selves on a footing with British soldiers, they were well dressed, well fed, had the command of money, and looked with a contempt, which they did not conceal, on their less favoured black brethren, who in return regarded them with hatred and envy. These feelings were increased by the gay appearance of the black soldiers attracting the notice of the negro women,—a fertile and never failing source of jealousy, hatred, and revenge. So long as these causes existed, the danger of black troops joining in any negro insurrection must have been small; and although it is not to be expected that they can oppose European troops without hazard, yet they are regular in quarters, and have shown few symptoms of insubordination. If their ignorance of the English language, and incapability of comprehending instructions, had been recollected, a mild system of discipline would, in the first instance, have been more efficacious, and probably those acts of insubordination would have been avoided. The black regiments would have formed a valuable addition to our West India garrisons, by placing a proportion in each colony, along with the white troops, who would thus have been relieved from the most unhealthy duties; for, while hot, close, low situations, such as many West India towns present, destroy the health of European troops, they agree best with the blacks; and while the latter could have performed the duties there, the former might have been kept in those high, cool, and healthy spots, which abound in all the islands; and in this way many of our European soldiers would have been saved. Certainly any plan that would tend to preserve the lives of such soldiers as those of the 50th and 92d regiments, (who had served together under Sir Ralph Abercromby, Sir John Moore, and the Duke of Wellington,) is worth some risk, even if there were any, which, in the present case, it is hoped there is not. The 92d are now healthy, and have a prospect of a long continuance of this blessing, which may enable them to return to England, as the 42d did from the West Indies in 1797, with

scarcely one in 507 on the sick list. And when, in future, the Gordon Highlanders receive recruits, may they be such men as those, who, in the early service of the corps under Lord Huntly, so conducted themselves, that, when a short time quartered in disturbed countries, " peace and order were established, rapine had disappeared, confidence in the Government was restored, and the happiest cordiality subsisted, since his regiment came among them."

SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS,

OR

NINETY-THIRD REGIMENT.

1800.

THERE are few regiments in his Majesty's service which, in all those qualities requisite to constitute good soldiers, and valuable members of society, excel this respectable body of men. None of the Highland corps is superior to the 93d regiment. I do not make comparisons in point of bravery, for, if properly commanded, they are all brave; but it is in those well regulated habits, of which so much has been already said, that the Sutherland Highlanders have for twenty years preserved an unvaried line of conduct. The light infantry company of this corps has been nineteen years without having a man punished. This single fact may be taken as sufficient evidence of good morals; for, although the light company is composed of picked men, the choice depends less on character than on personal appearance, and these companies are frequently the most irregular; perhaps as much from that overflow of animal spirits peculiar to men in the prime of life, as from any great degree of immoral propen

VOL. II.

sity. Such, however, is the character and conduct of this light company, and of nineteen men out of every twenty in the regiment. Indeed, the few exceptionable characters in the corps were men raised in large towns, but the proportion of these has been small. On their first formation in 1800, the strength of the regiment was 596 men, and 34 serjeants. Of the soldiers 460 were Sutherland men; the others were principally from Ross, and the neighbouring counties. In 1811 the number of Scotch and Highlanders was 1,014, of Irish 17, and of English 18, and in these proportions they have continued down till the present time.

A Fencible regiment of Sutherland men, embodied in 1793, was disbanded in 1798, without any attempt to encourage the men to re-enlist in regiments of the line; but in May 1800 Major-General William Wemyss of Wemyss, who had been Colonel of that corps, received authority to raise a regiment of 600 men, with instructions to endeavour, if possible, to prevail on the men of the Fencible corps to return to their ranks in this new regiment, which was to be of the line. This was an arduous undertaking, for the men had been already eighteen months settled in different situations, which they were unwilling to relinquish. However, the complement required was raised, (of which, as I have said, 460 were men of Sutherland,) and the corps was soon afterwards augmented, first to 800, and then to 1,000 men, with officers in proportion.

