grief. To wind up a
military career like mine in this manner, was distressing indeed!

From the age of nine to forty-one, I had now been in the army--a period
of thirty-two years. My services during that time are already before the
reader. In the course of those services, I had received six
matchlock-ball wounds:--

One through the forehead, just above my eyes, which has so impaired my
sight, that I have been obliged to use glasses for some years past.

Two on the top of my head, from which have, at different times, been
extracted sixteen pieces of bone. These two wounds, at every change of
the weather, cause a most excruciating headache.

One in the fleshy part of the right arm.

One through the forefinger of my left hand. Of this finger I have
entirely lost the use, and I am still obliged to nurse it with great
care, several pieces of bone having been extracted from it, and some
splinters, as I fear, being still remaining.

One in the fleshy part of the right leg.

I had also received a flesh wound in my left shoulder, with several
other slighter wounds not worth particularizing.

The above wounds, except one, having been received prior to the
munificent grant of his present Majesty to wounded officers, I never
received a farthing remuneration, except ninety-six pounds for the
last--a year's pay as ensign.

I confess, then, I had entertained a sanguine hope, that the extent and
nature of my services, and the number of wounds I had received, would
have more than outweighed the offence of which I had been convicted, and
I felt the disappointment most acutely, and could not avoid giving vent
to my agonized feelings. I was aroused by the endearing behaviour of my
child, whose arms had, on his observing my grief, encircled my neck.
"What's the matter, father? you are always crying now, since mother is
gone away," said he. This was touching a tenderer chord than the babe
imagined, for he still supposed that his dear mother was gone for a time
only, and his constant inquiries were when she would return. We were
found in this state of woe by Captain Thomas Marshall, of the Bengal
army, my neighbour. This officer was my neighbour indeed; for his
kindness, and that of his amiable wife, towards me, were unabated and
unceasing. In the affectionate bosom of this lady my orphan babe found a
foster-mother, who shared with her infant, three days older than mine,
the one half of its best comfort. Towards this dear and affect