[177]. ‘Wellington Dispatches,’ 1845, v., p. 508.
[178]. Jones’s ‘Sieges,’ 2nd edit., ii.. p. 392.
[179]. Among the recruits at this period was Sir John Sinclair, Bart., who, on the 12th August, 1812, enlisted in the name of John Smith. Through various misfortunes he was reduced from affluence to poverty. Noticed by Colonel Pilkington, R.E., for his uniform good conduct and attainments, he was promoted to the rank of second-corporal, and provided with a quarter at the main-guard in the royal arsenal. His lady sometimes visited him in all the pride of her station, but his own rank was as yet unsuspected. From a comrade—afterwards Sub-Lieutenant H. B. Mackenzie—he frequently borrowed plain clothes to elude arrest in the streets, and invariably proceeded to the Treasury by water to receive his allowance. He was at length dogged to Woolwich, and, on the 31st August, 1813, being taken, was thrown into the debtors' side of Newgate, from whence he was removed to the Fleet Prison, where, for a year and a half he was confined, and was then only released by an error in law. Thirteen months' sickness and distress followed his release, during which time he was supplied with means by an acquaintance of his earlier and happier days. All the while the whereabouts of John Smith was unknown, but, advised by his friend, he confessed himself a deserter, and in imploring pardon and indemnity for past errors, solicited to be received for life in the New South Wales Corps. The pardon was granted, and being relieved from further service in the sappers, he was again left at liberty to follow his own inclination.
[180]. Jones’s ‘Sieges,’ 2nd edit., ii., pp. 390, 391.
[181]. Sir John Jones, by mistake, vol. ii. p. 390, makes the alteration of the name of the corps antecedent to the creation of the establishment at Chatham.
[182]. Soon after this change, an act of gross indiscipline occurred, which will afford a tolerable notion of some of the singular characters who held rank in the corps. A sergeant’s guard usually mounted in the sappers' barracks at Woolwich. One morning sergeant Millar was appointed to the new guard, and during the ceremony of “mounting,” was posted in front of it. Lieutenant Eaves, the officer on duty, gave the usual words of command. “Sergeant, to your guard, march!” Millar no sooner heard it, than he whirled his halberd in the air, and as every one stood amazed to see the upshot of this mad manœuvre, the pike turned point downwards and stuck in the earth. At this moment, to complete the extravaganza, Millar pitched on his hands, and with his legs towering erect in the air, paddled, with all the flexibility and steadiness of an acrobat, to his wondering guard!
[183]. Jones’s ‘Sieges,’ i. p. 369, 3rd edit., and note added by Colonel Harry D. Jones.
[184]. ‘Wellington Dispatches,’ 1845, v., p. 476.
[185]. Sir John Jones, in his ‘Sieges,’ i. p. 130, 2nd edit., records, by mistake, the arrival of the company on the 15th instead of the 19th January.
[186]. ‘Wellington Dispatches,’ edit. 1845, v., p. 579.