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Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE AND TRAVELS OF SERJEANT B----.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
"Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou
shalt glorify me."
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."
Edinburgh:
Printed for David Brown,
16, South St. Andrew's Street;
Chalmers and Collins, Glasgow;
Knight & Lacey, 24, Paternoster-Row,
London.
1823.
Printed by Balfour and Clarke,
Edinburgh, 1823.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In justice to the unpretending Author of this volume, it is necessary
to notice that the idea of publishing it in no respect originated with
himself. The circumstances which led to its appearance may be very
briefly stated.
On the Serjeant's arrival in this country from India, he found
himself surrounded by an extensive circle of relations, to which the
excellence of his own character soon added many personal friends. As
might be expected, the occurrences of his past life and travels,
frequently formed the topics of conversation at their occasional
meetings; and as he had from an early period, for his own amusement
and edification, been in the habit of keeping an exact journal of all
"the providences that befel him," he frequently had recourse to it for
the purpose of aiding his recollection, and exhibiting more vividly
the state of his feelings at various periods, and under the various
incidents of his life. Many passages of the Journal excited a very
pleasing and deep interest in those to whom they were communicated,
and the desire of perusing it gradually extended itself to persons
in a higher condition of life. A clergyman particularly, under whose
pastoral care he was for some time placed, was so much struck with the
interesting, as well as the instructive character of these "simple
annals," that he urged the Author, in a very kind but pressing manner,
to collect the more material passages in the original Journal into
something like a continued narrative; and to transcribe them in
a connected and legible form, for the private enjoyment of his
particular friends. Our Author, to whom nothing is more agreeable than
to have his mind or hands usefully occupied, undertook the task, and
executed it with a degree of neatness, which would have done great
credit to a more practised scribe. The manuscript volume was, of
course, in very great request in his own neighbourhood, and was
perused by none without peculiar pleasure; but, for several years, no
idea of printing it presented itself to his own mind, though it was
frequently suggested by those who had been permitted to read it. It
lately fell into the hands of the writer of this notice, whose
feelings in perusing it certainly were those of extreme delight;
and finding that one or two friends, in whose judgment he placed
the highest confidence, coincided with him in opinion, he strongly
recommended to the Author that it should be published. His reluctance
to this public appearance, was only overcome through the influence of
a suggestion rising up in his own mind, that the work might not only
perhaps afford pleasure and instruction, but that, should any profits
arise from the sale, he would be enabled thereby to gratify his
feelings, by devoting them to the support of Bible and Missionary
Societies, or other pious purposes.
The task of the Editor, while the sheets were passing through the
press, has been of a very limited kind, being chiefly confined to the
correction of a few _glaring_ errors in grammar or style, which the
writer's very imperfect education necessarily occasioned. Though
the most perfect liberty was conceded to him, the Editor felt no
disposition to make any changes affecting that extreme naïveté and
simplicity of style which appeared to form at least one peculiar and
novel charm in the original narrative.
The Editor abstains from any attempt to characterize the volume, as
he feels that, from peculiar circumstances, he has become too much
enamoured of the Author and his performance, to possess the requisite
coolness for doing the work strict justice. He now sends it into the
world, humbly trusting that the same kind Providence that watched
over the Author, amid manifold perils, temptations, and afflictions,
will furnish him with fresh motives of gratitude, by rendering these
his humble labours useful for promoting the glory of God, as well
as profitable and acceptable to his "dear readers"--objects more
precious, the Editor firmly believes, to _his_ soul, "than thousands
of gold and silver."
EDINBURGH,
_April 17, 1823_.
CONTENTS.
_Page_
CHAPTER I.
The Author's Birth and Education--Sent to Edinburgh--Engaged
to a Tobacco-Spinner--Hired by Mrs. C.--Her Excellent
Character--Death--Goes to Mr. B.--Hardships there from
Hunger--Buys a fife, and becomes devoted to Music--Put to the
Weaving--Scanty Fare and small Wages--Curious incident--Goes
to Peebles--Enlists in the Army of Reserve--Is sent to Ireland. 1
CHAPTER II.
