Austrian armies under the Archduke Charles and Marshal Clairfait, in those most interesting campaigns of 1795, 96, and 97, and filled the Military mission to the Archduke, after his brother was wounded. He then became deputy quarguished himself greatly when Humbert ter-master-general in Ireland, and distinlanded in that country. He was much esteemed by Lord Cornwallis, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and General Lake. Afterwards he was sent by our Government to Switzerland, and served the campaign of 1799 there with the Austrians. At Buenos Ayres, where he commanded a part of our troops, he did as much as possibly could be done, under all the disadvan

according to the unanimous opinion of every officer under him. He afterwards commanded the light brigade under the much-lamented Sir John Moore, who had a very high opinion of him. The manner in which he has commanded the light division of Lord Wellington's army, is too recently before the publick to need illustration. Had he not retired from the army in disgust, as I have mentioned above, he would now have been Lieutenant-general.'

"Having had particular opportunities of knowing intimately this gallant atd highly-distinguished Officer, and appreciating as I do his fine character and brilliant talents, I felt it a duty incumbent upon me to send this account of him to your Paper, which is so deservedly famed for justice, liberality, and accuracy of information.

"A SOLDIER OF LONG SERVICE."

I beg leave to add to the foregoing facts, that it is now about twenty years since I served several Campaigns with the gallant Brigadiergeneral Robert Craufurd, then a Captain; and I am truly happy in being able to bear testimony to the integrity, rigid principles of truth, disinterestedness, and unremitting zeal for the honour of His Majesty's arms, which that high-minded Soldier has always displayed. In proof of this assertion, I have to state, that I was in camp with him when

he

he quitted the service in disgust; and though he could, to my knowledge, have got £2500. for his Company, he would not accept of more than his Sovereign's regulated price; viz. £1500. because he felt himself bound in honour to adhere strictly to the rules of the service.

Brigadier Craufurd never required any person under his command to endure any hardship or privation, which he would not cheerfully undergo himself; for when danger and fatigue were the order of the day," he was always found leading the van ! After enduring the cold, wet, hunger, and fatigue of a fourteen hours' march, in a low rich soil, swoln with rain, I have found this second Frederick of Prussia in his tent, fighting battles on paper, or else translating his favourite German author, Marshal Tilk, while the rest of the army were in the arms of sleep! In this way he realized the science of the Prussian Hero; which he, subsequently, proved in Ireland for the French General, Humbert, who invaded that country, declared, that "Craufurd was, in his opinion, the most scientific General in the Island;" as it was owing to his little flying corps, that the progress of the French was principally retarded, and, in the conclusion, obliged to capitulate. I heard this anecdote in Germany.

;

Feeling, as I do, the truth of this statement, I am justified in giving credence to this gallant Briton's masterly reply to Massena, as he was certainly an eye-witness to all that he relates, and I know him to be incapable of stating a falsehood. He has therefore completely exposed the slandering lies of this mushroom Duke, this Honourable Member of Buonaparle's most Honourable Legion of Honour ! For I am as fully persuaded of the moral truth of every word in Brigadier-general Craufurd's Reply to Massena's Statement of the affair of the Coa-an affair which proves what an handful of Britons can do, when led by a Craufurd, against the united strength of France !—as though it had been verified on oath before that fountain of Rectitude and Virtue, the great Lord Chief Justice Ellenborough, of the King's Bench. When we contemplate the facts above stated, I think that we may insist, with the simplicity of truth, that the

general service would be highly benefited, were men of Brigadier Craufurd's transcendant talents and public virtue – witness his contempt of filthy gold, and his luminous Military Lectures in Parliament, on the defence of the Nation-promoted to a rank that would entitle them to exalted commands. But when I add, that this Veteran's standing in the service, with his critical knowledge of almost every acre of land in the subjugated States of Europe, confirms this observation in his particular favour, I feel satisfied that a Prayer from the Representatives of the People in Parliament, for his promotion to his entitled rank of a Lieutenant-general, would be greeted by every soldier in the service; as many Generals who now enjoy separate and high commands, were only subaltern officers, when Craufurd was commanding, and forming a young regiment. But, independent of the obvious equity of such a proceeding, the public weal should dictate the measure, as it would place a man, who unites the qualities that adorned a Cæsar, in a state of capability to scourge that Foe who threatens the slavery of the world!

