on it. From this labour, not barren only so far as it familiarized him with the vernacular, Mr. Colvin was released early in 1827 by orders to proceed to the district and station of Cuttack, on the Bay of Bengal, which with his wife he reached in February of that year.
When Mr. Colvin commenced his active career, he was yet in his twentieth year. At that time those who knew him describe him as a frank-looking lad, standing well over six feet, and conspicuously erect. Under a quantity of fair hair lay a broad expanse of forehead, indicative of marked capacity. Brown, eager eyes which never failed to look you in the face; an expression of alert intelligence; a mouth of which the lines indicated great firmness, a straight nose, a square jaw, and a well-moulded chin complete the sketch of his features.
Throughout life he was rather grave and reserved in demeanour, except to intimate friends. But under the independence of his Scotch descent, and a certain restraint of manner which guarded him from ill-considered intimacies, he concealed great warmth of heart, and a rare capacity for friendship. Among his intimate friends the strength of his affections, his unselfishness, his considerate regard for others, and the loyalty of his nature gained for him a degree of attachment which is conceded to few. But in every society in which as time passed he found himself, his powers of conversation and his stores of information secured him cordial welcome.
'It is now thirty years ago,' said Mr. (afterwards