Arrival at Belfast, Athlone, Dublin--His Musical Enthusiasm
--Alarms of Conscience--Enlists into the Regulars--Visits
Scotland--Courtship--Melancholy Result of it--Goes to England
--Arrives at Portsmouth--Dismal scene of Drawing Lots for the
Wives--Mrs. Allan permitted to accompany her Husband, through
the Author's influence with the Colonel. 21
CHAPTER III.
Embarks at Portsmouth--Death of William Troup of a Broken
Heart--Tremendous Storm--Ceremony at Crossing the Equinoctial
--Loses his Watch--Cape of Good Hope--Sufferings from want of
Water. 39
CHAPTER IV.
Arrival at Prince of Wales's Island--Attacked by Dysentery--His
deep Convictions in the Hospital--Is visited by Alexander Chevis,
a Pious Soldier--Their profitable Intercourse--Colonel Stewart's
kindness--Sent to Madras. 50
CHAPTER V.
Description of Madras--The Thieving Bazaar--Wallajahbad--Terrible
Mortality--Death of his friend Allan--Marries his Widow--Her
Character--Exploit of the Grenadier Company--Effects of Heat--
Expedient for Relief of checked Perspiration--Prayers read by
the Adjutant--Colonel Stewart's return to Europe--Colonel Conran's
Character--His Kindness--Mutiny of the Company's Troops--Mrs. B's
Fortitude. 73
CHAPTER VI.
March against the Rebels--Tigers--Wild Boars--Gutta--Number
and Description of the Forces--Hardships of the March--
Activity and Usefulness of Mrs. B.--Illustrations of
Scripture--The Shadow of a Great Rock--New Wine in Old
Bottles--New Cloth sewed to Old Cloth--Glass of the
East--Submission of the Rebels--Basket Boats--Elephants
crossing Rivers--Effects of Live Grass--Anecdotes of
Serpents--Their Love of Music. 94
CHAPTER VII.
Hydrabad--Effects of Mad Dogs--Mischiefs of Liquor--Affecting
Death of Wilkins--His remarkable love of the Bible--Account of
Serjeant Gray--The Author's Happiness on finding Doddridge's
Rise and Progress. 118
CHAPTER VIII.
Marches to Masulipatam--Finds Alex. Chevis in the Hospital--
His Dying Address and Death--Wickedness of the Regiment--
Courtney Shoots two Men with one Ball--His Hardened Character
--A Singular Incident--Suicide of a Nabob--Increasing
Profligacy of the Army--Causes thereof--No Sabbath beyond the
Line--History of J. F.--His Aversion to Swearing--Melancholy
Change in his Character--His awful Death--Account of W. H.--
His Friendship with the Author--Their pleasant and profitable
Intercourse--Corrupted by his Comrades--His Illness--Last
striking Words and Death. 131
CHAPTER IX.
Leave Masulipatam--Anecdotes of the Elephant--Its Revenge of
an Injury on a Serjeant--The Author's Hardships and Illness--
Hurricane--Mrs. B. stands Godmother to Serjeant Lee's Child
--Account of Mrs. Lee--Her Death--The Child taken Home by
Mrs. B.--Remarkable Cases of Hydrophobia. 163
CHAPTER X.
Leave Trichinopoly--Bangalore--Melancholy Death of Mrs. Brown
--Another Orphan taken charge of--Affecting account of--Leaves
the Regiment--Summary of Casualties--Happiness in the Prospect
of revisiting Scotland--Friends left in India--Account of Mrs.
Copwick--Her Marriage and unhappy Condition--Promising Piety
--Doddridge's Rise and Progress presented to her--Punamalee
--Paddy L--discharged--Drowns Himself--Death of Mrs. Gray--
Letter from the Serjeant--From Mrs. Copwick--Her Wicked Husband's
Death, and her own Comfortable Settlement--The Author bids
dieu to India. 180
CHAPTER XI.
