the propagation of the Gospel among the various nations of Hindostan. On the 21st of July in the same year, the proposals of Government for the renewal of the Charter were submitted to the Court of Proprietors, and Sir H. Inglis having moved a resolution, "that the Company should accept the Charter," Sir George Dallas seconded the motion in a speech which was received with acclamation by a crowded Court; and, taking a survey of the past and present position of the Company, enforced the necessity of co-operating in an arrangement which, although framed in a spirit of concession to the altered nature of the times, preserved unimpaired those sovereign functions by which alone the Company's administration could be maintained with benefit to the state. This eloquent exposition of his sentiments, which derived increased authority from his well-known experience in the affairs of India, produced an almost unanimous acquiescence in the Bill submitted to the Court.

The last, and not the least interesting of Sir George Dallas's published works, was his Biographical Memoir of his son-in-law Sir Peter Parker, Bart., Captain of His Majesty's frigate Menelaus.* The death of this lamented young officer had awakened the sympathy of the public mind, and disposed it for the reception of a work illustrating the brilliant actions by which he had sustained the honour of a name so long renowned in the naval annals of his country. It was an affecting tribute of parental grief to the memory of one who was an ornament to his profession; a monument worthy of the hero whose exploits it was destined to record.

The works of Sir George Dallas were distinguished by an elegance of style, which united ease and perspicuity with the happiest graces of expression. When his subject admitted of ornament, his mind, imaginative and brilliant, displayed a richness and power of illustration which extensive reading had improved. His vast knowledge of the affairs of India

* He was killed in action on the coast of America, on the 13th of August, 1814, while leading a detachment of his ship's company and marines to a successful attack on an American force encamped in the neighbourhood of Baltimore.

gave authority to his opinions on the policy best adapted to the condition of that interesting country. An eloquent defender of our civil and religious institutions, he never departed, in his controversial writings, from that elevation and dignity of sentiment which became the principles he had espoused. To the lighter branches of literature he contributed some admired productions; and while in public life he commanded respect by the solidity of his talents, he was highly gifted with those qualities which denote in society the tasteful accomplishments of their possessor.

The virtues of his domestic character awakened feelings of reverence and attachment that will long survive his loss. Generous and devoted in friendship, he attested, by many sacrifices, his exalted estimate of its obligations. There was an attractive sweetness in his manners which flowed from and represented the unbounded benevolence of his soul. A gentle and guileless nature exemplified in him that disposition so happily depicted by the poet

"His Eden with no serpent was defiled;

For all was pure, delicious all, and mild."

Incapable of harsh or uncharitable opinions, he was wont to measure the principles of others by the noble rectitude of his own. A fervent but unaffected spirit of devotion breathed its influence over the tenor of his life; sustained him through the sufferings of a painful malady, and filled him with hope and resignation under the certainty of his approaching end.

Sir George Dallas married, on the 11th of June, 1788, the Hon. Catherine Blackwood, youngest daughter of Sir John Blackwood, Bart. and the Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye. Afflictions chequered the happiness of a union cemented by congenial virtues. The sorrows of the parent found relief in dedicating to the memory of his children compositions of affecting beauty. The tributes of regret to which his own loss has given birth, while they honour departed excellence, may equally soothe the grief of those to whom with his name he has bequeathed the model of a bright and blameless reputation.

From a Correspondent.

41

No. III.

JOHN HERIOT, ESQ.

COMPTROLLER OF CHELSEA HOSPITAL.

MR. HERIOT was a lineal descendant from the family of the Heriots, of Trabroune, in East Lothian, of which the celebrated George Heriot, who built the Hospital at Edinburgh, called by his name, was a younger branch. George Heriot figures, too, in Sir Walter Scott's novel of "The Fortunes of Nigel," where he is introduced as the confidential banker of James I. (which he actually was), and is designated by the facetious monarch, under the familiar title of " Gingling Geordie." The Heriots are of Saxon origin, and the name is still extant in some parts of Germany and the south of France.

The subject of this memoir was born at Haddington, on the 22d of April, 1760. His father was the Sheriff Clerk of the County of East Lothian; an office at that time, and in that country, held in much estimation, although the emoluments of it were probably not very considerable. It afforded, however, the means of living respectably; but, eventually, Mr. Heriot, sen. fell into bad health, and was obliged to leave the place, and remove into Edinburgh.

