The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-21 00:00:00

MADRAS.

In concerns us to hear that Lieutenant Grieve, of the Indian
navy, who was in command of the Coote at the time of her
being lost not long ago, died at Calicut on the morning of
the 7th instant. The deceased officer was proceeding on
sick leave to the hills. Distress of mind is said to have
hastened, if it did not cause, his death.--Madras Spectator,
April 14.
We understand that the head-quarters of her Majesty's
57th Regiment embark this morning in the Mary Ann.—
Madras Athenceum, April 14.
A second portrait of Colonel Montgomery has, we learn,
been brought out, the first, as our readers may remember,
having been completely disfigured by immerson in the surf.
—lbid.

With reference to what fell from us on Thursday last re-
garding the erection of a monument to the memory of the
late Sir Robert Dick, we have now the pleasure of informing
our readers that, at the instance of Major-General Sir E. K.
Williams, commanding the centre division of the army, a
meeting will be held at the Club House, on Thursday, the
16th instant, for the purpose of firming a committee to carry
into effect the desired object.—lbid.

THE LATE SIR ROBERT DICK.
(From the Madras ilthenceum, March 26.)
The late gallant Sir Robert Dick, when amongst us here,
was universally respected and esteemed ; on no occasion did
we ever hear a single word from any quarter of a depreciatory
character; those who claimed the honour of his friendship
were warm in his praise, and such as knew him only as a
general officer in her Majesty's army recognised in him the
bearing of a noble-minded soldier, who by his deeds of arms
had covered himself with tokens of distinguished merit.
While a member of this society he endeared himself to
all by his bland courtesies and agreeable manners, nor
did any one study snore to relieve the monotony of the
place, in which attempt he was successful above many.
His departure from this Presidency was very generally
regretted, especially in the wide circle of his friends ;
the best wishes of all followed him, and each felt convinced
that should it fall to his lot to take the field against the
enemies of his country, the fame he had won in other parts
of the world would lose none of its lustre or freshness. This
excellent man was also much beloved by the natives of his
household, and bis benevolence was of that wide-spread
kind that excluded none who sought to share therein from
its benefits. So well was this feature of his character under-
stood by the needy and destitute in the neighbourhood of his
domicile, that all of this class approached with confidence to
seek relief at his hands. Those qualities which are calcu-
lated to attract and win for their possessor the homage of the
heart, he largely shared; the consequence of which was, that
none ever spoke or thought of him with other than kindly
words and grateful feelings. We are quite sure that in this
brief sketch we have uttered no sentiment which is not
common to all who knew him, and he has a monument in
their affectionate respect and esteem that will only cease to
exist when they, like himself, are numbered with the dead.
Any information regarding his closing career cannot fail to be
interesting, and for that which we are now enabled to afford,
we are indebted to a gentleman, who, from his intimacy with
the deceased, will not be displeased with us for placing the
letter to his address, in connexion with our own remarks. The
Governor-General's tribute to the memory of the departed
hero will be read with the deepest interest ; he speaks of him
both as a friend and a soldier, and every word he has penned
will find an echo in the bosom of his numerous friends and
admirers at this presidency.
Chowringbee, March 11, 1846.
My dear Sir,—l received your kind and friendly note of
condolence last night, and beg to offer my warm and grate-
ful thanks. My dear lamented brother often spoke to me of
you in warm terms of friendship, and I was sure I should
have your hearty sympathy in my irreparable loss. He was
to me not only an affectionate brother; he was a bosom
friend of more than thirty years' standing, and had always
been, and always would have been a most kind father to my
children. At my age such a wound can never heal. 1 never
heard from him from the time he was ordered hurriedly to
head-quarters • though in a letter to my daughter, Mrs.
C—, he said he would keep us acquainted with all going
on, and I did not write to him, for I knew his time would be
fully occupied in looking well after his division, and I did
not wish to distract his attention, when all seemed so con-
fused! He has certainly fallen has, nobly as he could have
desired; and his last deed as a soldier surpassed in brilliancy
and effect even the gallant exploits of his youth. He was as
good as he was brave and able (as I wrote to Sir H. Har-
dingo in answer to his letter of condolence); his generosity
was unbounded, whether in acts of charity, of hospitality,
or godlike forgiveness of injuries.willnotter ie'foourewialploliltgeisteo
fkornocwop)o,_f
his last battle-field—I
Lng.the following extracts 'from Captain B—.-'s letter to me—
i need
not i
our nephew has, I know, informed you of the great loss
t l
yourhe
beerrvocthee
r. has
I s suffered
telln theyou
howdeathmoufe
much
K e late
l.s
regretted general
p,
for he was beloved by all. As I was present with him
to
the whole of the day, it may be pleasing ' you to have a
