Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/610

 606 TUCKEY. victim to fatigue and sickness. “I had indeed (says the father) a hard trial with my little boy; for, after attending him day and night for three weeks, (he had no mother, no servant, no friend but me to watch over him,) I received his last breath, and then had not only to direct his inter ment, but also to follow him to the grave, and recommend his innocent soul to God. This was indeed a severe trial, but it was a duty, and I did not shrink from it.” Another severe trial was reserved for him on his return to his family in England, on the final discomfiture of Buonaparte: he had the misfortune to lose a fine girl of seven years of age, in consequence of her clothes taking fire, after linger ing several days in excruciating agony. The painful moments of his long imprisonment, found some relief in the composition of a professional work, which was published in England shortly after his return, in four 8vo. volumes, under the title of “Maritime Geo graphy and Statistics.” In August 1814, Mr. Tuckey was promoted by Lord Melville to the rank of commander; and in the following year, on hearing of the intention of government to send an expedition to explore the river Zaire, he made an applica tion with several other officers, to be appointed to that service: his claims and his abilities were unquestionable, but his health appeared delicate; he was however so con fident that his constitution would improve by the voyage, and in a warm climate, and urged h i s wishes s o strongly, that the lords o f the Admiralty conferred o n him the appointment. On the 17th September, 1816, h e reached the Congo sloop, and the following day, for the sake o f better' accommodation, was sent down t o the Dorothy . .. transport, a t the Tall Trees; h e arrived i n a state o f extreme exhaustion, brought o n b y fatigue, exposure t o the weather, and privations. On the 28th, h e thought himself better, and wholly free from pain, but shewed great irritability, which was kept u p b y his anxiety con cerning the affairs o f the expedition. On the 30th, the debility, irritability, and depression o f spirits, became