was while discharging the important duty of causing his guns to be fired rapidly, that he was hit by a round shot from the batteries pointed at him. His death was instantaneous. Major Townsend was a man beloved by his brother-officers. His charity, and other fine Christian qualities, had earned him the respect and affection of the private soldier. He was religious, without obtruding his sentiments on those who were less so; and consequently, a word from him to any wild young fellow carried weight with it. His excellent life has been borne testimony to by many letters from his comrades; but the following, from a non- - commissioned, is worth a hundred of any other. Serjeant James Thorburn; of the Royal Artillery, in writing of his own affairs to his wife, says :"Camp, near Sebastopol, Nov. 7.

"MY DEAR ANNE,-Since I wrote to you last we have been twice engaged with the enemy; the first time was on the 25th of last month; the last time was on Sunday, the 5th instant-and such a day I never wish to see again. Our loss was not great, but what we most lament was the loss of our commander, Major Townsend, who was shot dead. In him we mourn the loss of a friend and a brave soldier, and no doubt a sincere Christian. What a pleasure it was to hear him read the prayers of the English church to us on a Sunday, and then a short sermon after them, or a funeral service! There was no formality in it; the heart felt what the words expressed, and we all now feel the loss of a father. I hear no joyous laugh now, as when he was with us, but I believe and hope he has only exchanged this world for a far better."

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Major Townsend has left a widow to mourn over him. It is at least a consolation for her to have to reflect that he was one of those brave men who, in the midst of death's dangers, was ever prepared to die as a valorous soldier and sincere Christian.

COLONEL SEYMOUR, OF THE SCOTS FUSILIER
GUARDS.

CHARLES FRANCIS SEYMOUR was the eldest son of the late Sir Horace Seymour. He was the grandson of Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour, who was distinguished as a commander. His father, the late Sir Horace Seymour, as a cavalry officer, served in the Peninsular campaigns, and as aide-de-camp to the late Marquis of Anglesea, covered himself with glory at Waterloo, in which huge affair he had three horses killed under him, and was severely wounded.

Charles Francis Seymour was gazetted an ensign (and lieutenant) to the Fusilier Guards, on the 2nd of May, 1834, became lieutenant (and captain) in June, 1837, and lieutenant-colonel on the 1st of August, 1848. In the years 1846 and 1847, he served in the first Caffre war as principal aide-de-camp to the Commander of the Forces, General Sir George Berkeley. In 1852, on hostilities

I

again breaking out, he accompanied Sir George Cathcart to the same colony, as his military secretary; and in both wars displayed courage and intelligence which procured him the regard of the officers with whom he served. On returning to England in August 1854, at the close of the war in Africa, Colonel Seymour's health had suffered so severely, that care and rest were deemed essential to his recovery; but he determined to accompany Sir George Cathcart to the Crimea, and as adjutant-general of the fourth division in the operations in September and October, he discharged the duties of his important trust to the entire satisfaction of his general.

At the battle of Inkermann he distinguished himself by energy. and daring, and was with Sir George Cathcart in his chivalrous charge against the enemy. In this ever memorable affair Seymour was wounded before his general was seen to fall, but he still rode on. Cathcart was now struck down, and Seymour, dismounting to render assistance, was bayonetted by the enemy while in the act of succouring his fallen chief.

His death is thus spoken of by Lord Raglan, in his despatch to the Minister of War:-" Colonel Charles Seymour, the officer in whom Sir George Cathcart most confided, and who was one of the most promising young men in the army, fell by his side."

No death was more glorious than that of Colonel Seymour. Like a squire of old, he was found across the dead body of his gallant knight, whom he had devotedly served even to the last breath of life. Eternal shame on the malignant foe, whose dastard hearts could not leave unmutilated so fine an image of the Deity. It is one of their many infamies on that bloody day, on which the recording Angel will shed no tear of obliteration, though their high priest at Sebastopol, who exhorted them to the devilry, pray himself into the grave in atonement.

LIEUTENANT TRYON, OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE.

