"Reform had been much agitated in Scotland; union societies had been formed; and, from the technical language used by these men, I suspected they had thought it prudent to leave their Glasgow looms, and try what effect the liberating air of Portugal might have on the memory of the police-officers in their native towns. The greatest proportion were young; I therefore had some hopes, although the second day after the fellows landed I was puzzled.

"All were assembled in a large room; and hearing some dispute, I entered, when I was saluted with 'Silence!' Order! Let's hear what the Cornal has to say.' Stan back, let's hear how he'll answer the Comitea.' Upon this, five fellows advanced, the speaker taking off his cap. He pulled out a paper and said, We five are deputed by our freens to show you the undermentioned written conditions, which if you don't agree to, we shan't serve, and Donna Maria may gang to h—l.' Reading the conditions, I saw they wished 27. 10s. per month, the English being promised only 21. 5s. I told them the English had fought well with me, and I should not agree to the Scotch getting 5s. more; so if they did not choose, they might all 'gang whare they wanted to sen' Dony Maria.' This caused a great hubbub; and the five returned to a room, whence they reappeared after a while. During the interval, I had been asking the fellows the different places from whence they came; having thus gained a little popularity, the five fellows readvancing, I asked them in an authoritative voice Who they were?' They said they had been delegates in Glasgow, and had been appointed a Comitea' for the volunteers who had engaged at the Salt Market station. I said, in the army I had never heard of the word 'Comitea,' and asked what the word meant. I would not understand any explanation; at last one of them, a smart-looking fellow, said 'Lord, Cornal, I see you ken weel eneugh what a Comitea is; but I'll tell ye the fac of the matter is, a wheen o' us join thegether, and we ca ourselves the Comitea, and we gar a' the others dae what we like.' I instantly said, 'O, I understand completely what it is. I see, a Comitea is a Cornal. Call me either the one or the other, as I shall gar ye dae what I like. This explanation of Comitea' caused a regular row; their threatening not to serve, and my telling them they may be off, brought it to a crisis, and made them come to other terms; as they confessed the enemy's batteries at the mouth of the river prevented their getting away; so after deep consideration they agreed to serve, provided they were paid in British currency, the soldier getting the advantage of the exchange. I agreed; but what this meant I really did not understand; the Comitea called on me to explain how many mills (i. e. milrees) to the pound sterling. This was a terrible puzzler; so without answering the 'Comitea,' I began asking the other fellows whether they had worked in a cottonmill, carding-mill, or woollen-mill, each giving different answers; so all this 'row' finished with D-n all mills and comiteas, hurrah for Colonel Shaw and Dony Maree!' and thus were the Scotch Fusileers formed."

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Though these men, when first they were engaged in battle, had not been taught the military method of loading a musket, they behaved well. Their commander, however, judiciously kept them moving according to some drill manœuvres, to prevent them losing

heart by standing still under the enemy's fire. Shaw could not only mystify, or be sophistical when occasion required, but he possessed the art of chiming in with the humour of his men, or of sympathizing with them in their endurance, so as to gain ere long their entire confidence and regard. Or, should he at any time have found it necessary, he scrupled not, to have recourse to most unusual methods of reproof and punishment. Some examples of these various qualifications will interest the reader.

"At the time the want of provisions was very great, and the scenes of drunkenness among the English in Oporto terrible. The only rations served out was bacalhao (salt fish); the same which is used after dinner by wine bibbers, to give them a relish for more wine: therefore it struck me that if it had the effect upon well-fed men, how much greater must the effect be on men with a comparatively empty stomach. The cooks on board the transports which brought the Scotch, had, with their national prudence,' gathered from the cooking coppers a quantity of grease (slush), which they had brought on shore and sold to a manufacturer to make candles. Firewood being very scarce, the candle-maker could not make his candles. The bacalhao was taken up to this manufacturer, who gladly re-exchanged it, and this 'slush' was brought down to Lordello; a certain quantity of it mixed up with rice, musty biscuit pounded, and along with a sort of vegetable gathered on the banks of a rivulet, put into a large boiler of a dying manufactory where the men were quartered, and stewed up with some stolen dog, cat, or the best bits of a killed wandering donkey or mule, made a tolerable mess. Many is the mule which, tempted by the green field near this Fabrica, entered never to return.

