Memoir of the late Captain James Forsyth, M.A., Bengal 

 Staff -Corps, &c., &c. By his Father, the Rev. James For- 

 syth, D.D. 



The suhject of this brief memoir was my second son by my 

 marriage with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Robert Brown, 

 Esq., of Whitsome-Newtown, Berwickshire. He was born on 

 12th of January, 1838, at Morham, near Haddington, of which 

 small parish I was then Incumbent. In 1843, I removed with 

 my family to Aberdeen ; and after a due course of preparatory- 

 instruction in the excellent schools of that city, especially an at- 

 tendance of five years at its ancient Grammar School, which the 

 system of mental training and discipline in the study of Latin, 

 pursued by its eminent rector, Dr Melvin, had then rendered 

 famous, James entered as a student at Marischal College, now 

 merged in the University of Aberdeen. He signalised his en- 

 trance on his College curriculum by carrying off, after a severe 

 competition, the first bursary, and at the close of it, graduated 

 with distinction ; but he did not lay himself out for the honours of 

 a prizeman ; and was content with merely making a creditable ap- 

 pearance in his successive classes, with the exception of mathema- 

 tics and natural history, to the study of which he applied himself 

 with vigour and assiduity. In fact he had even then firmly resolved 

 as to his future career in life ; and was ambitious solely of pre- 

 paring his mind, as well by private and independent study, as by 

 professorial instruction, for the successful application of its 

 powers and resources in whatever direction fortune and events 

 might determine. I found that James was fixedly bent on going 

 to India as a military cadet, so much so indeed, that I was left 

 no alternative to doing my best to procure an appointment for 

 him. I applied without delay to Colonel Sykes, then President 

 of the India Board ; and my application was successful, although 

 it might be several years before his promise could be made good. 



The promise was made, however, to James's great delight, and 

 he set himself to improve the interval* in preparation for his 

 Indian life with the greatest alacrity. 



He was a devoted lover of sport ; the rifle had already become 

 a pet weapon with him, and target practice with it on the lonely 

 sea-beach, in the early summer morning, was his frequent and 

 favourite exercise. 



H 



