for mankind, and that the spot where they more especially fall, is the said La France. Well, they are very much required there, so our charity will lead us to hope they may fall more and more. We could have wished an explanation of how the joint Convents of Elias Shevya are conducted; for Greeks and Maronites living together in unity and love would indeed be a pleasant sight, the sects generally hating each other far more than they hate Turk or Druse; in fact, the few Greeks in the Kesronan, an entirely Maronite district, are more illtreated than Christians among the Turks. Our author also seems to expect for Beyrout a higher avenir than it is likely, or has a right to enjoy; its want of a harbour, or even a safe anchorage, must ever prevent its becoming an emporium for trade; and it owes its present prosperity more to fortuitous circumstances than any just claims for convenience or position. The mountains in its rear form an insurmountable barrier to trade with the far interior, as here the Lebanon is lofty, steep, and precipitous, whereas, either at Sidon on the south, or Tripoli on the north, they can be passed with scarce an intervening difficulty; and at Tortosa, further north, the island of Ruad forms a natural breakwater, while a plain road conducts to the plains of Calo-Syria, and the vast countries beyond the Euphrates. The pine-planting also to the south of Beyrout, to protect the environs from the rapidly approaching and all overwhelming sand, we suspect is entirely confined to what nature does; for, during our last visit, after a lapse of ten years, we found the Desert had far encroached on the gardens, and the tops of palms scarce emerging from sand, marked where once a homestead smiled. The author's account of the Arab invasion under the immediate successors of the Prophet Mahomed is full of interest and information, and sets that wondrous fact before us in all its details and causes. We welcome also the first true account of the Beit Shehaab, those myths so often and variously accounted for by tourists, who have derived their histories from the pure fount of a Dragoman's intellect. Their history is a precious addition to the peerage of the world, and worthy of place in the most romantic of tales. Arab nobles, from the earliest ages, noble and ancient when Mahomed preached, we find them figuring in every page of Eastern history, now rulers, now fugitives, now noblest, now basest, they seem ever to have borne themselves prominent, in evil or in good; and now their feudal sovereignty is over, they wrap around them the tattered robe; fate may conquer, but they will not succumb, and if Fortune has deprived them of rule and power, she has failed to teach them experience or conformity, and we see now the poor emir or prince of that ancient house as proud and haughty as when they ruled provinces or ravaged principalities. The single combat at Merjyoom recalls all the poetry of romance; the pages of the "Talisman" might have been copied for the account; the whole scene is strikingly Oriental; the skill and bravery, yet the cunning and treachery, the greatness of soul to do a glorious action, yet not resistencia enough, as the Spaniards would say, to avoid a mean one, it cannot

be better described than in the author's words. We must suppose that the Shehaabs, who dwelt in the plains of Shobbah, began to tire of the perpetual calls made on them for service in the warlike expeditions of the Sultan Nouradeen, from which, though they reaped booty and plunder enough, small time was granted to enjoy their gains, they therefore resolved to migrate to the Lebanon, where, though they intended to remain faithful to the Sultan, they resolved their services should be more optional than it was on the open unprotected plains, and that the mountains should be a protection against friend and foe.

They accordingly crossed the Jordan, and ascended the eastern side of the Lebanon, as they approached Hasbeya, Count Eva, the Frank governor, sallied forth to meet them; the fight was long, and evening set in without much result: on the following day the Franks sent forth a herald, proposing that the fortunes of the day should be decided by single combat, and a warrior fully accoutred, accompanied by his retinue, was seen descending to the Jordan, which then separated the adverse armies. The Emir accepted the challenge; the spot, the only one affording space for the combat, was on the Arab's side of the river; the Christian knight had therefore to cross and fight, surrounded by his foes, who took possession of the ground around :

"On the signal being given the two combatants rushed to the conflict. At one blow with his battle-axe the Frank broke his adversary's spear in two. The Arab Emir's chief weapon was gone. To attempt to prolong the fight by a sword attack against one who stood encased in iron, he felt would be both useless and dangerous; wheeling his steed therefore suddenly round, he sprang out of his saddle, and throwing himself boldly on his enemy rolled with him to the ground. The struggle now assumed the appearance of a wrestling match. It was long and desperate; and the Frank, though clad in armour, might from his size and strength have gained the day, had not the Emir perceived and by a sudden and dextrous movement snatched the dagger from his adversary's girdle and stabbed him with it in the groin."

