At the age of fourteen, young B. went to Darnick, to learn the trade of a weaver; but the great dearth of 1799-1800 coming on, he could earn but fourteen pence a day, half of which went to his master. On this miserable pittance he contrived to subsist. It would be tedious and trifling,' he says, ⚫ to tell how I managed to make up my breakfast, dinner, and supper.' It was by honest means, however, unless pulling a turnip or two in the fields by night, must be considered as an exception. Yet, it must puzzle any but a Scotchman, that a growing lad could by any means make three meals a day out of 6d. for the odd pence were all the provision for the Sunday. He tells us, indeed, that for months together, he never could say, his hunger was once satisfied; but that, so far as he can judge, he never knew so much of what contentment was in all his life.

Notwithstanding my very straitened circumstances, I found ways and means, upon the winter Sabbath evenings, to spare a halfpenny for a candle, that I might be able to read Mr. Boston's Fourfold State, to which I had taken a great liking. I delighted particularly to read and meditate on the Fourth State, where the happiness of saints in a future world is described; and the expression, "they shall hunger no more," had in it an emphasis (though I fear somewhat of a carnal kind) that put more joy in my heart than worldly men can have when their corn and wine are increased.'

When, some time after, his services as a fifer to a regiment of volunteers one afternoon in the week, brought him in an additional eighteen pence, he thought himself made quite ⚫ a gentleman.' In the year 1802, he went in search of work to Peebles, his native place; and here, his new master being serjeant major of the volunteers, he was persuaded to join the corps as fifer. Soon after, the army of reserve was raised, and our musician finding himself obliged either to pay money to insure himself against being drawn, or to run the risk of going for nothing, resolved on taking the bounty. His services as a fifer were gladly accepted by the fife-major of the regiment, which shortly received a route for Ireland. Encamped on the plains of Kildare, he first tasted of the inconveniences of a soldier's life. In a few months, the regiment was removed to Dublin, to the great delight of our hero, who, immediately on his arrival, sought out a teacher of music, of whom he took lessons on the violin and clarionet, for half a guinea a month.

But having' (he adds) already acquired considerable execution on the German flute, I was encouraged myself to give instructions on that instrument; and the money I received in this way, enabled me

to defray the expense of my own teacher, and of buying instruments, music, &c. Here I breathed my native air, I may say; for what with regimental practice, teaching my pupils, attending my own instructions, writing my own music, &c., I certainly had enough of it; yet hardly could I say I was satiated. Even in the night the music was passing before me in review; and when I did not perfectly comprehend my master's lessons during the day, they were sure to be cleared up to me when I awoke during the night. There was no time here allowed for the service of God; no-something of more importance, as I thought, engrossed my mind. But I little thought that this course was preparing me apace for falling a victim before a temptation which was not far distant. It may seem strange to my readers, that I, who seemed to shew so much piety during my apprenticeship, and for some time afterwards, should now live so careless a life; but I had my lashes of conscience sometimes, I assure you, and endeavoured to hush its clamours by saying, I had no opportunity in a barrack-room for prayer, reading my Bible, or serious reflection; and I tried to believe that God would take this for an excuse, particularly as I promised to become a good Christian, when the Lord should deliver me from this confusion. Truly the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. The truth is, my mind was constantly going after its vanities; I found pleasure in nothing but music and musicians.'

The temptation referred to, was the offer of the post of fifemajor to the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Royals, with the rank of Serjeant. His chief objection was, the wickedness of the army; but, after some conflict of feeling, he got over his scruples, and took the bounty. In 1807, the regiment was ordered to India. The ship in which our Author embarked, being insufficiently supplied with water, the men were, during the last month of the voyage, kept on short allowance; the consequence was, that there were at one time one hundred and thirty-two men on the doctor's list; and soon after landing at Prince of Wales's Island, the flux made its appearance. Serjeant B., after struggling for some time with the disorder, was obliged to go to the hospital. The description he gives of his feelings on this occasion, is very forcible.

When I entered the hospital, and looked around me to view the place, and saw the meagre and distressed features of the men stretched upon the beds, and many of the cots empty, as if death had been robbing the place of its inhabitants, to replenish the narrow house appointed for all living,-something awfully solemn stole upon my mind, which I could by no means shake off, and which I am altogether unable to describe. I had not remained here many days when I thought my disorder was taking a turn for the better; but I was deceived in this, because it was only some temporary relief I was receiving from the medicine, for it returned upon me worse than ever. Here I had wearisome nights appointed to me, for in that season I was generally worst. The ward in which I lay was very large, and VOL. XX. N. S.

Y

had a truly dismal appearance at night, being lighted by two or three glimmering lamps, while all around was solemn and still, save the cries and groans of the sufferers, that seemed to contend along the echoing walls; and night after night we were visited by the King of Terrors, to many, I am afraid, in his awfulest form. There were no less than six of his darts struck the next cot to that on which I lay.

You may think that my state in these circumstances was truly deplorable, and you think rightly, for so it was; but I have not told you the worst; for "the spirit of a man may sustain his infirmity," and my spirit was not easily subdued by affliction, but "a wounded spirit who can bear?" and "The arrows of the Almighty were within me, the poison thereof drunk up my spirits;" for here I had time for serious reflection, or rather here it was forced upon me. Here I could not mix with jolly companions to drive away melancholy, and my favourite music could give me no relief. Here too I was compelled to listen to the voice of conscience; and oh, how loudly did it expostulate with me about the answers I formerly gave it in Ireland; namely, I had no opportunity in the confusion of a barrack-room for reading my Bible, meditation, or prayer, but that I would become a good Christian when I was out of the army. Here I was indeed out of the confusion of a barrack-room, but not only still in the army, but far, far from any minister of Christ to give me wholesome counsel. O what would I have given for the company of a godly minister, or pious, well-informed Christian! but, alas! " I looked upon the right hand, but none would know me; refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul." Surely the Lord frequently answers the prayers of his people by "terrible things in righteousness." Here," in the multitude of my thoughts within me," I could entertain little hope of ever coming out of this place again, far less of getting out of the army, when I might have an opportunity of serving God; for death seemed to be making rapid strides towards me, to take me down to the "bars of the pit." But death seemed rather a relief from my agonizing trouble, had it not been that I knew that "after death there is a judgment." And how was my soul to appear before the holy and just Judge of the earth? This was a question I could not answer.'

