B I0 GRAPH I CA L SKETCHES. 32 7
unguarded ; and, as he turned the corner of the street, waa stabbed to the heart by Roache, who
stood with his sword ready drawn for the barbarous purpose. He received repeated stabs before he
had time to lift even his cane in his defence ; and, when faint with loss of blood, and the many
wounds he had received, he attempted to draw his sword, which he had not now strength to guide.
Roache seized upon it, broke it, and scrupled not to stab him when falling and disarmed, and
instwtly made his escape ; availing himself of the darkness which had SO much assisted him in the
perpetration of this hase and inhuman murder. Captain Fergusson received no fewer than nine
wounds, and all upon the left side, which must have been received when off his guard. Indeed, it
appears from a principal witness, whose evidence waR taken by the court of justice at the Cape, that,
after Captain Fergusson had drawn his sword, he showed not the least activity or motion, but, in the
twiukling of an eye, reeled, and fell to the ground, and expired in a few moments. About six days
after the murder, Captain Roache was appreheuded in the woods by the peasant8 of the country, and
was instantly racked on the wheel by order of the Governor. In vlrin he pleaded to be tried by his
countrymen, the Governor remarking-‘ that a foreigner who violates the law of another country
must abide by the penalties awaiting such violation.’ As a proof of which, he pointed out the
situation of a Dutchman in England under Roache’s unhappy circurartances.” 1
Roache was afterwards tried in England ; but, from a deficiency of evidence,
the murder could not be substantiated.
Adam, who accompanied Captain Fergusson, died of a fever soon after his
arrival in India. James, the second son, was greatly devoted to literary pursuits.
He followed no profession, but lived much on the Continent, where he travelled
some years with Lord Bruce, son of the Earl of Aylesbury; and afterwards with
the Earl of Morton. He died in middle life at Bath.
NEILt,h e third son, and the subject of this sketch, was born in 1750. Having
completed his academical studies at the University of St. Andrews, he made
choice of the law as a profession ; and, after undergoing the usual preparatory
courses, he was admitted to the bar in 1773, where, as we have already menl
tioned, he practised with equal honour and success. He filled the situation of
Sheriff-depute of the county of Fife for several years, and was on the eve of
being elevated to the bench, when a fatal disease terminated his valuable life in
1803, to the deep regret of all who knew him.
*By his wife, a daughter of Sir George Colquhoun of Tillychewan, he had
three sons and three daughters. His widow survived him nine years.
Mr. Fergusson is represented as leading by the hand JOSWH BORUWLASKI,
a Polish Count. In a Memoir of his life, published in 1788; the
Count says of himself:-
“ I waa born in the environs of Chaliez, the capital of Pekucia, in Polish Russia, in November
1739. My parents were of the middle size ; they had five sons and one daughter ; and by one of
those freaks of nature which it is impossible to account for, or perhaps to find another iwtance of in
the annals of the hnman species, three of these children grew to above the middle stature, whilst the
two others, like myself, reached only that of children in general at the age of four or five years.
“ I am the thiid of this astonishing family. My eldest brother, who at this time is about sixty,
The Cape of Good Hope was then in possession of the Dutch.
8 Memoirs of the clebrated dwarf, Joseph Boruwlaski, a Polish Gentleman ; containing a faith-
ful and curious account of his Birth, Education, Marriage, Travels, and Voyages. Written by
himself. 8v0, 7s. 6d. Becket, &c., to pe had likewise of the author, No. 162 Strand.
