Page:The Lucknow album 1874 by Darogha Ubbas Alli.djvu/17

 "Entered the Army in 1815, came to India in 1823, and served there, with little interruption, until his death. He bore an honorable post in the wars of Burma, Affghanistan, the Maharatta Campaign of 1843, and the Sutlej of 1845-46. Retained, by adverse circumstances, during many years, in a subordinate position, it was the aim of his life to prove, that the profession of a Christian is consistent with the fullest discharge of the duties of a soldier."

He commanded a division in the Persian expedition of 1857. In the terrible convulsion of that year, his genius and character were, at length, fully developed and known to the world. Saved from shipwreck on the Ceylon Coast, by that Providence which designed him for yet greater things, he was nominated to the command of the column destined to relieve the brave garrison of Lucknow. This object of almost superhuman exertions he, by the blessing of God, accomplished, but he was not spared to receive on earth the reward so dearly earned; and the Divine Master whom he served, saw fit to remove him from the sphere of his labours, in the moment of his greatest triumph.

He departed to his rest in humble, but confident expectation of far greater rewards and honors than those which a grateful country was anxious to bestow on him. The skill of a commander, the courage and devotion of a soldier, the learning of a scholar, the grace of a high-bred gentleman, and all the social and domestic virtues of a husband, father, and friend, were blended together, strengthened, harmonized and adorned by the spirit of a true Christian—the result of the influence of the Holy Spirit on his heart and of a humble reliance on the merits of a crucified Saviour.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, "I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me "a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous "Judge, shall give me on that day; and not to me only, "but to all those that love His appearing."