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"My own men stole and eat my greyhound and terrier, and a fight took place with the Irish (who had lately landed) for having had in their possession the skin of my fat pointer. When these living animals disappeared, about a tablespoonful of rice and a square inch of pork was a day's allowance; and often has a young fellow come up to me with both in the palm of his hand, saying. Cornal Shaw, I only ask yoursel,' is that plenty for a working man to leeve on, besides the fechtin? It is a shame and I wlll not stand it. My only answer was, 'If it satisfies you, it does not satisfy me. could eat six rations like that:' which brought forth the answer,' Weel, Cornal, that's true; but we'll make that d―d John Macdowal (Don Miguel) pey for this some fine day."

I

It thus appears that the war in Portugal was no feather-bed affair, and that the conflict with famine was sometimes more trying than that which took place in the battle-field.

We have now to offer something in illustration of Scotch pride, and the subtlety of Scotch philosophy.

"On this line of defence from Lordello, were only two live oxen in Oporto; and being most useful for assisting in dragging guns from one point to another, they were put under charge of the careful immaculate Scotch.' They were generally in charge of a sergeant, who saw them every night housed; but one evening, while he was making some report to me, one of

the bullocks disappeared, and early next morning I found a piece of beef of about six pounds weight at my door.

"I said nothing but went to the barracks. No appearance of blood nor smell of beef; but there was some salt on the floor. Bacalhao was at this time the rations, so I expressed astonishment at seeing a necessity for using salt; but I soon discovered from the smell that there had been fresh soup made. I expressed no opinion, and calling to a little Scotch terrier not worth eating, Hisht Tuskey, there!' she went into a corner and brought out a beef bone, which I remarked was rather large for a fish. All were silent and innocent-looking; but I discovered they had placed the bullock in the running rivulet, and there killed and skinned it, and divided it into rations: thus all the marks of blood were carried away. They did not deny it.

"The owner made his complaint, and the government charged the regiment 371.; the real value at a stone's-throw distance in the enemy's lines being scarcely 71. The Adjutant had a list of the men who had received the beef, and who were to pay for it. He had headed the list, 'We the undersigned, who stole the bullock, agree, &c.' I heard a terrible row, nearly a downright mutiny. I asked what was the matter; in a moment a number of voices, Only think, Cornal, the Adjutant wishes us to sign ourselves thieves !' I asked them if it was not the fact that they had stolen the bullock. We dinna deny that; but its ae thing stealing to a man being sic a fule as to sign himself a thief. Na, na.' I said Very well, give me the paper." I took it, drew my pen through the word stole, and inserted Rob Royed,' and all signed in good humour."

The author tells us that he had sometimes great difficulty in getting his men to remain on sentry, especially near a foot-path on which a great many dead were lying unburied, and from which place horrid groans and unnatural sounds were heard. It turned out that the source of these frightful intimations proceeded from certain of the canine tribe, which had marched from the enemy's lines to devour the dead, and when this was generally known, Shaw says, "Some of my men had enticed three of these dogs, and had sold them for one pound each to Frederick, an old French servant of mine, who kept a restaurateur's shop in Oporto." By these and such like means "the Scotch contrived to supply the would-be bons vivans with provisions." But before leaving the subject of sentries, it will be as well to exhibit the Colonel in the character of a prompt executioner.

"My quarter was about 150 yards distant from the enemy's advanced night sentry, and if I showed a light I was sure to have a ball through the window. A sentry was below this window, and almost every hour I asked him if all was right.'

"One night, getting no answer, I thought he had deserted, and going down, I found poor Duncan leaning against the wall, sound asleep, with his musket at a little distance. I removed the musket, and instantly gave poor Duncan a' regular facer,' which floored him. On his attempting to rise, I really did not give fair play; recollecting the answer of a Scotchman who

after having knocked down an Englishman, was called on by the bystanders to give fair play, aud let him up. Let him up, be sure! Lord, if ye kenned the wark I had to get him down, you would na ask me to let him up! Na, na.'

"Sol did with Duncan; who having now both his eyes shut, I bolted into my room, and in a few minutes went to the window with the usual question, Sentry, anything new? There was Duncan walking about with his musket. No, nothing, Sir.' Anything extraordinary? Not much, Sir.'

"Duncan's appearance when the 'relief' came round astonished the men. Neither he nor his comrades had the most distant idea that I had any thing to do with the matter; all having a suspicion, from Duncan's description of its being a figure all in white,' that it must have been the ghost of some Miguelite. This system was not quite according to 'regulation;' but I will only remark that, after this, the sentries on this post were ever most alert.

