We have not been able to obtain any satisfactory information respecting the nature of the naval service in which Clapperton was employed in India, nor of the exploits of seamanship and prowess which he performed while he was on that station, except in one instance, which is well worthy of being recorded to his honour. When we stormed Port Louis, in the Isle of France, he was the first man who advanced into the breach; and it was he who pulled down the colours of France, and planted those of Britain in their place. And we know that his conduct was in all respects worthy of the rank which he had obtained in a manner so unique, and such as entitled him to expect his turn of promotion in due course. He continued in India from the early part of 1810 till the latter end of 1813, when he returned to England. He had not been long at home, when he was draughted, along with a select number of midshipmen, for the purpose of being sent to Portsmouth, to be instructed by Angelo, the famous fencing-master, in the cutlass exercise, with the view of introducing that mode of defence and attack into the navy. These young men, when perfected in the art, were distributed through the fleet, as teachers of the young officers and men. Clapperton, being an apt pupil, soon excelled in this exercise, and when his companions were distributed through the fleet as drill-masters, he was sent to the Asia, the flag ship of Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, then lying at Spithead. SECT. VI.—HIS SERVICE ON THE LAKES OF CANADA. While he taught Angelo’s sword-exercise on board the Asia, he volunteered his services for the lakes of Canada, in the expedition which was sent to that novel scene of naval enterprise towards the beginning of the year 1814. In the voyage from England to Bermuda[10] he continued to act as a drill-master on board the Asia; and though, as yet, he had obtained no higher rank than that of midshipman, such was the respect in which he was held, and the deference paid to him, that in most respects he was treated as if he had been a lieutenant. He was now a tall and handsome young man, with great breadth of chest and expansion of shoulders, and possessing withal a mild temper and the kindest dispositions. Along with his other duties he drilled the young officers and men on deck, whenever the weather permitted, and when amusement was the order of the day, he was the life and soul of the crew; he was an excellent table companion, he could tell humourous tales, and his conversation was extremely amusing; he painted scenes for the ship’s theatricals, sketched views, drew caricatures, and so he was much beloved and respected by all, to whose amusement he so largely contributed.