Description of the Country--Mode of watering the Rice Fields
--Compared with the Scripture account of the Land of Egypt--
Manners and Customs--Dress--Food--Visits--Dancing Girls--Mode
of Drinking--Houses--Marriage Ceremonies--Burning Widows--
Religion--Brahmins--Other Castes--Temples--Fakirs--Ordeal
Trials--Abstract from the Vedas. 202
CHAPTER XII.
The Author Embarks for Europe--Kindness of the Captain to the
two Orphans--Sabbath Profanation, by his Scotch Comrades
particularly--Storm--Specimens of the Conversation on Board
--Good-Friday strictly observed--St. Helena--Extreme Distress
on Board from want of Tobacco--Death of a Soldier--Behaviour
of his Comrades--Buried ashore--Effects of this--Attempt
against the Author's Life--Account of the Shark--Arrival at
London. 235
CHAPTER XIII.
The Author's first Sabbath in London--His longing desires
after the Public Ordinances satisfied--Arrival in Scotland
--Disposal of the two Orphans with their Grandfathers--One
of them returns to the Author at Peebles--Receives a letter
from Colonel Stewart, who procures a situation for him in
a Militia Regiment--Greenock--Comes to Edinburgh--Dr. B.'s
Kindness--Conclusion. 278
NARRATIVE.
CHAPTER I.
I was born of poor but respectable parents, in the town of Peebles,
county of Tweeddale, upon the 3d day of April, 1784. Under their
nursing care I remained until I was four years of age, when I was sent
to my grandfather in Darnick, from whom I received any little
education I ever got. Being then too young for school, my grandmother
was very attentive in giving me instruction as I was able to bear it;
and before I was five years of age, when I was sent to school, I could
repeat various psalms, hymns, and passages of Scripture. She employed
herself frequently in spinning on the lint wheel, at which time I used
to sit at her side, learning verses which she would rehearse to me. I
was placed here somewhat like Timothy with his grandmother Lois; for
from what I myself recollect, and especially from the testimony of
some pious Christians yet living, she was a very eminent character.
She laboured much to give me a high veneration for the Supreme Being,
in so much that, when I could read a little, I was struck with a kind
of reverential dread at the words _Lord_ or _God_, when I saw
them in the Bible; but I could form no kind of notion what this Great
Being could be. As I grew older, my wonder was so far gratified by my
worthy instructor telling me that God was a spirit, and invisible, and
that I could not speak, act, or even think, but he was acquainted with
it all; and that he saw me at all times and in all places: but this I
thought could hardly be true, as I imagined God could certainly not
see me in the dark.
My grandfather being a very healthy and pious man, no weather would
prevent him attending the church at Melrose, which was about a mile
distant; but my grandmother being older, and not so robust in her
constitution, was often detained at home in stormy weather, or during
the winter season; but, though absent in body from the ordinances, she
was present in spirit; and it is to be desired that all Christians
would improve their time when necessarily detained at home from church
as she did; for it was her custom to make family worship, I only being
present, during the time of divine service; and it was the greatest
possible wonder to me what pleasure she could have in it when my
grandfather was absent, and I could take no active part in it, except
making an attempt to follow the psalm as she was singing it. It was
certainly however a great pleasure to her, though a real weariness to
me; but although I could not then see what advantage I could receive
from her praying to God to make me an object of his special care, she
saw it; and I trust I have reaped much benefit from her prayers. Nor
did she lose all the minister's labours, for there were two or three
pious neighbours who used to meet upon the Sabbath evening, and talk
over the substance of what they had heard, their "speech being with
grace, seasoned with salt." My grandfather being a man of superior
mental endowments, and having an excellent memory, I was quite
astonished how they, and especially he, could remember so much, when,
with all my attention, I could scarcely bring home one sentence of
what had been preached. I was, however, very careful to learn my task,
which was a psalm, or a part of one, and a few questions out of the
Assembly's Shorter Catechism; and when I got through that book, I used
to answer the whole questions on two Sabbath evenings, to keep them on
my memory. In short, I remained under this friendly roof, having the
great benefit of precept and example, attending school regularly,
until I was eight years of age.
