tively when I requested him to hoist his flag, intending only to say that I wished him to make that house his residence; but I ought to have been more explicit, and to have recollected that sailors are plain men, and not very intimately versed in rhetoric. Perhaps, however, strictly speaking in this instance, Captain Brown is not altogether wrong- he has not yet been required to lower his flag, and consequently may have considered himself authorized in bringing it away with him from the ship, and rehoisting it after the fashion of a British Admiral on shore. It is a bold step It is a bold step to hoist the British Flag in a French garrison; however, let us humor these fine fellows; to morrow they quit us, their flag shall then be lowered with all the honors of war."

By this time they had reached to within a short distance of the flag in question, and Mon Aide's nerves were destined to undergo another rather severe shock. The skipper having from a distance observed their approach, mustered his crew, and then pithily said, "Now my lads, you know the way, three cheers for the General, and d-n to all French prisoners." "Aye, aye, sir," responded the men. On Mon General's arrival, therefore, they were saluted with a deafening cheer, threetimes-three and one more, to the great amusement of the General, and his aide's inconceivable dismay.

"Put up your weapon, Du Boisson," said the General to his aide, who was in the act of drawing his sword, "you do not understand the custom of British seamen. The reception which we have met with, is in the highest degree complimentary."

Du Boisson shrugged his shoulders but did as he was desired. The General thanked the Captain for the "salvo" with which he had been honored, and then turning towards the crew, good humoredly said, "That cheer, my lads, must needs I think have made your throats rather dry. Has n't the Captain an old fashioned looking sort of a demi-john outside there? I thought I saw one amongst his dry goods. Come, Captain, hand it out let us see what it contains. Whatever we rob you of, upon my faith, I will replace with good Cognac-I would drink to your bon voyage to Santander to-morrow. My men, I have given you your liberty, and we are, I trust, good friends; your coming in here was a bit of a blunder, but never mind, you could not help that, nor could I."

The skipper forthwith produced his " demi," and after carefully wiping a couple of glasses, presented them brimmers to the General and his aide. He then, winking his eye to the crew, gave the word, "ready." "Ready," Ready,"

shouted his men. Mon General then prepared his toast, which was enthusiastically cheered, after which, cordially shaking the skipper by the hand, and bowing with uplifted beaver to the crew, he and his aide retired. The events of the morning had rapidly succeeded each other. The brig entered Santona with the dawn-she was taken possession of at sixthe captain landed a little after seven, and the general breakfast was finished about nine o'clock-it was now not quite half-past ten.

"It is yet early," said the General to Boisson; "let us walk quietly to Quintana. We may find the Donna Margarita still at breakfasther visitor's arrival will possibly make her later than usual to-day. Allons, allons! Let us lose no time in welcoming our lady prisoner-her husband will most probably breakfast with us to-morrow, and we must invite the ladies to meet him. I promise myself much pleasure in giving this intelligence. Do you not envy me, Du Boisson?"

They accordingly strolled leisurely on towards the residence of the Senhora, which was situated outside the town, and not quite a quarter of a mile distant from John Brown's flag; a few minutes took them to the house, when the General, stepping forward, gave the accustomed well-known Spanish summons to its inmates, with the open palm, twice distinctly repeated. The Quien he "who's there?" was forthwith sounded; the response, "Amigo "-friend

as promptly given, and these preliminary formalities, never neglected in Spain, having been duly performed, the latch of the door was lifted, and Mon General and his aide were permitted to enter.

Donna Margarita received her visitors with the perfect ease and tact so remarkable in the well bred women of Spain. She informed the General, laughing, that his prisoner had been in her custody already nearly two hours, that they had some time since breakfasted, and that, on hearing his knock, the captive had hastily retired. "In short, Mon General," said she, "your prisoner is dreadfully afraid of you, and manifests great horror at your approach.”

66

Am I then so very formidable?" asked the General.

66

Decidedly you are so in the eyes of this lady," she replied, " for she sincerely believes. herself to be your prisoner, and under that conviction is inconsolable at the prospect of an indefinite separation from her husband, who is, as you are aware, at Santander."

"If that is all," said the General, good humoredly smiling, "I may yet find favor with my prisoner-her captivity will terminate to-morrow. I have, however, I fear, carried

this 'Bigarrine' too far, and inflicted pain; I would fain, therefore, communicate to her this intelligence, and faire mon amende. Pray afford me the opportunity."

The Senhora, thus solicited, consented to conduct the General to his guest. As he had entered her house by one door, the lady precipitately quitted it by the other, and to avoid Mon General had ensconsed herself in the summer-house, at the farthest end of the garden, which commanded a view of the sea and the lost brig. There sat the forlorn lady prisoner, intently gazing at the innocent and unconscious cause of her captivity, the ill-starred Eliza. She had not perceived the advance of our intruders, whose movements were no way announced by the tread of steps, the walks they had passed over being formed of sea-side sand, and consequently dead of sound. It was necessary to arouse her-Donna Margarita, therefore, looking archly at Mon General, and motioning him to silence by putting the finger on the lip, undertook the task, and proceeded to command attention by beating "Reveille" in the Spanish fashion, clapping her hands twice sharply and quickly together. A start and shriek followed! The General, indeed, had carried his " whimsey" so far, that his captive, an Irish lady, possessing much of the national excitement and romance, had really and truly considered herself his prisoner, and had in idea, conjured up, as about to be inflicted upon her, all that she had either heard or read of the horrors attendant upon a residence in a French prison, adding thereto some delectable concomitants, such as handcuffs, chains, and bread and water, the creation of her own bewildered imagination.