The regiment was inspected by Major-General Hay at Inverness in August 1800, and in September embarked for Guernsey, where it was stationed till September 1802, when it was ordered to Scotland to be reduced. But symptoms of a renewal of the war appearing, the order for reduction was countermanded, and the destination changed for Ireland. In that station nothing worthy of notice occurred, till the month of July 1805, when this battalion formed part of an armament embarked at Cork, under the command of Major-General Sir David Baird, intended for the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope. This expedition consisted of

three companies of artillery, 200 men of the 20th Light Dragoons, and the 24th, 38th, 71st, 72d, 83d, and 93d regiments, with the 59th, destined for India.

The troops were embarked, and sailed in the beginning of August 1805, and after a boisterous passage reached the Cape, and anchored in Table Bay on the 4th of January 1806, when they were immediately brigaded. The 24th, 38th, and 83d, were under the command of Brigadier-General Beresford, and the Highland brigade of the 71st, 72d, and 93d regiments, under Brigadier-General Ronald C. Ferguson. The surf being violent, on the 5th BrigadierGeneral Beresford, with the cavalry and 38th regiment, was detached to Saldanha Bay, to effect a landing there. This was done without opposition a few days afterwards, and on the 6th, the surf having somewhat abated, the Highland brigade landed in Lospard Bay, experiencing a slight opposition from a light corps of the enemy scattered along the heights bordering on the shore. On this occasion Lieutenant-Colonel Pack of the 71st and a few men were wounded, and 35 men of the 93d lost by the upsetting of a boat in the surf.

The stores being landed on the 7th, the troops advanced on the 8th, and ascending to the summit of the Blaw-Berg, (or Blue Mountains,) the enemy was perceived drawn up on a plain, in two lines of about 5,000 men, with twentythree pieces of cannon. General Baird quickly formed his troops in two columns, and directed the first brigade, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Baird, (in the absence of Brigadier-General Beresford,) towards the right, while the Highland brigade, thrown forward on the high road, advanced on the enemy, who opened a heavy fire of grape, round shot, and musketry. Seemingly determined to retain their position, the enemy kept up a smart fire as our troops approached, till General Ferguson gave the word to charge. The order was instantly obeyed. The charge was so impetuous, and apparently so irresistible, that the enemy, appalled and panic-struck, fired the last volley in a

manner without aim or effect, gave way at all points, and fled in great confusion, having sustained a loss of more than 600 men killed and wounded, while that of the British was only 16 killed, and 191 wounded. The 93d lost 2 soldiers killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Honeyman, Lieutenants Scobie and Strachan, Ensigns Hedrick and Craig, 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 51 privates, wounded. The enemy made no further resistance, and thus easily was this important colony acquired.

From that period the Sutherland regiment remained in garrison at the Cape till embarked for England. * In August 1814 it landed at Plymouth, and in the following 'month was placed under the command of Major-General Keane, along with other troops destined to reinforce the army in North America. The fleet sailed on the 18th of September, and touching at Barbadoes, reached Jamaica, and there joined the squadron under Vice-Admiral the Honourable Alexander Cochrane, with 3,500 troops on board. General Keane assuming the command of the whole, amounting to 5,400 men, sailed from Jamaica on the 27th November, and, on the 13th December, landed near Cat Island, at the entrance of a chain of lakes leading to New Orleans. After a few preparatory arrangements, the troops were landed at the head of the Bayone on the 23d without opposition, but on the following night they were attacked by a considerable force of infantry, supported by a strong corps of artillery. After repeated efforts, the enemy were repulsed with loss. On the 25th MajorGeneral the Honourable Sir Edward Pakenham arrived, and took the command of the army. On the 27th the

* In 1813, a second battalion was added to this regiment. It was formed at Inverness; and, after some instructions in discipline, was destined to join the army under the Duke of Wellington in France; but, owing to the peace of 1814, this destination was changed to North America. The battalion was embarked, and landed in Newfoundland, where it was stationed sixteen months; and then returning to Europe in 1815, was reduced soon after landing.