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all which measures will enable us to carry out our plans, until the new buildings we are now about to erect shall be ready for our reception. The first step towards the construction of that edifice now devolves upon your ladyship, and I accordingly beg leave to place in your hands the trowel assigned to that task, with the renewed expression of our thankfulness for your kindness and condescension."

Lady Combermere, who had listened with the greatest interest to this address, made the following reply:

"Mr. Stocqueler, Allow me to thank you for the flattering manner in which you notice Lord Combermere's services; they have qualified him for appreciating the importance of a College such as you have established, and I sincerely hope that the means you are employing to secure it, may command immediate and permanent success.

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Lady Combermere having spread the mortar with a silver trowel, the foundation stone was lowered into its place, with the usual deposit of coins, covered by an iron plate, fastened with molten lead. Mr. Stocqueler then proposed three cheers for the College, which were heartily accorded; and were followed by a banquet in the lecturehall, at which the company were sumptuously entertained. In acknowledging the toast of Lord and Lady Combermere, the illustrious FieldMarshal expressed his warm approbation of the new institution, intimating that it was highly approved of at the Horse Guards. The banquet was followed by dancing on the lawn; and the festivities were maintained till the close of the day.

LEGENDS OF THE BLACK WATCH.

No. III.-ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN GRANT.

COLQUHOUN GRANT, a captain of one of our battalion companies during the Peninsular war, was a hardy, active, strong, and handsome Highlander, from the wooded mountains that overlook Strathspey. Inured from childhood to the hardships and activity incidental to a life in the country of the clans, where the care of vast herds of sheep and cattle, or the pursuit of the wild deer from rock to rock, and from hill to hill, are the chief occupations of the people;-a deadly shot with either musket or pistol, and a complete swordsman, he was every way calculated to become an ornament to our regiment and to the service. General Sir William Napier, in the fourth volume of his "History of the Peninsular War," writes of him as "Colquhoun Grant, that celebrated scouting officer, in whom the utmost daring was so mixed with subtlety of genius, and both so tempered by discretion, that it is difficult to say which quality predominated."

In the spring of 1812, when Lord Wellington crossed the Tagus, and entered Castello Branco, rendering the position of Marshal Marmont so perilous that he retired across the Agueda, by which the general of the allies, though his forces were spread over a vast extent of cantonments, was enabled to victual the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Almieda, the 42nd, or old Black Watch, were with the division of LieutenantU. S. MAG., No. 343, JUNE, 1857.

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General Grahame, of Lynedoch. The service battalion consisted of 1160 rank and file, and notwithstanding the fatigues of marching by day and night, of fording rivers above the waist-belt, and all those arduous operations by which Wellington so completely baffled and outgeneralled Marmont in all his attempts to attack Rodrigo-movements in which the sagacity of the "Iron Duke" appeared so remarkable, that a brave old Highland officer (General Stewart of Garth) declared his belief that their leader had the second sight,-not a man of our :egiment straggled or fell to the rear, from hunger, weariness, or exhaustion; all were with the colours when the roll was called in the morning. The information that enabled Wellington to execute those skilful manœuvres which dazzled all Europe, and confounded, while they baffled, the French marshal, was supplied from time to time by Colquhoun Grant, who, accompanied by Domingo de Leon, a Spanish peasant, had the boldness to remain in rear of the enemy's lines, watching all their operations, and noting their numbers; and it is a remarkable fact that while on this most dangerous service he constantly wore the Highland uniform, with his bonnet and epaulettes; thus, while acting as a scout, freeing himself from the accusation of being in any way a spy, "for," adds Napier, "he never would assume any disguise, and yet frequently remained for three days concealed in the midst of Marmont's camp.

Hence the secret of Wellington's facility for circumventing Marmont, was the information derived from Colquhoun Grant; and the secret of Grant's ability for baffling the thousand snares laid for him by the French, was simply that he had a Spanish love, who watched over his safety with all a woman's wit, and the idolatry of a Spanish woman, who, when she loves, sees but one man in the world—the object of her passion.

When Marmont was advancing, Wellington dispatched Captain Grant to watch his operations "in the heart of the French army," and from among its soldiers to glean whether they really had an intention of succouring the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo-a desperate duty, which, like many others, our hero undertook without delay or doubt.

