[24] While stationed at Jersey, a soldier of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment displayed the following example of courage and presence of mind:--On the 4th of June, 1804, a salute had been fired in honor of the anniversary of the birthday of King George III. The bombardier, whose duty it was to deposit the slow match in the magazine on the Town Hill at St. Heliers, after the performance of the ceremony, neglected to observe whether it was extinguished; it unfortunately was still alight, and set fire to the building; there were within the place three hundred and twenty-five barrels of powder, and, from its central situation, an explosion would have destroyed the greater portion of the town. Private William Pentenny, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, assisted by two inhabitants of Jersey, broke open the magazine, when another moment’s delay would probably have been too late, the fire having nearly reached the spot where the powder was deposited, when he entered. With infinite coolness and decision, he carried the nearest barrels away in his arms, and continued so to act until the whole stock was removed out of danger. This important service was highly appreciated. The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s awarded Private William Pentenny a pension of 20_l._ a year, while the states of Jersey conferred an additional 12_l._ upon this deserving soldier, and presented to him a gold medal, struck on purpose to commemorate the achievement, which he was permitted to wear. The Governor, Major-General the Honorable William Stewart, ordered a ring of silver lace to be worn round his arm as a further distinction. [25] This extract is from an excellent pamphlet published in Edinburgh soon after the event, by a “_Passenger_.” It was written by Major Duncan M‘Gregor of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, who was afterwards the Lieutenant-Colonel of the ninety-third Highlanders. [26] General Avitabile, one of the military instructors of the Sikhs, was a native of Italy, and at the conclusion of Napoleon’s bright, but evanescent career, sought employment in the East. He was handsomely rewarded by the Sovereign of the Punjaub, Runjeet Singh, together with another Italian officer, named Ventura, and two Frenchmen, Allard and Court, for introducing European tactics into the Sikh army. Runjeet Singh also conferred the governorship of Peshawur upon General Avitabile, and by his vigorous administration it was reduced from a state of anarchy to one of comparative security. Peshawur signifies “_advanced post_,” that name having been conferred upon it by its founder, the Mogul Emperor Akbar, in consequence of its being the frontier town of India towards Affghanistan.