which so eminently distinguishes his public character, has endeavoured to mitigate extreme cases of distress by a separate fund, of the sources of which I am uninformed; but with the view of making such humane intentions the more generally useful, I have ventured to offer the following outlines of a plan for an orphan's fund institution for the royal service, assimilating it in some degree with that established for the Bengal army, by the late able and highly respected Major General Kirkpatrick, from a plan first suggested by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Scott of that establishment, to which I was a subscriber and station secretary for several years; and it has afforded me infinite satisfaction to hear of the increasing success of so admirable an institution. But in this country the claims of the former should be discountenanced, because every of ficer in his Majesty's service may marry if he chooses; whereas in India, from the paucity of European females, and other obvious causes, Company's officers seldom can, until they obtain eligible rank to maintain them.* From every conversation I have had with the king's officers upon this subject, they have all frankly confessed some such plan would be desirable, but that what was every person's business was difficult to establish. I have however ventured to lay before your military readers the following plan, and shall be very happy to notice any improvements suggested in its favor. It appearing from the Secretary at War's estimates laid before Parlia ment that for widows.. £98,824 and for the compassion ate list forming together the 182,606 very considerable total of £281,430 We by no means concur with our respected correspondent on this point. Ed. is this year to be incurred, with the certainty of its amount being rather augmented than diminished every succeding year; therefore, with the view of lessening such claims, however deserving the attention of a just government, I beg leave to propose the following plan, taking from the red book my data. 1st. That an Orphan and Widows' fund be instituted, to be entitled the Royal MiliGovernment be the tary Fund, and that patrons, and subscribe thereto from the 1st nual contribution of.. £30,000 0 of January last the an 2d. That all General Officers in Command of regiments be earnestly solicited to aid this institution by paying the 100th part of their off-reckonings thereto. Taking therefore the peace establishment at 140 regts. whether cavalry, artillery, infantry, and marines, at £15 each is.. 199 Lieutenant Generals not in command, at 20s. per month .. 294 Major Generals, do.do.18s.per month. 3,175 4 267 Colonels, do. do. 16s. per month .... 941 Lieut. Colonels, do. 14s. per month. 1000 Majors, 12s. per month.... 2,100 0 2,388 0 2,563 4 7,904 8 7,200 0 Brought over £98,530 16 3d. That as a great number of casualties accrue from his Majesty's troops serving in the East-Indies, the Hon. Court of Directors be solicited to subscribe for the Company..... 4th. That a percentage on every commission shall go in aid of this fund: that is to say two and a half from the seller, and two and a half from the purchaser, calculated at But all fees heretofore charged by the Secretary at War to cease,and an allowance if necessary to be made instead. 5th. That Physicians, Inspectorsofhospitals, Head Surgeons of stations shall be permitted to subscribe as Colonels, regimental Surgeons and Purveyors as Lieut-Colonels, and Paymasters as Majors, in case they wish to participate in the great benefits held out by this institution; in such case I calculate their contributions at per annum.. 5,000 0 tain which desirable objects so small an annual sacrifice should not be withheld. By this plan also, those officers who had sunk large sums for the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Major, will have their money, on their demise, returned to their widows and children in the shape of handsome annuities, a return never yet obtained, except by those who are so lucky as to obtain regiments, or foreign staff situations, or governments. 6th. As there can be little doubt, judging from the last report of the Waterloo Committee, that a very considerable surplus will remain after providing most liberally 5,000 0 for every demand thereon, no better mode for the disposal thereof can be suggested, than by merging it with the funds of this institution, whereby the humane intentions of the Waterloo subscribers will be equally attended to and extended. 3,000 0 111,530 16 Hereby forming such a fund as will in a few years considerably aid government in its present largess to the orphans and widows, when the fund shall come into operation, as is hereafter specified, and eventually render wholly needless any payments by government beyond the requested contribution of £30,000, and in time exonerate it from the compassionate lists; to ob 7th. That this fund shall accumulate for the period of five years; but as it is probable that many rich military characters, and other liberal minded individuals, may immediately aid this institution by handsome donations, an earlier appropriation shall, if possible, take place, and especially whenever urgent cases shall occur prior to the year 1823. 8th. That a board consisting of general and field officers of each rank, together with the adjutant and quarter master general, shall meet quarterly to prepare a report for the commander in chief of the forces; and an annual statement of the funds of this institution shall be published in the papers, or by a general order, for the satisfaction of all subscribers. 9th. That paymasters of corps be authorised to deduct the various rates of subscription from the officers of regiments, to be deducted from the abstracts, and to be accounted for to the board by the paymaster-general every month. be 10th. That committees formed at Jersey, Guernsey, Malta, Gibraltar, the West India Islands, Canada, the Cape, Mauritius, Ceylon, Madras, Bengal, and Bom bay, and denominated Orphan Fund Committees, to correspond with, and report to the general board in London. 11th. It being presumed that the widows of general officers in command of corps cannot, from obvious causes, often require aid, they shall be excluded from all claims on this fund; but should urgent cases occur, a proper degree of relief shall notwithstanding be allowed, on due representation to the board and commander in chief from executors, and on due exhibition of wills. 12th. That all widows of lieutenant generals, not being possessed of £10,000, shall receive such additional aid from this fund as may yield a clear income of 400 per annum. 13th. That all widows of major generals as may die not possessed of £8,000, shall receive such aid from this fund as may yield a clear income of £300 per annum. 14th. That all widows of colonels as shall die not possessed of £6,000, shall receive such aid from this fund as shall yield a clear income of £250 per annum. 