A Canadian Manor and Its Seigneurs: The Story of a Hundred Years, 1761-1861Wrong, George McKinnon
History
A Canadian Manor and Its Seigneurs: The Story of a Hundred Years, 1761-1861
Wrong, George McKinnon
La Malbaie (Québec); Nairne family; Nairne, John, -1802
These monitions to Jack were written while his father was in Scotland in
1795. There they separated, the father to return to Canada with
Christine whose schooldays were now ended, Jack to go with his regiment
to India. In parting from his son the father pronounced a solemn
benediction: "that God may preserve you and assist you in following
always that which is good and virtuous shall ever be my most earnest
prayer." They never met again. Jack continued to draw rather freely upon
his father for funds, and Nairne wrote to the Colonel of the regiment to
ask for information about the young man. Before an answer came Scottish
relatives learned in 1800 of Jack's fate and wrote of it to Murray Bay.
A friend of the family in India had noticed in the newspaper that some
one was promoted to John Nairne's place. This led to enquiry, when it
was found that he had died in August, 1799. Not until six months after
his death, and then only in reply to the enquiry as to Jack's demands
for money, did his commanding officer write the following letter to
Colonel Nairne:
_Colonel Dalrymple to Colonel Nairne_
_From Columbo [India], 1st Feb., 1800._
I received your letter dated October, 1798, but a short time ago
but too late, had there been any occasion to have spoken to your
son upon the subject it contained for, Poor fellow, it is with pain
I'm to inform you of his death. He died upon the 7th of August,
1799, in the Coimbalore country upon the return from the capture of
Seringapatam. Never did a young man die more regretted nor never
was an officer more beloved by his corps. He was an honour to his
profession. An involuntary tear starts in my eye on thus being
obliged to give you this painful information.
The cause of his having drawn for so much money from Bombay was
unfortunately his ship parted from us and they did not join at
Columbo for some months, where I understand he had been induced to
play by some designing people. But I assure you, from the moment he
joined here, his life was exemplary for all young men. He was
beloved by every description of people. From the very sudden way he
took the field and the very expensive mode of campaigning in this
country he was in debt to the paymaster. He was not singular; they
were all in the same predicament. The first division of the prize
money which was one thousand ster. Pagodas, about your hundred
pounds, will only clear him with the Regiment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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