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Character of Governor Campbell.

ed by Duke Archibald of Argyle, as a fit and able person to be intrusted with holding commiffary courts in the Western Iflands; and he diftinguished himself so much by his upright and impartial decifions in all matters that came before him, that his name among the Highlanders is to this hour refpected and revered. The Commiffary had three fons who reached the years of maturity; namely, James, Archibald, and Duncan; the two first pursued the army, the latter the law. To these the Commiffary gave a very liberal college education; an this fenfible principle, which he was at pains to inculcate, that, as the original property of the family had been diffipated, like that of other chieftains, by acts of liberality to their followers, a good education was the most fubftantial patrimony he could poffibly give them.

Sir Archibald ftudied at the colleges of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and displayed fo great a genius for mathematics, and for mechanics and drawing, that his father was advifed to fend him to the royal acade my at Woolwich, where his abilities became fo confpicuous, that he was foon appointed an engineer; and in 1757 he ferved upon three expeditions on the coaft of France. At the clofe of 1758 he went as an engineer to Guadaloupe in the West Indies, under General Hob. fon, and fo diflinguifhed himself under Generals Clavering, Crump, and Melville, the most active officers on that expedition; that on the reduction of that ifland he was appointed chief engineer to Guadaloupe. Sir Archibald was afterwards employed on the expedition against Dominique, under Lord Rollo and under General Monktɔn, and Admiral Rodney, on the reduction of Martinico, St Lucia, Grenada, and the Grenadilles; on all which fervices he pro

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ved himself an able and gallant officer; and upon his return to England in 1761, on account of his health, he was honoured with the ftrongest recommendations to the minifter of ftate, both by General Monkton and Admiral Rodney, who requested that his Majefty would be graciously pleased to give him a mark of his favour, on account of his distinguished zeal and exertions on that fervice. It was, however, unfortunate, that the great Chatham was then no longer the minister, and owing to that circumstance alone the ftrong recommendations of these distinguished Generals were unnoticed. War being over, Sir Archibald, ever eager in pursuit of military information, proposed to go into the Ruffian fervice, on the appearance of a war against the Turks; from a conviction, that the only way he could render himself of real value to his country, was to be conftantly employed, actively, in the line of his profeffion.

The State of Venice, which at this time was upon the look out for an able British engineer, to direct their academy at Verona, and their experiments in artillery and mining, applied to Sir Archibald, who was then a Lieutenant-Captain only of engineers; and had fo high an opinion of his public and private character, that they offered him the full rank of Colonel, and very handfome allowances for his fupport: to which Sir Archibald affented, on receiving his Majefty's gracious permiffion for that purpose. The Venetians were, however, diffatisfied with the terms offered by their envoy at London, and wanted to abridge his rank and allowances; which Sir Archibald fpurned at with contempt, defpifing the littlenefs of a state that could attempt to treat him fo ungenerously, after the agreement fettled by their envoy; and from that hour dropt all

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thoughts of the Venetians. The tary purfuits, went to the continent, India Company having received to examine the state of all the arfavourable impreffions of Sir Archi- mies of France, Germany, Pruffia, bald's merits as an engineer, were and Holland; and had scarcely fipleafed to appoint him their chief nifhed his tour when the unfortuengineer to Bengal; where he re- nate action of Bunker's Hill took fided five years, and acquired fresh place; on which he posted back to reputation by the very matterly de- England, and offered his fervices to figns he gave in for the works of raite a corps of light infantry, at Fort Royal, and for reducing the his own expence, and to go with expence of that immenfe fortrefs to them to North America in fupport a fum not leis than half a million of of the nation. His propofal being money to what had been originally then objected to, he had only to reft intended. This propofition was a fatisfied in having difcharged his dopted, and the ingenuity and in- duty to his king and country. It vincible integrity fhewn in the exe- was not long, however, before cution of this great work, marked Lieutenant-General Frazer, an offiand confirmed his worth and talents; cer of fuperior intereft, followed as it is certain that Fort William is his footsteps in offering to raife meng even now the admiration of fo- who viewed the zeal and abilities reigners, in which the hand of a of Sir Archibald in this valuable great mafter is difplayed. A bad light, and named him as one of his ftate of health compelled Sir Archi- Lieutenant-Colonels for the 71ft rebald to return to England, with a giment of foot, then to be raised moderate competency, obtained by by government. Sir Archibald emthe entire approbation of his fupe- barked in 1776, with his corps fer riors, who gave him the moft li- North America. A violent ftorm beral appointments and encourage- had difperfed the fleet, and he, The court of directors even with one hundred men, had got inordered ten thousand rupees to be to Bofton harbour, in consequence prefented to him as a mark of their of the orders he received from the approbation of his fervices; and the Minister of State, before he had the King was graciously pleafed, on leaft idea of that place being evacu being informed of their zealous at- ated. A captain of a man of war, tention in bringing Monfieur Che who had been stationed at Boston valier to reafon, refpecting the fa- harbour for the purpose of convoymous ditch of Chandernagore, to ing the expected trafports to Hali give him the rank of Lieutenant- fax, quitted his ftation, in oppofiColonel in India. tion to the orders he had received from the Admiral, and left this forlorn tranfport a prey to the enemy. Sir Archibald had but fix pieces of cannon to defend himfelf; but by his addrefs and perfeverence, maintained a very unequal combat against fix privateers, from four o'clock in the morning to nine at night, when his whole ammunition was expend• ed, and twenty-two men and two officers, out of his hundred' men, were killed and wounded on the occafion. He had, however, ad

