While the French might be said to have the undisputed possession of the entire field of battle, over which they were pouring an immense mass of dragoons, followed by infantry and artillery, the regiments of our division which were in column, continued their retrograde movement upon Fuente Guinaldo; the 45th and 74th had by this time cleared the rugged ground and enclosures, and were in march to join the remainder of the column, but the 88th were most unaccountably left in a vineyard, which was enclosed by a loose stone wall. In the hurry of the moment they might, and I believe would, have been forgotten, had not the soldiers, who became impatient upon hearing the clashing of weapons outside the enclosure, burst down several openings in the wall, by which means they not only saw the danger of the position in which their comrades were placed, but also the hopelessness of their own, if they did not speedily break down the walls that incarcerated them; for our first hussars and eleventh light dragoons were giving way before the overpowering weight of the enemy's horse, while the bulk of the third division were marching in a line, parallel to the enclosure occupied by the 88th; so it was manifest, that if this regiment did not at the instant break from its prison, a few moments would have decided its fate, and left the third division minus the Connaught Rangers.

Each moment that we remained was of consequence, and the delay of five minutes would have been fatal; we were without orders, and were at a loss how to act; but nothing tends more to bring the energies of men into action than their seeing clearly the danger that they are placed in, and the consciousness that their only means of escaping it depends upon their firm reliance on themselves. Some officers called out to have the wall broken down, and in a second, several openings were made in it; every officer made the greatest efforts to supply, by his own particular dispositions, such as were on the whole necessary; but an operation of so delicate a nature, made in the face of a powerful antagonist, could not be performed with as much order or regularity as was desirable. From the great coolness of the men, and the intelligence and gallantry of the officers, the regiment was at last extricated from its dangerous position, but it was far, very far, from being safe yet; and had the French dragoons, at the close of the day, shown the same determination they did at its commencement, not one man of the 88th would have escaped, because from the isolated situation of that regiment, and the nature of its movement, it might have been cut off by companies, in the attempt to complete its formation outside the enclosure, as every company was obliged to act as an independent body, and as may be supposed, some confusion was unavoidable.

We had scarcely cleared the inclosure, when we witnessed a series of petty combats between our horse and those of the enemy, some of whom had posted themselves directly between us and our entrenched camp at Fuente Guinaldo: immediately in our front, some of Lord Wellington's staff were personally engaged with the French troopers ; and one of them, either Capt. Burgh, or the young Prince of Orange, owed his life to the excellence of his horse. The 88th at length took its place in the column at quarter distance, and the third division continued its retrograde movement.

Montbrun, at the head of fifteen squadrons of light horse, pressed closely on our right flank, and made every demonstration of attacking us, with the view of engaging our attention until the arrival of his infantry and artillery, of which latter only one battery was in the field; but Gen. Picton saw the critical situation in which he was placed, and that nothing but the most rapid, and at the same time most regular movement upon Guinaldo could save his division from being cut off to a man. For six miles across a perfect flat, without the slightest protection from any incident of ground, without artillery, and I might say without cavalry, (for what were four or five squadrons to twenty or thirty?) did the third division continue its march, during the whole of which the enemy's cavalry never quitted them: a park of six guns advanced with the cavalry, and taking the third division in flank and rear, poured in a frightful fire of round-shot, grape, and cannister; many men fell in this way, and those whose wounds rendered them unable to march, were obliged to be abandoned to the enemy.

This was a trying and pitiable situation for troops to be placed in, but it in no way shook the courage or confidence of the soldiers: so far from being dispirited or cast down, the men were cheerful and gay; the soldiers of my corps (the 88th) telling their officers, that if the French dared to charge, every officer should have a nate horse to ride upon.

Gen. Picton conducted himself with his accustomed coolness; he remained on the left flank of the column, and repeatedly cautioned the different battalions to mind the quarter distance and the "tellings off." "Your safety," added he, " my credit, and the honour of the army, is at stake: all rests with you at this moment." We had reached to. within a mile of our entrenched camp, when Montbrun, impatient lest we should escape from his grasp, ordered his troopers to bring up their right shoulders, and incline towards our column; the movement was not exactly bringing his squadrons into line, but it was the next thing to it, and at this time they were within half pistol-shot of us. Picton took off his hat, and holding it over his eyes, as a shade from the sun, looked sternly, but anxiously at the French; the clatter of the horses, and the clanking of the scabbards was so great, when the right half squadron moved up, that many thought it the forerunner of a general charge; some mounted officer called out, "Had we not better form square?" "No," replied Picton; "it is but a ruse to frighten us,

but it won't do!"