Sooth to say, the "lady's head was gone." No wonder, her reverie thus disturbed, and when the captive looking up encountered with distended optics the lofty plume of the dreaded General, that a start and shriek escaped her. Mon General was no wise astonished at this lady-like betrayal of emotion. Great, however, was his amazement, when progressing with graceful step and polished mien to address the lady, he found his advance repelled, not by one simple shriek, but by a whole continuous volley, most fearfully discharged, accompanied by the somewhat discouraging backward movement of the hand, and the monosyllable, intelligible in most languages, oftentimes repeated, of "No, no, no, no!"

He was, indeed, astounded, transfixed. Statue-like, he regarded his terror-stricken prize, and then, with an imposing look, beseeched her to be pacified. His mild persuasions, and assurances of perfect safety, restoration to house and home, were, however, given

to the winds. The frenzied lady heeded them not, but continued vociferously, and yet more vociferously still, to rave and rant, until Mon General, fairly discomfited and beaten, accompanied by the Senhora, who could with difficulty conceal her mirth, fairly beat an inglorious retreat, retiring upon his reserve, Du Boisson, who had all this time remained in the Quintana. There, "disconconfiada mortifié," somewhat annoyed, he had to sustain a second attack, but of a different nature, from the lively Senhora Donna Margarita, who unmercifully rallied him upon his defeat and failure with his no longer termed captive. Nor did he receive consolation from his aide, who greatly enjoyed the scene which the Senhora had lost no time in describing to him, despite of his chief's discomfiture and all established rules of military allegiance. Mon General, therefore, beleaguered, determined forthwith to retire within his inmost fastnesses, and ironically thanking the Senhora for the introduction with which he had been honored to her fascinating inmate, and confiding the lady altogether to her custody and protection, he made his "adios," and accompanied by Du Boisson, returned to head quarters, taking John Brown's flag by the way, and inviting John to dinner.

Escaped from the whipping which he had so soundly received from these female scorpions, he had leisure to reflect on the folly and vanity of tampering with incomprehensible woman.

46

Gladly," ejaculated he, "would I have foregone the relief which I have this day received to have been spared the mortification with which it has been accompanied." Mon General would doubtless have soliloquized after this doleful fashion for some time longer, had not his cogitations been interrupted by the entrance of an orderly, announcing the arrival of Le Capitaine Brown, who, no wise afflicted with such sentimentals, had been vulgar enough to recollect his "provoke" to dinner.

John Brown's entrance, his countenance expressive of "bonhomie," good-nature, and his frank, seamanly address, soon dissipated the General's bile, already somewhat relieved through the safety-valve of ejaculation. His thoughts diverged into a far different channel

they called to his recollections the tranquil years he had passed in England, which he contrasted with his present isolated positionblockaded by an enemy he despised, and in the rear of a powerful General to whom his very existence was unimportant. Ennui, however, like everything else, has its limits and its end-the General had his fit out, and now resumed his wonted gaiety.

Commanding officers of regiments and heads

of departments had been invited to meet the lion of the feast. Dinner was announced; Mon General with the Captain led the way, and each took his accustomed seat, the chair on the right of the General being appropriated to our hero, John Brown, beside whom was seated at his dexter elbow, the Commissaire de Guerre, a gentleman who had acquired some proficiency in the English language, and in nautical subjects, during a somewhat lengthened and involuntary residence on board of a dismasted vessel in the romantic vicinity of Portsmouth. Everything progressed satisfactorily-John, never a shirker, warmed as the champaigne was handed round. The Commissaire spoke his best English, and the interconcurrent fire of the two became highly amusing to the General, who alone understood their conversation; but the skipper's "naif" remarks, interpreted as they were, by his dexter neighbor, with all the license of an interpreter, omitting much that was said, and supplying the vacuum with more that was never intended, thereby oftentimes rendering confusion worse confounded, afforded much mirth to the whole party, and caused the day to pass off with great hilarity and good humor.

Dinner ended and coffee served, the party adjourned to the beach to witness the hauling of the Seine, a favorite amusement with the garrison, which, from reasons apart from their profession of the Roman Catholic faith, felt considerable interest in the pursuit. They had passed the evening very pleasantly, had remained out till it was quite dark, and were about to say good night, when Mon General interposed.

"Not yet, my friends," said he, "we will return for a while to head quarters. Capt. Brown quits us to-morrow; let us beg of him before we separate, to initiate us into the mystery of English punch-making-C'est une liqueur superbe-It's a superb beverage. How say you, Captain, have you any objection to a bowl of punch, and will you show us how to brew it?" The Captain expressed his willingness to oblige the General. He was ready not only to show him how to make punch, but how to drink it too. There was nothing in the world that he would not do for him, since as how where should he have been but for him; why, to be sure, in regular limbo."

