(Vol. viii., pp. 521. 621.)
Much interesting information concerning General Whitelocke, about whose
conduct some difference of opinion appears to exist, will be found in the
Rev. Erskine Neale's _Risen from the Ranks_ (London, Longmans, 1853); but
neither the date nor the place of his death is there given. The reverend
writer's account of the general's conduct is not at all favourable. After
alluding to him as "a chief unequal to his position," he says:
"John Whitelocke was born in the year 1759, and received his early
education in the Grammar School at Marlborough. His father was steward
to John, fourth Earl of Aylesbury; and the peer, in {202}
acknowledgment of the faithful services of his trusted dependent,
placed young Whitelocke at Lochee's Military Academy, near Chelsea.
There he remained till 1777, when, the Earl's friendly disposition
remaining in full force, and the youth's predilection for a military
career continuing unabated, an ensigncy was procured him, through Lord
Aylesbury's intervention, in the 14th regiment of Foot."--_Risen from
the Ranks_, p. 68.
Through the influence of his brother-in-law, General Brownrigge,
Whitelocke's promotion was rapid; and in 1807 he was gazetted
commander-in-chief of an expedition destined for the recapture of Buenos
Ayres. His conduct during this expedition became the subject of a
court-martial; he was found guilty, sentenced to be cashiered, and declared
to be "totally unfit to serve his Majesty in any military capacity
whatever."
Judging from the evidence adduced, the conduct of the commander-in-chief
was totally unworthy of the flag under which he served, and highly
calculated to arouse the indignation of the men whom he commanded; and for
some considerable time, whenever the soldiers met together to take a
friendly glass, the toast was, "Success to _grey hairs_, but bad luck to
_White-locks_!" On the whole, the Rev. E. Neale's account seems to be quite
impartial; and most persons, after reading the evidence of the general's
extremely vacillating conduct, will be inclined to agree with him in
awarding this unfortunate officer the title of the "Flincher-General at
Buenos Ayres."