The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-15 00:00:00

THE LATE MAJOR BANKS.

John Sherbrooke Banks was born in September
1811, and gave early indications of that court g
and talent which shone forth so brightly in alter
years. He passed through his school career with
great credit, and had the character of being a
" superior classical scholar." He was appointed to
a cadetship in 1828, and in 1829 arrived in India
and was posted to the 33d B. N. I. About the year
1833 he was appointed to the interpretership of his
regiment, and shortly after was for some time on
detached duty for the suppression of Thuggee, in
which he was very successful. He was afterwards
appointed to a civil magistracy in the Sanger
and Nerbuddha, Province, and was stationed at
Jubbulpore. While diligent in the duties of his
office he undertook the survey of his district for the
formation of public roads and bridges, and sought in
everyway to develop the resources of the country.
It was to this district that Sir C. Napier referred-
in terms of unsurpassed prais. " There are some
glorious magistrates who really do exalt the honour
and power of England in the East. I came through
a district governed by a Mr. Banks ; I do not know
him, I never saw him, but I really felt proud of
my countryman. Yet even there I found tyranny
by the board' which rules the Punjab ; he cannot,
help that ; all he does himself is superb." When
he retired from Jubhulpore on the breaking up of
th© establishment, ho received a complimentary
address from the natives. He was soon appointed
as assistant in the Auditor-General's Department
at Calcutta, whence he volunteered and served
with his regiment in the Affghan campaign of
1842, and was present at Mazeena and the
subsequent actions during the advance on
Cabul, and received a medal on the return of
the army; being on rearguard, a Sepoy of
his company was wounded and left behind ; Lieut.
Banks returned for him, and brought him in on his
back ' • of two men that accompanied him one was
killed and the other wounded. Captain Banks was
soon after appointed Deputy Assistant-Secretary to
the Government of India Military Department;
whence he volunteered for active service in the
campaign of the Sutlej. He joined his regiment
immediately after the battle of Sobraon, and was
at once gazetted as Quartermaster to Gen. M'Ca
kill's divison, and in the same gazette was appointed
Assistant-Secretary to the Government of India
Military Department ; in the latter capacity he
went through Scindo with the Governor-General,
Lord Hardinge. The head of his office being on
sick leave, Major B. had the whole arrangements for
the army for the Burmese war, and a comnetent au-
thority stated that "no troops were ever sent out
more efficiently prepared for active service." When
Lord Dalhousie went to Pegu to arrange for the set-
tlement and government of the newly-acquired
province Major Banks accompanied him as Secre-
tary for the Government of India. In 1854 he
was appointed by he Governor-General as his Pri-
vate Military Secretary, and accompanied his Lord-
ship to the Neilgherrie Hills. In July, 1855, Major
Banks was despatched from Ootacumund to Luck-
now on business connected with the annexation, and
was appointed one of the Commissioners in Oude.
He was in charge at Lucknow, where he resided
from the commencement of 1856. On the death of
Sir H. Lawrence Major Banks succeeded him as
Acting Chief Commissioner in Oude and in the
command of the garrison at Lucknow, and has
speedily followed his distinguished and gallmit
predecessor to a soldier's grave. While actively
employed in the duties of his profession he found
time for diligent and varied study. "He re-
ceived degrees of honour in the Persian, Oordoo,
and Bengali languages from the college at Fort
William." He had also studied Sanscrir, Arabic,
Hindostani, and Hindee, and was prepared to go
up for degrees in two of those languages had not
the duties of his office and consequent want of
opportunity prevented him. To the above he
added Hebrew and a superior knowledge of French,
German, and Italian. One who knew him well,
personally and officially, writes—" His loss will be
most severely felt by the Government, for they had
not a more able, conscientious, and a more efficient
officer." This is high praise ; but it is also a noble
testimony to the East India Company that talent
and character, without private patronage, which
Major Banks had not, can win their way to some
of the highest offices which the Indian Government
has to bestow. Major Banks was killed at Luck-
now about the end of July or beginning of August,
after 28 years of uninterrupted service.