when he spoke to him, assumed a softer tone, and however violent might be his passions, one word from his gentle monitor sufficed instantly to allay them. On the whole, the two appeared to be formed solely for each other's wants; and they were certainly not at their ease, either on duty or in the moments of relaxation, as often as they chanced to be separated.

"The recruits had been with us something more than a year, when an order arrived for the regiment to embark, and to join a considerable force which was then collecting under Sir Arthur Wellesley, at Cork. I need not inform you that in such cases, when immediate employment before an enemy is anticipated, the youngest and most weakly of the men are usually selected, for the purpose of being left behind, and forming a depot. On the present occasion the ordinary course was pursued, and Allan Cameron, as well upon my recommendation, as at the suggestion of the inspecting-general, was pointed out as a proper person for such service. But to the order, though peremptorily given, the young man refused to pay obedience. He was his brother's comrade, they were both of them grenadiers, Donald taking his place in the front rank, and Allan covering him, he had joined the regiment solely that they might not be separated, and whereever Donald went, there would he go.' The same language was held by Donald, though with the violence characteristic of the speaker. 'Why should his brother's wish be thwarted? Was there a braver

soldier in the ranks? and if he were not so robust as some, was not he more than able to carry his load for him?' At last the brothers, regardless of every thing like military discipline, threw themselves into each other's arms, and wept aloud. There was no holding out against such an appeal; and the colonel, melted himself almost to tears, desired that Allan Cameron should not be forced from the place which he usually filled upon parade.

“It is not necessary that I should relate to you at length, how the troops assembled at the point of rendezvous; or how strangely all were affected when information reached them, that the very people against whom they had reason to believe that they were about to act, were all at once become allies. Let it suffice to state, that seldom have eyes beheld a spectacle more imposing than was presented on that splendid summer's afternoon, when upwards of one hundred and fifty sail, including line-of-battle ships, frigates, sloops-of-war, and transports, weighed anchor from the Cove; and, shaking loose their sails to a fair but gentle breeze, put to sea. Nor was it the fleet alone which drew to itself the regards and admiration of those who beheld it. The shore was every where crowded with spectators; the old town of Cove turned out its thousands; Spike island, Carlisle and Camden forts, were each of them alive with men, women and children, whose shouts of benediction rose loudly above the ripple of the waters, and were heard long after the last ship had cleared the capes. Surely there is no scene more

elevating, and yet more conducive to solemn and serious thought, than the departure of an expedition from the shores of the country which sends it forth.

"Our voyage, though unaccountably tedious, was upon the whole sufficiently agreeable; that is to say, the weather proved moderate, and no untoward accident came in the way to excite painful or mortified feelings. We were somewhat surprised, indeed, when the frigate which conveyed the general, after desiring us, by telegraph, to move on at leisure, darted a-head, and left us to ourselves; but we entertained even then sufficient confidence in our leader to be aware, that this separation would not be of long continuance, and that it was designed to serve some good purpose. Nor were we deceived in this. Long before the coast of Spain hove in view, the frigate rejoined us, and we finally found. ourselves at anchor off the Mondego, with a signal flying at the mast-head of the admiral's ship, that the troops should be in readiness to land, in heavy marching order, at a moment's notice.

How the disembarkation was conducted, I need not inform you. Our regiment having been so fortunate as to take its passage in some of the lightest transports, touched the Portuguese soil so early as the second of August; where during several days and nights it found ample employment, in assisting to bring the stores, and the remainder of the troops to land. At last, however, all were assembled; and on the morning of the ninth, soon after the

sun had risen, our little column took the road to Leria.

"You are doubtless aware of the adventures which befel, between this date and the seventeenth. The marches being neither long nor arduous, were well performed even by the most delicate of the young soldiers, who, in great numbers, made up this gallant army; nor was Allan Cameron, either in zeal or bodily strength, apparently at least, inferior to the best of his comrades. It is true that, after the first league or two, Donald would in no case permit him to carry his musket, and that on more than one occasion, when the excessive heat seemed to press severely upon him, he compelled him to unbuckle his very knapsack, and bore it himself. But though he yielded to his brother's remonstrances, Allan insisted that for such interference there was no necessity, and he never failed in a single instance to be found at his post when wanted. At last, however, symptoms that the enemy were not far distant, began to multiply. At Leria rumours came in upon us that one French army was in our immediate front, whilst others were in rapid march from Lisbon and Thomar to reinforce it. By and by, certain intelligence arrived that strong bodies of the enemy were in position at Brilos and Ovedos; and finally the posts themselves, as well as the resolution of Sir Arthur Wellesley immediately to force them, became apparent. The latter event occurred, with a trifling loss in our party, on the fifteenth; and, the sixteenth having been employed in reconnoitring the

main position, we proceeded on the morning of the seventeenth, to attack General Laborde, in his formidable allignement above Roliça.

"Our regiment, as you doubtless know, formed one of those, which, on the retreat of Laborde to his second position, carried that difficult pass which covered the centre of the French division. Entangled in the defile, the two brothers, being, as I have already said, grenadiers, found themselves, as well as the rest of their company, suddenly brought into contact with a very superior force, and deprived of all support from the remainder of the battalion. The French having thinned their ranks by a welldirected volley, instantly closed, and though our brave fellows fought nobly, their utmost exertions availed but little. On this occasion, when our people were reluctantly giving ground, two French soldiers sprang upon Donald Cameron, and his foot happening to slip at the instant, threw him; but his brother was at hand to succour him; - the weapons of the Frenchmen were already uplifted against his breast, when Allan, whose musket chanced to be loaded, fired. One adversary instantly fell, and before the other could either step aside, or ward off the blow, he received the bayonet of the young Highlander in his throat. All this was the work of a moment, for, fresh troops coming up, our soldiers again resumed the offensive; and in a short time the first of Sir Arthur Wellesley's great series of European victories was won.

"If the brothers loved each other previous to this

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