Thus, on an evening in February, Grant found himself on a solitary mountain of Leon, overlooking the vast plain of Salamanca, on the numerous spires and towers of which the light of eve was fading, while the gilded vanes of the cathedral shone like stars in the deep blue sky that was darkening as the sun set behind the hills; and one of those hot dry days peculiar to the province gave place to a dewy twilight, when the Tormes, which rises among the mountains of Salamanca, and washes the base of the triple hill on which the city stands, grew white and pale, as it wandered through plains dotted by herds of Merino sheep, but destitute of trees, until it vanished on its course towards the Douro, on the frontiers of Portugal.

Exhausted by a long ride from Lord Wellington's head-quarters, and by numerous efforts he had made to repass the cordon of picquets and patrols by which the French-now on his track-had environed him, Grant lay buried in deep sleep, under the shade of some olive trees, with a brace of pistols in his belt, his claymore by his side, and his head resting in the lap of a beautiful Spanish peasant girl, Juanna, the

sister of his faithful Leon, a warm-hearted, brave, and affectionate being, who, like her brother, had attached herself to the favourite scouting officer of Wellington, and, full of admiration for his adventurous spirit, handsome figure, and winnning manner, loved him with all the ardour, romance, and depth of which a Spanish girl of eighteen is capable.

Juanna de Leon and her brother Domingo were the children of a wealthy farmer and vine-dresser, who dwelt on the mountainous range known as the Puerto del Pico, which lies southward of Salamanca; but the vines had been destroyed, the granja burned, and the poor old agriculturist was bayonetted on his hearthstone, by some Voltigeurs of Marmont, under a Lieutenant Armand, when on a foraging expedition. Thus Juanna and her brother were alike homeless and kinless.

The girl was beautiful. Youth lent to her somewhat olive-tinted cheek a ruddy glow that enhanced the dusky splendour of her Spanish eyes; her lashes were long; her mouth small, and like a cherry; her chin dimpled; her hands were faultless, as were her ankles, which were cased in prettily embroidered red stockings, and gilt zapatas. With all these attractions she had a thousand winning ways, such as only a girl of Leon can possess. Close by lay the guitar and castanets with which she played and sung her weary lover to sleep.

Her brother was handsome, athletic, and resolute, in eye and bearing; but since the destruction of their house, he had become rather fierce and morose, as hatred of the invading French and a thirst for vengeance were ever uppermost in his mind. He had relinquished the vinebill for the musket; his yellow sash bristled with pistols and daggers; and with heaven for his roof, and his brown Spanish mantle for a couch, he had betaken himself to the mountains, where he shot without mercy every straggling Frenchman who came within reach of his terrible aim.

While Grant slept, the tinkling of the vesper bells was borne across the valley, the sunlight died away over the mountains, and the winding Tormes, that shone like the coils of a vast snake, faded from the plain. The Spanish girl stooped and kissed her toilworn lover's cheek, and bent her keen dark eyes upon the mountain path by which she seemed to expect a visitor.

One arm was thrown around the curly head of the sleeper, and her fingers told her beads as she prayed over him; but her prayers were not for herself.

Innocent and single-hearted Juanna!

Suddenly there was a sound of footsteps, and a handsome young Spaniard, wearing a brown capa gathered over his arm, shouldering a long musket to which a leather sling was attached, and having his coal black hair gathered behind in a red silk net, sprang up the rocks towards the olive grove, and approached Juanna and the sleeper. new comer was her brother.

"Domingo, your tidings?" she asked breathlessly.

"They are evil, so wake your Senor Capitano withoutdelay."

The

"I am awake," said Grant, rising at the sound of his voice. "Thanks, dearest Juanna; have I been so cruel as to keep you here in the cold dew-and watching me, too?"

"Caro mio!"

"It was cruel of me, but I have been so weary that nature was quite overcome; and now Domingo, my bueno camarado, for your tidings?" "I would speak first of the Marshal Marmont."

"And then?"

"Of yourself, senor.'

"Bravo! let us have the Marshal first by all means.'

"I have been down the valley, and across the plain, almost to the gates of Salamanca," said the young paisano, leaning on his musket, and surveying first, his sister with tender interest, and then, Grant with a dubious and and anxious expression, for he loved him too, but trembled for the sequel to the stranger's passion for the beautiful Juanna. "I have been round the vicinity of the city from Monte Rubio and Villares to the bridge of Santa Marta on the Tormes"

"And you have learned?" said Grant impetuously.

