© 
344. Memoirs of ihe late Lieutenant-colonel ‘fohn Mordaunt. [March 1, 
svith Martine, and in the habit of ad- 
dressing him by various ludicrous, but 
sarcastic. nick-names, seemed not’ to 
relish that fondness for money, and those 
various practices of which he was said to 
be gailty. 
Martine was very rich, and had built 
two- houses near Lucknow, both of them 
complete fortifications, and capable of 
holding out a long time, against such po- 
pular commotions as were hourly to be 
expected. He lent money to the rich 
natives, taking their own or their wives’ 
trinkets m pledge. He was besides very 
extensively concerned in trade, to very 
remote parts of India. Lfe built several 
ships, and was on the whole, a very useful 
man. HHedied about four years ago, im- 
mensely rich, but being very little ac- 
quainted with the English language, 
though near forty years in our service, he, 
made such a will as might be expected 
from a man. sv eircumstanced, and who 
prided himself in being his own lawyer. 
‘The consequence has been, that the ma- 
nifold contradictions and equivocal ex- 
pressions it abounded with, occasioned 
the whole estate to be thrown into 
chancery, whence it will, probably, never 
make its escape! dM 
*. Marquis Cornwallis, was either un- 
willing to compel Mordaunt to return to 
the Madras establishment, or was pre- 
vailed- on by the Vizier to let him re- 
maiton his staf. “Phe Marquis one day, 
‘seeing Mordaunt at his levee; asked him 
“if he did not long to.join his regi- 
ment?” ‘* No, my lord,” answered Mor- 
daunt, ‘not in the least.” ‘ But,” re- 
sumed the Marquis, “ your services may 
be wanted,perhaps.” “ Indeed, nry lord,” 
rejoined Mordaunt, “I cannot do you 
half the service there, that I can m 
keeping the Vizier amused, while you 
ease bim of his money.” 
As a bon vivant, as master of the re- 
vels, or at the head of his own table, few 
could give greater variety, or more com- 
ah 
plete satisfaction than Mordaunt. He 
had the best of wines, and spared no ex- 
pence, though he would take very little 
personal trouble, in providing whatever 
was choice or rare. - He stood on little 
ceremony, especially at his own house ; 
and, at his friend’s, never allowed any 
thing to incommode him, from a bashtul 
reserve. Whatever was in. his opinion 
wrong, he did not hesitate to condemn. 
‘Fhese observations were very quick, 
and generally not devoid of humour, 
His old friend Captain Waugh, dining 
with himone day, made sucha hole na 
‘ 
fine goose, as to excite the attention of | 
Mordaunt; who, turning to his head 
servant, ordered aloud, that, ‘ when= 
ever Captain Waugh dined at his house, 
there should always be two geese on 
table ; one for the captain, the other for 
the company.” 
The following anecdote will exhibit, 
that the above directions were not mis= 
applied. . 
Captain Waugh commanded one of 
the six battalions which, under the im- 
mortal Goddard, penetrated through the 
heart of the Mahratta country, though 
opposed by at least an hundred thou- 
sand men, chiefly cavalry. When the 
peace was concluded with that power, 
in 1782, Captain Waugh took his pas- 
sage from Bombay to Bengal, in a 
vessel which was captured off Tran- 
quebar by Suifrein. That admiral 
. treated him with great politeness, and in- 
vited him to his table. The French, ac- 
cording to their custom, began with their 
soup, &c. while Waugh commenced his 
attack on a goose, which happened to be 
near him. The bird was soon disposed 
of, and Waugh had just stuck his. fork 
ito a duck, when Suffrein, with great 
good nature, but under no small asto- 
nishment, observed that he had forgot 
the English captain’s name, but request- 
ed he would take a glassof wine. ‘“* M 
naine is Waugh, and I will drink with 
you with all my heart,” answered the 
captain. ‘ Bon, bon,” said Suffrein, 
delighted at what he thought was a joke 
of his guest’s; mais, Monsieur Waugh, 
Si Dous Testerois ict, nous naurions pas une 
oie duns toute Vescudre.”* . 
‘The pan was rather a fortunate one for 
Waugh, who played such a tune with his 
knife and fork as made all the French- 
men stare, and induced Suffremm to set 
him ashore, on parole, at the-first port. 
Atter the arrival of the two brothers, 
Harry and John, in Bengal, they had but 
little intercourse. Harry seemed to be 
jealous and envious of his brotber’s qua- 
lifications, and of the general partiality 
in his favour; which was by no means 
the case with himself. He was haughty, 
reserved, tenacious, and satirical; con- 
* The literal translation of this facetious 
reply of the admiral’s would stand thus:-—_- 
‘< Truly, Mr. Waugh, if you remain here, © 
we shall not have a goose left in the whole 
squadron.” But this is rather an inversion 
or the pun on the word oie, which signifies a _ 
goose. Indeed, I know not how it could be 
rendered in English, so as to retain that} 
which entitles it toouradmisation. © _ 
nS 