At this moment a cloud of dust was discernible in the direction of Guinaldo; it was a cheering sight; it covered the 3rd Dragoon Guards, who came up at a slinging trot to our relief: when this fine regiment approached to within a short distance of us, they dismounted, tightened their girths, and prepared for battle; but the French horse slackened their pace, and in half an hour more, we were safe within our lines. The light division, which were also critically circumstanced on this memorable day, joined us in the morning, and thus the whole army was re-united.

(To be continued.)

SURVEY OF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA IN 1825-6.*

HAVING beat about the islands of Corisco for some time, we continued our survey to the northward: many canoes came off as we ran along the coast, bringing quantities of fish, fruit, vegetables, &c. and although we were going about six knots an hour, yet they contrived to keep up with us for a considerable distance. These canoes are not more than twelve feet in length by about two in width, and are built sufficiently light to allow the owner to take it on his back when no longer required upon the water: the natives are extremely dexterous in their management, and although using but one paddle, propel them with great velocity; when they wish to lessen their speed they throw a leg out on each side and stop almost immediately. The coast from Corisco bay during five days' sail, was one continued range of low banks, thickly covered with wood, and only a few small creeks to break off the connexion. It appeared well inhabited, but the villages are so buried amidst the trees, that it is with difficulty they can be discovered. On the fifth day we arrived off Suellaba, which forms the southern point of the Cameroons, when we immediately dispatched the pinnace up the river, to ascertain what ships were there, and if possible to obtain some fresh provisions. Upon sounding, we found the water very shallow near us, and on further examination, discovered an extensive reef running out some distance from the point, we were therefore compelled to beat westward in order to avoid it, when we anchored off Cape Cameroons, which forms the northern point of the entrance to the river. From this anchorage we dispatched boats to survey. The Bay of Cameroons extends about eight miles north and south, and as many east and west, the greater part of which is shoal water. On the southern entrance, is a very extensive reef called the "Dog's-head Shoal," bearing nearly due west of point Suellaba, about two miles and a half off shore, between which, and the shoal extending from the point, is a channel of six fathoms: there is also a dry sand bank bearing northeast of Cape Suellaba, which has a spit of about two miles in length running from it in a westerly direction. The merchant vessels that visit this place anchor about ten miles up the river, off Peter's Town, situated on the left bank. The ebb-tide runs round Point Suellaba with such velocity, that it is quite impossible for the best pulling boat to stem it; this I experienced in a most disagreeable manner upon one occasion. Having been absent the whole of a long morning in a boat without any provisions, I was about returning on board to dinner when we found the tide had turned; the men having the same interest with myself, laboured for about three hours to attain the desired object, but could not gain an inch ahead in spite of all their exertions. We were therefore compelled to anchor, and at a distance contemplate the curling smoke as it gracefully rose over the cauldron which was preparing our meal. Some fancied in their hungry imaginations that they could hear the boatswain's exhilarating pipe, while other quick ears could actually discover the lively clatter of the knives and forks! but I, alas! could distinguish nothing but the grumblings of an empty stomach"And long for food, but chiefly a beef-steak,"

* Continued from page 327, Part II. for 1831.

which led me gradually into a kind of visionary cogitation regarding the connexion between the mental and physical properties of Englishmen! Few are aware how much the digestive powers of the mind depend upon the ditto's of the body, but that such is the truth let no one doubt, for both ancient and modern writers were so well aware of the fact, that many instances could be mentioned of authors living on a certain diet whilst writing upon particular subjects. It is not, perhaps, an agreeable theory to suppose that the mind is in any respect dependent upon the stomach for its most lofty and animated productions, yet who can doubt but what a slight morbid action in the alimentary canal would totally disarrange the powers necessary for those productions; therefore easily digested food is most adapted to the literary œsophagus, and the writings of the man who lives by inhaling the liver wing of chickens and sipping dew, will be in a totally different style from the gross imbiber of beef, mutton, and heavy wet. Again, an Englishman is decidedly a coward when he has an empty stomach, and the set of spiritless looking wretches that sat before me, during these reflections, confirmed this in my opinion. I am sure our canoe and a dozen well-dined savages, would have overcome them at this moment; there was not a bit of courage amongst them; at other times, there was not a bit of anything else, but it is a well-known fact, that

"Hunger makes cowards of us all."