ment.

The Court of Directors gave an additional proof of their fatisfaction to this officer on his arrival in England in 1774; by recommending him, by letter, to Lord North, who was then Minifter of State; but this nobleman flept upon the recommendation.

Inftead of purfuing a life of indolence and inactivity, or enjoying thofe luxuries to which he could fo well afpire by his fortune, Sir Archibald, ftill anxious in his mili

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drefs enough to make a very ho- fuch a judicious difpofition for the nourable capitulation for himself reception of the combined forces of and his people; which, to the eter- France and Spain, in 1781 and 1782, nal difgrace of the Americans, was as aftonifhed, and even attracted not longer than eight days honour- the admiration of the enemy: and ably obferved on their part. The it is worthy of remark, that while fubfequent treatment of this gallant the nation were defponding for the officer, on a pretext that General fate of that ifland, Sir Archibald Lee had been ill used at New York, gave the Minifter the most folemn will ever reflect difhonour on the affurances of a defence that might faints of Boston; and the cruelty turn the fate of the war moft hapand bad policy of the British Gene- pily in that ifland. Indeed, his preral, who fuffered him to remain parations were fuch as could not not less than two years a prifoner fail to infure fuccefs: the iflanders of war in their poffeffion, while o loved him, he had a confidence in ther officers were released, is one their high spirit and national hoof the unaccountable tranfactions nour, and they gave the inoft unethat has tarnished our reputation in quivocal proofs of their confidence America. in him, by voting not lefs than three hundred thousand pounds, to enable him to purfue his defence of the island; of which, however, to his honour be it faid, not 20,00% were expended.

Sir Archibald was at length exchanged in 1778, and appointed to command an expedition of 3000 men against Savannah, in Georgia, which was one of the most brilliant enterprizes of the war; and in which the actions of an able officer, the judgment of a found politician, and the feelings of a worthy and humane heart, were compleatly dif played. On Sir Archibald's return to England he was immediately hurried off to Jamaica, which island was likely to be attacked by Count d'Eftaing. Although at this moment married to an amiable young lady, the calls of his country made him overlook every confideration, and he obeyed: it was apparently intended that virtue fhould have its own reward; liis gracious Sovereign had fo high an opinion of his zeal and merits, that he appointed him ofie of his aid-du-camps, and a Brigadier-General on the ftaff for the island of Jamaica; of which, however, he had no intimation until his arrival in the West Indies he had also a dormant commiffion as Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica. Sir John Dalling having returned to England, Sir Archibald Campbell was appointed Governor, and made VOL. VI. N° 33.

The war being over, Sir Archibald Campbell returned to England, and was fcarcely arrived in London, when our valuable Minister, Mr Pitt, who had heard of his talents as an officer, felected him for the purpose of modelling the Indian army. This duty he difcharged in a moft masterly manner, and made a faving of three hundred thoufand pounds Sterling annually, on their then military peace establishment: The India Company appointed him their Governor for Madrafs, and the King honoured him with a red ribband. Party-feuds, revolutions, and difcontent, affifted by all the calamities of war; had funk this valuable fettlement to the lowest state of diftrefs.

Sir Archibald reached his ftation in April 1786, and from that hour cheerfulness fpread itself over the country: public credit increased peace and harmony were restored the fpirit of commerce was roufed, and there is now every profpect of profperity which the most fanguine expectations

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expectations can fuggeft. By the laft fhips arrived from Madrafs, this able politician had settled a treaty of perpetual friendship, protection, and defence, with the old Nabob of the Carnatic; by which he has obtained not less than an additional revenue of two hundred thousand pounds Sterling annually to the Company. This he has done on principles which add immortal honour to his actions for while he has fecured fo great a fum to his employers, he has made our steady friend the venerable prince of the Carnatic and his whole family happy.

It is only neceffary to obferve, that this annual-acquired revenue, with the annual favings upon the army eftablishment, is not less than half a million advantage annually to the Company. In fhort, it is but juftice to acknowledge, that this officer has proved himself fuperior to every difficulty; and that the Company are more indebted to Mr Pitt for his choice of this Governor, than to any Minister that has ever yet advised the Court of Di rectors on a matter of such importance.

