42 ANECDOTE OF SIR THOMAS PICTON. 



'* No, sir ; any officer who served under Sir Thomas 

 Picton's command would be proud in the honour of 

 being recognized by him, but I thought, '* added 

 the lieutenant, " you might have forgotten me," — 

 " Forgotten you !" repeated Picton : " No ! no ! sir, 

 I have not forgotten you. But come along, Sir," 

 and he took his arm ; " come home, home with me, I 

 have got something I want you to copy. " Mac- 

 pherson accordingly walked to the Grosvener Cof- 

 fee-house with the general, who, upon entering his 

 room, bade him be seated, when he presently put 

 in his hands a paper for his perusal. This was a 

 memorial of Lieutenant Macpherson's services, drawn 

 up with much care, and dictated by a tenacious me- 

 mory. In fact, every incident of the intrepid career 

 of the young soldier was there set forth in the most 

 forcible language. 



Macpherson was greatly surprised at this marked 

 instance of friendly consideration, and expressed his 

 acknowledgments in the most grateful terms. But 

 Picton did not want thanks, neither would he have 

 them ; but, stopping him short, he desired that he 

 would without delay transcribe that paper into a 

 more legible text, that he might at once send it to 

 the Horse Guards. A few days after this. Lieuten- 

 ant Macpherson called upon Sir Thomas, at his 

 desire, to know the result of his application. He 

 found the general foaming with rage, with the letter 

 crumpled violently in his hand. " There, sir, read 

 that! " he said, at the same time giving Macpher- 

 son the mutilated letter to peruse ; " there is an 

 answer to my application." It did not take long to 

 read. The lieutenant knew it by heart ; it being, in 

 fact, a secretary's . circular. *' No vacancy," but 

 '' shall be appointed to the first vacancy. Your 

 obedient, humble servant," &:c. 



Picton thought, and justly, that he deserved 

 something more than this ; his proud spirit could 

 not submit to repeat his applications to the com- 

 mander of the forces, sufficiently often to render 



