it was discovered that he had been wounded in the hip on the 16th by a musquet ball, a circumstance which he carefully concealed from every one but his servant. The wound had assumed a serious aspect from the want of surgical assistance, having been only bandaged by himself and his servant, as well as circumstances would admit.

The loss of general Picton was deeply and justly regretted. He began his military ca reer 1771, in the 12th regiment of foot, upon the reduction of which regiment, we find him to have attained the rank of captain, and to, have retired to the bosom of his family in Pembrokeshire, the birth-place and residence of his ancestors for centuries; upon the commencement of the revolutionary war, in 1794, he embarked for the West Indies, where he soon distinguished himself, and obtained his majority in the 68th regiment, and the appointment of deputy quarter-master-general. Upon the appointment of a new general, he proposed to return to Europe, but was induced to remain at the request of sir Ralph Abercrombie, who arrived in 1796; this officer was fully sensible of his worth at this moment, and took every occasion he could to make his merit conspicuous. Upon the Upon the capture of St. Lucie, he became the lieut.col. of the 68th, and with his commanding officer and friend returned to England, at the close of the campaign, by the reduction of St. Vincent.

In the ensuing campaigns in 1797, from the kindness and friendship of his commanding officer, he was honoured," in being selected as the best officer to discharge the duty" of Governor in Trinidad; the difficulties of his new situation, however, in the result, occasioned many days and years of anxiety, which was only to be relieved by the esteem, gratitude, and applause of every man of probity and principle in the island, notwithstanding the unparalleled exertions of individuals to sully his character and ruin his fortune, and to render him an object of public clamour. The law, at length, although tardy in reparation, proclaimed him innocent of the charges attributed to him, and vindicated his honour, which from the first he had boldly defended.

In 1809, we find major-general Picton

commanding a brigade of an army sent to rescue Holland from the French, and he was present at the siege of Flushing, of which town, after its surrender, he was appointed governor: he there rendered himself conspicuous for his humanity to the natives, and to the sick and wounded soldiers. During his stay at Walcheren, he caught the fever, and came home enfeebled and emaciated; but fortunately for his country, his health was restored. Instantly, and even before he could be said to have reassumed his tone of health, his active services were required in Portugal, where he commanded the 3d division of the British army; in which command, his zeal, celerity, and courage, soon distinguished itself, and from the situation in which the fortune of war had placed them, his regiments became noticed as the fighting division.

In all the battles in the Peninsular war, the division which he commanded was placed in the post of honour, and never failed to justify the confidence reposed in its gallant commander. The capture of Badajos was principally owing to his resolution and presence of mind, in converting a feint into a real attack, and thus gaining possession of a castle which overlooked the place. His ser vices were continued during the whole of the Peninsular war, excepting that he was obliged from ill health to resign, for a time, previous to the battle of Salamanca, when the command of his division was entrusted to the late gallant sir Edward Pakenham, who bravely led it to victory. Before the battle of Vittoria, our hero was sufficiently recovered to resume the command, and in this battle his division acted in a manner which at once excited acclamation and surprise, for nearly four hours did it alone sustain the unequal force opposed to it, of which the whole army, from the peculiar nature of the ground, were acting witnesses. General Picton continued with the army until its entrance into France. In a word, he was the very soul of honour. The pupil of sir Ralph Abercrombie, he never disgraced his general and his friend. In private life sir Thomas Picton was kind, humane, benevolent, and charitable. He discharged with strictness all the social and relative duties; and, in the midst of the severe persecution, never lost that

equanimity of temper which pious integrity alone can impart. The duke of Wellington, in his dispatch, passes a just eulogium on his worth. As soon as our army was sent to Flanders, government offered him the command of a division; but, apprehending the duke of Wellington, as commander-in-chief, would leave the British force to some officer in whom he could not repose the same confidence, he declined the offer, adding, however, if the duke should personally require his services, he would instantly repair to the army. This requisition was made; the general left town on the 11th of June, and on the 18th terminated his career of glory. He had made his will before his departure: he did not expect to return: but observed to a friend, that when he heard of his death he should hear of a bloody day. This prediction was too faithfully verified.

The following pleasing trait in sir Thomas's character deserves remembrance :Some time after relinquishing the government of Trinidad, the inhabitants voted him 5000l. as a testimony of their esteem. When a dreadful fire laid the capital in ashes, some time after this, a subscription was opened for the relief of the sufferers, and the general eagerly seized the opportunity of returning the five thousand pounds for that object.

His remains were landed at Deal on the 25th of June. Minute guns were fired from all the ships in the Downs when the body was conveyed to the beach, where all the naval and military were drawn up to receive it. It was then conveyed with all military honours to the metropolis, and deposited, amidst the impressive silence and sincere regret of a numerous multitude, in his family vault, in the burial ground of St. George's, Hanover Square.

Notwithstanding the partial repulse of the French assailants, by the intrepidity of general Picton, the enemy pressed on, and succeeded in driving back the Scotch division, after every resistance had been made which the undaunted bravery of the Highland regiments could effect. But the brigade of heavy cavalry coming up, supported by the 12th light dragoons, the enemy's masses were at length compelled to retreat.

