minded young man, at length acquiesced; and Major Mac Geechy having volunteered to command the storming party, he and Dyas made the necessary arrangements to reconnoitre the fort that evening.

They made a detour by the edge of the river, and succeeded in reaching unperceived to within a short distance of the fort. Under cover of some reeds, they carefully examined the breach, which, to Major Mac Geechy, appeared a practicable one, but Dyas, better informed from experience, combated all the arguments of his companion, and desired him to watch attentively the effect of the next salvo from our batteries; he did so, and appeared satisfied with the result, "Because the wall," he remarked to Dyas, "gave way very freely." "Yes," replied Dyas, "but did you observe how the stones fell instead of rolling; rely on it if there was any rubbish about the base or face of it, the stones would roll and not fall." The observation was not lost on Major Mac Geechy, but it having been decided that the attack was to be made that night, both the leader of the forlorn-hope and the commander of the storming party at once made up their minds for the trial.

At ten o'clock at night, 200 men moved forward to the assault, Dyas leading the advance. He made a circuit until he came exactly opposite to the breach instead of entering the ditch as before: a sheeppath, which he remembered in the evening while he and Major Mac Geechy made their observations, served to guide them to the part of the glacis in front of the breach. Arrived at this spot, the detachment descended the ditch, and found themselves at the foot of the breach; but here an unlooked-for event stopped their further progress, and would have been in itself sufficient to have caused the failure of the attack. The ladders were entrusted to a party composed of a foreign corps in our pay, called "the Chasseurs Britanniques" these men, the moment they reached the glacis, glad to rid themselves of their load, flung the ladders into the ditch, instead of sliding them between the palisadoes; they fell across them, and so stuck fast, and being made of heavy green wood, it was next to impossible to move, much less place them upright against the breach, and almost all the storming party were massacred in the attempt.

Placed in a situation so frightful, it required a man of the most determined character to continue the attack. Every officer of the detachment had fallen, Major Mac Geechy one of the first; and at this moment, Dyas and about five-and-twenty men were all that remained of the 200. Undismayed by these circumstances, the soldiers persevered, and Dyas, although wounded and bleeding, succeeded in disentangling one ladder, and placing it against what was considered to be the breach, it was speedily mounted, but upon arriving at the top of the ladder, instead of the breach, it was found to be a stone wall that had been constructed in the night, and which completely cut off all communication between the ditch and the bastion, so that when the men reached the top of this wall, they were, in effect, as far from the breach as if they had been in their own batteries.

From this faithful detail it is evident that the soldiers did as much as possible to ensure success, and that the failure was owing to a combination of untoward circumstances over which the troops had no control. Nineteen men were all that escaped.

On the night of the 8th of June, (the one previous to the second assault,) Ensign Dyas being on duty in the trenches, an order arrived to send an officer and fifteen men to a hollow spot in front of our lines, between San Christoval and the tête du pont, close to the Roman bridge which communicated with the Elvas gate. I know not how it happened, but Dyas was selected for this arduous duty. The object of this movement was for the purpose of observing if any and what communication or reinforcement would be sent to the fort. The detachment was to be recalled before day.

The night was unusually still, and every sound was distinctly heard, but nothing could be ascertained except that one piece of ordnance (a howitzer, I believe,) had passed over to the fort. Day at last began to dawn, yet no order had been received for the withdrawal of the party so stationed; their situation was most critical-within point blank shot of the fort in their rear. Dyas ordered his men to lie flat on their faces, though he every moment expected his situation would be discovered, and a rush made at him; nevertheless, unintimidated by his perilous posture, he dispatched a trusty man to the trenches, with orders to make known to the officer commanding the information he had been enabled to collect, and to know what was to be the final duty of the party.

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"Now, mind," said Dyas, " if we are to be recalled, do you raise your cap on your firelock above the battery No. 1; if we are to remain, you know what your duty is." By J, and plase your Honour, I do; and recall or no recall, I'll be back with you in five minutes dead or alive," replied the poor fellow, who, I need not add, (after his speech,) was an Hibernian. "Do as you are ordered, Sir," said Dyas,

we have not a moment to lose." A few minutes (a long time under such circumstances) only elapsed before the signal agreed upon was made; and Dyas, addressing a few words to his men, told them their safety depended on their adhering strictly to his directions. He then started them singly to different parts of the lines, and singular as it may appear, although it was now clear daylight, not one man was hit. What a fine fellow at the head of a regiment would this Dyas be!

