (Lord) de Grey, giving his reasons for objecting to the proposal to reduce the number of European troops serving in India (1865); a long letter to his aunt, 22 August 1850, following the death of his father (torn and repaired); the marchioness of Westminster; Sir Martin Andrew Dillon, his assistant military secretary (8) 1883-1898 where dated, largely social, the earliest (in pencil) a long letter following Dillon's resignation; etc. Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (George William Frederick Charles) 1819-1904 was a member of the British royal family, a male-line grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria. His career in the army was rapid: he was commissioned as a lieutenant-colonel in 1842, becoming Colonel of the regiment ten days later. By 1845 he was major-general. In 1852 he was appointed inspector-general of cavalry. In 1854 he became commander of the first division destined for the Crimea and returned the following year, to be showered with honours. He was commander-in-chief the next year, and 1862 raised to field marshal. The Duke was an army officer by profession and served as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (military head of the British Army) from 1856 to 1895. He became Duke of Cambridge in 1850 and field marshal in 1862. Deeply devoted to the old Army, he worked with Queen Victoria to defeat or minimise every reform proposal, such as setting up a general staff. His Army became a moribund and stagnant institution. Its weaknesses were dramatically revealed by the poor organisation at the start of the Second Boer War. 'The duke was immensely popular within the army. An excellent after-dinner speaker, he was known to be kindly and considerate, a staunch upholder of military traditions, and a keen sportsman. He was also fondly regarded by those who appreciated his thorough knowledge of drill and his outspoken comments at field days and inspections. Various size of letters. Generally usage marks with off marks bit overall good. Folding centre creases. More images can be taken upon request. Ref18063. N° de ref. del artículo 028708
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