Transcribed from the 1800’s Religious Tract Societyedition, ,
No. 17.
THE LIFE
OF
COL. JAMES GARDINER.
THERELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, INSTITUTED 1799;
DEPOSITORY, 56,PATERNOSTER-ROW.
Colonel James Gardiner was the sonof Captain Patrick Gardiner, who served many years in the armiesof King William and Queen Anne, and died abroad with the Britishforces in Germany.
The Colonel’s mother was a lady of very excellentcharacter; but it pleased God to exercise her with uncommontrials; for she lost not only her husband and her brother in theservice of their country, but also her eldest son, Mr. R.Gardiner, on the day which completed his sixteenth year, at thesiege of Namur, in 1695. But God blessed these afflictionsas the means of forming her to an eminent degree of piety.
The second son, the subject of this Memoir, was born inLinlithgowshire, Jan. 10, 1687–8, the memorable year of theglorious Revolution, in defence of which his own life waseventually sacrificed.
In early life, his mother took care to instruct him with greattenderness and affection in the principles of trueChristianity. While at the school at Linlithgow, he made aconsiderable progress in literature.
p. 2In theyounger part of his life the good effects of his mother’sprudent and exemplary care were not so conspicuous as she hoped;yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirelylost. Could she have prevailed, he would not have thoughtof a military life; but it suited his taste; and the ardour ofhis spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend, who greatlyurged it, was not to be restrained. Nor will the readerwonder at this, when he knows that this lively youth fought threeduels before he attained the stature of a man; in one of which,when but eight years old, he received from a boy, much older thanhimself, a wound in the right cheek, the scar of which was alwaysvery apparent. This false sense of honour might seemexcusable in those unripened years, and considering theprofession of his father; but he often mentioned it withregret. And after his conversion, he declined accepting achallenge, with this truly great reply, which in a man of hisexperienced bravery was exceedingly to be admired, “I fearsinning,” said he, “though you know I do not fearfighting.”
He served as a cadet very early: and at fourteen years old, hebore an ensign’s commission in a Scotch regiment in theDutch service; in which he continued till 1702, when he receivedan ensign’s commission from Queen Anne, which he bore inthe battle of Ramilies, in his nineteenth year.
On this occasion, our young officer was commanded on whatseemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French ofthe church-yard at Ramilies, where a considerable number of themwere posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded betterthan was expected, and Mr. G. was glad of such an opportunity ofsignalizing himself. Accordingly, he had planted hiscolours on an advanced ground, and while he was calling to themen (probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar adisgrace to our soldiery) he received a shot in his p. 3mouth, which,without beating out any of his teeth, or