"I told Duncan the real fact on board the steamer going to Spain; he only said Lord Cornal, wus't you? Weel, it was bad enough in ye, but am obliged to ye, cobbing wud hae been far waur."

It is lamentable to think that men, who have risked their lives in the most dreadful tumults of war, who have been often without food, drink, shelter, or sufficient raiment, may be at last conveyed to such hospitals as Colonel Shaw speaks of. At present, we only quote something that relates to a regulation which existed in Portugal, but which seems to have had no reason for that existence but a principle of wanton injustice and cruelty.

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During an engagement we had on the 5th of July, the enemy made a very sharp attempt on one part of my position at Lordello, where I thought there was rather a slackness of defence. I ran immediately to the spot. and there found one of the bravest men hid behind a wall, and others of course following his example. I called to him, Shame, you coward!'— His answer to this was cool and determined. Colonel Shaw, you saw me get my former wound, and you know better than any one that I am not a coward; but while I lay in the hospital I neither got comfort nor money, which many skulkers got: and as I see they are best rewarded, I am following their example.' The truth of this fell with much force on my mind, so I cried out, Well move forward, if you are hit this day I shall see you paid out of my own pocket.' He obeyed; the others followed, and all was right.

"After the engagement, I went to Saldanha, and asked him to give an order for men in hospital to receive pay. I never saw a man more astonished. Shaw ! Give pay to men in hospital, who ever heard of such a thing?' I related the anecdote; he saw at once its force and truth, and an order for pay to men suffering in hospital from gun-shot wounds was given."

Before leaving Portugal, let one instance suffice to exhibit not merely the ferocious revenge of the people of that country, but the terrible height to which the human passions may be carried in cases of civil and unnatural wars.

"When we marched in here, about 100 prisoners were marched past us,

all in uniform, except one immense big scoundrel-looking fellow, who was discovered to be a Guerilla. A crowed gathered round him, and a Lancer drew his sword, and, to my horror, cut him down. Thinking there was going to be a general massacre, I rushed into the centre, trying to defend the wretch; when bayonets innumerable were shoved into him. I stood over him while struggling in agony; and the Lancer who struck him first, called out, I saw him murder my father and brother.' I walked off instantly and took my officers with me (who were all round with swords drawn,) saying loud enough for the Portuguese to hear That he deserved his fate.' It appeared that this wretch, a few days before, had cut the throats of six Constitutional officers, and that he was the leader in the murder of the 130 prisoners. A mob when excited is dreadful. Before he was dead, the women were stamping on his hands, and they put a lighted cigar into his mouth."

Colonel Shaw's work excites much less interest in relation to the Spanish war, and the British legion, than he throws around the contest in Portugal and the Scotch Fusileers. One evident reason for this is, that the conflict has not in the former country been yet brought to a close; nor is it certain how it is to end. We therefore are in

suspense as to the extent to which the legion may contribute to the national honour, and, indeed, like fretful and unreasonable beings, are already apt to feel sore upon the subject; not considering the difficulties which had to be encountered, and the rashness of the undertaking, or the inadequacy of the means to carry it out, which become too palpable in the pages before us. It is true, some misunderstanding arose between the author and General Evans, which may be supposed to colour the criticisms which he offers respecting certain measures, both of preparation and execution in the history of the Legion. But, on the other hand, he entertains a high opinion of the General as a man of honourable character and undoubted bravery. As to his capacity for the post he undertook to fill, doubts seem to be entertained and advanced by Shaw, while, as regards the jealousy and the treachery that surrounded the leader of the Legion, there is no mincing. Upon these points, however, it is not our province or desire to enter; but two passages may be quoted that pretty plainly show that there was mismanagement and miscalculation somewhere before the British ever set foot on Spanish ground. The Colonel thus writes to an old companion in arms.

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"I arrived here last night, and take advantage of the Lisbon packet to write to you to hurry home or for Spain; as I can promise you a majority of one of the Scotch regiments. I regret I cannot say Lieutenant-Colonel; but it has been fixed by the ruling powers here, that Portuguese officers are only to have the rank they had in Portugal; it being quite impossible that, after your four years of active service in that country, you or any of them can be supposed to know so much of war as the young gentlemen of the British service, who have had such glorious opportunities of studying their profession in the garrisons of England.