joined Surcouff, and three years of successful privateership enabled him to retire to Batavia, whence it was understood they embarked for France, when her troubles had subsided into the settlement and repose of imperial despotism.

25

TOM LEGGE.

Of the uncommon men (in modern history), as De Boigne, General Thomas, we possess ample biography. Of the first by his son; the second by Colonel Francklin, dictated by Thomas himself, who was too illiterate to write; and of whom a condensed account, divested of every thing extraneous, could not fail to interest many readers even now. In him was seen the union of wild energy, considerable foresight, and daring intrepidity, with gigantic form and strength, which placed him among the most conspicuous of all who "carved their way to fortune" in that wide field nor is there a reasonable doubt that, but for the brilliant close of his career in the unequal but unavoidable collision with Perron, he would have made Lahore his capital, for the Seiks quailed before the name of Thomas, who spoke of them as soldiers with contempt, and treated them with hard knocks.

With five hundred of his Rohilla cavaliers, he would at any time have disposed of thrice that number of Seik horse; nor, I will pledge myself, would James Skinner refuse the same odds, if we had a break with Runjeet, whose victories are due to "those vile guns" and his disciplined bands.

But besides these great names in the field of enterprise, there were many of lesser note, less favoured by fortune, "who dropped into the grave unpitied and unknown." Of these I became acquainted with one,-poor Tom Legge. It was the day after Christmas A.D. 1807, one of those bright exhilarating mornings, never known in our clime, while in my tent, and intent on protracting the route of Sindia's army from Oodipoor to Cheetore, near which the camp was, a servant announced a respectable native as desirous to speak with me. Figure to yourself a square-built good-looking Rohilla, about forty-five years of age, clad in a yellow chintz alkbalik, red turban, &c., with fair complexion, sandy whiskers, and peculiar physiognomy, announcing him a native of the "Emerald Isle." Taking off his turban with his right hand, and, with a forecastle bow, greeting me in the purest Hibernian, "good morning to your honour!" while, as he uncovered his head, there fell down his back a long, trebly-plaited tail, that would have

done credit to a Chinese mandarin. One of my first questions was on the state of his appetite, as he had just come off a long journey, during which he had fallen among robbers, who had plundered him of everything but his kais and his book; and he was indebted to a good Samaritan for the wardrobe in which he stood before me. I told him, if he was not afraid of pork, there was a cold chine of a wild boar, and mustard withal. "In truth, sir, but I shall be obliged to your honour, for I have not seen either these five-and-twenty years." Having eaten moderately, and quaffed a single glass of beer,-for poor Tom, both from necessity and principle, was more of a stoic than an epicure,he gave me the outline of his life. His recollections of home were scanty. He was a native of the north of Ireland, I think of Donaghadee, where his father was the owner of two small vessels, then constantly employed in carrying emigrants to America. He was very wild, and on his father wishing him to adopt some mechanical employment unsuited to his taste, being then about sixteen, he ran away from home, and entered himself on board a sloop of war (the Swallow, I think), then bound for Madras. Arrived in India, his vagrant principle increased with his strength; he ran away from his ship, and begged his way to Hydrabad, in

Sinde, with whose ruler he obtained service. incident there occurred, which will furnish the date of this era in Tom's life. It was at this period that Nathan Craw,-a name connected with the earliest knowledge we have of that region,—had established a factory at Tatta, which excited so much jealousy, that the Sinde ruler resolved on its annihilation. Tom Legge was deputed as ambassador, and any thing but his own phraseology would mar the most laconic and emphatic speech in the annals of diplomacy. “Mr. Craw, sir, I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news to your honor, but you must bate a retrate, and that immadiately, sir,”—and he specified the time. I do not remember how long he had been there when entrusted with this mission, but altogether he was at that court and in Upper Sinde, five or six years. Thence he went to Mooltan, and remained some time, hence passing through the Indian desert to Jeipoor; but he did not sojourn long with the Rajpoots. He then entered the service of the Jat ruler of Gohud-Gwalior where an Englishman, by name Sangster, commanded what were called the Regulars, a man of skill and ingenuity, under whom Tom learnt the art of casting guns, and whatever belonged to their management. With this knowledge, the errant principle revived; he bade adieu to Colonel Sang