The boy greeted him with a copy of verses, beginning "Now safe returned from Asia's parching strand, Welcome, thrice welcome to thy native land." To tell the unvarnished truth, the General's return was not altogether of a triumphant character.

After very narrowly escaping with his life from an outbreak at Travancore, incited by a native minister who owed him a grudge, he had given proof of courage and spirit during some military operations which ended in his being brought back to the Residency with flying colours.

But, when the fighting was over, he countenanced, and perhaps prompted, measures of retaliation which were ill taken by his superiors at Calcutta.

In his congratulatory effusion the nephew presumes to remind the uncle that on European soil there still might be found employment for so redoubtable a sword.
"For many a battle shall be lost and won Ere yet thy glorious labours shall be done." The General did not take the hint, and spent the remainder of his life peacefully enough between London, Bath, and the Continental capitals.
He was accustomed to say that his travelling carriage was his only freehold; and, wherever he fixed his temporary residence, he had the talent of making himself popular.

At Geneva he was a universal favourite; he always was welcome at Coppet; and he gave the strongest conceivable proof of a cosmopolitan disposition by finding himself equally at home at Rome and at Clapham.