He lay for several days and nights in this state of agonizing terror and despondency, till at length those words of Scripture, "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, "and thou shalt glorify me,"-suddenly suggested themselves to his mind; and oh,' he exclaims, what a flood of comfort did it impart to my helpless soul!' The next day, a young man who had sailed in the same ship, and was also in the hospital, came and sat down on the bed-side, and entered into conversation with him. On the Serjeant's disclosing his feelings and anxieties, the other, who proved to be a very pious man, talked to him in the most suitable manner, and read him some portions of the Bible. Thus, says our Author,

by God's kindness in sending me this instructor, I was put into the way that leads to everlasting life; and my mind being led into "wis- · dom's ways which are pleasantness and peace," my body began gradually to recover.'

Soon after he had sufficiently recovered to leave the Hospital, he was ordered to Madras, whence they were marched for Wallahjahbad. Here, in little more than a year, they ⚫formed a grave-yard of about two hundred men, women, and children,' out of a regiment something more than a thousand strong. Among the victims was an intimate friend, whose widow Serjeant B. married. It is not a little remarkable, that he had been the means of obtaining permission for her to accompany her husband to India. To the attentions of this excellent woman, he ascribes the preservation of his life. His adventures in India were confined to marches and countermarches, and lying in barracks, and in hospitals. But the climate proved more fatal than the severest campaign, and, at length, our Author's state of health rendered it necessary that he should be invalided. The following statement is given of the mortality in the regiment.

Total strength of his Majesty's 1st or Royal Scots, after the grenadier company joined in Wallahjahbad, 1006. Joined at different periods since the regiment came to India, 941. Total, 1947 men. Out of which number have died and been invalided, unfit for further service, 845.

Out of eighty-two women, thirty-two died, besides fifty-seven children, making a total, dead and invalided, in less than seven years, of 934. The invalids embarked at Madras in January 1814. Our Author's feelings on again reaching his native country, are very naturally and affectingly described. He lost no time in repairing, with his worthy partner, to Peebles, where he tried for a short time his old occupation of working at the loom; but the state of his health obliged him to desist, and he eventually removed to Edinburgh, that he might contribute to the comfort of his old parents, who were still living, and happy in having a long scattered family gathered around them in their old age.

We have not done justice, by this hasty sketch, to the Author's memoir, the interest of which mainly consists in the simple-hearted manner in which the facts are narrated, and the biographical anecdotes relating to his comrades, with which it is interspersed. The picture which he draws of the abandoned profligacy and impiety of the regiment, is most appalling; yet such, there is too much reason to fear, would be found the average character of British soldiers in India. It is dread

ful!' he exclaims in one place. I think, were there no other torments in hell but such society, there is an infinite cause of gratitude to that compassionate Saviour who has ' delivered his people from it.' A very curious circumstance occurred in the outward voyage. The Author, speaking of the shark, says:

• It is remarkable that these fish, when they are in pursuit of their prey, admit their young in the same manner as some species of the serpent do, into a cavity of their belly, which God, in his wonderworking providence, has provided for their reception. In proof hereof, when we were going to India, one of the sailors, having out his shark-line at the end of the vessel, which is generally done when they observe this fish following, he hooked a very large one, and hauled it into the ship, by a tackle from the end of the main-yard; and after having the fish fairly on board, one of the sailors took a large hatchet, with which he cut off its head; and, to the no small alarm of the bare-footed soldiers, who made the best of their way off in all directions, out sprung no less than eleven young sharks, tumbling and gaping about the deck, to the great danger of all feet and toes within their reach. Some of these young ones were three feet long......I would further observe, that the shark does not give his teeth much trouble in chewing his food, for we took another the same day, which had a six-pound piece of beef in his belly, not in the least macerated; and the tally of the ship's mess to which the beef belonged, still tied to it with a string.'

Does not this anecdote render it probable, that the prophet Jonah was received into this cavity' or false stomach of the shark, which was doubtless the 'great fish' prepared to swallow him?-Other familiar illustrations of Scripture occur in the volume. The following is a very pleasing specimen.

Another expression which puzzled me was this: "No man seweth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment, else the new piece that filled it up, taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse." With regard to this, I thought I had seen the tailor, when I was with my grandfather, making a very good job of an old coat, by mending it with new cloth. But when I saw the thin cotton garments of India, worn to a cobweb, I was then satisfied that he would be a clever artist indeed, that could sew a piece of new cotton cloth, however fine, to a spider's web, without tearing it to pieces.

Once more, and I shall have done. The Apostle says in the xiiith of 1 Corinthians, "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face." Now, I could not perceive the fitness of this figure, as people use a glass, or glasses, to enable them to see better; but when I saw the glass of the east, (and I suppose in the country and age of the apostle it was similar,) I say, when I saw the glass here, made of paste from rice-flour, blown and fired, my opinion was entirely changed, as it is quite dim and full of white scales; so that, if persons look through it, they observe objects as the blind man did, mentioned in the gospel, who, when his sight was only in part restored, said, "that he saw men like trees walking."