66

Allons donc," said the General, “it is cold. Let us get housed and warm ourselves. The General's staff were old campaigners; no saint-like voice in pious accents declaimed against the injurious effects of such nocturnal potations, but on the contrary, all were animated with zealous desire to do their duty, and felt a praiseworthy thirst for the acquirement

of the promised knowledge; albeit, at the expense of nervous temperament, such was their uncontrollable military ardor, and such their impetuous devotion to their gallant chief!

Moving forward, therefore, in double quick, impelled by the chilly breeze from the sea, they speedily regained head quarter house, and found themselves reseated in the Pardon's old-fashioned leather backed Spanish chairs. The lemons fresh and frequent from the tree, the water hot and hissing in the kettle, the sugar bright and sparkling, the odoriferous rum, and the veritable cognac, were paraded; and the Captain, taking a seat at the table, upon which was placed a copious china bowl, squeezers in hand, proceeded to business.

66

Gentlemen," said the skipper, addressing his gallant and attentive pupils, "the art of making good punch consists in judgmatically making the ingredients. First prepare a rich lemonade, then add to that whatever quantity of the " Jamaiky" you think proper, topping the mixture with a glass of brandy. That is the great mystery of punch making." "Ha! ha! said the General ;"Captain, we thank you, and we will now, if you please, taste the concoction; we require no instruction how to do that. Bale it out, fill the glasses. Gentlemen, here's to Captain Brown's good health, and better luck to him."

The toast was heartily responded to, and the Captain returned thanks; after which, having by successive replenishment of their glasses, duly drained the bowl, the party dispersed to their several quarters; the skipper seeking his flag under convoy of the Commissaire de Guerre, to whom, from his knowledge of his lingo, he had taken a considerable liking. It is thus that kind-hearted and good men ameliorate the evils attendant on war. Through the humane disposition of his captor, our hero, having lost his ship, underwent not the additional deprivation of his liberty, but returned home to his family, and lived long to bless his deliverer, the generous and gallent General Charles Lameth!

The remainder of the story is soon told. At an early hour on the following morning a Transport arrived from Santander, and Captain Brown and his crew turned their backs upon Santona. At about the same time Dr. B—, whose lady, it will be remembered, had been on board the brig, presented himself with a flag of truce at the outports, whence he was conducted to the General, with whom he breakfasted; but no persuasion of his could induce his wife to join the party. It may be superfluous to say that the doctor, notwithstanding his dementati adjunts, freaky convulsions, was hospitably greeted at head quarters. His

affrighted rib, however, was anxious to quit the scene of her imaginary danger. They, therefore, likewise lost no time in leaving the garrison. Here my tale might end, but for the benefit of the curious it may be stated, that subsequently, on General Lameth's report, transmitted through the commandant of Santander to Marshal Soult, being received back at that station, a commissariat officer and an officer of the old 95th, were deputed by the commander of the forces to proceed to Santona, and confer with General Lameth, and to offer him a fair equivalent for the captured property, the barley excepted; a service which they satisfactorily performed, redeeming the regimental clothing and baggage, and removing it to Santander in a transport despatched thither to receive it. The commissary and the riflemen, on reaching Santona, had sleeping billets allotted to them, breakfasting and dining with Mon General, who each day at dinner assembled a select few to meet them; and in the evening opened his hospitable house indiscriminately to all the officers of the garrison; at these evening reunions, the gentle V, so of old designated in his gallant corps, proved to conviction that he was not a little astern of his antecedent, the skipper, in the art of compounding bibacious fluidities. After thus spending three merry days and as many jovial evenings in the enemy's camp, our prize commissioners bid farewell to their gay and gallant foes, and availing themselves of a friendly offer of the General to return by sea, whereby they would avoid a repetition of a ride over a sadly bad road, embarked on board Mon General's pet privateer, the white flag of truce flying at

her fore. This formidable craft, manned by sixteen athletic armed seamen, soon made the run to Santander, and pulled boldly up the harbor which was full of shipping. The commander's honor was pledged that his boat should return innocuously to Santona, making no capture on her return voyage. The commissary, however, in order to prevent mistake, as well as to provide against any possible variation in her compasses, took the precaution of bringing her up alongside the Belle Poule frigate; the commanding officer on board of which, promised to see our friend safely into his own port on the following morning.

Here ends my story, by many, no doubt, already considered to be too long; but as others may, on the contrary, desire to know what afterwards was the fate of General Lameth and his gallant companions in arms, for the gratification of the inquisitive ones, it is recorded, that some five months after the passing of the hilarious scene I have depicted, the French armies having been driven out of Spain and Santona, consequently being cut off from all hope of relief, our gallant general surrendered his garrison by an honorable capitulation, to the allied forces; and with field artillery, arms and baggage, was conveyed thence by sea to Blaye.

In the Chapeaurouge, at Bordeaux, and subsequently on the Boulevards, at Paris, might be seen Mon General and his quondam prize commissioners, the commisary and old rifle, lounging together, united by that firm freemasonry which binds together all OLD PENINSULAR MEN." United Service Magazine.