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once clear, classical, and altogether unrivalled, unless by the precious fragment of history consecrated to the posthumous fame of his great friend Mr Fox, by a most judicious kinsman.

Although the nation was plunged into the Slough of Despond in consequence of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis's army at York Town, yet many people were not a little proud of the commander, who, under a circumstance so depressing, could pen such elegant and interesting despatches. But as the misfortunes of the hero were likely to be lost in the contemplation of his other fine qualities, I contrived to insinuate that Captain Ross had written the letter so justly admired, although an officer who was aide-du-camp to the second in command (General O'Hara) informed me, that he was in Lord Cornwallis's tent, and not only saw his lordship write the letter currente calamo, but heard him read the greatest part of it in presence of the staff. "Evil may be done that good may come of it," is an established rule and doctrine of our order, and will doubtless place my conduct in this affair in its proper point of view.

When Rodney defeated De Grasse, I made it clear, that he had no merit in the business of the day, the principal share of glory being due to a worthy citizen of Edinburgh, and a small dividend to Sir Charles Douglas and Captain Young, who favoured his lordship with their advice on that memorable occasion. After the battle of Camperdown, I was equally alert in opining, that Lord Duncan knew no more of what was doing in the action, than if he had been walking in the area of George's Square, and that his merit extended no farther than fighting his own ship like the devil—a sort of infernal desert, of which I did not choose altogether to deprive him.

I shall pass over my manœuvres during the piping times of peace, and the first scenes of the war, though I cannot help claiming, by the way, some merit, as having done mon possible towards damping the ardour of our volunteers, and checking the inordinate pride of the nation, in their apparent zeal and loyalty, and shall dash at once into the Peninsular war, during which I was obliged to be a very busy man, as Wellington had got into a way of committing so many lucky blunders, that he would have absolutely required a brace of seasoned Dampers for his own particular. First and last, he has cost me inconceivable trouble; and though "I say it who should not say it," THE TALENTS are more deeply indebted to me for some of their most sapient, though not wholly verified, observations on the progress and events of the Spanish war than they are willing to allow, for alas! the greatest men have their failings. The ingenuity was all my own, with which the Patriot made it appear, that the battle of Salamanca, instead of being a victory on the side of Lord Wellington, was in fact a defeat; and I have the pleasure of meeting with several most liberal and intelligent gentlemen in this gude town, who did most valiantly maintain that position, and I have no doubt they would do so still, were it not obviously unnecessary. But I know not how it happened, whenever I threw a wet blanket on one part, the flames burst out with double fury in another, till at length the conflagration terminated on the field of Waterloo. It is undeniable, however, that Wellington, poor devil, was surprised on that occasion—and if it had not been for Blucher!!—Besides, his lordship made a very poor figure in the affair of Marshal Ney, and has lately been—cast in a civil suit at Brussels. All these things, however, won't do,—the rogue seems to set damping at defiance; and even the episode of Lady W. W. has not availed to keep him in check.

It may be readily conjectured, that I was not an idle Damper during the bullion business. To sap the credit, and pull down the pride of the Bank of England, by depreciating the value of bank-notes, when there was almost no other circulating medium, thereby presenting to the nation the full cup of calamity, was an object too important to be neglected. I begin to think, however, that our reasoning was rather too theoretical, don't read theatrical, and perhaps was not perfectly understood even by the Lords Lauderdale and King, those mirrors of political economy. It would doubtless be superfluous, to expect that Noble Lords should themselves understand all that