Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol I (1901).djvu/437

 where two operettas, 'All Abroad' and 'John Smith,' commissioned by Carl Rosa, were performed in 1889–90. He went to the United States in 1890 as conductor to Miss Agnes Huntingdon's light opera company; her retirement from the stage prevented the production of an important work commissioned for her on a larger scale than Caldicott's other operettas. After his return to England he was appointed a professor at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music: in 1892 he resigned these posts on being appointed principal of a private teaching establishment styled the London College of Music. He also became conductor at the Comedy Theatre in 1893. Incessant work overtaxed his strength, and in 1896 cerebral exhaustion gradually developed. His last composition was a part-song, 'The Angel Sowers,' composed for J. S. Curwen's 'Choral Handbook' (1885). He died at Barnwood House, near Gloucester, on 24 Oct. 1897. He married an Irish lady, niece of Sir Richard Mayne [q. v.], and a good soprano vocalist, by whom he had three sons and also a daughter, who was trained as a vocalist, but married and retired.

Other works by Caldicott were: Operettas: 'A Fishy Case' (1885), and 'The Girton Girl and the Milkmaid' (1893); cantatas for ladies' voices: 'A Rhine Legend' (1882) and 'Queen of the May' (1884); and many single songs, both solo and concerted. 'Unless' (London, 1883, fol.), to words by Mrs. Browning, has been specially successful. He was well skilled in musical science, and constructed many clever canons; in his oratorio 'The Widow of Nain' there is a chorale, the treble and bass of which remain the same if sung with the book held upside down. His sacred music, from 'The Widow of Nain' to the smallest part-song, is always dignified and pleasing. He published no instrumental music of importance. The special novelty he brought forward was the humorous admixture of childish words and very complicated music in the glee 'Humpty Dumpty' (1878). It was so successful that he composed another in the same year, 'Jack and Jill,' and many musicians imitated him for a time. He set these nursery rhymes in the most elaborately scientific style, with full use of contrast and the opportunities afforded by individual words — as, for instance, the descent of all the voices through the interval of an eleventh at the words 'Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.' These pieces, as also Caldicott's humorous songs, 'The New Curate' and 'Two Spoons,' are thoroughly amusing to an average English audience; yet any listener not comprehending the text would probably notice nothing beyond spirited and well-constructed music, and not even suspect a humorous intention. This fact helps to illustrate the powers and limitations of the art of music. Should any profound research on the functions of the various arts be undertaken, Caldicott's glees may give considerable assistance.  CALDWELL, JAMES LILLYMAN (1770–1863), general, colonel commandant royal (late Madras) engineers, son of Major Arthur Caldwell (d. 1780) of the Bengal engineers and of his wife Elizabeth Weed of Greenwich, Kent, and nephew of General Sir Alexander Caldwell, G.C.B., of the Bengal artillery, was born on 22 Nov. 1770. He entered the service of the East India Company as a cadet in 1788 and received a commission as ensign in the Madras engineers on 27 July 1789. His further commissions were dated: lieutenant, 2 Dec. 1792; captain lieutenant, 8 Jan. 1796; captain, 12 Aug. 1802; major, 1 Jan. 1806; lieutenant-colonel, 26 Sept. 1811; lieutenant-colonel commandant, 1 May 1824; colonel, 20 May 1825; major-general, 10 Jan. 1837; lieutenant-general, 9 Nov. 1846; general, 20 June 1854.

Early in 1791 Caldwell joined the force under Lord Cornwallis for the campaign against Tippu in Maisur. He was present at the attack by Colonel Floyd on Tippu's camp in front of Bengalur on 6 March, and took part in the successful assault of the pettah of Bengalur on the following day, when the British loss was heavy. He served throughout the siege of Bengalur from 8 to 20 March, and, although wounded in the trenches, entered the breach with the storming party on the 21st. He was present at the battle of Arakere, when Tippu was defeated by Cornwallis on 14 May, and was with the advanced brigade on 15 July at the capture of Usur. He served as an engineer at the siege of Ryakota and of five other strong forts during the same month. On 17 Sept. he assisted in the reduction of Ramanghar, took part in the surprise and capture of the pettah of Nundidrug on the 22nd, and in the siege of Nundidrug from 27 Sept. to 18 Oct., when he mounted the breach with the storming party at its capture. On 29 Nov. he accompanied the chief engineer. Lieutenant-colonel Patrick Ross [q. v.], to the siege of the strong hill fort of 