180 OBITUARY.-General Dowdeswell. the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief for his conduct in a brilliant affair on the 5th of September, in front of Alexandria, which Lord Hutchinson has thus recorded:-" The action afforded one more opportunity to display the promptness of British officers, and the heroism of British soldiers. A part of General Doyle's brigade, under the immediate command of Colonel Spencer, had taken possession of a hill in front of the enemy's right. General Menou, who was in person in that part of the camp directly opposite our post, ordered about 600 men to make a sortie to drive us from our position. The enemy advanced in column with fixed bayonets, and without firing a shot until they got very close to the 80th regiment, to whom Col. Spencer gave an immediate order to charge, though they did not consist of more than 200 men. He was obeyed with a spirit and a determination worthy the highest panegyric. The enemy were driven back to their entrenchments in the greatest confusion, had many killed and wounded, and several taken prisoners." Colonel Spencer served throughout the campaign in Egypt, and returned to England over land on the peace, when he was appointed Brigadier-General on the Staff in the Sussex district. He obtained the rank of Major General Jan. 1, 1805, and continued to serve on the Staff in Sussex till appointed to command a brigade at the siege and capture of Copenhagen. In 1808 he commanded a corps of 7000 men on a particular service; joined the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley with that corps in Mondego Bay, in August of the same year; and was second in command in the battles of Roleia and Vimiera; be then returned to England on account of ill health; but on bis return to the scene of war, with the local rank of Lieut.-General, was again second in command at the battles of Busaco and Fuentes d'Onor. For his services in the Peninsula Sir Brent Spencer was invested as a Grand Cross of the Bath, April 26, 1809; and allowed to accept the same dignity in the Order of the Tower and Sword April 29, 1812. In 1806, he received the Colonelcy of the 9th garrison battalion; in 1808 of the 2nd West India regiment; in 1809, the 2nd battalion of the 95th, now the rifle brigade; and in 1818 that of the 40th foot, which he retained to his death. He received the rank of Lt.-General in 1811; and that of General in 1825. GENERAL DOWDESWELL. Dec. 1. At his seat, Pull Court, Worcestershire, aged 67, William Dowdeswell, esq General in the army. [Feb. General Dowdeswell was the third of the six sons of the Right Hon. William Dowdeswell, M.P. for the county of Worcester, and Chancellor of the Exchequer during the short period of the Rockingham administration in 1765, whom Burke in a long epitaph (which see in our vol. LI. p. 373) has described as "a senator for twenty years, a minister for one, and a virtuous citizen for his whole life." The General's mother was Bridget, youngest daughter of Sir William Codrington, first Baronet of Dodington in Gloucestershire, great aunt to Sir William Raimond Codrington, the present Baronet of that place, and aunt to Rear-Adm. Sir Edward Codring ton, G.C.B. the Commander at Navarino.* The deceased was appointed Ensign in the 1st foot guards in 1780; Aidede-Camp to the Duke of Portland, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in 1782; received a Lieutenancy with the rank of Captain, in his regiment, in 1785; and joined the army under the Duke of York at Tournay in 1793. In the action at Lincelles, Capt. Dowdes well commanded a company, and was present at the sieges of Valenciennes and Dunkirk. He succeeded to a company with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, in 1794; and was appointed Governor and Commander in-Chief of the Bahama Islands in November, 1797. He return ed thence to England, in July 1801. In 1797, he received the brevet of Colonel; and in 1798, a Lieut.-Coloneley in the 60th foot; but in 1803, was removed to the 86th. In 1802, Col. Dowdeswell was appointed Private Se cretary to Lieut.-Gen. Lord Wm. Bentinck, then Governor of Madras; in 1803 he attained the rank of Major-General; and in 1804, was enrolled on the staff of the Bengal army, which he joined in that year, and was immediately given the command of a wing. In this situation he continued during the active operations then in progress against the Mahratta Chiefs beyond the frontiers of the British territories, and including the siege of the fortress of Bhurtpore. In October 1805, he was detached by Lord Lake in command of a separate division of the army, consisting of 8000 men, to co-operate with his Lordship in preventing the incursions of the enemy, and protecting that portion of the East India Company's territory called the Doab; and remained in the field till hostilities We have been favoured with the sight of some interesting memoirs of the family of Dowdeswell, which are intended for a forthcoming" History of Tewkesbury," by Mr. Bennett of that town. 1829.] OBITUARY.