"That scaling ladders have been prepared in great numbers, for I saw them. Vast quantities of provision and ammunition on mules have been brought from the Pyrenees, and Marmont is sending everythingladders, powder, and bread-towards-"

"Not Ciudad Rodrigo and Almieda ?"

"Si, Senor."

"The devil! You are sure of this ?"

"I counted twenty scaling ladders, each five feet wide, and reckoned forty mules, each bearing fourteen casks of ball cartridges."

"Good-I thank you Domingo," said Grant taking paper from a pocketbook, and making a hasty note or memorandum for Lord Wellington.

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Ay-Dios mi terra!" said Juanna, with a soft sigh as she dropped her head upon Grant's shoulder, and Domingo kissed her brow.

"Now, where is Manrico el Barbado?" asked the captain, as he securely gummed the secret note.

"Within call," said Domingo, giving a shrill whistle.

A sound like the whirr of a partridge replied, and then a strong and ferocious looking peasant, bare legged, and bare necked, with an enormous black beard (whence came his soubriquet of el Barbado), sprang up the rocks and made a profound salute to Grant, who was beloved and adored by all the guerillas, banditti, and wild spirits, whom the French had unhoused and driven to the mountains; and among these his name was a proverb for all that was gallant, reckless and chivalresque.

"Is your mule in good condition, Manrico?"

"He was never better, Senor."

"Then ride with this to Lord Wellington; spare neither whip nor spur and he will repay you handsomely."

"And how about yourself, Senor ?"

"Say to his Lordship, that I will rejoin him as early and as I best may."

The Spanish scout concealed the note in his beard with great ingenuity, and knowing well that he could thus pass the French lines with confidence, and defy all search, he departed on his journey to the British headquarters; and the information thus received from Grant, enabled the leader of the allies to take such measures as completely to out

flank Marmont and baffle his attempts upon Almieda and the city of Rodrigo.

"So much for my friend Marmont," said Grant; " and now, Domingo, for myself?"

"Read this," said Domingo, handing to him a document; "I stabbed the French sentinel at the bridge of Santa Marta, and tore this paper from the guard-house door."

It proved to be a copy of a General Order, addressed by Marmont to the colonels of the French regiments, "saying" (to quote General Napier) "that the notorious Grant, being within the circle of their cantonments, the soldiers were to use their utmost exertions to secure him; for which purpose guards were also to be placed, as it were, in a circle round the army.'

"Caro Mio, read this to me?" whispered Juanna.

He translated it, and terror filled the dilating eyes of the Spanish girl; her breath came thick and fast, and she crept closer to the breast of her lover, who smiled and kissed her cheek to reassure her.

"Have you closely examined all the country?" he asked Domingo. "I have, Senor."

"Well ?"

"There is but one way back to Lord Wellington's headquarters." "And that is-"

"At the ford of Huerta on the Tormes."'

"Six miles below Salamanca ?"

"Yes."

"I will cross the ford then."

"But a French battalion occupies the town."

"I care not if ten battalions occupied it-I must even ride the ford as I find it; 'tis a saying in my country, Domingo, where I hope our dear Juanna will one day smile with me, when we talk of sunny Spain and these wild adventures."

“No-no-you will never leave Spain," said Juanna, with a merry smile. Your poor Spanish girl could never go to the land of the Inglesos, where the sun shines but once in a year-not once every day, as it does here in beautiful Leon; but say no more of this, or I shall sing Ya no quiero amores," &c., and, taking up her guitar, she sang with a winning drollery of expression which made her piquant loveliness a thousand times more striking :

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My love no more to England-to England now shall roam,
For I have a better fonder love-a truer love at home!

If I should visit England,

I hope to find them true;

For a love like mine deserves a wreath,

Green and immortal too!

But, O! they are proud those English dames to all who thither roam,
And I have a better, dearer love-a truer love at home!"

"You have me, Juanna-dearest Juanna!" exclaimed Grant tenderly, as he kissed her.

"And now for Huerta," said Domingo, slapping the butt of his musket impatiently; "the moon will be above the Pico del Puerto in half an hour-vaya-let us begone."

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