The account of the Protestant American missionaries is most promising; and there is an appearance of truth about the results they proclaim which makes the promise more. At present there is no great outward show, but the seed has been broadly sown, and doubtless with His mighty help the crop will be abundant. The contrast between the simple purity of the reformed religion must strike even the most superficial, while the appeal to scriptures for all and in all, and the oneness of spirit, exhibit a striking contrast to the disgraceful feuds among other sects. The American missionaries themselves appreciate these advantages, and as the author well observes,

"Conscious of the goodness of their cause, the purity of their doctrines, and the apostolic simplicity of their ecclesiastical regulations, they avoid all theological disputes or open denunciations of error, and, in the literal sense of our Lord's injunctions, preach the Gospel,' leaving the consequences and effects to the operation of the Holy Spirit, whereby they have been called to the labours of the ministry."

We have a biography of the late Emir Beckir, evidently a favourite character with the author; his deeds merit a page in

history, for when we remember his rule we must remember his means, and the state of the country he was ruler over. The description of his character is very Oriental, and we should imagine a transcript of what was told by Orientals themselves.

The effect produced by his personal appearance was of itself sufficient to reduce, and often did reduce, the most rebellious to abject submission. On entering the divan of audience, the first sight of the Emir acted on the beholder with the power of fascination. Apart in one of the remotest corners of the room, might be seen the figure of a venerable looking man, in a kneeling position-sitting, in fact, on his heels, and reclining his back against a cushion, his temples encircled by the voluminous folds of a Cashmere shawl; thick shaggy eyebrows overhanging and partially concealing eyes replete with fire and vivacity; from one side of his girdle arose a dagger's head covered with the choicest diamonds, glittering amidst the silvery hairs of a broad massive beard which reached down to his waist, while thick fumes of tobacco, incessantly ascending from a bowl of extraordinary dimensions, and enveloping his whole person in a cloud, gave a mysteriousness to his presence which excited sensations of awe and terror. The tone of his voice was deep, hollow, and sonorous. When angry, the hairs of his beard stood on end like a lion's mane. Few if any, even of the principal magnates of the mountain, could stand before him without trembling, which, however, as soon as he perceived, he used considerately to address them with some words of encouragement. Nevertheless, instances have been known of persons of rank, when seated with him at dinner, losing the power of swallowing; while all his guests used invariably to take merely a few hasty morsels and withdraw, anxious to escape from a state of embarrassment, which almost paralyzed the organs of nature. We must refer the reader to the volumes themselves for a further account of this wonderful man, by profession a Mahomedan, in heart a Christian; on the death of his wife he sent to Stamboul for three Circassian slaves; on their arrival he selected one and ordered her to be instructed in Christianity; the fair odalisk rejected the proffered creed with horror. "Take her to the kitchen," was the quiet answer of the Emir to the informer of her refusal. This acted more powerfully than the confessor-she became a Christian and was married to the Emir. We must leave a further account of these interesting volumes to a future occasion, meanwhile assuring the reader they will well repay the perusal.

525

RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF CAMPAIGNS
UNDER THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

IN September of 1811, after Marmont had relieved Ciudad Rodrigo, and subsequently replaced the cattle and Governor stolen from it by Julian Sanchez, the French Commander fell back to Salamanca, and eventually to Valladolid, with the greater part of his forces. "At this time also, 17,000 of the Imperial Guards were withdrawn by Napoleon for his Russian Campaign, and above 40,000 troops of the enemy, of different arms, had quitted Spain on the same errand. The rest of their armies were spread over an immense extent of country. Marmont, deceived by the seemingly careless winter attitude of the allies, and for the accommodation of provisioning his troops," and watching the Guerilla Corps, was at a greater distance from Ciudad than would enable him to assemble his army with facility to succour and support it on a sudden emergency-besides, his attention at this time was turned towards the operations going on in the East of Spain. Lord Wellington, well prepared, seized the opportunity he had long looked for, and, in spite of the inclemency of the season, suddenly and at once invested the Fortress and commenced the siege.

