The event of the week has, of course, been the change of Commanders-in-Chief. The retirement of General Simpson was by no means unexpected, but it was not known who would be his successor, and very few indeed ventured to hope that Sir W. Codrington would be selected ibr the post. Although too active and able a soldier to be neglected in a war like this, it is possible that Sir W. Codrington would not have had a chance of obtaining his present distinguished position, but for a piece of good fortune. On the 20th of June last year certain promotions took place, more particularly ajnong colonels of the Guards, and among them was that of Colonel Codrington to be a Major-General. Of course the effect of such a promotion would have been to remove him fi-om his regiment and take him home; but the ]\Iajor-General was most anxious for active service.
By the time the Gazette was promulgated the expedition to the Crimea was spoken of, and jMajor-General Codrington tried hard to evade the necessity of retui'ning home, which to many was by no means disagreeable, if we may judge fiom the alacrity with which they availed themselves of it. He was lucky enough to succeed in his ol)ject, and thus got an opportunity of entering on the career which in a veiy short period has led him to such great honours and to so proud a position. The Acting Quartermaster-General had just died, and Brigadier-General Airey, who commanded a brigade of the Light Division, was selected as his successor. The brigade thus left vacant was given to I\Iajor-General Codrington, whose anxiety for active service led him to leave no stone tinturned in the search for it, and I well remember that, being then with the Light Division, I heard some expressions of dissatisfaction because the " lucky Guardsman" obtained the command.
Only a very short time, however, elapsed before officers and men discovered that he was one of the best soldiers in the army, and his reputation extended beyond the limits of his brigade to every regiment in the field. The Light Division hailed his accession to the command on the second and final retirement of Sir George Brown with the liveliest satisfaction, for he had won the confidence of the men by coolness and unexaggerated intrepidity in the field, and had gained the affection of the officers by his amenity and kind manners. These secured them against insult or violent abuse in their communications with their General, while in his vigilance and his love and knowledge of his profession they could place perfect reliance. General Simpson left for Marseilles direct, in the steamer "Telegraph," yesterday.
No one regrets that he has ceased to be Commander-in-Chief of this army. All must feel sorrow for the circumstances under which a veteran officer like Sir James Simpson resigned his command. His simplicity of manners and singleness of mind never failed to conciliate the regard, if not the respect and admiration, of those ai'ound him, but he failed in determination and firmness in a matter of vital importance to our army when opposed to a sterner will,greater vehemence, and force of character. Such an error in judgment, or rather such weakness, was especially culpable in the Commander-in-Chief of an army situated as our own has been. The most ardent admirer of Sir James Simpson will scarcely for a moment pretend to say that he possessed the physical vigour necessary for the successful direction of an army in an active campaign; or the strategical skill and fertility of resources which would enable him to conduct difficult operations against an enterprising and able enemy, or to extricate his troops with honour out of danger.
The late General was a victim to writing, like his lamented predecessor. He was more of a clerk than a General. Now, is it the HorseGuards which enforces all this scrivenery? If the army cannot be commanded without all these forms and returns, let us have, as you propose, a writing General, and a fighting General. It certainly is not despatchwriting which consumed our Generals' time hitherto, for those documents have always been brief enough. I regret to state that the army is likely to lose Colonel Macmurdo. He has been very ill of fever for some days, and passed the crisis on Sunday night. His wife ai-rived just before he fell ill, and he must go home as soon as he is strong enough to be moved.