Anecdotes of Count Caglioftro *.

THE following information has been obtained by feveral refpectable perfons, concerning the family and behaviour of the Balfamique Caglioftrot in his youth, on which account we think proper to give it to our readers.

Declaration of the Sieur Bernard, Mafter of Languages at Palermo. "I, the fubfcribed, declare, that the chief Magiftrate of Sicily having prefented me the copy of a letter dated Nov. 2. 1786, addreffed to M. Fontaine, Commiffary, in which were feveral anecdotes of the famous Count Caglioftro; and, upon being asked if I had written that letter, I answered, that I had collected thefe anecdotes from Antonio . Eracconieri, uncle of Jof. Balfamo, called by himfelf Count Cagliostro, and that I fent them to Naples : and having read, in the Leyden Gazette, that the Commiffary Fontaine had a procefs, &c. in his hands, which made it fufpicious that Balfamo was no other than Cagliostro, and that this pretended Count Cag

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Report which the Sieur Gugino, Advocate-Fifcal of the Court of Palermo, fent in form of a letter to the Viceroy of Sicily, March 10. 1787, refpecting the truth of the facts attefled in the letter preceding.

Moft Excellent Sir,

"HAVING paid my ufual exac attention, at the inftance of your Excellency, to clear up every part of the anecdotes of the Count Caglioftro, contained in the letters written from Palermo, and addrefs

See Edin. Mag. Vol. III. 323.

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Anecdotes of Count Cagliostro.

Jofeph Balfamo, of Palermo, &c.

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ed to M. Fontaine, and herewith that the pretended C. Caglioftro is fent to you, I fubmit to you the following Report:

"The author of these two letters, dated June and November 1786, is a Mr Bernard, Mafter of Languages at Palermo, who was made known to me by Bracconieri, mentioned in these letters. Having asked the said Mr Bernard if he had written these two letters, he anfwered, Yes, and confirmed them by the declaration above.

"Mr Bernard gave me an account befides, that having asked a Meffinian if there was any family of Caglioftro at Meffina, he faid that he knew two of that name. Ant. Bracconieri has also affured me, that a fifter of his mother, aunt of Jofeph Balfamo, had married a perfon named Jofeph Cagliostro, and that it is this affinity which has made Jofeph Balfamo affume the title of Count Cagliostro.

"This opinion is fupported by the two public acts of the baptifm and the procuration, &c. &c.

"The age of Caglioflro, mentioned in his memoir, and his ha

"All that he fays was told him by A. Bracconieri, Clerk in the house of Sieur François Aubert and Co. and uncle of Jofeph Balfamo of Palermo, to demonstrate that the pretended Count Caglioftro was the fame perfon with his nephew, is true; for having faid that he was in Sicily, Malving demanded of the faid A. Brac conieri the fame thing, he not only confirmed all that he faid to Bernard, but added several other circumstances of note, which prove that Balfamo conceals himself under the feigned name of Count Caglioftro. I have made him write and fign his original depofition, which I now fend your Excellency, with the Memoir printed at Paris by the faid Caglioftro.

"By all which Bracconieri af"firms, I have found that Joseph "Balfamo, fon of Peter Balfamo "and Felice Bracconieri, was bap"tized the 8th of June 1745, in "the Cathedral church of this city, "having obtained an extract of this "figned by the grand Chaplain and "the Coadjutor of the facraments.'

"As in the above act of baptifm I fee that the child had been held by Jof. Brazil, by the procuration of Vincente Caglioftro, I examined the act of procuration, and found it in the minutes of the Notary Antonio Romafino.

"From these letters and public acts, there is a confiftent refult, and all the circumstances concur to prove,

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ta, Naples, and Rome, and had traverfed the greatest part of Europe, are all circumftances correfponding with the account of Antonio Brac- conieri concerning his nephew Jofeph Balsamo.

"Matthew Navarrchy, a German, and jeweller at Palermo, faw the portrait of Caglioftro in the hands of Baron Irobia, and fays, that he had a long face, and a largish; nofe, which agrees with the defcription of Bracconieri. (Signed)

JOSEPH MARIE GUGINO,
Advocate-Fifcal.

Depofition of Antonio Bracconieri,
uncle by the mother's fide of Jo-
feph Balfamo, called Caglioftro,
dated Palermo in Sicily, March 9.
1787.

JOSEPH BALSAMO is the fon of one of my fifters called Felicia, wife of Peter Balfamo, living at Paler-, mo; by whom he has two chil dren only; the one a girl, now ą widow, called Mary-Ann Capirammino; and the other the faid Jofeph, born the 2d of June 1743; baptized in the Cathedral: his goda 2

father,

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