MEMOIRS OF -SIR THOMAS PICTON.

IT is probable that materials for a complete biography of PICTON do not exist, or, if they did, it is not likely that they could be pro- cured. Many of the officers whom his temper and peculiari- ties of manner offended, many of the officials whose self-importance his stern independence galled, are probably dead; or, were they living, it is not likely they would be ready to avow the whispered insinuations they spread against him, or the underhanded injuries they did him. But could his career, and the whole of the cir- cumstances by which it was impeded, be placed before the world, we are satisfied that it would afford an extraordinary instance of the abets of an inflexible will both in achieving distinc- tion and in retarding its attainment. The name of PICTON is as extensively knoivn as that of his great leader (though. his fame is of an inferior kind), and it is beyond all comparison greater than that of men who were somewhat unfairly raised to the Peerage over his head; but few celebrated soldiers have been more unfortunate. He entered the Army very young, and at a time when the commonest soldierly acquirements were rare enough ; yet he had reached the prime of life before had an op- portunity of displaying his abilities, and that opportunity he created for himself. His advancement was then rapid, in despite of the obstacles of professional form; yet his very successes in- volved him in difficulties, which for several years embittered his life and tarnished his fame, and would have utterly crushed a less determined spirit. The Peninsular war at length afforded him an opportunity for distinction, of which we need not say that he availed himself. But, in despite of his courage, skill, and services, be procured no solid advantage from his fame ; and the titular dis- tinctions granted by his Sovereign were limited to a Grand Com- mandership of the Bath, and permission to retain that rank off duty which could not conveniently be taken from him in the pre- sence of the enemy. It is possible that the crowning glory of Waterloo might have placed him on a level with his more pliant comrades, and procured him a peerage and a pension ; but death intercepted his career at the time when fortune might have re- compensed his exertions.

The naked incidents of PICTON'S earlier life were few and un- important. He was born in August 1758, at Poyston, in Pem- brokeshire. Though a younger brother, he was entitled to con- siderable property on the death of his mother ; but, as this event was of course not immediately looked for, it was deemed necessary that he should follow a profession ; and the earliest thoughts of the future hero were turned towards the army, nor "would he hear of any other." We are told that he devoted himself a ith ardour to the preparatory studies which are necessary to the scientific soldier, and that he had made some advancement in general and classical literature; but, as he was gazetted an Ensign in his fourteenth year, we presume that his proficiency could not have been great. However, he continued at school nearly two years longer before be joined his regiment, which was commanded by his uncle, and was then stationed at Gibraltar. In this fortress lie remained some six or seven years, " persecuting.' and, doubtless, puzzling the officers of the garrison with questions as to the -uses of every

part of the works, and forming ideal plans of attack and defence. He also amused his leisure by making frequent excursions into the Interior of Spain ; and in these trips acquired a knowledge of

the S. panish language which he afterwards found of considerable service ; and he further studied the theory of war from such

books as he could procure. In his nineteenth year (1777), Ensign

P. ICTON was promoted to a Lieutenancy ; and becoming tired of gar- rison duty, and anxious fora life of more active service, he exchanged

in the following year into the Seventy-fifth, and was gazetted Captain before he was twenty. So far he had sailed prosperously, but now his ill fortune commenced. A few months after he had left Gibraltar, the memorable siege began ; and, during its three years continuance, Captain PICTON had the mortification of passing i his time n country quarters. In 1783, his regiment was reduced;

and, like many others similarly circumstanced, the men, after the order to disband them was read, mutinied, "assembling together in a body, and entering into a general compact not to give up their arms or obey their officers." This took place at Bristol ; and as several other regiments were at that time in the city, the most fearful apprehensions were entertained by the inhabitants lest the contagion should spread, and a disorderly soldiery be let loose Upon them. Some officers were quickly on the spot, endeavouring, but without effect, to persuade the soldiers to return to their

duty. Whilst matters were in this state, information of the mutiny was conveyed to P1CT0N ; who quickly reached the scene of action, and exhibited a specimen of that promptitude and energy by which he was afterwards distinguished.

Having singled out in an instant the most active of the mutineers, he drew his sword, and, without a moment's hesitation, rushed into the midst of them, seized him, and dragged him forth from amongst his comrades, when he was immediately taken by some non .commissioned officers win) had followed their Captain, and placed under arrest. This decisive act daunted the prisoner's mutinous companions, and they saw him in silence led off to the guard-house. A few words from their Captain, spoken in a tone which did not saints to admit of reply, or lily thing but obedience, now sent them at once to their barracks.

