with respect to the public documents, which we must set about and get arranged with as little delay as possible. The surgeon informs me, that Sunday is the latest day he can be kept; therefore before that day I shall expect to see or hear from you.

I remain, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

THOMAS CARNIE,

LIEUT. COL. 6TH FOOT.

To JAMES PERRY, Esq. TAVISTOCK HOUSE.

Tavistock Place, 29th December, 1815.

At Winchester, on the 28th instant, died Captain Butcher, Paymaster of the Second Battalion of the 6th Foot; a gentleman respected and esteemed by all who knew him-one whom "the breath of calumny has never tainted:" social, honest, and sincere; and one in whom the elements of every virtue centred, to give the world assurance of a man."

66

MY DEAR SIR,

PERMIT me to indulge my feelings, in a true eulogium to departed worth, and to request your insertion of the above in your paper. This most sudden shock, communicated to me this morning, has plunged Mrs. Oakley, myself, and family, into an affliction which excoriates the still bleeding wound caused by a most distressing event. God knows we have had enough to buffet with.

I set off to-morrow for Winchester, to discharge the last office of friendship to dear Butcher.

Yours ever and truly,

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY, TAVISTOCK PLACE.

MY DEAR HANNAH,

Winchester, December 31, 1815.

I ARRIVED here last night, about five o'clock; and was met, at the inn door, by Colonel Carnie and Mr. Herriot the surgeon. The Colonel politely insisted upon my dining with him. I did, and he returned the visit this morning; and, with Mr. Herriot, breakfasted with me; since when, I have been with them at the barracks; where, for the last time, I shook the icy hand of your dear departed brother. Poor, excellent Jack! my early, tried, and true friend! who, through life, possessed my confidence and my love; and, what can rarely be mentioned, deserved both. In death his countenance is serene and benign, - the index of an honest heart; and it will be satisfactory to you to know, that his exit was scarcely perceptible to those whose kind attention was manifested to him in his last moments.

I have made arrangements for the last ceremony, which will take place to-morrow noon, with military honours. I shall be the principal in this mournful procession, and silently breathe my last adieu within. the walls of the cathedral.

The Colonel will accompany me to town on Tuesday, and probably dine with me.

Do not give way to grief: "our only lesson is to learn to suffer; and he who knows not that, was born for nothing."

God preserve and comfort you and the dear children, is the ardent wish and prayer of

Your affectionate Husband and best Friend,

B. O.

To MRS. OAKLEY.

MY DEAREST HANNAH,

Winchester, January 1, 1816.

THE last sad duty has been performed: it was a spectacle sad and solemn indeed; my feelings are too acute to describe it: yet, amidst the general sympathy of his brother officers, and almost the whole population of this city, I have felt a consolatory impression that I have been both a principal in, and witness of, the affecting ceremony. I do not exaggerate when I say, that three thousand persons can bear testimony to the anguish of my heart: it was a feeling not to be suppressed; and it was a feeling, at the time, completely abstracted from the recollection of past afflictions. Not only the officers of his regiment, but every officer in the garrison, carries on his arm the badge of attachment and respect to your dear lamented brother. Let not this recital awaken your regrets too keenly, but rather let it compose your mind to resignation.

The most respectful acknowledgments I could make to the officers of the regiment, was to ask them to dine with me: I expect them at five o'clock.

I yesterday was introduced to the physician who attended your brother. Every thing which could be done, was done.

In the evening, after the officers retired, the effusion of my heart was expressed as follows:

ON MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER,
CAPTAIN JOHN BUTCHER.

ALL that was social, gen'rous, and free,
Was center'd, dearest Jack, in thee:
Thy manly heart, to friendship warm,
Was free from vice, was free from harm:

The noblest virtue fill'd thy breast,
By all belov'd, by all caress'd;
'Twas strict integrity, to show,
In all thy actions here below,
That Virtue's leading feature shone,
Conspicuous to every one;

And Charity's benignant grace
Beam'd with composure in thy face.
If friendship, honesty, and truth,
(First planted in thy early youth),
Produce such fruit!-O give

My heart's best wish-like thee to live!

Requiescat in pace.

Ever yours,

B. O.

"On Monday last were interred, with military honours, in the cathedral of this city, the remains of John Butcher, Esq. Paymaster of the 6th Regiment of Foot; a gentleman universally esteemed and regretted, particularly by his brother officers, who not only paid their last tribute of attachment to him collectively; but were assisted on the melancholy occasion by the officers of the different corps quartered in the garrison*.”

To MRS. CATHERINE GRIFFIN, CLEOBURY, SALOP. Tavistock Place, January 12, 1816.

MADAM,

By my late uncle's desire, many years since expressed, I procured a letter of attorney, which was executed by you, empowering me to receive your dividends upon £484 consols, 3 per cents; and for some time I have paid them to Mr. Groombridge, (a gentleman I

* Vide WINCHESTER JOURNAL.

have a personal knowledge of), but without any express order from you: I will therefore thank you to give me your authority for so doing.

Give me leave to ask, madam, what affinity of relationship there is between you and my late uncle, Mr. Toldervy? I have some faint recollection that you once possessed the same name: whether or no, I cannot but hold in esteem any of his friends. Have you not also a sister? and does she not reside at Cleobury with yourself?

Perhaps you seldom visit the capital; but if you should, I shall be most happy to introduce you to Mrs. Oakley and my daughters. We have lately been, and still are, under great affliction for the loss of a dear and estimable son, at the ripening age of seventeen years; and still more recently for the death of Captain Butcher, the only brother and relative of Mrs. Oakley; a man of excellent worth and character, and my dearest friend and acquaintance for thirty years. Until now I have not known what domestic affliction is: still, (though I cannot smother the recollection of departed worth,) I have blessings, in the hope and prospect of seeing eight amiable girls, and a little boy, rising progressively into the notice, affection, and regard of all who know them, and who now form an agreeable society around my own table.

I have involuntarily introduced you to my family, and shall be proud to have it personally confirmed. I have had an excessive deal of trouble in the winding up of my uncle's concerns. There is a property at Cleobury, for which I have been in advance to the legatees, under my uncle's will, since his death; and when it will be settled the lawyers only know; for I