years, you know that I never feared the hour that is now come: I find so strange an alteration in myself since yesterday, and have sensations so different from all I ever felt before, that I think it impossible I should live through this night: the only favour I have to beg of you is, that you would acquaint my mother and brothers that I die like an honest man, who always had his duty in view; tell them, that I always had my family and country at heart, and that it was the constant study of my life to do them honour. As God is now calling me from this world, I desire to be thankful to him for all his goodness to me in it, which has been very extraordinary, for all my undertakings have been crowned with success I am still more thankful that I have now nothing to reproach myself with, and that I can die not only with resignation, but comfort.”
After this, Mr. Sullivan remained with him the whole night, he settled his affairs, told him what he owed, and what he possessed; a person was sent for to make his will, by which he directed his debts to be paid, and gave pecuniary rewards to all his servants, appointing Captain Sullivan his executor: the rest of the night he spent with a minister of the Lutheran church, and in talking of his mother, his brothers, and family.
At eight Captain Sullivan left him, but returned again at ten, when he found him delirious. He staid till twelve, when the last agony coming on, he could no longer sustain the pain it gave him to be present at such a scene, and therefore retired. About two o’clock in the afternoon of the 19th of August, 1762, the colonel died, in the twenty-seventh year of his age, and was buried the next day, in a kind of a chapel or grotto, in the Lutheran church-yard, which is reserved for persons of distinction.
Thus died in the post of honour, at the age of twenty-seven, Colonel Hume Caldwell, sincerely and deservedly lamented by the empress, the general, and the whole army. To what high rank and honours such an ardent spirit and such high professional skill might have elevated him, had he lived, may be conjectured from this faint sketch of a
