No. 80.]

SIR Henry Torrens, the present adjutant-general, is a native of Ireland, and was born in the city of Londonderry, in 1779. His father the Rev. Thomas Torrens, and his mother, a lady of considerable beauty and accomplishments, died while he was yet an infant, leaving him and his three brothers under the protection of their grandfather the Rev. Dr. Torrens. Of his affectionate care, however, they were also soon deprived; and young Henry was placed under the guardianship of his uncle, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Torrens, who was a fellow of the university of Dublin, and one of the most distinguished of his day for literary attainments and colloquial powers. Being destined for the army, Henry was sent, at an early age, to Bates' military academy in Dublin. Here he was remark able for the warmth of his social feelings; and in consequence of his ever buoyant and joyous spirit, he was known among his youthful companions by the familiar appellation of Happy Harry. In November 1793, when he was about fourteen years of age, he commenced his military career, and obtained an ensigncy in the 52d regiment. In June 1794, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 92d regiment; and in December 1795, was removed to the 63d regiment, With this corps he joined the expedition under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, for the reduction of the enemy's Colonies in the West Indies.

During this arduous service, our young soldier was happy in having frequent opportunities of distinguishing himself. He acted with the grenadier battalion at the taking of St. Lucie, and was wounded by a musquet ball, in the upper part of the right thigh, in an action which took place on the 1st of May 1796, during the siege of Morne For tuné. This wound compelled him to remain behind, while the army under Sir Ralph Abercrombie proceeded to the attack of St. Vincent's. At such a period, however, the pain and danger of a premature removal appeared preferable to inactive security; and before NEW MONTHLY MAG.-No. 80.

[VOL. XIV.

he had recovered from his wound he rejoined his regiment, just as the army was advancing to the attack and storming of a strong line of redoubts, by the possession of which the enemy held the island in subjection. After assisting in driving the French from these important positions, and in finally expelling them from St. Vincent's, Sir Henry Torrens was for six months employed in constant skirmishing with the natives of the Carib country, who, having joined the French interest, took refuge in the mountains and fastnesses. At this time though only holding the rank of lieutenant, he was entrusted with the command of a fort.

The extensive operations and the splendid achievements by which, in the latter years of the struggle against France, the British troops decided the fate of Europe, have in a manner obliterated from the public the Colonial conquests with which the revolutionary war commenced. Yet never did the British soldier display more courage, or sustain more hardship, than during the attack upon the French West India islands under Sir Ralph Abercrombie. Even the officers were unable to obtain any better fare than the salt rations issued from the stores; nor in that burning climate could they ever venture to refresh themselves by sleeping without their clothes. In what manner Sir Henry Torrens bore himself during the difficulties and hardships of this his first campaign we have already attempted to state, and shall merely add two facts, as marking the opinion entertained of his conduct by those who witnessed it. On the return of the troops to Jamaica, the general rewarded his services by a company in one of the West India corps then forming; and on one occasion, when quitting the regiment with which he had been acting, the non-commissioned officers and soldiers under his command insisted upon bearing him in triumph upon their shoulders, as a rude but touching mark of their attachment and admiration.

VOL. XIV.

In 1798 Sir Henry Torrens returned to England; and at the close of that year embarked for Portugal, as aid-decamp to General Cuyler, who commanded the British auxiliary army sent to protect that country from the threatened invasion of the Spaniards under French influence. While holding this situation he was removed from the West India corps to the 20th regiment of foot; and hearing that his regiment was to form a part of the force destined for Holland, under the Duke of York, he immediately relinquished the advantages of his staff situation for the post of honourable danger. He served in all the different actions of this sanguinary campaign, during which the British army sustained its high character, though the object of the expedition failed. The inundation of the country, and defeat of the Austrian army upon the Rhine, which enabled the French to assemble a force four times more numerous than ours, compelled our troops, after many a desperate struggle, to evacuate Holland. In the last of these contests, which was fought between Egmont and Harlaam, Sir Henry Torrens was again desperately wounded. A musquet ball passed quite through his right thigh and fodged in the left, from which it was found impossible to extract it, and where it still remains, subjecting him at times to great uneasiness.

A circumstance occurred at this time which deserves to be recorded. On the 2d of October 1799, a severe action was fought near Alkmaar, and some of our officers, amongst whom was Sir Henry Torrens, imagining that they had purchased security for a few days, rode into that town for the purpose of viewing the place, and enjoying the rarity of a good dinner. While this dinner was in preparation, Sir Henry Torrens sat down in the coffee-room to make some notes in his journal; but seeing Major Kemp, then aid-de-camp to Sir Ralph Abercrombie, ride hastily into the town, he started from his unfinished task, to ask the news. From Major Kemp he learned that the French had made an unexpected advance upon the English troops, and that the division to which he was attached was under orders for immediate action. Without waiting to return for his papers and his pocketbook, containing berween forty and fifty pounds, which he had left on the table, he mounted his horse, and in a moment was at full speed. He arrived in time to place himself at the head of

his company, just before the commencement of that action, in which he was so desperately wounded. A considerable time afterwards he revisited Alkmaar, and calling at the inn he had so abruptly left, received his papers and his purse, which had been with scrupulous honesty preserved.