Shakspeare knew nothing about it, and "conscience" would now be backed at any odds against an empty stomach. No good general ever leads an English army to battle without their rations; there would be nothing to resist the bullets and swords of the enemy; every ball and blade would tell, and almost without an effort they would get killed, under the pleasing impression of having something in them, even though it were a bayonet: but let him give a pound of beef and a pint of porter to the same men, and the before heartless, dispirited animal would become the irresistible lion that never can be conquered by anything but gastric juice! When an Englishman is hungry he is cross, crabbed, and disagreeable, afraid of his foes, and regardless of his friends-feed him, and he has no foes, for he either fairly cuts their throats, or else they are his friends. I know myself to be in general a very good-tempered fellow, but when hungry, I am sensible of becoming the most morose and unpolite bear in the world, and as to fighting there would be more discretion in a good dinner-as Falstaff would have said.

I wound up these reflections by trying to laugh at the simple definition of a young Mid of the shortest mode of "squaring the circle," which happened to cross my imagination. He was learning mathematics, and had one day been kept by his master some time after the dinner hour, for which the youngster wished him and his problems snug in "Davy's locker." The master was called away for a time, leaving directions for the Mid to finish the problem he was about by his return, but instead of doing this, he commenced making one for himself. Upon the master's rather unexpected entry, he found the young gentleman thus occupied, and immediately seized the paper upon which he had been working. It was headed "An easy and pleasant mode of squaring the circle!" The diagram was four people sitting at

a table with a large dish before them, containing a circular joint, which they were resolutely attacking-one of the corners being embellished "A, by the rude figure of a mustard-pot. The proof was thus given. C, D, F, four friends sitting at a dinner-table; B, a round of beef; Q, the mustard-pot. A, C, D, F, having each taken a little from Q, apply their knives perpendicularly to B, when, if they don't square the circle, they know nothing about mathematics, or are not so hungry as I am." This easy solution of an impossibility so pleased the master, that he sent his impatient pupil to divert himself his own way. I trust the indulgent reader will digest these reflections with as much good nature, as they passed through my mind when lying at anchor nearly famished with hunger, and seeing the dinner which was cooked for our comfort served up for the eating of others without the power to do any thing but think. Job had nothing like this to try his patience, and I hope no healthy stomach ever will have again. We were doomed to lie in this distressing situation for nearly six long hours, until the relentless tide had spent its malignant force in opposing our gastronomic inclinations; hunger then lent such stimulus to the oars, that little time elapsed between heaving up the anchor and heaving down the cold ruins which our provident messmates had prepared for us.

On the following day, we had a more melancholy proof of the stream's rapidity at this point. The pinnace had anchored near the same spot, waiting also for the return of the tide; being low water, some of the crew quitted her to search for shells, when one poor fellow happened to slip from a steep muddy bank; he had just succeeded in recovering himself, when half his body became immersed in the water, and although he appeared to hold firmly by a piece of rock, the force of the tide carried him rapidly away! Every exertion was instantly made to rescue him from his impending fate; all knew the spot abounded with

"The dire monsters that infest the flood,

By nature dreadful, and athirst for blood:"

so that not a moment must be lost; he cried for help as the impetuous torrent carried him away. Ropes and oars were thrown towards him, he struggled to reach the offered succour-all was anxiety-his companions cheered as he strongly buffeted to stem the stream-they followed along the bank trying to assist him-he appeared gaining the shore and hope began to revive-in a moment the water near him was agitated-an eddying stream was perceived, a slight splash was followed by a piercing cry of agony-then all was still! he was gone. The stream was shortly after tinged with blood-none asked the other how he died? but they appeared happy to think that he was drowned -but then that cry! Reader, does not your mind gladly turn from contemplating such a death? Or does it picture all the glowing horrors of that moment? Do you in fancy place yourself in the same situation? Suddenly precipitated into the rapid stream, at first you are fearless, and bravely strike for land, but as your clothes get saturated the effort becomes greater; each thought is then fixed upon the shore, and you strain every nerve to reach that friendly resting-place. You see your companions on the bank encouraging and trying to direct