For this action our hero received the thanks of the King and a promise from the Commander-in-Chief of " the first vacant Majority." This promise was never kept, and no rea- son is assigned for its violation ; but, looking at the nature of the service, the attention royalty bestowed upon it, the care with which specific promises are usually fulfilled by offi- cial men of rank, and the previously rapid promotion of Pie- TON, the only reasonable conclusion seems to be, that for some cause or other lie must have been in bad odour at the Horse Guards. This opinion is in a measure confirmed by the subse- quent neglect he experienced. For nearly twelve years he remained on half-pay ; and even after the breaking out of the war with France his repeated applications for employment were treated with official indifference, notwithstanding the then scarcity of officers acquainted with even the commonest rudiments of their trade. Tired out at last with soliciting the War-office, PICTON, in his thirty-seventh year, embarked for the West Indies, as a volunteer, on the strength of a slight acquaintance with Sir JOHN VAUGHAN, the Commander-in-Chief of that station. By him he seems to have been appreciated. He was soon appointed to the Seventeenth Foot, and made his confidential aide-de-camp; and shortly afterwards raised to a Majority, with the appointment of Deputy Quartermaster-General.

The tetirement and subsequent death of VAUGHAN would, however, have blighted Picrosis prospects had he not attracted the notice of ABERCROMBIE. That gallant veteran encouraged him to remain with him, instead of returning to England; and he bore a part, though at first only as a volunteer, in the subse- quent attacks upon the French and Spanish colonies, until, on the surrender of Trinidad, he was nominated by ABERCROMBIE Governor of the island,—an appointment which was eventually the cause of so much injury to his fame.

For this post he was, however, peculiarly qualified by his character and acquirements. The majority of the inhabitants were a collection of pirates, fraudulent debtors, stealers of slaves, and refugee revo- lutionists from the French settlements. They were held in such esti- mation by the Grenadians that, by a law of that island, "all persons coming from Trinidad" were compelled to give a bond of one thou- sand pounds sterling for their good behaviour, and in default of it "to be declared a vagabond,and, without any other proof than usual orfrequent residence in Trinidad, to be committed to gaol." The stern character of PICTON was just adapted to rule a population of this kind,—by whom kindness would have been misapprehended, and with whom weakness would have been fatal ; and his know- ledge of Spanish gave him great facilities for administering the laws and carrying on the public business. At Trinidad he re- mained for five years, having baffled several conspiracies, reduced the island to tranquillity, and caused, by his prudent measures,. a considerable increase in its commerce, whilst the population had augmented from 17,718 to 28,427. A scheme of Lord SID- MOUTH'S for governing the Colonies by Commission finally caused his resignation; and a Colonel FULLARTON, the chief Commis- sioner, (a man who seems to have been sent out as a kind of official spy,) soon afterwards brought against him different charges of cruelty, tyranny, and almost every other enormity that a Colonial Governor can commit.

Of this case, which occupied the public attention for some years, our younger readers may never have heard; to our older readers it must be familiar. Numerous allegations were made against PICTON in pamphlets, and in an accusation before the Privy Council (which, after a long inquiry, was dismissed); but the specific charge brought against him in the Court of King's Bench was for allowing a Creole girl, accused of robbery, to be tortured. The answer to the charge was, that the practice was directed by the Spanish law, which the instructions of the Go- vernor bound him to obey. On the first trial, PICTON was found guilty, by the extra-professional assertion of GARROW, and the- perjury of a witness, who swore that the law of Old Castile- was not in force in the colony at the time of the surrender; but on a subsequent trial he received an acquittal, qualified by the words " independent of the illegality of the act," which left it to the Judges to decide whether such a punishment

should have been inflicted by a British Governor,—a decision that was never called for. That the girl picketted was a bad character

and guilty of the crime alleged against her, is clear ; the application of the question, moreover, was legal, its infliction was slight, it was demanded by the proper officer, and substantial justice was the result of the whole proceedings. The inhabitants of Trinidad voted a sword to their Governor, as a proof of them approbation ; they raised nearly four thousand pounds by subscrip-

tion towards paying the expenses of his prosecutions ; and the Council passed a vote of censure on his accuser. But, after allow- ing every weight to these points, if we do not altogether agree with a respectable contemporary that his conduct on this occasion

" involves decided moral guilt," it certainly displayed a very soldier-like disregard of means, protrided the end was attaitied.

