TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



81 



Picton was now, for the first time in his 

 career, employed on active service, and Sir John 

 Vaughan was so pleased with him that he quickly 

 promoted him to the rank of Major in the 68th 

 Regiment, in which capacity he also filled the position 

 of Deputy Quarter-Master-General, entitling him to 

 the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel. General Vaughan 

 having died in Martinique his temporary successor, 

 General Knox, conferred the post which Picton held 

 of Quarter-Master General, on another, and Picton 

 feeling that an injustice had been done to him, re- 

 solved to return home. Before, however, he could put 

 his resolve into execution he was asked by General 

 Leigh — who in the meantime became senior officer on 

 that station — to assist him in receiving Sir Ralph 

 Abercromby, who had been appointed as successor 

 to Sir John Vaughan as Commander-in-Chief in the 

 West Indies. 



When Sir Ralph Abercromby arrived in Barba- 

 dos, Picton was introduced to him, and Sir Ralph 

 having recognised him as the nephew of Colonel 

 Picton — already alluded to — appointed him to his 

 personal staff, offering him plenty of active service 

 in the campaign about to be opened by him against 

 such colonies as still remained in possession of the 

 French. The first place decided upon to be attacked 

 by the English was St. Lucia, and the troops sailed 

 from Carlisle Bay, Barbados, in a fleet commanded 

 by Admiral Sir John Laforey. Having arrived off 

 St. Lucia, Major-General Campbell was ordered to 

 disembark with 1,700 men — Picton being selected to 



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