[484]. Vance is noticed in Colonel Pasley’s 'Practical Operations for a Siege’[Siege’] for his assistance in executing some of the wood engravings to the work. He was an excellent carpenter and modeller, but his efforts at engraving show but little refinement. Untaught in the art, his attempts to supply the place of competent practitioners can only be regarded as the neat and more advanced stages of carpentering. Pity, however, that such a man, so apt, so ready—should have been enslaved by his vices. A drunkard, in the most degraded sense of the word, no one regretted, when his service expired, to see him quit the corps.
[485]. Mrs. Ward’s ‘Cape and the Kaffirs,’ Bohn’s edit., 1851, pp. 145-147.
[486]. The ‘Times,’ August 19, 1846.
[487]. In the life of some men there happen singular incidents, which give either a romantic or a strangely-degraded cast to their career. In this category corporal Macpherson may be fairly included. He was a very talented and superior artificer, and his general knowledge and experience made his services conspicuous. At Hythe he absented himself, and leaving his clothes on the bank of the canal, a belief prevailed that he was drowned; he, however, turned up about a year afterwards, and was convicted of the crime of desertion. But soon gaining favour by his diligence and talents, he rose rapidly to the rank of sergeant, and was entrusted with responsible duties at Gibraltar, Hudson’s Bay, and finally in Nova Scotia. At Halifax he again deserted, with 206l. of the public money, but a vigilant piquet being on his trail, he was apprehended at Annapolis, fortunately for the captain of his company, with the whole of the treasure in his pocket. Being tried and convicted he was sentenced to fourteen years' transportation. A review of his useful services, and the humane intercession of Colonel Savage, R.E., his commanding officer, obtained for him a full pardon—only to be followed by the basest ingratitude and crime. A few months elapsed, and the forgiven felon a third time deserted. On the passage to the States he robbed a gentleman with whom he got into conversation, but as the theft was discovered before the debarkation took place, the gentleman repossessed his money, and a gold watch supposed to be stolen. On landing, the gentleman took steps for the apprehension of the delinquent, but, by artful remonstrances, he made the public believe that the reason of his arrest was not for theft as alleged, but for desertion from the British service. At once the mob sympathized with his fate, rescued him from custody, and he is now at large in the States. The gold watch, brought to Halifax by the gentleman, proved to be the property of a comrade.
[488]. Sergeant Clark was brought up in the royal military asylum. He was for some years on the survey of Ireland, and by subsequent application, became a fair surveyor and draughtsman. He served a station at Corfu before going to Hudson’s Bay, and subsequently passed a few years as colour-sergeant of the 20th company, at Freemantle, Western Australia.
[489]. An enterprising and superior surveyor. He was importantly employed in 1843 in the determination of the longitude of Valentia, and is now a sergeant at Halifax, Nova Scotia, whither he had been sent to superintend the laying of asphalte.
[490]. Accidentally drowned in the Restigouche, 28th October, 1846. His body was identified by private John Ashplant, and taken charge of by him and sergeant Calder until its removal from Campbelltown to Fredericton, where it was interred in the public cemetery.
[491]. ‘Professional Papers,’ N. S., ii., p. 36.
[492]. Ibid., p. 38.
[493]. Ibid., p. 37.