HENRY TRYON was the second son of Thomas Tryon, Esq., of Bulwick Park, county of Northampton. At an early age he was appointed second lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, and became first Lieutenant on the 12th of October, 1852. Long before war had been declared against Russia, lieutenant Tryon had attracted the notice of his commanding officer by the intelligent discharge of the duties devolving on him. At the battle of Inkermann he distinguished himself greatly. He was among the glorious old Rifles taken by Cathcart to assist Pennefather on the eventful 5th of November. He escaped the dangers of that day, but his intrepidity was known to his superior officers, and he was noted down as one worthy of being entrusted with any mission where judgment and high courage should be required during the campaign.

On the 20th of November, just fifteen days after Inkermann,

Henry Tryon was called out for "special service"-always one of importance, and generally one of vast hazard to all concerned, but more particularly so to the leader, for upon his bearing depends the conduct of those under his command. In this instance the service to be rendered would facilitate the progress of the siege works. In the rocky ground between our first and second parallels, in the ravine towards the left of our attack, about 300 Russian infantry had established themselves in some caverns and old stone-huts used by shepherds in days gone by, and had for the last twenty or thirty hours annoyed the working and covering parties of the French right attack and of our left battery by an incessant fire of rifles. The Brigadier-General, Sir John Campbell, resolved to dislodge the enemy. He therefore selected three companies from the 1st battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and placed them under the orders of Lieutenant Henry Tryon, in whose abilities he had the utmost confidence.

At seven o'clock in the evening Tryon led his men towards the caves sheltering the Russian sharpshooters. Cautiously he advanced under the shadow of night, for success depended on taking the enemy at close quarters. He reached the wished-for proximity with the enemy, and then commenced the sharp bang of our musketry, which was spiritedly replied to by the Russian rifles. The fight was for some time within firing distance; but Tryon, at the opportune moment, closed, and it then became a hand-to-hand affair, which ended, after a most courageous resistance by the enemy, in their being driven back for the shelter of their main body. The Russians, who had lost considerably in the contest, returned in great force to recover their caves; but our Rifles, once in possession, had made up their minds to hold it. It now became necessary for Tryon to exert himself to the utmost, for his handful of men were opposed by whole columns of the enemy, and he knew well that upon his example depended the safety of the post.

The public need not be informed that every private in the Rifle Brigade has the well-earned prestige of being in warfare subtle as the fox and bold as the lion. It is therefore no small share of heroism that could entitle an officer of that distinguished corps to the applause of his men. Tryon, however, on this occasion was to be seen in advance, cheering his hard-pressed men; now counselling caution, and anon giving the word for a home-volley on the fine fat front of the enemy's columns, which told most alarmingly. In the midst of this incessant bullet-shower, the brave fellow was shot in the head. The victory, however, was secured at this moment, for his two junior officers, Bourchier and Cunninghame, kept up the enthusiasm of the men, and a few well-directed Minié rounds scattered the Russian columns into irretrievable disorder in their few subsequent efforts to retake the position.

So important was the service rendered to our ally by this success, that their Commander-in-chief, General Canrobert, published a general order in his camp directing the attention of his brave army to the heroism displayed by our rifles. He did not forget their

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leader, the gallant Tryon, whose death he deeply lamented. Lord Raglan made the operation the subject of a special despatch to our Minister of War; his lordship writes :

"Before Sebastopol, Nov. 23, 1854. "My Lord Duke,-The Russian advanced post in front of our left attack having taken up a position which incommoded our troops in the trenches, and occasioned not a few casualties, and at the same time took in reverse the French troops working in their lines, a representation of which was made to me both by our own officers and by General Canrobert, a detachment of the 1st battalion Rifle Brigade, under Lieutenant Tryon, was directed on the night of the 20th to dislodge the enemy; and this service was performed most gallantly and effectively, but at some loss both in killed and wounded, and at the cost of the life of Lieutenant Tryon, who rendered himself conspicuous on the occasion, was considered a most promising officer, and held in the highest estimation by all.

