Travels Through the United Kingdom

I PUBLISHED a work, in 1836, entitled, "The Doctrine of Particular Providence;" in which I illustrated the divine guardianship over the most minute concerns of man, by the extraordinary events of my own life; and, in order to prevent the reader from being placed under the positive necessity of purchasing that volume, merely that he might be enabled to more fully understand the subject of this book, (which is in fact but a second volume,) I think it right to present him with the following syllabus of its contents, viz :

I was born in Ireland in 1785-in consequence of seeing that Christians engage in wars, and contend against each other, whilst on both sides claiming Christ's assistance, to aid them in their soul-destroying work, I became an Infidel -entered his Majesty's military service in 1804—attained the rank of captain in the corps of Royal Engineers-in 1814, was constrained by a conviction of the propriety of self-defence to bring a general officer to a court martial for peculation-the General was found guilty of the principle charge; ordered to refund all the money; and, only, to be REPRIMANDED, which sentence was approved of, and carried into effect, whilst my SERVICES WERE DISPENSED WITH" for having brought so many charges against a superior officer, one only of which was but partly proved!!!*-I could

* EXTRACT OF THE OPINION AND SENTENCE OF THE COURT,-" As to the 5th charge, the Court is of opinion that the Commander of

not procure my reinstatement in the military service, although such character and recommendations as the following, from my immediate commanding officers, were presented.

the Forces was induced to order a house to be built, at the expense of the public, for Major-General C―'s servants, by the MajorGeneral reporting, that he had not sufficient accommodation for them, and that he appropriated the said building for the use of his Aid-deCamp, Lieutenant Forbes; and the Court is also of opinion, that the Major-General did sanction the issue of lodging money in the name, and to the receipt of his Aid-de-Camp, in the usual manner that it is obtained for the hire of lodging, when a King's quarter cannot be furnished, in order to obtain that allowance for himself; and that he did actually obtain it, instead of the Aid-de-Camp, and appropriate it to his own use; and, therefore, the Court finds this part of the charge proved."

"The Court also finds that a return was made for lodging money for Lieutenant Forbes, the Major-General's Aid-de-Camp during his absence from Antigua, and that the Major-General did himself receive the amount of such lodging money; but, at the same time, it appears to the Court, that such return was not made by the MajorGeneral, intentionally, as a false muster; therefore, the Court does not conceive, that it comes under the head of, or can be considered as a false muster within any of the Articles of war, and doth therefore acquit Major-General C- of this part of the charge."

"The Court having thus given its opinion on these several charges, doth sentence and adjudge, that Major-General C‒‒ do refund to Government all the money received for his Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Forbes, whilst he was stationed in Antigua. The Court cannot but consider the Major-General as extremely reprehensible for not having informed himself of his right to receive such lodging money, when he might, had he thought proper, have so easily procured all the

"Sir,-Having on the 11th February, the day after I received your communication, put into the hands of Captain Pilkington, the letter containing the command of the Prince Regent, and Master-General of the Ordnance; I feel pow erfully impelled to lend the aid of my testimony to the merits and unfortunate situation in which that gentleman now finds himself placed, who, most unexpectedly now stands far from his native country, and, without fortune or friends, except such as the character of a gentleman and an

necessary information on the subject; and the Court doth farther sentence and adjudge that, for such his neglect, he be reprimanded in such manner as His Excellency, the Commander of the Forces, shall see meet."

I desire it to be understood, that whilst I do, in the most unqualified terms, protest against the erroneous, unwise, and dangerous misuse of the unlimited power of a commander-in-chief, in causing my services to be "dispensed with" under such circumstances, and that, without even a trial by court-martial, as it is a breach of the national trust (too often practised) which tends to suppress inquiry, and countenance dishonesty-whilst I protest against the personal injustice received from the sway of this military power which has soared so far above all legitimate control, as to shelter itself from reprobation and recrimination—whilst I declare, that I should welcome any attempt on the part of the commander-in-chief, to justify or even palliate such an outrage on the liberty of the subject, I, nevertheless, do acknowledge, that on a retrospect, I now perceive the true policy of Christian principle, which directs us to resist not evil, but to overcome evil with good; and, therefore, that if I had patiently endured injury and insult, I might have remained in the service; but, alas! where is the military man who can act so contrary to the education and training which he receives?

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Travels Through the United Kingdom: In Promoting the Cause of Peace on Earth ...