-Adm. Swiney.-Capt. Digby, R.N. ceased. When the army returned into cantonments, the Major-General was appointed to the command of the station at Cawnpore and its dependencies. On Lord Lake's departure for England in February 1807, General Dowdes well succeeded, by the appointment of the supreme Governor of Bengal, to the chief command of the troops, in which he continued till compelled by ill health to return to England, where he arrived in November 1808. He received the thanks of the Government in India for his conduct. He was appointed to a Lieut.-Colonelcy in the 60th foot in June that year; to the rank of Lieut.-General in 1810, and to that of General in 1821. Having in 1811 inherited the family estates on the death of his elder brother Thomas Dowdeswell, esq. he had recently retired from the army, among those officers who have been specially allowed to retain their rank, but without receiving pay. We have thus, from his own account transmitted to the Royal Military Calendar, described General Dowdeswell's military career; we must next notice bis parliamentary history, and afterwards relate the few particulars we have of his connection with literature and the arts. The borough of Tewkesbury has been almost constantly represented by a member of the Dowdeswell family, since the election of Richard Dowdeswell, esq. (the great-grandfather of the General) in 1684. The death of his uncle Sir William Codrington, who had sat for Tewkesbury in six parliaments, formed an opening for the deceased, then Captain Dowdeswell, in 1792. He was rechosen at the general election in 1796, and vacated his seat by accepting the appointment of Governor of the Babamas, in Nov. 1797. Gen. Dowdeswell was a great encourager of literature; and at one period his library of books and prints was exceeded in value by few private collections. His library was sold by Mr. Evans, in Pall-Mall, Jan. 10, 1820, and four following days. From among many scarce and curious articles, we must particularly mention a copy of Gough's ́ "British Topography," the two volumes of which were increased to no less than twenty-four, by the addition of upwards of four thousand views and portraits. The General's prints were soon after sold at the same place, being described as "the choice selections of the works of the most eminent Engravers of all the Schools, containing fine and rare specimens of each master from the commencement of the art to nearly the present era." His collection of Hollars formed 181 a separate sale in 1821, and produced 5051. 168. 6d. (Walpole's Catalogue of Engravings, by Dallaway, p. vii.) The General's remains were interred in the family vault at Bushley in Worcestershire, on the 8th of December. As he was never married, his Lincolnshire property has devolved to his next brother, Edward-Christopher Dowdeswell, D.D. Canon of Christ-church, Oxford; and the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire estates to his youngest brother, John-Edward Dowdeswell, esq. a Master in Chancery, and the present Representative in Parliament for the Borough of Tewkesbury. The latter only is married: he has two sons and a daughter. ADMIRAL SWINEY. Jan. 1. At Sydney Place, near Exeter, aged 81, William Swiney, esq. Admiral of the Red. Admiral Swiney had served for 70 years in the Royal Navy. He began this long period of service at a very early age, on board the Hero, of 74 guns, commanded by the late Lord Mount-Edgecumbe, a few weeks before Sir Edward Hawke's action with Monsieur Conflans. He was made a Commander by Adm. Young, on the Leeward Island station; was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain in 1779, and appointed to the Europe, of 64 guns, then fitting for the flag of Adm. Arbuthnot, as Commanderin-Chief on the American station, with whom he continued till that Admiral was superseded by Adm. Digby. He then commanded the Royal Oak, of 74 guns, and finally, at the conclusion of the American war, returned to England in command of the Assurance, of 44 guns. He was actively employed on the American and West India station nearly the whole of the American war, and com manded the Ville de Paris, of 120 guns, at Spithead, when the flag promotion took place. He was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral 1797, Vice-Admiral 1801, and Admiral in 1808. CAPT. GEO. DIGBY, R.N. Jan. 14. Suddenly, at the Verulam Arms, St. Alban's, aged 49, George Digby, esq. Captain in the Royal Navy; brother to Rear-Adm. Henry Digby, uncle to Lady Ellenborough, and cousin to Earl Digby. Captain Digby was the fourth and youngest son of the Very Rev. William Digby, Dean of Durham, by Charlotte, daughter of Joseph Cox, esq. He was made a Commander R.N. in 1802, and obtained post rank, Jan. 2, 1806. He 182 OBITUARY.