I was then, I may say, sent upon the wide world, in which I have ever
since been a wanderer; for, when I came to Edinburgh, where my father
and mother then lived, I went to a Mr. ----, in the capacity of a
tobacco spinner's boy, where I had of course to mix with many of those
I would have chosen to avoid; but, being attentive to my work, my
master soon began to take notice of me, and was wont to give me a
penny more upon Saturday night than the rest, but this without their
knowledge; and his kindness made me if any thing more diligent. I
found myself more comfortable here than at first I expected, and I
continued in this way until I was ten years of age, when I was hired
to a Mrs. C. to wait at the table, run messages, &c. for which I
received my meat, clothes, and one pound ten shillings in the
half-year.
I was remarkably well situated in her service, partly through a very
trifling circumstance, which was this: When out one day airing, she
dropped her gold watch and some money, and I found them and gave them
to her in a very cheerful manner, being happy to have it in my power
to relieve her uneasy mind; and she took a liking to me, as she said,
for my apparent honesty and attention. The first strong proof I had of
her attachment was as follows: The housekeeper desired me to bring her
a bottle of small beer, and it being somehow not to her mind, she
abused me so as to make me cry plentifully; and before I could get
myself properly composed, the bell rang, and I was obliged to go up
stairs, and, notwithstanding my care not to be discovered, my mistress
perceived me in rather a confused state of mind, and asked me the
reason in a very kind manner. I was afraid to tell a lie, and her kind
treatment emboldened me to acknowledge the truth. After due inquiry,
finding the housekeeper in the wrong, and me in the right, she ordered
her to get ready to leave the house, but with wages and board wages
till the term. Her regard to me still increased, and I did all in my
power to please her. In a few weeks after, she sent for my mother, and
told her she intended to make a man of me, if we both lived, meaning
to give me an education for a genteel business, and to put me in a way
to do for myself. My parents were highly gratified with these
proposals. But, alas! how uncertain are all human plans and prospects;
"For who saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it
not?" The great leveller, who pours contempt upon princes, laid my
kind benefactor, "with the hopes of the father that begat me, and of
the mother who bare me, low in the dust;" and shall I say, in
bitterness of soul, as Jacob did in another case, "that all these
things are against me?" Very far be this expression from me; but I
have no cause to doubt that, if Mrs. C. had thought herself so near
leaving our world, she would have made some provision for me; for the
day on which she died, perceiving the approach of the last enemy, she
ordered the servant girl who was in the room to ring the bell for me;
but her sister-in-law, understanding this, came out of the bed-room,
and prevented me entering, saying, I was not wanted, and, as the girl
afterwards told me, said to Mrs. C that I was not in the house. Mrs.
C.'s brother-in-law got nearly all her money, houses, and moveables,
and only gave me sixpence when I carried his portmanteau to the coach
on his leaving Edinburgh. But I was not the only one that sustained a
loss by her death; for many poor creatures, who had been her weekly
pensioners, mourned their respective losses also. It was really
mournful to see these, and her trades-people, and others who had been
benefited by her, on the day she was interred, many of them with
drooping heads and watery eyes, taking a view of the last remains of
their charitable friend; and they had just cause, for even the woman
who was her principal weekly pensioner, and had been her nurse, was
struck off the list.
My time not being out, I served it out with Mrs. C.'s sister-in-law,
and was then engaged with a Mr. B----, who had formerly been in better
circumstances, but through some affliction had now lost his sight. My
chief business was to go out with him when he wanted an airing; but in
this family I experienced a great contrast from that of my valuable
friend formerly mentioned, for in truth I was almost starved for want
of victuals. It would not become me to tell about the shifts practised
in the family, but I remember well being so pinched in my allowance,
that I stood eagerly waiting for the potato pot coming off, that I
might get the skins to eat, which I would devour with greediness. The
servant girl fared no better than myself, and was unable to afford me
any relief as she could not even give me a potato, they being all
counted out to her. How much better would it have been for Mr. B----'s
two daughters to have done the work of the house themselves, and saved
the meat and wages of a servant maid, instead of appearing in public
like ladies, when their circumstances were so indifferent! But they
had seen better days; "they could not work, and to beg they were
ashamed." So true is Solomon's remark, at present as well as in his
own day, "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing."
