BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 349
No. CCLXXXVI.
LIEUT.-GENERAL VYSE,
IN CONMAND OF THE FORCES IN SCOTLAND.
RICHARDV YsE-son of Archdeacon Vyse, by his marriage with a daughter
of Dr. Richard Smalbroke, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry-was born in
1747. He joined the army at an early period of life, and was for many
years a Captain in the Royal Irish Dragoons. In 1784 he was promoted
to the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the 1st Dragoon Guards, of which regiment he
became Colonel in 1790, and rose to the rank of Major-General in 1794.
Under the Duke of York, he served against the Republican forces of France
during the campaigns in Flanders, and was present at the affair of Nimeguen
in Holland.
In 1799 Major-General Vyse, then Colonel of the 29th Light Dragoons,
was appointed one of the Major-Generals of the Staff in Scotland, under Sir
Ralph Abercromby; on whose departure, in the expedition to Egypt, General
Vyse succeeded, as Lieut.-General, to the command of the Forces. In this
capacity he acquitted himself with much spirit-highly esteemed by all who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance, as a thorough gentleman, not more in
manners than in high-minded principles and rectitude of conduct. He had
the reputation of being an excellent cavalry officer, and was considered a proficient
in military matters generally.
To the discipline of the troops under his command he paid unremitting
attention and was enthusiastic in the exercise of field-manoeuvres and mock-
When the Lochiel Highlanders lay in Falkirk, immediately after being raised, they were inspected
by General Vyse. Sir Ralph Abercromby being present, Cameron, the Chief of Lochiel,
waa no doubt proud to show such a really h e body of men to his father-in-law. Although ostensibly
composed of Camerons, there were enrolled in the ranks of the corps not merely Lowlanders, but
English and Irish ; and some laughable attempts at fraud, in endeavouring to pass inspection, are
remembered ; but, unless disabled, few objections mere made, although Scotsmen in general found
a preference. “ From FaUrirk
yir honour, this morning.” His brogue betraying him, the General demanded to know how he came
over ? “Sure I didn’t come in a wheelbarrow ! ” The rising choler of the iuspecting officer was
speedily soothed by the milder tact of Sir Ralph, who, seeing the man a fit recruit, laughed heartily
and he rn passed.-It deserves to be mentioned that on this occasion, during his stay in Falkirk,
the future hero of Aboukir took up his residence with the son of hia late father’s gardener at
Tillibody, Mr. James Walker, a merchant in the town, and long known for hi agricultural skill,
aa “ The Stirlingshire Farmer.” Sir Ralph delighted, after dinner, to recall the incidents of their
boyhood, when he and Mr. Walker, with their brothers, were at school together. He had previously
shown the attachment of former days to a younger brother of Mr,. Walker, during the struggle for
liberty between America and the mother countiy. These kindly and benevolent traib easily explain
why Sir Ralph Abercromby was persoually so dear to all who knew him.
“ Where are yozl from P” said Vyse to an equivocal-looking fellow.