468 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CCCXXVIII.
MAJOR SKEY,
AND TFlE
RIGHT HON. LORD CLIVE (NOW EARL OF POWIS), *
OF TEE SHROPSHIRE MILITIA.
THE passing of the Militia Act, in 1797, occasioned great excitement in
Scotland j and several riots of a serious nature having occurred, it was deemed
prudent to aupent the military force of the country. The Shropshire, commanded
by Lord Clive, was the first corps of English militia brought across
the border. Arriving at Musselburgh on the 21st of September 1797, they
were stationed there and at Dalkeith till the 9th of October, when the regiment
removed to Edinburgh, and the same day was inspected in St. Anne's Yard
in presence of Lord Adam Gordon, Commander-in-Chief, and the Comte
d'Artois, who then resided at Holyrood Palace, One thousand strong, a finer
body of men could scarcely be imagined ; but they had marched in their old
clothing, and not having had time to unpack their baggage, they certainly
looked very shabby. Lady Clive was among the company present, and happening
to overhear a gentleman near her say-" How very ill-dressed these men
are;" her ladyship turned smartly round upon him, as she said-"Illdressed,
sir ! we are considered to be the highest dressed regiment in England !'I
The gentleman alluded to their clothes-the lady to the carriage and steadiness
of the men.
.
Of MAJOR SKEY (the figure in advance), we have obtained no particular
information. He was a gentleman of Shropshire, and we believe had previously
been in the army.
EDWARD LORD CLIVE (afterwards EARL OF POWIS), son of Robert
Lord Clive, the able but ill-requited Governor of India, was born in 1754, and
succeeded his father in 1774. The title of Clive belongs to the Irish Peerage :
and until 1794, when called to the House of Lords, as Baron Clive of Walcot,
his lordship represented the borough of Ludlow in Parliament.
Having been appointed Governor of Fort St. George, Lord Clive repaired to
India in 1802, where he distinguished himself during the Mahratta war, and
on his return received the unanimous thanks of both Houses of Parliament.