It was at daybreak on a bitter cold morning, on the 4th of January, that our Division started from their cantonments to take part in this siege, and commence the campaign of 1812. The Light, First, Third, and Fourth Divisions, with Pack's Portuguese Brigade, were destined for this service, and were concentrated, in the first days of January, in the neighbourhood of our old battlefield, the banks of the Azava and Agueda. Across this latter river a bridge had been thrown at Marialva by Lord Wellington.

Our first day's march of sixteen miles towards the scene of our new operations was bad enough in respect to weather and roads; but, on reaching the half-roofless houses of As Navas, matters were still worse. He who had a soul for music might possibly view the creeks and crannies of our shelterless habitations with harmonious intentions, for many were the sites admirably adapted for the introduction of the Eolian harp; the less tasteful, however, and the unmusical, who felt not the attributes of that which "soothes the savage breast," did not appear to have an adequate sense of the pleasures of their situation. In addition to other difficulties, we had to depend, for the transport of food, and all the requisite material for our operation, on our friends and allies, the Spaniards and Portuguese. The way in which this was accomplished is best shown by Lord Wellington's own words. In writing to Lord Liverpool, he says:

"What do you think of empty carts taking two days to go ten miles on a good road? After all, I am obliged to appear satisfied,

* See Napier.

or they would desert! At this season of the year, depending upon Portuguese and Spaniards for means of having what is required, I can scarce venture to calculate the time which this operation” (the siege)" will take; but I should think no less than twenty-four or twenty-five days. If we do not succeed, we shall, at least, bring back upon ourselves all the force that has marched away-and I hope we may save Valencia, or, at all events, afford more time to the Asturians and Galicians, &c. If we do succeed, we shall make a fine campaign in the spring."

On the 6th, Head Quarters were moved to Gallegos. Lord Wellington, attended by Colonel Fletcher, Chief Engineer, and some officers of the staff, made a reconnoissance of the place; they crossed the Agueda by the fords about two miles below the town, and, unattended by any escort, reached several points from which they obtained a sufficient view of the defences (of the Fortress) to decide on the attack. Encased, but scarcely covered, we remained in a state of ventilation within the half-wrecked houses of As Navas till the 8th, when we joyfully moved to Espeja, as a village nearer the scene of our future operations, and affording better shelter from the frost and snow. Towards sunset we reached the quarters, intended for us during the siege-once ensconced in our different cottages we refreshed ourselves with whatever provisions the Commissary, our own industry, and a few dollars, permitted us to obtain. About eight o'clock P.M. we were contentedly sitting round a fire, in the full enjoyment of cigars and mulled wine, when a sound greeted our ears-not of Eolian chords—but the soldier's music-the cannon-booming forth, through the calm frosty air of the night, its sonorous eloquence. We went forth into the village street-the cannonade continued and became heavy; distance and the wind in an adverse quarter prevented our hearing any sound of musketry, but we saw, by the flashes from the guns, the horizon lighted far above the woods and undulating ground, which intervened between our village of Espeja and the town of Ciudad Rodrigo. A large assembly of officers and men were collected in order to try to make out results from sound, but to little purpose, beyond ascertaining that, as the cannonade continued throughout the night, the siege had begun. We thought that we should have had the honour of taking the initiative in this affair, but it was commenced by the Light Division in a clever, dashing style, and in the following manner. Here, before inserting a further quotation, let me plead my excuse for so doing. As often as I was not on the spot, when some occurrence took place, on which the subsequent narrative turns, I have left the relation of it to the authority either of an eye-witness, or of the able historian of these campaigns. For, were I to describe what I did not see with my own eyes, I might be accused of presumption, and render myself liable to the rebuke which Hannibal conveyed when he happened to hear a distinguished orator discoursing on the subject of war. He was asked what he thought of it; Hannibal replied, "that he had heard many absurd things in his life, but never * See Jones's Sieges.