DEATH OF THE MAD MAJOR. 19 



who was a most obliging officer, readily assented. The 

 General mentioned often, that the damning of a stupid Adju- 

 tant was no novelty ; but that he never saw a man cursed to 

 his perfect satisfaction, until he heard the Scotch Doctor 

 anathematized in the Phoenix Park. 



The death of poor Denis was in such perfect keeping with 

 his life, that I am tempted to give it to you. 



The regiment was in garrison, and at a race-ball a trifling 

 misunderstanding occurred between a young Ensign and a 

 country-gentleman. It was, however, instantly adjusted. 

 A few days afterwards, some intemperate expressions which 

 had fallen from the gentleman at the ball, were reported to 

 the Mad Major. These he considered as reflecting upon 

 the character of his corps, and he despatched the senior 

 Captain for an explanation. The answer to this demand 

 was unsatisfactory, and the Captain was directed to deliver 

 a hostile message. The officers of the " Half Hundred" 

 were a brave body they vainly endeavoured to make it a 

 regimental affair, and insisted that the person to resent 

 the insult should be indifferently selected (by lot) from the 

 corps. 



"Gentlemen, I thank you ;" said the Mad Major, as he 

 struck his broad hand upon the mess-table. " Your motives 

 are personally kind but as I am at the head of this regiment, 

 I hold myself to be the conservator of its honour." 



That evening the Major had a violent attack of gout, to 

 which for years he had been a martyr but he concealed it 

 carefully, and when his friend called him on the morning, 

 he was found dressed and powdered, but unable to move 



without assistance. Captain M pressed upon him the 



necessity of postponing the meeting, or permitting another 

 officer to be his substitute ; but Denis was immovable in his 

 resolve. He proceeded to the ground, and supported by a 

 crutch, after a discharge of pistols, received a satisfactory 

 apology. Poor fellow ! this was his last feat. Exposure to 

 the cold of a damp spring morning brought on a renewed 

 attack of gout that night the disorder settled in his stomach 

 and the morning after he was a corpse. 



The body was carried to its last resting-place, accompanied 

 by all the pomp of a military funeral. His own beloved com- 

 pany, the grenadiers, who had often followed their lion- 

 hearted leader into action, now formed his guard of honour 