About this time my worthy grandmother died, (of whom I cannot think
without heartfelt emotion,) committing her soul "to Him in whom she
believed;" and, as she was exemplary in her life, she was no less so
in her death. Although I had not the satisfaction of seeing her on her
death-bed, I have since learned some very comfortable particulars.
Nothing else worth mentioning happened while I was in this family, but
one circumstance; which was this: I happened to get a few halfpence
given me, with which I purchased an old fife, and this cheering
companion beguiled many a hungry hour, for I was remarkably fond of
music. This was not the first time I showed my attachment to music;
for when I lived at Darnick with my grandfather, there was a weaver in
the town, who was famous, far and near, as a whistler, and he used to
gratify my musical desire by whistling a tune to me, till I had got it
nearly correct, and then gave me another, and so on; but I was then
little aware what this was to lead to, for I afterwards got enough of
music, as you shall see in the sequel of this book; but it may be seen
from this early propensity in me, that "even a child may be known by
his doings."
After leaving this family, I went to a Mr. F. where also was a cousin
of my own, who paid me great attention: but I looked upon her rather
as an enemy than a friend; for I fell in with some bad companions,
with whom I got a habit of staying and amusing myself, when I was sent
a message, and in order to screen myself I was obliged to have
recourse to falsehoods.--My cousin frequently expostulated with me,
but all to no effect; at last my master, discovering my negligent and
disobedient conduct, gave me a good drubbing, and this was a mean of
bringing me to my senses; so I was compelled to give up all fellowship
with my pitch-and-toss gentry, and I became afterwards more attentive.
Nothing worth mentioning happened to me while I remained here, but the
death of my grandfather, of an iliac passion, who, as I was named
after him, distinguished me from the rest by leaving me his Bible as a
legacy, wishing the blessing of God to accompany it.
I was now fourteen years of age, and went to learn the trade of a
weaver in Darnick; and when you know that the great dearth of 1799,
1800, came on, and that I could only earn about fourteen pence a day,
half of which went to my master, you will see that I had much occasion
for the practice of that abstinence which I had been forced to learn
at the B---- School. It would be tedious and trifling to tell how I
managed to make up my breakfast, dinner, and supper; I have been for
months together, indeed, that I never could say my hunger was once
satisfied, even though I had recourse to rather dishonest means to
help me, for I went out at night, and would pull a turnip or two in
the fields, when I thought "no eye could see me." But it is worthy of
remark, that as far as I can judge, I never knew so much of what
contentment was in all my life; I thought hardly any body so well off
as myself, for I got into such a rigid system of living, that, through
long habit, it became quite natural to me, though I must say that I
was often so weak, as hardly to be able to get off and on my loom.
Notwithstanding my very straitened circumstances, I found ways and
means, upon the winter Sabbath evenings, to spare a halfpenny for a
candle, that I might be able to read Mr. Boston's Fourfold State, to
which I had taken a great liking. I delighted particularly to read and
meditate on the _Fourth_ State, where the happiness of saints in
a future world is described; and the expression, "they shall hunger no
more," had in it an emphasis (though I fear somewhat of a carnal kind)
that put more joy into my heart than worldly men can have when their
corn and wine are increased.
During the time I was thus exposed to many hardships, there is one
thing I must not omit, which is as follows:--I was rather worse off,
both for money and provisions, than I had been for a long time.--No
meal was to be had in Darnick, and I went to Melrose on Monday morning
for a supply; but the scarcity was so great that I could find none. On
Tuesday, after working all the morning, I again went to Melrose,
though I was scarcely able to reach it, through weakness, and
succeeded in getting a quarter stone at one shilling and fourpence;
and all the money I had in the world, after paying this, was twopence.