A column of 2000 men bore down on the

position which was occupied by the 92d regiment, which, from the losses it had sustained on the 16th, and the galling fire to which it had been now exposed, was reduced to two hundred men. This little but valiant band did not decline the unequal contest. They would not even wait for the attack, but forming themselves into line, and presenting a narrow but compact front, charged on the centre of the column. Had the French stood firm their flanks might have closed round, and completely annihilated the gallant Scotch. But they were unable to resist the impetuosity of the charge, the centre of the column was pierced, and the Scotch Greys immediately profiting by the confusion, dashed in at the opening. The two regiments cheered each other with sliouts of " Scotland for ever," and the enemy were to a man destroyed or taken prisoners. A column of French cavalry now advanced, with the cuirassiers at their head, to endeavour to save their infantry. The Scotch Greys had been reinforced by the brigade of heavy dragoons, and the most dreadful engagement of cavalry which modern warfare has witnessed now took place. The impenetrable cuirasses of the French gave them a decided advantage over the English, but nothing could resist the determined valour of the latter, and after a long and sanguinary struggle, the cuirassiers turned their horses and fled. They were pursued by the British, and after sustaining the most dreadful slaughter, sought refuge in the rear of their infantry. The Scotch Greys took one of the French eagles, and another was captured by Francis Stiles, a corporal in the first royal dragoons. The manner in which the first of these trophies was obtained is described with much animation by the heroic individual to whom it was surrendered.

Extract of a letter from serjeant Ewart, of the Scotch Greys, who took a French eagle, dated Rouen, June 18, 1815:

"The enemy began forming their line of battle about nine in the morning of the 18th: we did not commence till ten. I think it was about eleven when we were ready to receive them. They began upon our right with the most tremendous firing that ever was heard, and I can assure you, they got it

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as hot as they gave it; then it came down to the left, where they were received by our brave Highlanders. No men could ever behave better; our brigade of cavalry covered them. Owing to a column of foreign troops giving way, our brigade was forced to advance to the support of our brave fellows, and which we certainly did in style; we charged through two of their columns, each about 5,000; it was in the first charge I took the eagle from the enemy; he and I had a hard contest for it; he thrust for my groinI parried it off, and cut him through the head; after which I was attacked by one of their lancers, who threw his lance at me, but missed the mark, by my throwing it off with my sword by my right side; then I cut him from the chin upwards, which went through his teeth; next I was attacked by a foot soldier, who, after firing at me, charged me with his bayonet-but he very soon lost the combat, for I parried it and cut him down through the head; so that finished the contest for the eagle. After which I presumed to follow my comrades, eagle and all, but was stopped by the general, saying to me," You brave fellow, take that to the rear: you have done enough until you get quit of it;" which I was obliged to do, but with great reluctance. I retired to a height, and stood there for upwards of an hour, which gave a general view of the field, but I cannot express the horrors I beheld the bodies of my brave comrades were lying so thick upon the field that it was scarcely possible to pass, and horses innumerable. I took the eagle into Brussels amidst the acclamations of thousands of the specta

tors that saw it."

The eagles taken belonged to the 45th and 105th regiments, and were superbly gilt and ornamented with gold fringe. That of the 45th was inscribed with the names of Jena, Austerlitz, Wagram, Eylau, Friedland, &c. being the battles in which this regiment, called the Invincibles, had signalized itself. The other was a present from Louisa to the 105th regiment. One was much defaced with blood and dirt, as if it had been struggled for, and the eagle was also broken off from the pole, as if from the cut of a sabre; but it was nevertheless preserved. It is worthy of observation, that the eagles taken

were only given to their respective regiments at the Champ de Mai. at the Champ de Mai. On the 1st of June, they glittered over the heads of the Parisians, amid cries of "Vive l'Empereur."

At this period of the engagement the brave sir William Ponsonby fell, leading on his men to victory and glory. The grief of his country and of his friends for his loss was aggravated, by the knowledge that his fall was to be attributed to the feebleness of his horse, as much as to his ardent courage, which carried him alone and unsupported into the midst of his enemies. He led his brigade against the Polish lancers, checked at once their destructive charges against the British infantry, and took 200 prisoners; but having pushed on at some distance from his troops, accompanied only by one aide-de-camp, he entered a newly ploughed field, where the ground was excessively soft. His horse stuck in the mire, and was utterly incapable of extricating itself. At this instant a body of lancers approached him at full speed. Sir William saw that his fate was inevitable.— He took out a picture and his watch, and was in the act of giving them to be delivered to his wife and family, when the lancers came up. The general and horse were both killed upon the spot. His body was found, lying beside his horse, pierced with seven lance. wounds; but he did not fall unrevenged. Before the day was ended the Polish lancers were almost entirely cut to pieces by the brigade which this officer had led against them.

The remains of sir William were conveyed to England, and deposited in the family vault at Kensington, belonging to his noble ancestors in the female line. England has not lost a more accomplished officer, nor society a more amiable man. He was wellbred, but diffident and unassuming, with a sincerity and simplicity of character, which were so strongly expressed in his countenance, as to induce a prepossession in his favour, which was afterwards confirmed. He owed his appointments solely to his merit, and was selected for that alone by the duke, as both himself and his family held opposite politics to those of his grace. He fell covered with wounds, and with glory, in his 43d year. The greater number of his companions in