manded the boats of L' Egyptienne, in conjunction with Lieutenant Philip Cosby Handfield, at the cutting out, under an incessant fire from two batteries, of the French frigate-built privateer L' Alcide, pierced for thirty-four guns, and moored to the beach, in the harbor of Muros, in Spain. Having been unemployed since June, 1814, at which period he invalided from the Hotspur, Mr. Alleyn accepted the rank he now holds, 20th April, 1835.

He is deputy master of the Trinity House, Quebec, and is the representative of Edward Alleyn, founder of Dulurch College.

HON. JACOB ÆMILIUS IRVING, M.L.C.

A MEMBER of the Legislative Council of this province. Mr. Irving was born at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 29th January, 1797. He was the eldest son of Jacob Æmilius Irving, Esquire, of Ironshore, Jamaica, and of Liverpool, who was the nephew of the Colonel P. Æ. Irving, mentioned elsewhere.

He entered the 13th Light Dragoons at an early age, and served with that regiment through the Waterloo campaign, having been wounded in the action of the 18th of June, 1815. On his return to England, he was presented with the freedom of the town of Liverpool, for gallant conduct and services during the war.

On the 10th December, 1821, he married Catherine Diana, daughter of Sir Jere Homfray of Landaff House, Glamorganshire, by whom (who died 23rd January, 1858) he left issue a family, one of whom is Æ. Irving, Esq., barrister-at-law, of Hamilton, C. W.

In 1834, he emigrated to Upper Canada, and, in 1837, aided in suppressing the rebellion on the Niagara frontier. Upon the introduction of the municipal system, when the office of warden was an appointment by the Crown, he was selected as first warden for the district of Simcoe.

In 1843, he was called to the Legislative Council, and as a prominent member of the liberal party, warmly supported the Baldwin-Lafontaine party, in their struggle with Lord Metcalfe. He died at the Falls of Niagara, on the 7th October, 1856.

HON. COLONEL WELLS.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOSEPH WELLS; born in 1757; died at Davenport, near Toronto, C. W., in 1853. He entered the army in January, 1798, by purchase, in the Scotch Brigade. In March following, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 43rd, joined them in the West Indies in 1800, and on their return home, was appointed adjutant. In 1804 he purchased his company; he obtained, in 1811, his majority, and in 1814, a lieutenant-colonelcy.. In 1815, consequent on all second battalions being about to be reduced, he exchanged with Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson, as inspecting field officer in Canada, but, to his great mortification, six months afterwards, was placed on half pay. He held a seat in the Legislative Council, previous to the union.

CAPTAIN ECCLES.

CAPTAIN ECCLES resided in Toronto for many years, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him, as an upright and independent citizen and a warm hearted friend. Captain Eccles was born in 1776, and entered the army in 1802 as ensign in the 61st Regiment. He was with Wellington through the entire Peninsular campaign, and losing his arm in the battlefield, he retired on his hard-earned laurels, and settled down in Wales, where he married. In 1830, Captain Eccles removed to Somersetshire, near the city of Bath, and in 1835 emigrated with his family to Canada; he resided in Niagara from 1835 to 1841, when he removed to the city of Toronto.

Captain Eccles took an active interest in political matters, on the liberal side. In the great reform bill movement of 1832, he was chairman of Mr. Brigstock's election committee in the famous contest for Somersetshire, when his candidate was triumphantly returned. In "the troubles of 1837," he commanded a regiment of volunteers, on the Niagara frontier, on the "loyal side." the arrival of Lord Durham in Canada, Captain Eccles was sent for and consulted as to the most fitting measures of redress, and we

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believe he contributed largely to the material of Lord Durham's famous report. In the various parliamentary elections for Toronto, Captain Eccles took an active share, and his great age did not prevent his being chairman of Mr. Brown's committee in the well contested election between that gentleman and the Honorable J. H. Cameron, Q. C., in 1858. He was also chairman and spokesman of the committee of citizens who, a few weeks previous to his death, presented an address to the governor-general, Sir E. W. Head, signed by nearly 4,000 of the people of Toronto, praying for a change of ministry, and his eloquent speech on the occasion will be long remembered. His death occurred late in the year of 1858.

Captain Eccles left a widow and a numerous family, among whom are Mr. Henry Eccles, the eminent Queen's counsel, and Mr. William Eccles, barrister, of St. Catharines.

HON. JAMES BABY.

JAMES BABY was born at Detroit, in 1762. His family is one of the most ancient in the colony, and it is noble. His father had removed from Lower Canada to the neighborhood of Detroit before the conquest of Quebec, where in addition to the cultivation of lands, he was connected with the fur trade, at that time and for many years after, the great staple of the country. James was educated at the Roman Catholic Seminary at Quebec, and returned to the paternal roof soon after the peace of 1783. The family had ever been distinguished (and indeed, all the higher French families) for their adherence to the British Crown; and to this more than any other cause, are we to attribute the conduct of the province of Quebec during the American war. Being a great favorite with his father, James was permitted to make an excursion to Europe, before engaging steadily in business; and after spending some time, principally in England, he rejoined his family.