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'The Russians attempted several times to re-establish themselves on the ground before daylight on the 21st, but they were instantly repulsed by Lieutenant Bourchier, the senior surviving officer of the party, and it now remains in our possession.

Brigadier-General Sir John Campbell speaks highly of the conduct of the detachment, and of Lieutenant Bourchier and Lieutenant Cunninghame, and he laments the death of Lieutenant Tryon, who so ably led them in the first instance.

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This little exploit was so highly prized by General Canrobert that he instantly published an 'Ordre Général,' announcing it to the French army, and combining, with a just tribute to the gallantry of the troops, the expression of his deep sympathy in the regret felt for the loss of a young officer of so much distinction."

Lieutenant Henry Tryon, by his coolness and bravery in carrying out a most difficult operation, has placed his name on the roll of British heroes, and in the French records of this great war, his reputation will be preserved as that of an English soldier whose life was lost in rendering aid to La Grande Armée..

LIEUTENANT POLHILL, OF THE 95тя.

ROBERT GRAHAM POLHILL, who was born in the year 1827, was the second son of Edward Polhill, Esq., of Brunswick Square, Brighton, by Anne, daughter of the late Thomas Graham, Esq., of Edmond Castle, Cumberland. The Polhill family is one of great antiquity. In Kent, the Polhills have been settled since the reign of Edward III. Two branches of the family made settlements in other counties; one in Sussex and another in Bedfordshire. The Sussex branch, at Burwash, produced the celebrated theological

writer, Edward Polhill, whose works were much read in the reign of the second Charles, while that in Bedfordshire is represented by Captain Polhill, of Howbury Park, whose father sat many years in Parliament for Bedford.

The subject of this memoir was gazetted an ensign in the 95th (Derbyshire) when in his eighteenth year, and became lieutenant on the 13th of April, 1852. From the day of his entering the corps, Polhill became a favourite with officers and men. His temperament was such as to secure him the affection and respect of all. Attentive to duty, and considerate of the men under his command, his name was of good repute not only in the mess-room, but in the canteen, where officers' characters are discussed in whispers.

Lieutenant Polhill belonged to a gallant regiment. At the battle of the Alma it earned emblazonments for its colours. When the light division rushed at the enemy, the Second division moved rapidly to its assistance. The 95th was in the latter division. It rushed up towards the enemy's redoubts, cheering as it advanced. It had eighteen officers disabled long before any material impression was made on the murderous batteries in its front. On went officers and men, however, with their standards surrounded by a devoted band. The redoubts were passed, and the enemy who were flying before the gallant 95th, made brief halts, and wheeling round, delivered deadly showers of ball on their pursuers. The colours were still in front, though tattered from shot. On went the 95th, its colours in their ragged glory defended by Lieutenant Polhill and Captain Eddington. The enemy at all points were now flying from the field in broken columns, but so also were their balls on the British hunters. The 95th delivering a singeing fire on the enemy at bay in their immediate front, charged home, and their loud cheer rang out as they witnessed its effect. Their standards were high in the air, but most of their heroic preservers were laid low. A few yards in advance of the colours of the 95th was found the body of Lieutenant Robert Graham Polhill, his sword firmly fixed in the death-grasp. He had been struck by a musket ball in the head. In the moment of victory, an honour to his regiment, and amidst the glorious din of exultation in the heroism that had achieved so great a triumph, he fell, as a brave soldier could wish to fall, between the foe and his sovereign's flag.

GENERAL THE HONOURABLE SIR GEORGE

CATHCART, K.C.B.

THE HONOURABLE GEORGE CATHCART was the fourth son of the first Earl Cathcart, by the daughter of Andrew Elliot, uncle of the first Earl of Minto. He was born in the year 1794. At the age of sixteen he was appointed a cornet in the 2nd Life Guards, on the 25th of May, 1810; and on the 1st of July, 1811, he exchanged for a lieutenantcy in the 6th Dragoon Guards. He continued a simple lieutenant until 1818. He must have been sleeping, the reader