liamson, whose judgment and knowledge of the habits and dispositions of his men, enabled him to make the necessary distinction between unintentional or slight breaches of discipline, and those proceeding from depraved habits, or hardened guilt. Of the latter, indeed, he had none, consequently courts-martial were not frequent, and punishment slight. For neglects, trifling offences, &c. he generally called on the soldiers of their respective companies to bring the offenders to account; to award some slight punishment, and to keep a sharp eye over them afterwards. This mode has prevailed in many Highland regiments, and with the happiest effects, but no small caution is required in the selection of proper men for this moral superintendence. They must be correct in their own conduct, for punishments or advice from men who require both themselves, and show an example of the very conduct they reprobate, cannot be expected to be received even with common patience, far less with respect, and a resolution to benefit by them. Precaution is also required in another point of view, namely, in what manner the men exercise their authority, and that they do not punish too severely, to which, remarkable as the circumstance may appear, they often show no small propensity.

This regiment enjoyed a remarkably good state of health. During seven years, part of which time they were 900 and 1,000 strong, the number of deaths were only 2 officers and 37 non-commissioned officers and soldiers, not being threefourths of a man out of every hundred in each year.

In 1797, the regiment, with the exception of about 50 men, (all the 50 were from the North,) volunteered their services to any part of Europe. The offer being accepted, it entitled the soldiers to pensions when disabled, in the same manner as if in regiments of the line. Neither at that period, nor for many years afterwards, were there any pensions to officers, however severe their wounds, or however much disabled.

In the summer of 1800, Government directed that a proportion of men from the Scotch Fencible regiments should

be allowed to volunteer into regiments of the line, an ensign to be appointed to every fifty men who volunteered. In consequence of this order, the 79th and 92d regiments got 200 men and 4 officers from the Caithness Highlanders.

In 1802, the regiment returned to Scotland, and was reduced in that year.

DUMBARTON.

1794.

In pursuance of the resolution to raise Fencible corps, whose service was to extend over the whole of the British Isles, Colonel Campbell of Stonefield received permission to raise a regiment, to be called the Dumbarton Fencibles, of which he was to be appointed colonel. The orders were dated the 11th of October 1794, and in summer 1795 the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir James Stewart, and reported complete.

The regiment was immediately removed to Guernsey, and, in 1796, was reduced to 500 men-orders being issued to discharge all above that number. In consequence of this measure the regiment was benefited by the dismissal of some indifferent characters recruited in Glasgow and other adjacent towns; so that, although reduced in numbers, it gained in character. It was now an efficient body of men, and in 1797 was removed to Ireland. At this period Lieutenant-Colonel Maclaine of Lochbuy was removed to the Argyle Fencibles, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, an officer of much experience, succeeded him.

During the Irish Rebellion, this corps was actively occupied; and, after this unpleasant service, was employed as a light infantry corps in the mountains, under Sir John Moore, who kept it constantly near his person. It was a gratifying

compliment to a young corps to be thus noticed by so correct a judge of military merit, under whom they might expect to be kept in constant activity while action was necessary, and their military experience and habits improved both by precept and example. By the recommendation of General Moore, a detachment of the regiment was ordered as a guard to 400 rebel prisoners sent to Prussia, with directions that "the detachment should consist entirely of Highlanders, as the service required confidential, trust-worthy men." After the party had performed this duty, and delivered their prisoners, instead of being landed at Leith, as originally directed, they were sent to Deal, on their return from the Continent, and disembarked in Kent, without either money or necessaries. In this state they marched to Holyhead, and crossed over to Ireland, the officer commanding drawing subsistence at the different military stations as he marched along. He joined his regiment with his party complete, and without a complaint against any individual during this long march.

The regiment remained in Ireland till 1802, when they crossed over to Scotland, and were reduced. In testimony of the character of this regiment, I give the opinion of a respectable officer and good judge. "In my long service, I knew not more sober trust-worthy soldiers than those of the Dumbarton regiment, and if at any time any unpleasant circumstance occurred, the men enlisted in the country were exempted."