Unfortunately the limits assigned by treaty to the United States, embraced within it the larger portion of his father's property; and the family attachment to the British government being well known, they were looked upon with little favor by the American population, and found it necessary, after much loss and disappointment, to remove to the north side of the river Detroit, which constitutes the boundary of Upper Canada. When the province of

Quebec was divided into two distinct governments, Upper and Lower Canada, the subject of this notice became an executive and legislative councillor of the former, and continued in the regular and efficient discharge of the high and important duties of these eminent stations to the day of his death.

Soon after his return from England, he became extensively concerned in the fur trade, and other commercial pursuits; but war with the United States having broken out, all business was suddenly and completely stopped by a hostile invasion. Previous to this, he had experienced very serious losses in his commercial dealings, and also in the erection of mills on the property still retained within the territories of the United States, and was endeavoring to make such arrangements as would relieve him from all such difficulties, and enable him to attend to his farm and orchard, and his promising family. The sudden war, and the calamities which it occasioned him, were not the only evils which befel him. About the same time he lost an affectionate wife, leaving five sons and one daughter, all very young.

To this lady, a woman of excellent name, unblemished worth, and attentive to every conjugal and domestic duty, he had been married several years, and in her society had enjoyed the greatest happiness. Her death gave him a great shock; nor did he perhaps ever wholly recover from the blow, for there were moments when he felt the loss, even to the last, most deeply, and he never married again. The death of Mrs. Baby appeared to blast his hopes, and derange his purposes, and to throw him as it were adrift on the ocean of life.

The commencement of the war was perhaps fortunate for him under his heavy bereavement, for he was immediately called to active service. He commanded the militia of the western district, and performed many services highly essential to the preservation of the province. The people were anxious to win his favor; they had the most unlimited confidence in his judgment, and at his request their provisions, their cattle, and personal services were ever ready to support the king's forces in making head against the enemy. When it was in contemplation to withdraw the troops from the western part of the province, he sent his children to Quebec; and when this event took place, he found his health so much impaired by fatigue and privation, and the grief which still consumed him, that he found it necessary to adopt the advice of his physicians, and to retire to Lower Canada. There he remained with his children till the re-establishment of peace, but not in the enjoyment of health, nor was it till after he had been some time at Sandwich that his strength and energy returned.

His merits had been so conspicuous during the war-his services so disinterested-his losses and privation so great, that government was anxious to confer upon him some mark of approbation, and

knowing that his means had been much impaired by the sacrifices he had made, it was determined to confer upon him the first office that became vacant, if worthy of his acceptance. As if to meet these views, the office of inspector-general, a place of great responsibility, was in a short time at the disposal of government, and was immediately bestowed upon Mr. Baby. The last seventeen years of his life were spent at York, in the discharge of the duties of this office, and never was there the slightest shadow of complaint a fact, the more remarkable, as he had to check every other office in the province, and to pronounce in a variety of questions, in which numbers were deeply interested, but such was the public confidence in his integrity and honor, that not a murmur was ever heard.

As a member of both councils he displayed the most uncompromising probity, and no influence could induce him to give up an opinion, which, after mature examination, he concluded to be right.

This estimable man's death occured at York, now Toronto, on the 19th February, 1833, after a short but severe illness, deeply regretted by all shades and classes of society in the western capital.

There was a primitive simplicity in Mr. Baby's character, which added to his polished manners and benignity of disposition, threw a moral beauty around him, which is very seldom beheld. His favorite amusements partook largely of this simplicity.

His external accomplishments and manners were highly adapted to win affection and esteem. To an address peculiarly engaging, from its dignity, urbanity and ease, was united a cordiality and kindness of deportment which induced one to desire a more intimate acquaintance.

In his social intercourse he was an universal favorite, for the sweetness of his temper and innocence of his heart opened the affection of all in his favor. It was not that he was distinguished for his colloquial powers, for he was by no means the leader in conversation, but there was the polish of the most refined manners, ripened by innate benevolence, which made him so acceptable in all companies, that those only who had the happiness of meeting him often in society, could form a just conception of the pleasure of his presence. But highly as this excellent man was to be admired and loved for his engaging manners and virtuous sentiments, the exalted qualities which dignified his moral nature are still more worthy of approbation. These were the gems which shed around his character that lustre which made him so great a favorite. A strict probity and inviolable love of truth were perhaps the most prominent of his moral virtues. From these his conduct derived such a purity and elevation, as could only spring from a mind in which the finest sensibilities of virtue had ever remained uncontaminated by the consciousness of dishonor. To transmit this precious inheritance to his children by precept and example was