force to Bombay, where he arrived on the 22nd of January, 1782. In the meantime the Earl of Seaforth had died on the passage, without male issue, and Colonel Humberston purchased his estates, and succeeded him in the command of the regiment, now SEVENTY-SECOND Highlanders. After a short stay at Bombay, Colonel Humberston sailed for Madras, but receiving alarming news on the voyage, of the success of Hyder Ali, he called a council of war, which decided, that a diversion on the Malabar side of Hyder’s dominions would be likely to prove of great advantage to the British interest; he accordingly landed at Calicut on the 18th of February, with a thousand men, and joining Major Abington’s Sepoys, assumed the command of the united force. He took the field, drove Hyder’s troops before him, and captured several forts. The monsoon approaching, he returned to Calicut, and placed the troops in quarters; he afterwards concluded a treaty with the sovereign of Travancore, who reinforced him with twelve hundred men. In September he again advanced--obtained possession of Ramjarree, and approached Palacatcherry, and had the misfortune to lose a portion of his baggage, when an attack was made on his rear. Hyder Ali detached his son Tippoo Saib against Colonel Humberston, with twenty thousand men; this force approached the British division and attacked its rear. After fighting every step of a long march, the colonel arrived at the river Paniané, which appeared impassable, but, after a painful search of two hours, a deep ford was found, and the soldiers passed the river, up to the chin in water, and only lost two black camp followers; they afterwards gained the fort of Paniané. Tippoo expected to find Colonel Humberston’s force an easy prey, and neglected to keep strict watch; he was surprised to find the British had passed the river. He afterwards attempted to carry the lines at Paniané by assault; but was repulsed with severe loss on the 28th of November. He blockaded the fort until he heard of his father’s death, when he withdrew. Colonel Humherston afterwards joined the troops under Major-General Matthews, and was employed in several operations on the Malabar coast. He subsequently accompanied Colonel Macleod to Bombay, to make some representations to the council, and sailed from thence, on the 5th of April, 1783, in the Ranger, to rejoin the army. Three days afterwards that vessel was attacked by the Mahratta fleet, and after a desperate resistance of five hours, was taken possession of. Every officer on board was either killed or wounded, and among them the gallant Colonel Humberston was shot through the body with a four-pound ball, of which he died at Geriah on the 30th of April, 1783. JAMES MURRAY. _Appointed Lieut.-Colonel Commandant, 1st November, 1783, and Colonel in 1786._