I

A British Soldier in Retirement.
Dec. 7,

Mr. URBAN, SHOULD have particular pleasure in supplying you with some Memoirs of a person so universally and highly respected and beloved, as the late Major-general John Bellasis, of Bombay, according to the desire expressed in your note on the mention of that gentleman, in the account of Mr. Bunce, late Resident at Muscat, who had the distinguished honour of his patronage and friendship; but it is not at present in my power to say more, than that the General was a native of Berkshire, and had an uncle of the name of Hill, a very worthy Clergyman at Sherborn, near Basingstoke, in Hampshire, by whom he was educated, and with whom he either wholly resided, or passed a great part of his youthful days, and where he became acquainted with the family of Mr. Bunce's maternal grandfather, the Rev.James Plowden, who possessed an estate in the adjacent parish of Ewhurst, and was the patron and rector of that church. Mr. Bellasis went out to India in the

Military service, and was most deservedly promoted to the high rank which he held. He married the only daughter of the Rev. John Hutchins, the Historian of Dorsetshire; to whom he was attached, at a very early age, before he left this country; and, with those honourable and virtuous principles which marked every period, and governed every action of his life, he steadily retained that attachment; and, as soon as hs situation admitted, completed it in marriage, He has left three sons; one of whom resides in England; the other two remain in India, in the Military service of the Company -one at Surat, the other at Bombay; and an only daughter, the wife of Henry Fawcett, esq. of Portland-place.

This is all I can at present communicate, with any degree of accuracy, respecting the good General, except the following account of his death (which I do not recollect having been noticed in your Obituary *) from Mr. Wm. Chicheley Bunce's letter to his father, dated Bombay, Feb. 15, 1808:

"How shall I relate to you, with any degree of composure, an event, which I well know will cause you as much sorrow and regret, as it does me. My faithful friend, I may say my second Father, (second only to yourself in my regard) is, alas! no more. This melancholy event took place most suddenly, on Thursday the 11th instant; and, till this moment, I have been unable to relate it. On the morning of that day, we break fasted together at Randal-lodge (the General's house in the country) and, as usual, went into town, the General apparently in perfect health—but I find I can proceed no farther; and must refer you to the enclosed Bombay Newspaper. On the 12th, I attended the remains of this dear respected friend to the grave."

Extract.

"Bombay, Feb. 13, 1808. "On Thursday last, the 11th instant, departed this life, aged 60 years, Major Gen. John Bellasis, Commanding Officer of the Forces, and Colonel of Artillery on this Establishment. Never was the instability of human enjoyments more fully exemplified, than in this sudden and unexpected event. The General took his

*We particularly thank this worthy Correspondent: we knew the General's worth, and sincerely lament his loss. EDIT.

accustomed seat as President of the Mi

litary Board, about half past twelve, and appeared in excellent health and spirits, while the ordinary business of the day was under discussion. About half past one, he was seized with a slight cough, succeeded by an immediate rupture of an artery in the lungs, which terminated his existence in a few minutes. By the demise of this highly-honourable and worthy man, the service is deprived of a zealous, brave, and faithful Officer, and his children of a most affectionate parent; while those who were attached to him through an intercourse of private friendship, have to deplore the loss of a character, whose memory they will long cherish with every sentiment of respect and esteem. The Major-General's remains were interred yesterday afternoon with

due military honours, attended by a numerous concourse of gentlemen, and of ail ranks and professions."

It is no inconsiderable confirmation of the character you have inserted of Mr. William Chicheley Bunce, that he not only possessed, in a very high degree, this great and good man's esteem and regard, but likewise that of the General's sous in India, who, in their letters to Mr. Fawcett respecting his decease, mention him as the protegé of their late father, and express, in the most feeling terms of friendship, their concern on the occasion, and for the deep' affliction it would cause to his parents, to whom they were anxious it should be communicated with the greatest caution and tenderness. Such kind and considerate attentions, extending even to the surviving relatives of their deceased friend, do equal honour to the living and the dead.

Whenever unfavourable characters are presented, you would certainly call for the most authentic documents, before you gave them any publicity; and though there cannot be the same occasion to authenticate those of an opposite description, it is a peculiar satisfaction to me, that I have such indubitable proofs in my possession, in respect to both the above, as well from public records, as the private correspondence of some of the most respectable persons in England and India, and they will readily be entrusted to your perusal, whenever you may have occasion, or a desire to see them, for the purpose of con firming the truth and justice of every line that has been sent you, as a tribute to their merits and their me mory.

W. B.

WEST