This untoward affair rendered P1CT0N, for a time odious in popular estimation; and the expenses cost him many thousand pounds, which were defrayed by the liberality of his uncle; the subscription of Trinidad being returned towards relieving the dis- tress consequent upon a hurricane, and an offer of ten thousand pounds from the eccentric Duke of QUEENSBERRY being declined. It also reduced him to inactivity for six years of his life ; but towards the close of the proceedings he received a Staff appoint- ment in the absurd expedition to Walcheren. The result of this as regards our hero was a fever : on his recovery he was directed to join the army in Spain,—as it now appears, at the express soli- citation of the Duke of WELLINGTON, by whom he was appointed to the command of the third, or, as it was soon nicknamed, the "fighting division."

This advancement took place in his fifty-second year. To follow him through the remainder of his life, would be to write a history of the Peninsular war. Suffice it to say, that his services began with the retreat upon Torres Vedras, and that he was present till the attack upon Toulouse ; that he twice received the thanks of the House of' Commons ; retired to private life for a few months at the peace; was called to Flanders at the solicitation of

WELLINGTON, commanded at the bloody battle of Quatro Bras, and, as is known to every one, fell at Waterloo. It may not be

so generally remembered, that he was severely wounded in the former action, but, binding up his broken ribs with the assistance of an old servant, he kept the injury concealed from his officers, nor was his wound discovered till after his death.

As an officer, the most distinguishing characteristic of PicToisr was his intrepidity. Ile seemed to have no idea of fear himself, nor to presume its existence in his own soldiers; but his courage was not of that headstrong and unreasoning kind which exhibits itself in isolated feats or in exploits of useless brilliancy. In many actions, if the valour of his " fighting division "did not turn the scale of the battle, it at least hastened the victory. At the dreadful storm of Badajoz, the success of P1CTON caused the order for retreating to be countermanded ; and his firmness at Quatre Bras enabled the battle of Waterloo to be fought. But even the disproportion of excellence is injurious to the effect of a whole.

The surpassing courage of PICTON,coupled with the circumstance

of his not having held an independent command, has given rise to ,a notion that he was a mere breve,—an opinion that certainly ap-

pears unfounded. Howeverdaring in the attack itself, there is not the slightest reason to suppose that he would ever have planned one without estimating the chances of success and failure; and the long study which he gave to the theory of his profession, not only at •Gibraltar, but during his twelve years' inaction, is sufficient to disprove the idea of his being nothing but a charger. His success at Trinidad, and his official letters from that island, show that his qualifications were not merely warlike. His private correspondence also indicates, that if he could not have conceived the plan by wh:ch WELLINGTON liberated Portugal, he could at least penetrate i &design before it was developed; and from the same source we discover, that he possessed a quality not characteristic of a mere fighter, that of reflective observation.

As regards Prom:es personal character, it would appear that the popular opinion of his stern austerity was true, but not the whole truth. His temper was quick, and he never restrained it out of re- spect to persons ; whilst, unlike the generality of men, he exposed his worst dispositions and concealed his best. Hence his harshest thoughts were expressed in his harshest tones and manner, but he-subdued all appearance of the softer and more amiable feelings, as though they had been weaknesses derogatory to his character. The officers immediately connected with him appear to have loved him in life, and respected his memory : and several anecdotes are given in this work, which show, that if not full of the milk of human kindness, he had more than was generally supposed. But it must be admitted that, for the most part, pity moved his soul to ire. The devastations of the French roused his indignation, and prompted him to punish : when his troops were half starving for sipplies, he neither bewailed their fate nor complained to the au- thorities, but threatened the commissariat ; and amidst the tri- umphant horrors of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz. PICTON was to be found protecting the inhabitants after the fashion in which be quelled the mutiny at Bristol. He also seems to have had a spice of humour, or what he meant as such. "The marble sometimes relents and trickles in a joke," or even in a camp compliment; but the joke was ever satirical, and the compliment a military horta- tive extorted by the necessity of the case.

These Memoirs are not of a kind to afford many extracts, un- less we took them from the often-told tale of the Peninsular battles and sieges. The anecdotes of the hero are frequently old, and the new have been apparently furnished by men more skilled in action than in narrating their deeds. The following account, though PICTON is only a coequal in the story, is curious and inte- resting, for various reasons. It illustrates the perils of war, the character of the General, the effects of the "cold shade of the aristocracy," and it gives a sufficient answer to the charge that PicroN neglected his officers. The truth is, that his recom- mendations were never successful, and his proud spirit soon got weary of uselessly soliciting favours.

AN EXPLOIT AT BAOAJOZ.

