Star.
London, England, 1816-09-12 00:00:00

MR. THOMAS SYDENHAM.

This accomplished and lameured gentleman expired at Gooey*
on the 28th ultimo, in the 37th year of his age after Wag sod
painful bodily safferings, which be bore with exemplary fortitude
to the last. As a tribute due not only to departed merit, but to
the feelings-of many distinguished personages to whom Mr. Sy-
denham was deservedly dear, we shall give some particulars of
an active and awful Lie, thus prematurely terminated.
Mr. Thomas Sydenbant was the second spa of the late General
Sydenlum, Military Auditor General, ai.d afterwards Coalman.
daut of Artillery at M.l.lraa. He was educated at Harrow, and
went to India in 1794, where he speedily made himself muter of
the Arabic and Persian languages, keys respectively to the
learning and pliteness of the East. From the conliaential
and responsible, though subordinate office of Caotain of Guiden
in the Mysore war, hd was selected by Lsrd to whom
he was personally unknown, but purely on the more of his high
reputadon, tote Secretary to the residency of Hydrabsti—a critical
post ia the Government of India, while the territory of Tippoo
was a recent conquest. This he was compelled to resign in 1802,
on account of ill health; ani came to Engrand, where he gave a
siogular proof of industry, good taste. and ambition to improve
biotic/Fs by baste:ling to Oxford at the age of 22, where. under
the protection of Dr. Jackson, the venerable Dean of Chrisg
Church, he diligently and successluly prosecuted his studies. On
his return to India in 1904, Mr. Sydenham was nominated by
Marquess Welleek7 to take charge of the British Residency at
Persia; and afterwards, un that Nobleman's warm recommen.
datiou, be was appointed our Minister at Hydrabad. This
situation he resigned in 1810, on experiencing what be considered
an act of injustice on the part of the ,4uprerne Government of
India during the unhappy mutiny. His general conduct was,
however, highly approved, both by Lord Mono And the Court of
Directors.

Oa Mr. Sydenham's second return to England, be was sent by
Marquess Wellesley as a eonfidential mission to the Duke of
Welhegton—thane appointed Charge d'Affaires at Lisbon—and '
shortly afterwards one of the Commissioners for mediating bee
torten Old Spain amid her colonies; in rob cis capacity he went
round with sir George Cockburn to Cad a. It has been unfortu.
nate toe Spain, perhaps for Englend, that this project of amicable
interposition entire, failed amines.. The colosties sought secu,
pity for their rights; the mother country would grant nothing
more than pardon for what she termed their offenees. These
opposite conditions it was impossible to recoucile. Openly to abet
Ithe South American province,* was sawing upon our only allfi
in the moment of her deep distress and danger. founZ chorea
tier mediation of Britain oo the arrogant proposals of the Spanish
Government was an insult ro the cause of liberty and of national
justice. Mr. Sydenham then joined the Duke of Wellington, and
served as a volunteer through nearly the whole of tile ardusma
canmaigu of into. Towards the close of the year last mentioned,
he was offered by Lord Bathurst the mission to Morocco, which
be declined; but repaired in ISIS to the head quarters of the
Russian army, and served the cainitaln of 18(4 with his friend
Count Michel Woronaotv, who .now commands the Kaman
corps of occupation within the French territory. His skill mid
Igallactry were here conspicuous, and sit greatly distinguished hint
lot the haul* of Craen, annular other., a. to procure him from
the baud. Et the /iniperor Alexander, the cross of the Imperial
Order of St. George ; and from );eruadotte, to whom his steady
patron Lord Wellesley had strongly recommended kiln, the Swan
dish insignia of the Sword. 'lb* last public diameter which dig
amiable mad sustained, was Not of British Envoy Extraordinary
latid Munster plenipotentiary to Lisbon, to which lie was pro •
Mated in 1014. At Lisbon be was not long enabled to execute
those duck, for which, by his klinviedge of Purtegal, he was so
eminently fitted: for here the fatal illness seined hint, which.
after two years of indescribable suffering, has borne him to;
'foreign gran. These who were not intimately acquainted with
Mr. Sydenham, would be surprised were we to enumerate the
solidity and variety of them attainments, by which, as a scholar
and a man of busiuese, he bad prepared his mind both; for action
and for happinese. &sides his perfect knowledge of Onental
languages, he was as familiar with the French and Spanish
as with his native tongue. He was in habits of confidence
and imituacy with the Duke of Wellington, Sir Henry Welles-
ley, 'Sir Charles Stuart, the late Duke of Portland, Count Won
runkow, an•l many o her eminent characters in various parts of
Europe. But his most fortunate acquisition was the ready
friendship aid patronage of lord Wellesley, who first introduces'
him into public life. Nor was this comae/non Iced honourable
than it wet useful to Mr. Sydenham, who was a total strange,
to the Noble Marquess; but, like several other men of words and
talent, whose conduce has dune credit to the discrimination of
that Noblemao, be was brought forward by him for his cha-
nts er alone, and because hr had no interest or patron except his
personal merit. The favourable sentimen•a thus racked by his
Lordiltp's °facial knowledge of Mr. Syd •iiham's qualifications
gradually ripeted Into feelings of the warmest arfic'tment and
regard. which were maulfested on numberl•s• oevoinne, hut '
never in a manner so kind and grateful a. doting his last fatal
AWOL patience mid cheerfulness of temper giniblterl by
the sutpct of the present memoir may be jedyed of by the tact,
that when terlshing ;hider die last stage 01 anaoirea, and a prey
.0 almost hui.rly pangs of suflocatioa, he erijoyed the charms of
mu. exed bucket) to within a few bons of his dissolution. 'I he
night before heespited, he had a concert ip Marston, sod on his
blends taking leave of bins, b.. tell into a tranquil slumber, from
which he never awoke. Mr. I booms aytknhant I left behind
him an elder brother. who .is Coiontiosioner of blase, ens
younger, in ludia (Captain Sydenham) political agent at Aursn.
gabad; and a sister, Mrs./4m, wife to Colonel Russ; of the 7Sth
regiment, now in the lonian Isles.