[274]. Speech of Major Selwyn, R.E. ‘Graham’s Town Journal,’[Journal,’] 1842.
[275]. ‘Prof. Papers, Royal Engineers,’ v. p. 157.
[276]. ‘Select Report Ordnance Est.,’ printed 12th June, 1828, p. 82.
[277]. ‘Prof. Papers, Royal Engineers,’ i. p. 86.
[278]. Most of these men received 100 acres of land each as a reward for their services and good conduct, and several were provided with appointments on the canal.
[279]. Corporal Reed, when returning home an invalid from the Mauritius, was wrecked on the 17th July, 1836, in the barque ‘Doncaster,’ on the reef L’Agulhas, 70 miles S.E. of the Cape of Good Hope, and perished with his wife and family of four children.
[280]. One quartermaster-sergeant was now reduced, and Francis Allen, who held the rank for twenty-two years, was discharged in October, 1833, and pensioned at 2s. 8½d. a-day, having completed a service of more than forty years. One of his sons, formerly in the corps, is foreman of works at Alderney, and another, until recently, was clerk of works in the royal engineer department, London district.
[281]. Had served upwards of twenty-two years in the corps; and was a shrewd man and a skilful carpenter and overseer. He was appointed in October, 1836, to Guernsey, where he died in February, 1854. His eldest son, a very promising young man, is now foreman of works in the department at the Tower.
[282]. Joined the corps a lad, and by perseverance made himself competent for higher duty. To smartness in person he united much activity of body, and in September, 1843, was advanced to the civil branch, first to Corfu and then to Gibraltar; where, in the excess of his zeal on the works, he fell from his horse by a stroke of the sun, and sustained an injury in the head. He is now at Dublin, a lunatic, passing away his life on a retirement of 32l. a-year. He served seventeen years in the sappers.
[283]. Was an excellent mason and very efficient as a foreman. He had been on a mission to Constantinople, and received from Sultan Mahmoud II. a gold medal for his services. After a service of twenty-one years in the corps, he was, in June, 1844, appointed to Gibraltar, where he fell into habits of excessive intemperance and committed suicide in 1852.