few lines from me.—, The arrangements for the attack of the
Seikli entrenchments were communicated to Sir Robert the
previous evening. A heavy cannonade was first to be
opened, and upon receiving instructions from the Commander
in-Chief, Sir Robert's division was to lead the attack. He
was directed to proceed with it before daylight to a nullah, a
little distance in front of and on the right of the enemy's en-
trenchments. The cannonade commenced about half-past
seven, and Sir Robert received instructions to advance to
the attack about ten. The advanced brigade in the nullah,
consisting of 53d and 10th Queen's, ,and 43d and 69th N. 1.,
formed line and advanced, supported by the other brigade of
Sir Roberts division, about 200 paces in the rear. It con-
sisted of the 811th Queen's and 33d and 63d N.I. It was an
open plain right up to the entrenchments, and the advance
upon them was made without a moment's check 1 tke whole
advanced brigade almost at the same moment entering the
entrenchments, and taking the batteries in their front. Sir
, Robert was for some time in advance of the use, and continued
with the 10th right up to the batteries stormed. Being mounted
he could not then enter, but on the 80th coming up and
taking a battery an opening was found, and Sir Robert
got into the entrenchments. He continued with the ad
vance of the 80th, which regiment, by moving to the right,
took battery after battery in flank, Sir Robert in the midst,
cheerin them on. 'When the junction with the other eivi-
sions of the army, who had attacked on the enemy's left, had
been nearly completed—l think at the last battery—the.Seikhs
turned a gun to enfilade their own entrenchments, and it is
in • belief that it was a discharge from this gun that wounded
Sir Robert. He had just turned round to urge on a few men,
when a grape shot struck him in the right side, and killed
his horse on the spot. I dismounted and went to his assist-
ance, but he was strong enough
and
even
to walk a short distance,
even then kept calling on the men to advance. In a short
time I procured a dooly, and he was conveyed at once to his
own tent. On probing the wound, hopes were entertained
,
that the direction of the shot had been merely superficial •
for some time there was hope of no danger, but about four
ied at six. I need
and 'r
he seemed to sink very rapidly, exp
not tell you of the regret felt by the wholearmy at such a
loss. He died a skilful and a gallant soldier; the advance
army,.
.
of his leading brigade was the admiration
of the whole
—not for a moment checked, and the movements mace as it
on parade. When lie was told of the success of his division,
an hour or two after he was wounded, his countenance
lighted up with pleasure, and he expressed the greatest gra-
tification.'
Willy,. my brother's eldest son, arrivedonly two days
days
before with his horses, tents, baggage, &c. He wrote us a
beautiful account of his father's last moments. He suffered
little, and went off most composedly. C writes me that
he too joined only two days before with General Smith; just
before my brother was wounded, he sent off
up one of the field batteries of his division, as he
saw the
other doing good service. This C.-- did, and then gal-
loped into the entrenchment after his general, who lie learned
had bean wounded. His own horse was shot dead under
hint by grape, and he had a most narrow escape, He seized
a Seikh horse and galloped back. Robert congratulated hire
on his escape, and thanked Clod his own wound was not dan-
gerous, and that he had lost no limb, He drank some milk
and a little brandy and water. In a short time after he palled
C,,,..—, who, seeing him breathing hard, sent off for medical
aid, again, Twa doctors carne, and gave strong brandy-and.
w4er, but there was TIP Nape ; and Robert told C--- he
knew Eta was dying, and he ~eon became itansible, C—
had called his son so Won as he saW danger? and hp was by
his father's side. Willy promised to write me sogn again.
He returns marching to Cawnpoor, and thence by water to

Me, and will go home overland. There is a will, which he
does not with to open until with me. I will write you again
immediately I know the stateof my dear brother's affairs.
In the meantime let me thank you for all you have already
done, and believe me, with truth, yours, &c.
The following extracts from a kind letter of condolence,
which I have received from Sir 11. Hardinge, evince the
estimation in which my beloved gallant brother was held in
the army :
" Our heroic friend fell mortally wounded at the head of
his troops In entering the enemy's entrenched camp, and he
had the satisfaction of knowing, before he expired, that his
gallant exertions had been crowned with the most complete
success. I was sure that wherever the danger was most
imminent and required the veteran's presence, there would
he be found, as in his younger days when he led the gallant
42d Highlanders with a reputation second to no officer and
to no regiment in the Peninsular war.
"His sufferings were short, and he gave his last efforts to
the most import ant battle of the war, identifying Lis name
and his reputation with the most daring exploit any army
ever achieved, in the directing of which attack he was the
leader.

"1 regret the loss of a frank and sincere friend, and the
service has lost one of its most distir,rui.,hed ornaments. If
his career was shortly to close, he could not have had a more
glorious occasion."—Athenalon, March 26.