15th. That all widows of lieutenant colonels as shall die not possessed of more than £4,500, shall receive such aid from this fund as shall yield an income of £200 per annum. 16th. That all widows of majors as shall die not possessed of £4,000, shall receive such aid from this fund as will yield a clear income of £180 per annum. 17th. That all widows of captains and captain lieutenants as may die not possessed of £2,500, shall receive such aid from this fund as will yield a clear income of £150 per annum. 18th. That all widows of subalterns ditto £100. 19th. That whenever orphans, having lost their mother, shall afterwards be deprived of their father, a faithful representation of the state of the family shall be made either by the commanding officer of the regiment or executors where such casualty occurs, and such aid shall be afforded them as may be deemed proper by the general board; and it is to be clearly understood that this institution shall extend to the widows and orphans of all half pay officers subscribing, but every nonsubscriber shall be excluded from all participation of its benefits. 20th. That all monies belonging to this institution shall be paid into the Bank of England, and an account opened with the board; and no cash shall be lodged in any other place, except necessary sums with the secretary to answer current demands. of to the officers of the royal service Having endeavoured to point out the great benefits to be derived from a general subscription, it must be evidently the interest of each to promote so desirable an each rank in the army may be institution; that although many very independent in circumstances, yet, on the other hand, how more than the income of their many are there who possess little commission; besides, every officer whose regiment may be ordered supreme satisfaction of reflecting upon foreign service will have the that should he fall in battle, or by the effects of an insidious climate, his wife and family will be protectted by this institution from those afflicting distresses which have too often assailed the junior ranks of the service during the late war, and the commander in chief relieved from repeated applications which no royal fund now existing can meet. In order that no officer in his majesty's published, habits of long intimacy, and his knowledge of my possessing a good memory, led him, from living in the same place, occasionally to refer to me for facts which I had witnessed. Among other circumstances, he inquired regarding the intended removal or escape on ship board of the Commissioners at Mangalore: he had repeatedly heard of it in India, but stated that he had not found it in their journal, although affirmed in an official letter from Brigadier General Macleod to the government of Bombay: that he had, when in London, solicited hour's conversation with Mr. Hudleston, with whom he had some acquaintance, for the declared purpose of obtaining information on some points regarding that embassy which were imperfectly explained on the records, but that Mr. Hudleston had excused himself on the ground of bad memory. I accordingly related to Colonel Wilks the facts which are stated in his work, of which the follow3 K * VOL. V. an 66 ing is the short substance ;-" that my servant having, on the illness of the person usually employed, been desired to interpret between the commissioners and Tippoo's ministers, came to my tent at night, in the greatest trepidation, to state that after the conference, and the departure of the first commissioner, he had accidentally overheard a plan settled between the other two for their removal on board ship, which was to be kept secret till the moment of embarkation, when they were to call at the tent of the first commissioner, and give him the option of accompanying them; leaving behind the escort, &c. &c., and that the arrangements for this purpose were to be personally made by Mr. Falconer the surgeon, who was to get on board in the morning on pretence of indisposition. At breakfast Mr. Falconer did appear to be taken ill, and did embark. I accordingly assembled the officers, and told them all I knew. I had received no orders, and did not know whether I should receive any, and when, or to what effect: but I stated that in every possible case I should remain with my men, but would not under such circumstances exact rigid military obedience from them, but leave it to such as chose it to embark if they should be permitted. They all declared their intention to follow my example. I waited Mr. Falconer's return in the evening, and stated to him what I had heard regarding his mission on ship board, and he distinctly admitted the facts to be as above stated, but declined to tell me the time appointed for the execution of the plan. Stung by the distrust with which I was treated, I desired him, in finishing his report to the commissioners, to say that I was there to obey their orders, but that the arrangements of my little camp would subject any persons attempting a clandestine escape to be taken up as deserters. Soon afterwards I was sent for by the second Commissioner, and informed that there was no intention to embark." Such is the substance of the narrative given on my authority. I never afterwards, nor I believe the officers, made any secret of my communication with them, and the circumstances connected with it became matter of such general conversation and notoriety, that I did not feel the impression of relating any thing either new or questionable: and having during that service, and since, been on terms of kindness with Mr. Hudleston, I certainly should not have authorized any thing being stated on my authority which I appre hended to be injurious to his moral character. I then thought, and I continue to think, that the removal or escape (for in our situation they were the same) of the Commissioners would have been perfectly justifiable, if they thought the public service could be forwarded by their embarkation ; and I should have deemed it my duty, if necessary, to cover their embarkation with the sacrifice of the last man of the little escort. I felt their distrust of me to be unworthy, and the plan to be absurd, because impracticable, without the concurrence of an officer of common vigilance; but here my unfavorable opinions rested, and still rest. I should as soon have thought of imputing fear to myself as to the Commissioners; and I adopt the following explanation given by Col. Wilks, as a true transcript of the impressions which appeared to influence both of us when the narrative in question was conmitted to paper. "Security in conducting the "negociations in question is dis 66. tinctly stated to have been the "primary object of the plan; and "that negociations might have "been conducted with greater "advantage to the public service "by the commissioners in a state of |