Memoir of Captain Dalton, ME LOB. By Charles Dalton. (W.
H. Allen and Co.)—Captain Dalton was a gallant soldier who served in the early campaigns of Clive. His one special distinction was his defence of Trichinopoly, 1752-54. He left a diary of his military experiences, a diary of which Robert Orme, the Indian historian, made free use. Most of the details here given are consequently known to students of Indian history. Still, we have no doubt that Mr. Dalton has done well in publishing the original work of his gallant ancestor. One interesting point brought out is, as the editor observes, the proof of the penetrating judgment of Lord Macaulay, who observes on the extraordinary minuteness of Orme's style, without having any idea of the cause,—that the historian transferred long extracts from Dalton's diary to his pages. One curious detail we may quote from the account of the final unsuccessful attack made by the French on Trichinopoly,—that the French soldiers had nine drams of arrack given them before they planted their ladders against the fort wall, and that "every man had a small loaf of bread steeped in arrack in his pocket." "The French," continues the narrator, "always use this method with their people." Captain Dalton lived to a good old age, the descendant and ancestor of a race of soldiers. His picture shows a handsome, determined face. It was painted by Romney, when that artist was working at Kendal, and charging two guineas and a half for a portrait !
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