1830.] 
Of the late Col. Lambton. 
75 
on this emergency, consulted his old patron Sir Brook Watson, who, impressed with 
a persuasion (very common in those times in England) that to go to India, and to 
acquire a fortune there, were the same thing, advised him to prefer his Lieutenancy ; 
and having sent him a letter of introduction to Lieutenant-General Sir Alured 
Clarke, then^ Commander in Chief in India, Lieutenant Lambton joined the 33d 
regiment at Calcutta, in the year 171)7, after an absence of thirteen years from the 
corps. 
His disappointment was great, on his arrival in Fort William, to observe the real state 
of affairs. A subaltern’s prospects (he having no means of purchasing promotion, 
and, as he then thought, no interest to obtain it in any other way) appeared to him 
any thing but brilliant, even in India, when viewed closely. He appeared to have regret- 
ted the sacrifice he had made, and to have feared “ that he had heedlessly castoff his 
sheet anchor,” as he expressed it. A barrack- master in New Brunswick on ^400 
a year might well think he had made a bad choice, when he found himself snugly 
settled down to a subaltern’s duty, and a subaltern’s pay in 'the garrison of Fort 
William. 
However, Sir Brook Watson’s recommendation to Sir Alured Clarke, on which 
Lieutenant Lambton had placed little reliance, proved to be of more service than he 
had anticipated ; for the appointment of Brigade Major to the King’s troops 
under the presidency of Fort St. George having become vacant. His Excellency 
presented it to him. By the 33rd Regiment having at the same time been or- 
dered to the Coast for the purpose of being employed in the war against Tipu 
Sultan, Lieutenant Lambton saw new prospects open to his view, and he had 
the advantage ot coming round in the same ship with Colonel Wellesley, who 
hawng by mere accident been instrumental before in forwarding his views, was now 
aoout to give him his support on the grounds of personal knowledge and on a 
much more important occasion.— The Fitz-William, East Indiaman, (on board 
or which the head-quarters of the 33d regiment had embarked,) having struck 
on Saugor Sand, on coming out of the river in stormy weather, they were, with 
the other passengers, nearly lost on that occasion. The storm, however, having 
anated, and the wind veering round, the danger ceased. One may see, in such 
circumstances as these, on what slight accidents sometimes hang the destinies of 
nations. It would he curious, though useless, to speculate what might have been 
the present state of Europe had the wind then not veered round at the Sand-heads 
in Bengal. 
Col. Wellesley seemed to take little notice of BrigadeMajorLambtonduringtheir 
voyage, nor did he pay him any attention beyond that which all the officers of the 
regiment received from him. But on their arrival at Madras, Lambton being dis- 
appointed in the expectation he had formed of living in the Commander in Chiefs 
family, was invited by Col. Wellesley to reside with him ; a proof, notwithstanding 
his reserve, that he had formed a favorable opinion of the Brigade Major. This 
opinion was expressed some days after to an officer of the regiment, who was also 
addicted to mathematical studies 1 . The Colonel asked him what he thought of 
Lamoton s attainments; to which, having replied that they were very respectable, he 
iejoined,that, though no judge himself on such subjects, he could easily believe him 
to >e a piohcient, by what he had observed of his acquirements in other pursuits. 
Yet ns manner continued, to the subject of his enquiries and eulogy, so reserved 
that Lunuton had fully made up his mind to leave his hospitable roof. In discuss- 
ing the matter with the same officer, being advised not to be too hasty, and told that 
he was sure the Colonel had a high opinion of him, and if an opportunity of serving 
nun should occur, he was sure he would seize it; he answered, “ I would believe it 
it he would do me the honor to speak to me.” He allowed himself, however, to be 
prevailed on by his friend, and continued Colonel Wellesley’s guest all the time the 
regiment remained at Madras ; that is to say, till the opening of the Mvsore 
campaign. in 
^\hen the army under Lieutenant-General Harris, which was destined for the 
siege of Tipu’s capital, was organized, Brigade Major Lambton found himself 
attached to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, under Major-General (afterwards Sir 
jjav hi ) Baird. During the siege he lost no opportunity of making himself useful 
and particularly during the storm, where he rallied the left column, the progress of 
u Inch had been checked by the enemy. The particulars of this service are to be 
ound in Major Beatson’s Account of the Mysore Campaigti , and we think they jus- 
dy the opinion, that had circumstances required or allowed of his turning his at- 
ention exclusively to military affairs, be would have become an able and a distin- 
guished officer. “ 
1 The writer of the letters from which this sketch is compiled. 