One of the first to make the daring ascent was Lieutenant Macpherson, of the Forty-fifth (whose name has been before mentioned in this memoir), closely ollowed hy Sir Edward Pakenham. He arrived unharmed to within a few rounds or The tocis, when he disco: sred that the ladder was about three feet too abort. Still en Jaunted, he „Bed lesidly to those below to raise it more per- pendicularly ; and while he, with great exertion, pushed it from the wait at the

at th e base: but this was done

top, the men with a loud cheer brought it rieasel. so suddenly, that Macpherson was even with the rampart before he could pre- pare for defence, and he saw a French soldier deliberately point his musket againat his body ; awl, without having the least pewee to strike it aside, the man fired. The ball struck one of the Spanish silver buttons on his waistcoat, which it broke in half; this changed its deadly directions and made it glance off; not, however, before it had broken two ribs, the fractured part of one being pressed in upon his lungs so as almost to stop respiration'. Still he did not fall, but contrived to hold on by the upper round of the ladder, conscious that he was wounded, but ignorant to what extent. He could not, howevee. advance. Pakenham strove to pass him, but in the effort was also severely wounded. Almost at the same moment the ladder broke: destruction seemed inevitable, for a chevaux de friar of bayonets was beneath. But even at such a moment as this, their presence of mind was unshaken : Pakenham, taking the hand of the wounded Macpherson, said, " God bless you, my dear fellow ! we shall meet again !" And they did meet again, but not where Pakenhain meant, for they both still live.

Macpherson contrived, by getting to the back of the ladder, to descend to the ditch in safety, where he lay for a short time insensible. When reason re- turned, he found him:elf attealed by two of his men, one supporting his head upon his knees, and the other holding a cup of chocolate to his lips : the shots were ploughing up the ground in every direction around them ; but, unmoved and unhurt, they continued their friendly occupation. Macpherson made a violent effort to rise ; during which the bone which had been pressing on his lungs was forced from its place, and he obtained instant relief. Ile arose and again mounted a ladder ; but the walls were now gained : he therefore directed his steps towards the tower, on which he had in the morning seen the French flag waving in proud defiance : his object was to gain it.

'He gained it with some difficulty, and the next morning pre-

sented it to PICTON.

Macpherson's distinguished behaviour had been already reported to the Ge- neral, and lie received him in the most kind and friendly manner ; even the words which he made use of to the young Lieutonina are deeply impressed upon his memory : " Sir," he observed in a tone of deep interest, " I congratulate you on your gallantry, and thank you : this night you have allied your fate to mine," putting out his hand and warmly shaking that of Macpherson. He then continued, " There is a hand will never forsake you ; from henceforth your promotion shall be my look-out." In how far be fulfilled this promiss the reader will have a flume opportunity of observing. General Picton would not accept the flag from the young officer, from a hope that it might do him more service in a higher quarter. " No," he said, " take it to Lord Welling- ton, and show him what the third division can do."

Macpherson was sufferin,g much pain from his wound, and felt little inclina- tion to intrude himself at head-quarters ; but Picton, with friendly warmth, insisted upon his going. Macpherson accordingly presented the flag to the Commander of the Forces. He was thanked, and invited to dinner ; his wound, however, prevented him from accepting this invitation.

General- Picton applied almost immediately to Lord Wellington to give him a company ; but two years after the taking of Bada3oz he was still a Lieutenant.

Even peace cam:?, but MACPHERSON was still a Lieutenant.

The young sillier felt acutely this neglect, and in consequence actually con- templated retiring from the army. About this period, as he was walking one day along Pall 3lall, he saw Sir Thomas Pieton coming towards him with several other officers. This was some months after his departure from Bor- deaux. Macpherson hesitated to address his General : he thought, to use his

own words, "that now Sir Thomas Picton was in London, surrounded by so many men of equal rank, he would wish to avoid a humble Lieutenant." Accord- ingly, as the General asproached, he made no attempt to stop him. I'icton hut not apparently seen him, for lie was deeply engaged in conversation; and Macpherson was passing him, as he thought, unnoticed. But Picton seized his arm, and in his sharp, though friendly manner, exclaimed, " D—e, Sir! are you going to cut me: The Lieutenant was startled; but immediately collecting himself, bowed and observed, " No, Sir ; any officer who served under Sir Thomas Picton's command would be proud of the honour of being recognized by him. But I thought," added the Lieutenant, "you might have forgotten me." " Forgotten you!" repeated Picton' " No, no, Sir, I have not forgotten you ; but come along, Sir,' and he took his arm; "come lime with me, I have got something I want you to copy." Macpherson accordiagly walked to the Grosvenor Coffeehouse with the General, who, upon entering his room, bade him to be seated, when he presently put in his hands a paper for his perusal. This was a meniorial of Lieutenant Macpherson's services, drawn up with much care, and dictated by a tenacious memory. In fact, every incident of the intrepid career of the young soldier was there set forth in the most forcible language.

