[494]. This non-commissioned officer acquired, in his early service, a sound knowledge of surveying in all its branches. For more than eighteen years he had charge of large parties of surveyors and draughtsmen, and his systematic habits and intelligence rendered his assistance of great advantage. Well adapted for carrying out any arrangement connected with the survey, and for conducting the beneficial employment of large parties over extensive districts, he was, in 1846, selected for the exploration duty above referred to; and his report on a portion of the line, which embraced the intricate parts of the Cobiquid Mountains, was considered of sufficient interest to receive a place in the ‘Parliamentary Blue Book,’ on the subject of that railway. In April, 1853, he was pensioned at 1s. 11d. a-day, and, on quitting the corps, bent his course westward and settled in Canada.
[495]. A companion plate to Chalon’s portrait of Her Majesty.
[496]. Had charge of the implement store, at 48, City-quay, which embraced the receipts and issues of thousands of wheelbarrows and hand-carts, and a great assortment of road and draining tools. These sergeant Baston was often employed to purchase, and to obtain them he perambulated both town and country. The duties entrusted to him were performed with promptitude, accuracy, and fidelity. Mr. M‘Mahon, the civil engineer, found him an exceedingly useful and zealous assistant. He is now colour-sergeant in the corps; is a well-read and talented man, and his qualifications as an artificer and overseer have rendered him capable of much higher employment. He joined the corps a lad, from the royal military asylum, and his acquirements and usefulness have entirely arisen from his own application. Besides his home services, he has passed with credit about seventeen years at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Corfu.
[497]. The ‘Times,’ November 4, 1846.
[498]. Afterwards tried and convicted for the offence at the Limerick Spring Assizes, 1847.—‘Saunders’s News-Letter,’ March 9, 1847.
[499]. Baker became a second-corporal, and fell heroically at the first storming of the Redan, 18th June, 1855.
[500]. Each received a case of instruments from Prince Albert for merit in the execution of a drawing of Windsor.
[501]. ‘Hampshire Telegraph,’ January 30th, 1847; ‘Hampshire Advertiser,’ April 3, 1847.
[502]. ‘Hampshire Advertiser,’ April 3, 1847.
[503]. One of the party discharged under Governor Grey’s order was corporal William Forrest. Governor Robe, in a despatch to Earl Grey, spoke of his entire approbation of the corporal’s conduct, both as a soldier and surveyor. Captain Frome, the surveyor-general, attributed the rapid progress of the field surveys, and the general correctness of the work, to his steady zeal and talent. At first he superintended four or five detached survey parties, and laid out and corrected their work; but when a sufficient quantity of land had been divided into sections, corporal Forrest was transferred to the triangulation of the known portions of the colony, and connected all the detached surveys with the trigonometrical stations. This service he conducted in a most satisfactory and creditable manner. Returning to England, he was discharged in April, 1848, and is now living, in ease and comfort, at Edinburgh on his pension and his savings.