-J. F. Turner, Esq.—Major A. Macleod. was almost constantly employed during the whole of the war, commanding in succession the Fleche of 16 guns, Beagle 18, Cossack 24, and Lavinia frigate. Capt. Digby married, Sept. 13, 1821, Elizabeth only daughter of the late Sir John Benn Walsh, Bart, and sister to the present Baronet of that name. By that lady, who survives him, he had issue: 1. Charlotte; 2. George, and 3. another son born in May 1826. J. FREWEN TURNER, ESQ. Feb. 1. Aged 73, John Frewen Turner, of Cold Overton in the county of Lei cester, esq. This gentleman was the only son of the Rev. Thomas Frewen, Rector of Sapcote in Leicestershire, the lineal descendant and representative of Stephen Frewen, Alderman of London, and brother of Dr. Accepted Frewen, Archbishop of York. (see the pedigree of the family in Nichols's Leicestershire, vol. II. p. 142.) The Rev. Thomas Frewen, who took the name of Turner in 1777, pursuant to the will of his cousin John Turner, esq. of Cold Overton, and who had previously in 1766 inherited large estates from his relative Thomas Frewen, esq. of Brickwall, Northiam, Sussex, died in 1791, at the age of 83. His son, now deceased, who had been a member of Queen's college, Oxford, was in the same year Sheriff for Leicestershire. About 1807, he was returned to Parliament on a vacancy for the borough of Athlone, which he represented until the dissolution in 1812. In Mr. Frewen Turner that admirable character, the English gentleman, was faithfully exhibited; his ample income was not appropriated to the unworthy purposes of ostentatious luxury; hospitality pervaded his establishment, and his dwelling was a temple of benevolence. His memory will be gratefully registered in the hearts of the unfortunate, the widow, and the fatherless; when the flimsy embellishments of fashion, and the boisterous usurpations of popularity, shall have faded into forgetfulness. Mr. Turner married late in life; and has, we believe, left a family. MAJOR ALEX. MACLEOD. Oct... At Edgefield, near Forres, Major Alexander Macleod, of the Bengal army. He was son of Norman Macleod, esq. of Knock, in the Isle of Skye; arriving in India in March 1805, he was posted as Ensign to the 12th regiment of Native Infantry, which he joined, and was shortly after detached with a company, [Feb. in pursuit of a refractory zemindar of the Nabob of Oude. After chasing him some days, he traced him into a small mud-fort, which he immediately attacked and carried, with the loss of the subadar, jemadar, and 20 sepoys in killed and wounded. He next served at the taking of several mud-forts in Oude, with the corps under Col. (the late Major-Gen.) Gregory. On the formation of light battalions, in the Bengal army, this officer was attached to the 12th, commanded by Major Kelly. He marched with it to join Gen. Martindell's force on service in Bundlecund, and was at the attack of Ruggoulee, and siege and capture of Adjeeghur. When the 12th regiment came down the country to Barrack poor, this officer volunteered his service with the drafts for Java, where, on his arrival, he was posted to the Java light infantry battalion, commanded by Major Dalton. On his way to join, he met, at Samarang, the force under the command of Col. Watson, of his Majesty's 14th foot, with which he served at the taking of Sambas, in Banca; this service being terminated, he joined the Java light battalion at Djojocata. pre When Gen. Nightingall was paring the expedition against the Island of Balli, and the Rajah of Boni, at Macassar, this officer volunteered his services, with an European light corps, formed of the rifle and light companies of his Majesty's 59th and 78th foot, and was in the advance at the landing of Balli Baleling; and at the attack on the Rajab of Boni, near Macassar; and also on an expedition against a refrac tory chief, near Balacomba, which was successful, after several marches into the interior, in seizing the chief. He returned to Bengal, when Java was given up to the Dutch government; and was appointed second in command to the Cuttack legion, at the request of Capt. Simon Fraser, who was nominated commandant, and had the formation of that corps. He was employed with the mounted squadron of the legion, and 120 men of the infantry, at the attack on the Lurkacoles in Singhboon, commanded by Col. W. Richards. He was ordered to enter the country at an opposite point to Col. Richards, and to join that officer on a certain day at Bendeah, in the centre of the country, attacking the enemy on his rout as opportunities occurred. After several skirmishes, and destroying many of the enemy's positions, he arrived at the appointed place. Circumstances prevented Col. Richards 1829.] OBITUARY.