On his return from Holland, Sir Henry Torrens was promoted to a majority in one of the fencible regiments then raising. The formation of the corps devolved upon him as being the only officer possessing permanent rank; and he subsequently embarked with it for North America. Here he remained until the autumn of 1801, when having effected an exchange to the 86th, then in Egypt, he joined and took the command of the corps in that country. When the expedition to Egypt had effected its object, Sir Henry Torrens marched his regiment across the Desert, and embarked at a port of the Red Sea for Bombay. Here he was taken extremely ill in consequence of a coup de soleil, and was obliged to take his passage to England, in order to save his life. The ship in which he embarked for Europe touched at St. Helena; the climate and the society of that island restored him to health, and gave a new impulse to his feelings: and he prosecuted the voyage no further.

The government of the island of St. Helena was at this time held by Colonel Robert Patton, a gentleman in whom the military character was united with that of the philosopher and man of letters. In the works which he has given to the public, profound and original reflections are conveyed in a style of classic elegance. In his "Historical Review of the Monarchy and Republic of Rome," and in his " Principles of Asiatic Monarchies," the influence of property upon society and government is explained and illustrated in a very masterly manner. The principles established in the latter work have been adopted by Mr. Mill in his excellent History of British India. The publications of Governor Patten, however, have not attained a circulation at all commensurate with their merit; for, to borrow his own language, "A work of investigation and research it is almost impossible to render entertaining or popular. The precious ore of truth lies deep, and must be dug for: the flowers which attract general admiration are all gathered on the surface."

We shall not enter into the abstruse

disquisition whether talents are hereditary in families; but we believe it will be generally conceded that, under favourable circumstances, parents may, to a certain extent, succeed in impressing their own characters upon their children. The daughters of Governor Pat ton acquired the accomplishments of their father. Some notion of their attainments may be gathered from the circumstance that, while they resided in Scotland, previous to their settling at St. Helena, they were the only females admitted into that brilliant coterie of wits and philosophers, the members of which have since acquired so much celebrity as the conductors of the Edinburgh Review. Our readers will be prepared to anticipate that in the society of Government House, Sir Henry Torrens was exposed to other wounds than those of war. He became enamoured of Miss Sally Patton, and married at the early age of twenty-four. In this instance, however, reflection and reason have sanctioned the instinctive impulse of the heart; and the most fortunate events in Sir Henry Torrens' meritorious and prosperous career, are his touching at the island of St. Helena, and forming a congenial and happy union,

"Where mind preserves the conquest beauty won."

In 1803 Sir Henry Torrens rejoined his regiment in India, and remained in the field until he was again driven from the country by extreme and dangerous illness; in 1805 he returned to England, obtained the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, and was employed in the Staff as Assistant Adjutant-general for the Kent district; and in 1807, he joined the expedition against South America, as Military Secretary to the Commander of the Forces. At the attack of Buenos Ayres he received a contusion from a musket-ball, which shattered a small writing apparatus which was slung to his side. When this unfortunate expedition returned from South America, Sir Henry was examined as a witness on the trial of General Whitelock. His situation now became painful and delicate in the highest degree, being compelled by his oath to make known the truth, and bound by honour not to divulge the confidential communications of his chief. His evidence is published with General Whitelock's trial; and it is only necessary to say in this place, that he obtain ed the highest credit by the manner in which it was given.

Sir Henry Torrens had now established a character not only for gallantry in

the field, but for talent, discretion, and integrity in the conduct of affairs. The Duke of Wellington, then Sir Arthur Wellesley, saw his rising talents, and appointed him his Military Secretary. In this capacity he embarked with the expedition to Portugal in 1808, and was present at the battles of Rolleia and Viiniera. When the Duke of Wellington was superseded in his command, he returned with him to England; and was again to have attended him in the same capacity, when that consummate General recommenced his glorious career. But the situation of Military Secretary to the Commander-in-chief being, with out solicitation, offered to him just at this moment, prudence weighed with the father of a rising family against the ardour of the soldier, and domestic considerations induced him to forego the more active operations of the field, and to accept the office. How he discharged the difficult and arduous duties which now devolved on him, it is almost unnecessary to state. Under the immediate inspection, and guided by the distinguished talents, of his illustrious and royal master, we may venture to say, that at no period of our military history were the arrangements of the British army more ably or successfully conducted. During the eventful war, upon the issue of which depended not only the fate of England, but of Europe, nothing could more strongly contribute to its success than an active and skilful direction of our powerful resources, and attention to the comfort of the soldier. That no one was more fitted for these arduous duties than the present Commander-in-chief, is not only proved by the unanimous voices of the army and the nation, but by the glorious and triumphant termination of the late sanguinary and protracted struggle. And while we thus pay a deserved tribute to the illustrious character at the head of the army, we cannot withhold his due portion of applause from the Secretary, Sir Henry Torrens. His talents, and his laborious attention to the multifarious duties of his office, have been universally acknowledged; while his conciliatory manners and kind attentions have procured him the love of his friends and the respect of the whole army. From the duties of his office during four years of the most active period of the war, he was not a single day, scarcely even a Sunday, absent; and never failed, either in winter or summer, to rise at five o'clock in the morning. These exertions were rewarded by his appointment,