BRITISH MILITARY: A good, small series of A.Ls.S. by various British military officers comprising Dighton Probyn ...

BRITISH MILITARY: A good, small series of A.Ls.S. by various British military officers comprising Dighton Probyn (1833-1924) English General, Victoria Cross winner for his numerous actions during the Indian Mutiny 1857-58. Keeper of the Privy Purse, Secretary to Edward, Prince of Wales and Comptroller of the Household. A.L.S., D. M. Probyn, four pages, 8vo, Marlborough House, London, 1st November 1879, to Dr. Stedman. Probyn expresses his concerns about his wife's health, stating 'She never complains, but I know that at times she is worse, or at any rate feels much worse, than she allows she is' and continuing 'You know her case, and what treatment she has received. I want her to see Sir William Gull before she goes to Sandringham, and Sir William has kindly promised to see her', adding 'I told Sir Wm. however that I would ask you to write to him….telling him what you know about Lady Probyn's ailment. Will you please do this for me, without fail' and further providing Gull's address at Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, concluding 'Nobody knows as much about Ly. Probyn's health as you do, and she kicks against seeing anybody else, but you will pardon a husband's anxiety in wanting a second opinion. I don't think she has ever been really strong since that illness she had at Milford, in 73 I think, when you were so kind to her'; Francis Grenfell (1841-1925) 1st Baron Grenfell. British Field Marshal who fought in the Battle of Ulundi during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Grenfell also served as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, South Africa. A.L.S., Grenfell, four pages, 8vo, Wantage, Berkshire, 3rd January n.y. (c.1902-03), to [T. Douglas] Murray. Grenfell states that he would be very interested in his correspondent's book on Joan of Arc 'as I really know but little of her true life' and remarking 'I was looking at her Gilt Statue in the Rivoli last week & thinking of her wonderful achievements'. The Field Marshal continues 'Her canonization could be very popular in France', adding that he had an interesting sight of the Borgia apartments and 'As regards the canonization I should fear that the presence of Royalty could, while being good as regards the ''Entente'' - might alarm the non-conformist conscience'; Frederic Thesiger (1827-1905) 2nd Baron Chelmsford. British Imperial General who served in the Anglo-Zulu War, Commander in the defeat to the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana. A.L.S., Chelmsford, four pages, 8vo, Knaresborough Place, Cromwell Road, London, 2nd May 1890, to Dr. [Herbert Armitage] James. Chelmsford states that he and Lady Chelmsford will be staying with the President of Magdalen College in Oxford on 17th May and will therefore not be able to be present at the meetings his correspondent mentions, further adding 'I am very sorry not to be able to support the movement for initiating a mission in South London in connexion with Cheltenham College by my presence on the occasion; but you may rest assured that the movement has my hearty sympathy'; Courtney Chambers (d.1848) British Lieutenant-Colonel who served at the Battle of Waterloo under the Duke of Wellington and later Commanded the 25th Regiment of Foot at the Cape of Good Hope. A.L.S., C Chambers, three pages, folio, Cape Town, 10th August 1842, to [Abraham Josias] Cloete. Chambers states 'It occurred to me a few days ago that from your having had 400 of the 25th Regiment under your command at Natal you might probably wish to have my opinion upon the measures you carried into effect when employ'd upon a service of no ordinary nature, but one that required as much discretion and sound sense as any that ever perhaps agitated the minds of the Colonists at the Cape - English and Dutch' and continues to inform Cloete that, having considered the matter with close attention, he is 'quite satisfied that the course you pursued was not only the best, but the only judicious right and just one', further remarking 'I cannot understand the motives or views of those who have manifested so much hostility to your proceedings'. In a postscript Chambers also adds 'Major D'Urban who was with you fully concurs in my opinion and indeed so do all the officers of the Regiment whose age and experience enable them to form a correct judgement'; and Peregrine Maitland (1777-1854) British General who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, later a Colonial Administrator serving as Governor of the Cape Colony 1844-47. An interesting A.L.S., P Maitland, four pages, 4to, Romney, Hampshire, 1st January 1848, to [Abraham Josias] Cloete. Maitland states that he is obliged to his correspondent for their letter 'and Sir H. Pottinger's proclamation against Sandille' and continues to explain that he has made use of the document in a letter to Lord Grey 'who has been pleased to affirm on the faith of Sir H. Pottinger's despatches, that I have made much too favourable representations of affairs in Kafirland, and conveyed to him very erroneous information on that subject' further reflecting 'Hence, I suppose arises one difficulty that stands in the way of my getting anything done for the officers I recommended by the Duke of Wellington's permission, for some mark of Her Majesty's favour', explaining 'Three or four times have I written, and three or four times I have seen Fitzroy Somerset on this subject, but still nothing has been done. I thought some demur might arise from the notion that to confer honours or promotion on the officers immediately under me, while I was passed over, might be considered as casting a shade on my conduct, and to obviate this, I assured Fitzroy Somerset, that I desired nothing for myself. Still nothing has been done'. Maitland further makes reference to the Cape Colony, 'The accounts I have seen from the Cape have seemed to me highly corroborative of my position that British Kafirland was virtually subjugated. If the Savages can't be provoked into any fresh hostilities after the lapse of nine months but submit to the marching of the troops through their fastnesses without attempting retaliation on the Colony, it is clear they have had enough of War and had already given in. In my despatch from Block Drifts…..I said ''They are now fully convinced that though they may elude us in the bush for a time, and plunder the Colony in small parties with some success, yet when we encamp in their Country and scour it, they cannot hold out but must starve or submit.'' I seem to have had said this truly of them, with the exception of Landilli and his few followers…..' VG to EX, 5 £150-200