It may, perhaps, be asked by persons unacquainted with these details, what became of Ensign Dyas, and they no doubt will say what a lucky young man he was to gain promotion in so short a time; but such was not the case, although he was duly recommended by Lord Wellington. This was no doubt an oversight, as it afterwards appeared, but the consequences have been of material injury to Ensign, now Capt. Dyas. This officer, like most brave men, was too modest to press his claim, and after having served through the entire of the Peninsular war, and afterwards at the memorable battle of Waterloo, he, in the year 1820-ten years after his gallant conduct-was, by a mere chance, promoted to a company, in consequence of the representation of Colonel Gurwood (another, but more lucky, forlorn-hope man) to Sir Henry Torrens.

Colonel Gurwood was a perfect stranger (except by character) to Dyas, and was with his regiment, the 10th Hussars, at Hampton Court, where Sir Henry Torrens inspected the 51st Regiment. Colo

nel Ponsonby and Lord Wiltshire, (not one of whom Dyas had ever seen,) also interested themselves in his behalf; and immediately on Sir Henry Torrens arriving in London, he overhauled the documents connected with the affair of San Christoval, and finding all that had been reported to him to be perfectly correct, he drew the attention of His Royal Highness the Duke of York to the claims of Lieut. Dyas.

His Royal Highness, with that consideration for which he was remarkable, immediately caused Lieut. Dyas to be Gazetted to a company in the 1st Ceylon regiment.

Capt. Dyas lost no time in waiting upon Sir Henry Torrens and His Royal Highness the Duke of York. The Duke received him with his accustomed affability, and after regretting that his promotion had been so long overlooked, asked him what leave of absence he would require before he joined his regiment. Capt. Dyas said, "Six months, if His Royal Highness did not think it too long." "Perhaps," replied the Duke, "you would prefer two years." Capt. Dyas was overpowered by this considerate condescension on the part of the Duke, and after having thanked him, took a respectful leave; but the number of campaigns he had served in, had materially injured his health, and he was obliged to retire on the half-pay of his company.

(To be continued.)

SINGULAR ORDER OF GEN. PRESCOTT IN 1794.

MR. EDITOR,-The following unique order, which I met with lately among the papers of a deceased friend, I believe to be genuine. It is an amusing specimen of the want of harmony that used in the "olden time" to exist between the Services-often, it is to be feared, to the prejudice of the public good. The Services now pull heartily together, and we may both enjoy a laugh at the whimsical rebuke the gallant Admiral met with for his interference in matters "out of his own element."

Yours,

"LIEUT.-GEN. PRESCOTT'S ORDERS.

AMERICUS.

"St. Pierres, 16th June 1794.

"Whereas, Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis has given orders, I am told, frequently, here on shore, and particularly, by a note dated off Point Petre, June 11th, 1794, which must have arisen from great ignorance, or great presumption and arrogance.

"If from ignorance, poor man! he is to be pitied; but if from presumption and arrogance, he is to be checked.

"It is therefore Lieut.-Gen. Prescott's orders, that in future no attention whatever is to be given to such Notes, or Orders, and his signature to such, to be as little regarded, as that of John Oakes, or Peter Styles."

THE SERVICES OF THE LATE ADMIRAL

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF NORTHESK, G.C.B. AND REAR-ADMIRAL OF GREAT BRITAIN.

THE Earl of Northesk was descended from an ancient family which had been settled for several centuries in the county of Angus, North Britain. In the reign of Charles I. the first creation of John Carnegie took place by the title of Lord Inglismaldie, Lord Lour, and Earl of Ettrie, which two latter titles he afterwards exchanged for those of Earl of Northesk, and Lord Rosehill. As was to be expected, the family were greatly attached to the unfortunate Sovereign by whom the honour had been conferred, and in consequence, the hatred of the Protector became particularly directed against them. For their loyalty to Charles, Oliver Cromwell caused them to be fined 10,000l. They were afterwards staunch supporters of the Revolution, and conspicuous for their steady and unceasing loyalty to the House of Hanover. The family mansion was taken possession of by the Pretender in the rebellion of 1715, when the Countess of Northesk was forced to fly, and sought refuge in Edinburgh Castle, where her ladyship was delivered of a son, who was christened George, after his Majesty George I. who condescended to be one of the sponsors, and was represented by proxy. This son became the Earl of Northesk, and entered as midshipman in the Royal Navy, passed through the several gradations of rank, and was Admiral of the Blue in 1773; became Admiral of the White, and died January 21st, 1792, aged 77 years.