-Mr. Johnstone. from joining him, and two days after arriving at Bendeab, he recived instructions to offer terms to the Lurkacoles in that direction, settle the country, and attack any that might be refractory; all which orders he accomplished to the entire satisfaction of Col. Richards, and the late Major Roughsedge, political agent, and received their thanks. In 1823, on Major Fraser going to England, Major Macleod succeeded to the command of the Cuttack legion. When the Cuttack district was quiet, and no further danger was apprehended from Jugbundoo, the chief that headed the rebellion in that province, the legion was ordered to the eastern frontier, and the corps was organised as the Rungpore light infantry battalion, and cantoned at Jumalpore, where it remained until the breaking out of the Burmese war. It was then ordered to Gowalpara, to join the force collecting there to invade Assam, and was actively engaged in that district. MR. JOHNSTONE. Dec. 26. At his house in Tavistockrow, Covent-garden, aged 78, that justly celebrated theatrical veteran, Mr. John Henry Johnstone. He was born at Tipperary, the son of a small but respectable farmer, having a large family. At the early age of 18, be enlisted into a regiment of Irish dragoons, then stationed at Clonmel, commanded by Colonel Brown. Being smitten with the charms of a neighbouring farmer's daughter, Johnstone used to scale the barrack-wall after bis comrades had retired to their quarters, for the purpose of serenading his mistress, having a remarkably sweet and flexible voice. He always returned, however, and was ready at parade the following morning. He was much esteemed throughout the regiment for a native lively turn of mind, and pecu liarly companionable qualities. Two of his comrades (who had found out the secret of his nocturnal visitations) scaled the wall after him, and discovered him on his knee singing a plaintive Irish ditty beneath the window of his inamorata. They returned to quarters instanter, and were quickly followed by Johnstone. The serjeant of the company to which he belonged eventually became acquainted with the circumstance; but never apprized the Colonel of the fact. Shortly after, Colonel Brown had a party of particular friends dining with him, whom he was most anxious to entertain: he inquired what soldier throughout the regiment had the b 183 voice, and the palm of merit was awarded by the serjeant-major to Johnstone. The Colonel sent for him, and he attended the summons, overwhelmed with apprehension that his absence from quarters had reached his commander's ears. He was soon relieved, however, on this point, and attended the party at the time appointod. The first song he sung was a hunting one, which obtained much applause, although he laboured under extreme trepidation. The Colonel said that he had heard he excelled in Irish melodies, and bid Johnstone sing one of his favourite love songs. His embarrassment increased at this order; but after taking some refreshment, he sang the identical ditty with which he had so often serenaded his mistress, in such a style of pathos, feeling, and taste, as perfectly enraptured his auditors. Having completely regained his selfpossession, he delighted the company with several other songs, which all received unqualified approbation. The next day Colonel Brown sent for him and sounded his inclination for the stage. Johnstone expressed his wishes favourably on the point, but hinted the extreme improbability of his success from want of experience and musical knowledge. The Colonel overcame his objections, and granted him his discharge, with a highly recommendatory letter to his particular friend, Mr. Ryder, then manager of the Dublin theatre, who engaged Johnstone at two guineas a week for three years, which after his first appearance in Lionel, was immediately raised to four (a high salary at that time in Dublin). His fame as a vocalist gathered like a snow-ball, and he performed the whole range of young singing