MILITARY CHRONICLE. JANUARY 1811. MILITARY BIOGRAPHY. THE LIFE OF SIR DAVID BAIRD. SUPER GARAMANTAS ET INDOS. IN the great variety of human character, it generally happens that every man of any distinction, besides those qualities which immediately constitute his eminence, has some predominant feature, some peculiar talent or quality, which mark off and distinguish him from others who may agree with him in his general character. Thus, for example, Lord Wellington, Sir John Stuart, and Sir David Baird, are in the first line of generals; their characters, however, are very different; each has peculiar lineaments of his own. Of Lord Wellington and Sir John Stuart we have spoken enough in another place. We now enter with infinite satisfaction on the life of Sir David Baird, a general, whose excellent natural judgment has been strengthened and exercised by a life passed in the army; a general, who, more than any other officer of the age, has seen war in all its possible varieties; a general, in fine, whom experience has taught caution, and most happily tempered an heroic gallantry by a judgment that seldom errs. Sir John Moore is no more-but Sir David Baird lives! Lieutenant-General Sir David Baird is descended from a very ancient Scotch family of that name, whose principal seat is in East Lothian, and joins with the estate of the Earl of Haddington. Mr. Baird, a brother of the general, was member in the last parliament, and is in possession of the family estate, which is nearly £8000 per annum. He is entitled to the honours of a Scotch baronetcy, but for some reasons, which have nothing to do with this memoir, he has hitherto declined to take the title. VOL. 1. No. 3. Military Biography.-Sir David Baird. Sir David Baird entered the army at a very early period of his life, and served as ensigu and lieutenant during the American war. But the commencement of his active service was about the year 1779, when Lord Macleod raised the 73d regiment, on which occasion Mr. Baird was appointed captain of the grenadier company. Scarcely was this regiment raised, and its commissions filled up, when it was ordered by the Government to embark for India; and there entered upon a scene, and on a service, which at once crowned it with glory, and annihilated every thing belonging to it but its never-dying name! so effectually indeed annihilated it, that, in the present day, Sir David Baird and ONE serjeant are all that survive out of the original 73d: and all this in a space of time not much exceeding thirty years.—Such was this truly British regiment Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque mancbunt. To return, however, to the thread of our narrative, Capt. Baird, as captain of the grenadier company of the 73d, accompanied, as we have above said, Lord Macleod to India in the year 1779. Whilst the regiment is on its voyage, we will throw a cursory view on the perilous state of things upon which they had to enter immediately on their arrival at Madras. Of all the powers in India at this period, the principal was that of the Mysore, as governed by Hyder Ally; a man who, from a soldier of fortune, had become a sovereign prince; and a barbarian who, to a ferocious ignorance and contempt of all that in Europe is called public law, united a military skill, an active ambition, and a refined policy, which has been possessed by few European princes. The neighbourhood, as well as the talents of this prince, rendered him at the same time equally formidable to the English establishments, and to the other native Powers. In such a state of things, it certainly seemed to be the most reasonable policy in the English factories, either to conciliate the friendship of a prince so powerful; or, ou the basis of a common interest, to form such defensive alliances with the other Powers of India, as might restrain and controul his restless ambition. The English, however, instead of this evident prudence, con trived at the same time to provoke Ilyder and all the other Powers against them. In the year 1768 they very rashly commenced a war, Military Biography.-Sir David Baird. which Hyder most successfully terminated by dictating a treaty at the very gates of Madras. This treaty was altogether as moderate as the circumstances under which it was concluded were absolute and decisive. The fact was, that Hyder Ally, being justly fearful of the Mahrattas, was desirous of the English assistance, and hoped to conciliate them by his moderation. The treaty, therefore, under circumstances in which it might have commanded every thing, took nothing; containing, instead of concessions, a stipulation, that the contracting parties should mutually assist each other against any enemy that might attack either. The treaty was scarcely concluded, before Hyder, with that sagacity which distinguished his character, resolved to ascertain the value of the faith and friendship of his new ally. Accordingly, on the commencement of a war with the Mahrattas, which immediately after broke out, he wrote a letter to the governor of Madras, requesting him, as a token of his friendship and regard, and for mere form sake, to send an officer and 500 Seapoys to his assistance. The Government of Madras, however, evaded a compliance. In the following year, 1770, the Mahrattas having reduced him to great distress, he made a second application, and appealed to the express stipulations of the treaty. The Government of Madras again evaded his requisition. The Mahrattas, continuing their hostility, so totally overpowered him, that his ruin seemed inevitable. They became masters of all his open country, and his strongest fortresses were barely capable of affording him refuge and protection. Thus shut up, and all cultivation at an end in his dominions, it seemed evident, that however excellently his magazines were provided, famine must soon accomplish what hitherto the. want of infantry and a good artillery had prevented the Mahrattas from effecting. In this state of necessity, Hyder again applied to his new allies for the performance of their engagements, stating the advantages to themselves of assisting him against a Power, the overwhelming predominance of which already threatened the independance of the peninsula. These applications produced no more effect at Madras than the former. The Company most shamefully eluded the execution of their treaty, whilst at the same time, in their very procrastination and evasion, they acknowledged its obligation, |