Harcourt-Bruce

Captain Harcourt-Bruce of the 20th Light Dragoons is a gallant soldier, a romantic young man and something of a thaumatomane. When His Majesty's government is first pondering how best to use the talents of Mr Norrell they send the captain and an Admiral Paycocke to visit him, with a view to their advising the ministers how best Mr Norrell might be put to use upon the battlefield or quarterdeck. Having witnessed him in his drawing-room, however, fussing over the quality of the cream in his tea, the two are forced to report that Mr Norrell would be wholly out of place in any military endeavour. Captain Harcourt-Bruce, who had ardently hoped to meet a magician as splendid as the Raven King of legend, was very cast down[10].