After having passed through the country schools of Dunse and Coldstream, the subject of this memoir was, in the year 1772, put to the High School of Edinburgh, in which he acquitted himself with great credit, and was then sent to the College. Various misfortunes, however, led to the breaking up of his father's little establishment in Edinburgh, and the family became dispersed. Thus, at seventeen years of age, young Heriot was thrown upon the world, without either pursuit or prospect. In those days, the system of education,

and more particularly in Scotland, was different from what it is at present. Boys were never allowed to mix with men; and, therefore, when circumstances drove them upon their own resources, they laboured under great disadvantages. There is a spring, however, in the youthful mind, which enables it to adapt itself to the most untoward condition; and the subject of our memoir possessed a natural address that, both then and in after-life, proved of essential service to him. He had the good fortune, too, at that time, of having an opportunity of improving it. An uncle of his was settled at Forres, in Morayshire, as a physician, and to him he paid a visit of three months, during which period he became intimately acquainted with all the respectable families in the vicinity. The head of one of these, Mr. Cumming, of Altyre, was so interested in his behalf, that he wrote to his friend, the Duke of Dorset, to request his Grace to procure a pair of colours for the young man. The application was unsuccessful, but the occurrence gave a military bent to Mr. Heriot's mind, which shaped the course of his future life.

After making many efforts, and undergoing the severest hardships in endeavouring to obtain a military appointment in Scotland, Mr. Heriot, in the latter end of the year 1778, determined upon visiting London. He arrived, without knowing an individual in this vast city, with only a single letter of introduction, which was to a lady, and with a sum of money in his pocket so small, that, had he not been accustomed to the greatest privations, he must have been overwhelmed with apprehensions for his present support. After a while, no opening for an establishment in life seeming to present itself, he resolved upon taking a step which, perhaps, only his despair and ignorance of the world, could completely justify or excuse. He wrote to a distinguished Captain in the Navy, describing his situation, and requesting him to endeavour to procure for him a commission in the Marines. Highly to his honour, the officer in question addressed a letter to Lord Sandwich, and obtained the desired object; and the noble Lord himself personally announced the fact to Mr.

Heriot, with a kindness and condescension which made an indelible impression on his mind.

With the friendly aid of the good lady to whom he had been recommended, Mr. Heriot contrived to get equipped; and on the 1st of January, 1779, he appeared for the first time upon the parade of the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth. But, as he could ill afford the expense of remaining on shore, he exchanged with a brother officer for sea duty, and embarked in the Vengeance, of 74 guns, commanded by the Hon. Captain Maitland. In this ship he proceeded, first to the coast of Africa, and afterwards to the West Indies. Captain Maitland here took the command of the Elizabeth, of 74 guns, and the Vengeance was assigned to Commodore Hotham. This, of course, occasioned a total change of officers, and Mr. Heriot was ordered on board the Preston, an old 50-gun ship. Not much liking her, he effected an exchange into the Elizabeth.

In that vessel, which formed one of the fleet under the command of Sir Hyde Parker (known familiarly in the navy by the designation of "Old Vinegar"), Mr. Heriot saw a little service; the Elizabeth being prominently engaged in an attack upon a French convoy, supported by the batteries of Port Royal, and four sail of the line, on the 19th of December, 1779; and, in the battle of the 16th of April, 1780, between the English fleet, under Sir George B. Rodney, and the French fleet, under Admiral Guicher, the Elizabeth maintained for a considerable time an unequal combat with two line-of-battle ships, and had 9 killed, and 16 wounded; among the latter of whom was Mr. Heriot. He was also in the battle, or rather skirmish, of the 19th of May, in the same year.

In July, 1780, Mr. Heriot exchanged into the Brune frigate of 32 guns, commanded by Captain (afterwards Sir Francis) Hartwell; and in that vessel encountered the dreadful hurricane which produced such devastation in the Island of Barbadoes, on the 10th of October, 1780. So providential did Mr. Heriot consider his escape on that occasion, that he kept the anniversary of the hurricane as a solemn festival for the