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 212 COLONEL LE MESUK1ER.

tion, but bad cbecked himself, in deference to what he knew had been planned out for him. There were circumstances which so decidedly proved the truth of this statement, that his parents, though with the greatest reluctance, acceded to his wishes ; the more readily, however, from the confidence which his father enter- tained, that the claims which he had established, in the course of his service, would enable him to procure advancement for his son : nor was he disappointed, for in January, 1801, an ensign's commis- sion in the staff corps was obtained for him. This, however, as soon as the destination of Sir Ralph Abercrombie's expedition was ascertained, he quitted for a lieutenancy, by purchase, in the 20th regiment of foot ; and he lost no time in embarking in a mer- chant ship, in the hope of immediately seeing active service in the face of an enemy, in which however he did not succeed on account of the general peace in that year.

The company to which Lieutenant Le Mesurier belonged, having been recruited from the militia, was reduced at the peace, but his royal highness the commander in chief immediately transferred him to the 83d regiment on full pay, in which he served till August, 1803, when he was admitted into the college at High -Wycomb, where he soon distinguished himself by his application and talents. In consequence, he, together with Mr. (afterwards captain) Brad- ford, a fellow collegian and friend, obtained leave to travel, for the purpose of perfecting himself in the German language, and getting an insight into foreign tactics. They were advised to fix at Kiel, in Holstein, where they remained during the winter.

In the summer following he passed his final examination at High- Wycomb, with the greatest credit, being highly complimented by the Board, and further told that they "should press on the consi- deration of the Supreme Board his perfect competency to the discharge of the duties of assistant quartermaster general." Having, in the month of September, obtained a captain's commis- sion in the 21st regiment, he soon after joined his corps, then in Ireland, where he remained until the month of March following ; when, being summoned to London, on account of the sudden and much lamented death of his father, General Brownrigg, in pursuance of a promise made to the deceased, gave him an appointment as assistant quartermaster general : and he served on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, making surveys and discharging the other duties of that office, until the end of the year 1807 ; when, it being stated that the regiment wanted officers, he was ordered to join, carrying

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