Thus every concurring testimony, the experience of every officer of observation, and the unerring evidence of time and of innumerable examples in our army, tend to prove that it is to the agricultural population we must look for the best soldiers, and best defenders of the country. They will not only fight with courage in the field, but will raise and

*

For a similar reason, a party of this regiment, under Captain Alexander Graham, then quartered in Dublin, was chosen to accompany the Magistrates when Lord Edward Fitzgerald was apprehended.

preserve the national character by their conduct in quarters, and in no small degree contribute to the safety of the state; for no state is more safe or free from foreign invasion, or in less danger of attack, than when rival or neighbouring nations look on her soldiers with a respect not unmixed with fear. Encroachments and all causes of offence will be avoided and guarded against; and our garrisons may be less numerous, and less expensive, and our military esta blishments reduced. Such could not be the case, if our troops were of dissolute habits, and of courage as unsteady as their principles. Thus, by employing a proper description of men, the character of the nation is maintained with honour, its defence is supported at less expence, and a smaller number of men will be drawn from the productive labour of the country. It has often happened that our colonial conquests have been retaken, owing to the sickness, mortality, and disorganized discipline of those left to defend them, originating in a great measure from intemperance and immoral habits. The cheapness of spirituous liquors in the colonies admitting of an intemperate use of them, dissipation has frequently occasioned mortal diseases, aggravated by the deleterious nature of the spirits, (being generally hot, fiery, and fresh from the still, as these are the cheapest and readiest to be obtained,) to such an extent as not only to weaken the garrison by sickness and death, but to inspire with hope an enemy incapable of resisting our attacks while temperance and discipline were preserved. After the conquest of Guadaloupe in 1794, General Thomas Dundas was left in the command of the island. His talents, zeal, and animated example, preserved order and discipline in his garrison; but when he died, disorganization followed, and the inhabitants who had been friendly, and invited Sir Charles Grey to make a descent on the island, were now irritated by the conduct of the troops. They rose, and with the assistance of Victor Hugues, and a small body of men arrived from France, attacked and defeated the troops in detail, and re

took the colony. * Unfortunately, such instances are not singular.

To such an excess was drunkenness carried in the garrison of Gibraltar, before the government of the Duke of Kent, (by whose exertions that vice was greatly checked,) that it greatly diminished, if not destroyed, the high respect the Spaniards formerly entertained for the British troops; and it was not till after the experience of more than one campaign under the Duke of Wellington, that the conduct of the army restored the confidence of that jealous nation. That the character of British troops should be lowered in the esteem of the world by the prevalence of a vice which may be said to be the root and principal cause of immorality, crime, and unmilitary conduct, whenever such has hap pened in our army, is a subject of deep importance, and greatly to be deplored. When temperance prevails among

* The enemy were fully sensible of the talents of General Dundas, of which they saw proof in the spirit with which he made his attacks when the island was taken; but, instead of respecting, like a generous liberal enemy, the memory of a gallant soldier, they showed so different a feeling, that, with the revengeful and savage ferocity of the revolutionary and republican school, they disinterred his body when they got possession of the island, and, after burning it publicly, scattered the ashes in the air; thus paying a greater compliment to this brave and chivalrous soldier, whom the grave could not shelter from their revenge, than if they had raised a monument of brass to prove, that he " wise, yet unassuming,-brave, mild, and generous."

was

When Guadaloupe was taken by General Beckwith and Admiral Cochrane in 1810, I commanded a brigade of light infantry, and being anxious to show a mark of respect to an officer whom military men might take as their model, and under whom I served early in the war in Flanders, I proposed a subscription among the officers, who united in similar sentiments, to erect a monument to his memory. A sufficient sum was quickly obtained, the General and Admiral warmly joining in this tribute, and an elegant marble monument, executed by an eminent artist in London, was sent out; but as the cession of Guadaloupe at the peace was contemplated, the monument was put up in Trinidad, a colony permanently established as a part of the British dominions.

• Mr Secretary Dundas's Speech, 5th June 1795, on a motion to erect a monument to General Dundas in St Paul's.