The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Life and Correspondence of Major-General
Sir John Campbell, G.C.B. By John W. Kaye.
Smith, Elder, and Co.
Some ninety years ago the subject of these me-
moirs, one of the Eskdale Malcolms, was born on
the banks of the Esk in the sister country. Like
Clive, " the scapegrace" of the family, like him
also he was destined to be its ornament, and to
add his name to the long list of British worthies.
His wishes, and the embarrassed state of the pa-
teinal affairs, led to his landing in Madras in 1783
as a subaltern of the East India Company's army,
at the early age of thirteen or fourteen. The issue
of the career thus begun—a long, varied, and
arduous one—may be seen by the visitor to West-
minster Abbey, where the genius of Chantry has
perpetuated his memory an illustrated his fame
by a noble statue of marble. He died in 1833,
aged 84, having served his country for far on to
10 years. Until the appearance, however, of these
volumes, the life of Sir John Malcolm has re-
mained unwritten. This apparent neglect arose,
it would seem, from the death of the author of
" Cyril Thornton," Captain Hamilton, who
had undertaken to pen his biography. Whatever
merit, however, attaches to these volumes ;s due
to Mr. Kaye, whose "Life of Lord Metcalf," and
other works, peculiarly recommended him to the
family of the deceased veteran for the task. The
memoir is his composition, and the selection of the
correspondence almost entirely his also. If admi-
ration of a great man is sufficient to make a judici-
ous and spirited biographer Mr. Kaye has a right
to be accounted one. His merit, however, is of a
less disputable nature. The chief fault we have to
allege against him is, he has given us too much,
a common fault nowadays. Otherwise he has
introduced and illustrated a copious correspon-
dence, with lively enough narrative and judicious
remarks, and thereby enabled the reader to enjoy
the treat the correspondence is admirably adapted
to afford. Into the &tails of the career of this
distinguished veteran our purpose does not
allow us to enter. It would take up too much
space, and we are best disposed the reacer
should take his impressions from the book. It is
well, however, to give a rough notice of its nature.
From the period of his landing almost to his last
hour he " looked up," and success was not long in
being his. From a youthful subaltern he rose to
be au Ambassador, a Major-General, a statesman
(of note at the India House), the Governor of
Bombay, and the friend or correspondent of the
leading celebrities of the day—including the Iron
Duke. Firm and self-reliant, he appears from
temper and disposition to have mingled through-
out his career the suaviter in modo with the for-
titer in re, and whether it was to quell a mutiny,
defend his conduct or measures against misrepre-
sentation, deal with a treacherous Eastern Court,
quiet the apprehensions of natives or disturbances,
there was a manly honesty and vigour about him,
tempered by shrewdness, which bore him suc-
cessfully through. While his first care was
for the obvious interest and honour of his
country, it is gratifying to add, the natives of
India had in him a zealous friend, and that, as
such, he is remembered by them to this day. Ar-
duous as appear to have been his exertions in his
official capacity, and taken up as his time must
have been by correspondence, lie always seems
to have found opportunity to look after and pro-
mote the real substantial interests of India. In
the earlier portion of his career, we find him
brought into communication with Lord Wellesley,
who became his friend, and, as a proof of confidence
in his talents and discretion, appointed him am-
bassador to Persia, then, as at present, a source of
annoyance to the Indian Government. In this
capacity he acquitted himself so well that the
Marquis gave him the post of private secretary.
The duties of this office were onerous and difficult,
and involved much correspondence, the most deli-
cate negotiation, and the exercise of large discre-
tionary powers. His particular connection with
the treaty with Scindiah, the Gwalior controversy
and the Peace, we pass over, only remarking
that about this period began his correspondence
with Arthur Wellesley, which was kept up with
mutual cordiality and respect to a late period of
his career. The conclusion of the first volume re-
cords his reappointment to Persia as Envoy Extra-
ordinary, mainly to restore the prestige of the
Company's Government at the Persian Court.