lovers with pre-eminent eclat. Our hero next formed a matrimonial alliance with a Miss Poitier, daughter of Colonel Poitier, who had then the command of the military depot at Kilmainham gaol. This lady being highly accomplished, and possessing a profound knowledge of music, imparted to her husband the arcana of the science, and made him a finished singer. Macklin, having the highest opinion of Johnstone's talent, advised him to try the metropolitan boards, rote a letter to Mr. Thomas Harris, of Coventgarden, who, on the arrival of Johnstone and his wife, immediately engaged them for three years, at a weekly salary of 14., 161., and 184. Johnstone made his first appearance in London the 3d of October, 1783, in his old character of Lionel, and made a complete hit-fully years reputation he he Dublin stage. 10 184 OBITUARY.-Lt.-Col. Egan.-Sir Edw. Stracey, Bart. After remaining several years at Covent- Mr. Johnstone's remains were interred in a vault under the church of St. Paul, Covent-garden, near the eastern angle of the church. His will has been proved in Doctor's-Commons, and probate granted under 12,000l. personal property. Rumour gave Johnstone the credit of being worth 40,0001. or 50,000l. He has left a gold snuff-box and a ring to each of his executors, Mr. George Robins and Mr. O'Rielly: a ring to his friend Mr. Jobling, of the Adelphi ; and a ring to Mr. Dunn, the treasurer of Drury-lane; and as the latter gentleman is one of the angle-a staunch disciple of Isaac Walton-Johnstone has left him all his fishing-tackle. To a female servant who nursed him during the last eight or ten years of his life, he has bequeathed an annuity of 507. a year. The remainder, with the exception of a legacy of 500l. to Mrs. Vining, is left to the children of his daughter, Mrs. Wallack, closely tied up, so that the interest only during her life can be touched even by his daughter. LT. COL. EGAN. Jan. 20. At Cheltenham, aged 49, Lieut.-Colonel Kingston Egan, of the Hon. East India Company's service, and late [Feb. Commandant at South Concan in the Presidency of Bombay. He entered the military profession as Cornet in his Majesty's 21st light dragoons, Dec. 14, 1796; at the age of fifteen he was nominated a Cadet on the Bombay establishment, where he arrived Sept. 21 1798, and was promoted to an Ensigncy in the 2d battalion of 4th Native Infantry. In Feb. 1799 he proceeded on service with Col. Little's detachment to the Mahratta country, from thence to the Malabar coast, and accompa nied the force which took possession of Mangalore. In the same year he was employed with a detachment under the late Major-Gen. Sir George Holmes, in the taking of Aukola and Sidathegur in Canara. He was promoted to a Lieutenantcy Jan. 16, 1799, and posted to the 1st battalion 3d Native Infantry, from which corps he was removed to the marine battalion on the augmentation of the army. In May 1802, Lieut. Egan joined, with the force under the command of the late Col. Sir Wm. Clarke, and proceeded to the reduction of the forts of Kurree in Guzerat. In 1803 he joined the 1st battalion of 3d Native Infantry, then with the force at Bassien, for the protection of the Peishwa, from whence he proceeded with that chief to Poonah. In the same year he did duty with the 1st battalion of 3d reg. Madras Native Infantry in the army under Major-Gen. Sir A. Wellesley, and continued with it until the termination of the war with Scindia. In 1804 he was appointed Fort-Adjutant at Surat, and in the same and early part of the following year, employed in escorting supplies of provisions and military stores from that port, for the army in the field in Candeish. He was promoted to a Captaincy March 13, 1808. In 1819, in command of a detachment from the 2d battalion 2d regiment and marine battalion, Capt. Egan proceeded with Lieut.-Col. (now Major-Gen.) Lionel Smith, to the Persian Gulph, to act against the Juassarnee pirates. In 1817 he was appointed to the command of Anjur in Cutch. He was promoted to the rank of Major Nov. 1, that year; and obtained the He command of the marine battalion. attained the rank of Lieut.-Colonel July 4, 1821; and in April 1822 transferred to the 2d battalion of 6th regiment of Native Infantry at Ahmedabad, Guzerat. SIR EDWARD STRACEY, BART. Jan. 16. Aged 87, Sir Edward Stracey, of Rackheath Hall, co. Norfolk, Bart. Sir Edward was the third and youngest son of Sir John Stracey, Knt. Recorder of London from 1746 to 1749, by Mary, daughter of the Rev. Gideon Hardinge, Vicar of Kingston-upon-Thames. His elder brother, Hardinge Stracey, esq. who died in 1808, was for several years Clerk of the |