...it is with sincere regret we report the death of Lieutenant J. Maclaine of the 73d Regiment, who fell in one of those encounters of the 13th instant, within two miles of Bootle. He was proceeding to that place from Aliput, with a reinforcement of 30 Men, when he was fired upon from the jungle. Lieutenant Maclaine was on horseback, a shot struck him upon the lower lip, and taking a rising direction into his head, he fell dead, upon the spot without speaking a word. One Private was also killed and 2 wounded. We cannot better express the sentiments of those who are fully qualified to appreciate the merits of this gallant young man, than in the words of Lieutenant Colonel Kelly, who thus announces his death: "It is with infinite concern I have to report the lamented occurrence of the death of Lieutenant Maclaine of the 73d Regiment. The indefatigable zeal and enterprize at all times evinced by this promising young Officer, and reported upon by Major Coxun, make this loss at the present juncture peculiarly distressing."

Source:
Extract from Ceylon Government Gazette 24 January 1818
(see also the Sydney Gazette 25 July 1818 p.3).

Manuscript Transcripts
Transcript prepared by Robin Walsh
Macquarie University Library, Sydney, Australia. © 2003

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