The gallant nobleman, whose services we are now recording, was the third son of the above-mentioned Admiral, by Lady Ann Leslie, eldest daughter of the fifth Earl of Leven and Melville; and was born in 1758. At the age of eleven, Mr. William Carnegie embarked in the Albion with Capt. the Hon. Samuel Barrington; and afterwards served in the Southampton frigate with Capt. Mackbride, at the time he conveyed the Queen of Denmark to Zell; and in the Squirrel with Capt. Stair Douglas. Having undergone the necessary examination, Mr. Carnegie obtained an acting appointment as lieutenant of the Nonsuch, and in 1777 was confirmed into the Apollo, by Lord Howe. He afterwards served under Sir John Lockhart Ross in the Royal George, at the capture of the Caracca Fleet off Cape Finisterre, of the Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Langara, and at the relief of Gibraltar; then in the West Indies with Lord Rodney, who promoted him from the Flag-ship after the action of the 17th April 1780, to be Commander of the Blast Fire-ship. He was subsequently removed into the St. Eustatia; and was present at the reduction of the island of that name, 3rd of February 1781.

On the 7th of April 1782, Captain Carnegie obtained his post rank, and came home in the Enterprize, which in consequence of the peace was paid off. In 1788 his eldest brother died, when he succeeded to the title of Lord Rosehill, and on the equipment of the fleet, in consequence of the dispute with Spain, relative to Nootka Sound, was appointed to command the Heroine frigate, but was soon after paid off.

On the death of his lordship's father, on the 29th of January 1792, he succeeded to the title of Earl of Northesk.; and in January of the following year, proceeded to the West Indies in command of the

Beaulieu frigate, and returned from thence in the Andromeda in December, and was soon after placed upon half-p -pay.

Lord Northesk remained unemployed until 1796, when he was appointed to the Monmouth, 64, and joined the North Sea fleet under the command of Admiral Viscount Duncan.

In May 1797, the mutiny, which had commenced in the Channel fleet, extended to the ships employed in the North Sea, and the Monmouth was brought by her refractory crew to the Nore. Perhaps, at no period was an event more to be deplored than this insubordination of the seamen. The nation being involved in a war in which her naval force could only be employed, and that force in rebellion against those who had its direction, caused universal gloom through all classes of society. At length some symptoms of return to their duty began to appear, and the mutineers sent for Lord Northesk on board the Sandwich, (the ship where Parker, the ringleader, and his misguided associates daily assembled,) to endeavour to effect a reconciliation with Government. On the 6th of June, the two delegates of the Monmouth went on board that ship from the Sandwich, with a request that his lordship, who was confined to his cabin, would accompany them. On reaching the Sandwich, Lord Northesk was ushered into the cabin, where Richard Parker, as President, and about sixty seamen, acting as delegates, from the several ships, were sitting in close deliberation. Lord Northesk was accompanied by a gentleman, and before the commencement of business, Parker demanded to know who he was: upon being told he was an officer of the Monmouth, who accompanied his lordship as secretary," he said, "Who knows him?-say, delegates of the Monmouth, what kind of man is he?" The delegates replied, a worthy good man," and it was instantly voted that he might attend the conference. The president of these infatuated men then said to his Lordship-" That the committee, with one voice, had come to a declaration of the terms on which alone, without the smallest alteration, they would give up the ships; and they had sent for his Lordship as one who was known to be the " seaman's friend," to be charged with them to the King, and he must pledge his honour to return on board with a clear and positive answer within fifty-four hours." Parker then read the letter to his Majesty. Lord Northesk informed the delegates, that "he certainly would bear the letter as desired; but could not, from the unreasonableness of their demands, flatter them with any expectation of success." They persisted, that "the whole must be complied with, or they would immediately put the fleet to sea."

he was

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The following paper was then handed by Parker to his Lordship, and is a curious document of the methodical manner in which the rebels conducted their mischievous designs.

"TO CAPT. LORD NORTHESK.

"Sandwich, June 6th, 3 P.M. "You are hereby authorised and ordered to wait upon the King, wherever he may be, with the resolutions of the Committee of Delegates, and are directed to return back with an answer within fifty-four hours from the date hereof. (Signed) "R. PARKER, President."

Upon receiving these instructions his Lordship left the Sandwich, three cheers being given by the mutineers, and he was put on board the Duke of York, Margate packet, for London.