The embassy was on an imposing scale, and after
encountering many difficulties he arrived in safety
at his destination, where he was received with
the same honours as before, and became a favourite
of the Shah. In the main his mission was success-
ful, but he found abundant reason to rejoice as he
turned his back on a scene of " deceit, falsehood,
and intrigue," and returned, as he writes,
" towards rectitude, truth, and sincerity," at Bom-
bay. Here he found leisure to pursue his literary
labours (he was the author, by the way, of several
works, including a volume of poetry), but before
long was impelled to return to England. During
his stay here came the tidings of Waterloo. Shortly
afterwards he paid a visit to Paris, where he met
with a cordial reception from the Duke of Welling-
ton, and came in contact with Sir Walter Scott an
other eminent personages. The goal of his ambi-
tion was nevertheless kept constantly in view,
and he returned to India (with the promise of the
reversion of tie appointment of Governor of Bom-
bay) after having enjoyed opportunities of studying
European States and the or-
the constitutions s`f
ganisation of European armies, and of conversing
with many of the most eminent statesmen and
soldiers of the western world, and others no less
eminent in the more transsuil paths of literature
and science ; in short, armed at all points, and at
the very zenith of his intelasctual strength and
efficiency. On his arrival he made' the circuit of the
Residencies, and did his best to bessuule acquainted
with the condition and resources et. the country,
concluding his tour by joining the army of the
he
Deccan. During this war was fought the tlattle
f
Mehidpoor, in which he succeeded, by hard figslkt.,in.m I
g,
in defeating the enemy (Hulkar) and driving
from the field, adding thereby the laurel of this
soldier to the honours of the successful diplomatist
and statesman. This was but the beginning of the
end. The enemy ultimately was everywhere beaten
and dispersed. Sir John Malcolm returned to his
home in the Mhow cantonment " with his blushing
honours thick upon him." Disappointed of both the
Madras and Bombay Government he set off before
long for England, to return, however, this timein de m
Go-
vernor of Bombay. On his arrival he
htered
Hede-
yd to
settle in the country, and having pnrc
hall, he there dispensed his hospitalities., and with no
niggard hand, to the literaryand. scientific celebrities
of the day. Literary companionship and literary
pursuits could not, however long engross his ener-
getic mind. Thoughts of active service pressed upon
him, and after much anxie y e succeeded in obtain-
• tment. Three years having
fine. the Bombay appoin
0
elapsed, in which he discharged the duties of his
responsible office with enlightened zeal and assi-
duity, the Government resignheds, and he returned
ety of his wife
to England again to enjoy t. e oci •
and daughters. His reception by men in autho-
rity and in society was most flattering ; and " the
we suppose, convinced and determined
to
ol man,e
was not " used up" as a public d s how b
ser-
vant, sought and obtained a seat in Parliament,
where his knowledge
iti of Indian affairs brought his
services into requison, both as a witness
and a committee man. The passing of
the Reform Bill, to which he was opposed,
led to the loss of his seat and his exclusion
from Parliament. His energies were now directed
to the completion of his work on the administra-
tion of India, and the defence of the East India
Company, whose monopoly was' seriously threat-
ened. His health began to gi Ve way, and the
anxiety, fatigue, and exposure ,incident to the
moving of certain resolutions before ,:he proprietary
body in connection with the India C' limner resulted
in a complete break-down. He was seized with ' a fit
of paralysis at Charing-cross, and after !lingering for
a brief period death put a stop to his laborious
career, the least useful portion of w Wait unfor-
tunately, was the last. Men of greater genius
have
w t
undoubeadsl aeared on the stage where most of
his life spent, but none of loftier int
ake eg
" T him
more devoted to the public service.
rity, or
nth of the
for all in all" he was a fine specimen Is
to his
British soldier and statesman, an hone ur
native country, and a most useful. servant
a Clive
of the Crown. Not to have been
roach
no re
or a Hastings was to him , p ,

and involves no discredit to his memory.
"He did what he could " is a noble testimonial,
and to this he is thoroughly entitled. Endowed
with extraordinary physical powers, sagacious, en-
terprising, buoyant, and discreet, always actively
employed, and always for his country's good, he
has left behind him a bright and unsullied name,
and the example of a career which the India cadet
cannot emulate but with profit to himself and ad-
vantage to the state. "In the annals of our In-
dian Empire," says his biographer, " no name
more frequently occurs, or is more honourably
mentioned, than that of Sir John Malcolm." Net
the least testimonial to his abilities and worth
were the friendship and the countenance shown
him by the Duke of Wellington throughout—some-
times in circumstances when such support was in-
valuable. Perham the most noticeable feature of
his character was the versatility of his powers. In
this respect lie was remarkable. "It is no small
thing," says his biographer, "to cope with a tiger
in the jungle ; it is no small thing to draw up an
elaborate state paper ; it is no small thing to con-
duct to a successful issue a difficult negotiation at a
foreign court ; it is no small thing to lead an army
to victory ; and I think it may with truth be said
that he who could do all these things with such
brilliant success as Sir John Malcolm was a very
remarkable man in a very remarkable age." The
adjective may be applied to his family, which
certainly was a remarkable one—two if not three
of its members having won historical names. We
allude more particularly to his brother, Sir Pal-
teney Malcolm, the celebrated admiral. In the
course of the narrative and the correspondence,
as also in the diary of the hero of these memoirs,
the reader is introduced to or has a glimpse of most
of the principal actors on the political stage, as well
as in the arena of science, both at home and abroad,
and is now and then treated with more or less per.
tinent and entertaining anecdote ; for instance, we
have a graphic description of the accidental meet-
ing of Sir John with Cobbett, and their travelling
together by stage. Of the style of the deceased
veteran we may say it is earnest and homely,
though scarcely so spirited as might have been ex-
pected from his career. Elegance could hardly be
looked for. The Memoirs, in conclusion, are
"good to read," they are the memoirs emphati-
cally of a man, of one who fairly and honourably
earned not only the statue by Chantrey in West-
minster Abbey—an imperial oblation, but also the
monument overlooking the town of Langhohn, the
foundation-stone of which was laid by Sir James
Graham in the presence of thousands of the inha-
bitants of his native county, the border gentry,
and the plaided shepherds of the Teviot. An ad-
ditional interest is lent to the memoirs by the
disturbed state of our relations with Persia at the
present time.

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