Macpherson was greatly surprised at this marked instance of friendly con- sideration, and expressed his acknowledgments in the most grateful terms. But Picton did not want thanks, neither would he have them; but, stopping hum short, he desired that he would without delay transcribe that paper into a

more legible text, that he might at once send it to the Horse Guards.- few days after this, Lieutenant Macpherson called upon Sir Thomas, at Is desire, to know the result of his application. He found the General foaniing with rage, with a letter crumpled violently in his hand. " There, Sir, read that !" he said, at the same time giving Macpherson the mutilated letter to peruse; " there is an answer to my application." It did not take long to read. The Lieutenant knew it by heart ; it being, in fact, a Secretary's circular. " No vacancy," but" shall be appointed to the first vacancy. Your most obedient, humble servant," &c. Picton thought, and justly, that he deserved something more than this; his proud spirit could not submit to repeat his applications to the Commander of the Forces sufficiently often to render them successful; for certain it is that very few of those for whom he applied received any reward through his inter- cession. His application was now, however, made where he had a n4lit to ex- pect something more than the formal reply which would be deigned to subaltern. Dissatisfied and annoyed. he told Macpherson to accompany hini to the Horse Guards ; when, as it was levee-day, he was readily admitted into the Duke of York's presence. The substance of his remarks during this inteiview are not known, for Macpherson was not present. The result was, however, soon apparent ; for within a week from that day the Lieutenant was gazetted as a Captain, and received instructions to repair to Chatham to raise a company, there being actually at the time no vacancy. In a literary point of view, the merit of these Memoirs is very slight. Mr. ROBINSON appears to have had no definite idea of what a biography ought to be ; and in the arrangement of such materials as he has collected together, he displays little of judg- ment or skill. The earlier career of his hero is drily told, without any of the minute traits or the characteristic anecdotes which mark the individual. The biographer appears to have considered it a part of his duty to elaborate the unfortunate affair connected with Sir Taomes PICTON'S government of Trinidad, but his prolonged statement has neither art cor method ; it is, moreover, so vague, and so infected with the spirit of partisanship, that it creates sus- picion rather than conviction. The great events of the Peninsula war give something of spirit and rapidity to his narrative in the succeeding parts; and as he has compiled it from other writers, their style and manner has not quite escaped in the transfusion. But he introduces a variety of points which have no relation to his hero, and wanders into discussions which should have been rele- gated to an appendix, and dismissed in less than half the space they now occupy. We are aware that materials for biography may be slender, but when this is the case the fact should deter- mine the length of the book. With Mr. ROBINSON'S advantages, however, we believe a better life of this distinguished officer could have been produced ; for all the family archives were thrown open to him, all the family information placed at his disposal ; and be has also put himself in communication with most of the officers who were connected with Piereer. That he has not lost any in- formation for want of what LIEBER terms "frankness' in de- manding it, will be conjectured when we see him writing to the Duke of Wee eiNceenr, to ask, inter alia, if he was on bad terms with Sir THOMAS. The Great Captain is too polite a man to leave a letter unanswered; and as such a:document is a curiosity in its way, we extract it. We are indebted to it for the information already given as to the origin of Sir THOMAS'S last appointments ; and the statement in the first paragraph is confirmed by the fact of PICTON'S refusing to proceed to Flanders till he was assured that he should be under the Duke's direct command; though the want of a difference between the two officers certainly did not lead to any favouritism towards the inferior, according to some original

anecdo!es in the work. " London, 28th August 1835. "Dear Sir—I have received your letter ; and I have the greatest satisfaction ia giving you the assurance, that not only I was not on bad terms with the late Sir Thomas Picton, but that in the whole course of the period during which I was in relation with him, I do not recollect even a difference of opinion, much less any thing of the nature of a quartel. "My first acquaintance with Sir Thomas Neon was when he joined the

army in the Peninsula as a general officer on the Staff. I had solicited his appointment, because I entertained a high opinion of his talents and qualities from the report which I had received of both from the late General Miranda, who bad known him in the West Indies. I never had any reason to regret, on the contrary, I had numberless reasons to rejoice that I had solicited his ap- pointment. It was made at a moment at which an unmerited prejudice existed against Sir Thomas Picton, the recollection of which was effaced by his services. "I afterwards solicited his appointment to the Staff of the army in Flanders;

than which, I cannot give a stronger proof, not only of my sense of his merits and former services, but likewise that I never was otherwise than on the best terms with him. The countty was deprived of his valuable services on a glorious field of battle, in a short time after he joined the army ; and there was no indi- vidual in that army or in England who lamented his loss more sincerely than I did. I have the honour to be, dear Sir, " Your most obedient, humble servant, "WELLINGTON."