ABSTRACT
Sir,—Having observed an article in the Times paper of the 2nd instant, headed “Public liberality,” copied and abridged from the Liverpool Albion, in which my name appears, connected with circumstances respecting a soldier’s wife of the 53rd regiment, left behind when a division of that corps sailed for Calcutta, I beg to forward the real particulars of this individual’s case, as inquired into by authority, and the mode of proceeding that has been adopted, both with regard to her and others in an equally unfortunate predicament; the statements I have seen in print, being in many parts erroneous, and several important facts having been altogether omitted. Private Dunane, 53rd regiment, was ordered to proceed as a married man with the division that sailed in the Martin Luther transport, the draft for which vessel embarked here on the 10th ultimo. Mrs. Dunane was absent when the troops marched, and her husband’s name was struck off the strength, another married soldier’s being substituted in its place. Private Dunane was warned that he would be included in the next draft, an interval of thirteen days elapsing prior to that division leaving Manchester for embarkation. His wife was not present on the night of the 23d of August, the day preceding the march of the division from Manchester, for embarkation in the Nith transport, and her name was erased from the list of soldiers’ wives allowed to proceed, at a late hour that night another woman’s being substituted in its place. She appeared at the Prince’s Dock when the troops were embarking, and reference was made to the officer commanding the detachment, Major Black, and the Adjutant 53d regiment, who was present respecting her case. The above particulars were authenticated by them, and I was informed by the Adjutant, on inquiry, respecting the presumed reasons for Mrs. Dunane’s conduct, that from circumstances which had occurred, her husband laboured under strong suspicions of intending to desert, and that the wife absented herself purposely, until she found he could not carry his intentions into effect. Application was then made, by order of Colonel Falconar, in concurrence with Colonel Broke, the Assistant Quarter-Master-General to Mr. Carr, the agent of the East India Company attending the embarkations, to see if she could not be allowed to proceed as an extra woman, but the ship was found to be so full that this could not be done with comfort or safety to the health of those proceeding. I then directed her husband to procure a small sum, and I would get her back to Manchester at once, when she could make her case known to Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, commanding 53d regiment, who would, perhaps, allow her name to be entered to proceed with the next and final draft, per Thomas Arbuthnot, as all chance of her expecting to go out with her husband was then hopeless. I also saw her boxes removed from the Nith, which was done by my orderly. Before I left the vessel, I inquired of her husband if he had given her any money for her passage to Manchester. He assured me, in the presence of my orderly, that he had given her five shillings for that purpose, and would be glad if I could get her a passage at contract price. On my arrival at the railway station the last train was on the point of starting, when she came forward, and I told her to pay 2s. 9d., the superintendent kindly allowing her to proceed at contract price. She answered, that she had no money at all. Feeling certain that her husband had procured sufficient to supply her, as he told me he had done, I considered this an act of duplicity on her part, and said I could do nothing more for her. She answered, that she would not go back to Manchester. She knew at this time that the Nith had left the decks. On Tuesday last Captain Williamson waited on me, inquiring, through motives of humanity, if any thing could be done for this female. I informed him of the above particulars, and also that Colonel Falconar and Colonel Broke intended to exert themselves to have her allowed to proceed in the Thomas Arbuthnot, and with the concurrence of Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, 53rd regiment.