When I was on my way home, walking along the Tweed, I took many a
wishful look at my scanty store of meal in the corner of my bag; and
taking the twopence out of my pocket, I said to myself, "This is all
the money and meal I have to support me till I get my web finished,
and the price returned from Edinburgh;" but, to my utter astonishment,
I pulled out a shilling along with it. The joy of seeing the shilling,
and the unaccountable way of its coming there, filled me alternately
with pleasure and pain, but, after recovering from my ecstasy a
little, it occurred to my mind, that I must have got it from the
miller, through some oversight, in returning me my last twopence in
the change for the meal. I resolved, therefore, to go back and return
the man his shilling, hungry and weary as I was: but a sinful thought
struck me that this might be the hand of Divine Providence, in giving
me that mite out of the miller's abundance, to supply my present
wants; but I stood and argued with myself long before I could persuade
myself to go home and make my supper, of which I stood in much need.
In so doing, I acted wrong, and still more so in afterwards thinking
that Providence had given a blessing with that shilling, merely
because I have never wanted one since--my hardships, I may say, being
henceforth at a close.
Shortly after this, the Earlston Volunteers wanted an additional
fifer; and as I was still labouring to improve myself, from the time I
got the old fife, formerly mentioned, my name reached the ears of the
commanding officer, who sent for me, and, with permission of my
master, I went every Wednesday afternoon to Earlston, which was about
five miles distant, and received each time, one shilling and sixpence
for my trouble. My long habit of living meanly, and this addition
weekly, made me, as I thought, quite a gentleman, and I saw none that
I would have changed conditions with, every thing considered.
After I left Darnick, I went to a Mr. W----, near Dalkeith, and
wrought journeyman with him for one summer, during which time, I
attended church at Dalkeith; and I well recollect, that on my way
home, having a mile or two of a retired road to go, my mind would
frequently be so full of the minister's sermon, and such like topics,
that I used to take off my hat and walk bareheaded, as I thought the
seriousness of the subject called for that mark of respect, especially
as my meditations were mixed with ejaculatory prayer.
I left Mr. W---- after the bleaching work was over for the summer, and
went in search of work to Peebles, which, being the place of my
nativity, I had a great desire to see. This was, I think, in the year
1802. On my arrival at Peebles I was very fortunate, or rather the
Lord made my way prosperous, for I got a good master and comfortable
lodgings the very first day. My master was serjeant-major of the
volunteers, and being much pleased with my fife playing, he persuaded
me to join that corps as a fifer. But soon after the Army of Reserve
was raised, and I was obliged, either to pay money into societies, to
insure me against it, or run the risk of going for nothing, neither of
which I liked. The bounties given to substitutes were very good, and,
my excessive regard for music still increasing, I resolved on taking
the bounty; but then what excuse to give to my parents I did not well
know, for I thought it would vex them much, as I had a brother already
in the artillery: so I resolved to say that it was the expense
necessary for insuring me, that forced me to go into the army; but in
truth it was neither that, nor yet the temptation of the large bounty
that made me enlist, but the prospect of being a fifer in the army,
where I could get proper instructions in my favourite music. Having
made up my mind to this, I offered myself as a substitute for a Mr. G.
and received as bounty two and twenty pounds. The report that I had
enlisted in the Army of Reserve quickly went over the town, though few
believed it, as I was always so attentive to my work, and I had just
finished forty-five yards of linen for shirts to myself; but although
the news seemed strange to many, it was no more strange than true. So
I gave all my best clothes and the web, except as much as made me
three shirts, to my mother; and as I did not go to the army from
necessity, but choice, I left the whole of my bounty in the hands of a
respectable man in Peebles. Along with other recruits, I was marched
to Edinburgh, and from thence to Linlithgow, at which place inquiry
was made if there was any lad in our party who could play the fife;
and the fife-major hearing of me, he asked if I was willing to play on
that instrument? I said I had no objection, (for it was indeed the
very thing I wanted, as you will easily believe,) provided I was
exempted from that disagreeable part of their duty, viz. flogging the
men; so he went to the commanding officer, and got that matter settled
to my satisfaction. Shortly after this we received a route for
Ireland, and marched on the 5th December. We had snow, rain, or hail
every day of our march, which was a fortnight; but this did not
discourage me, for such hardships I had expected, and laid my account
with in my new way of life.