Early in the following year, Major-General Spencer was appointed to the command of an expedition consisting of 6000 men. The direct object of this armament was never perfectly known; but its equipment, and the choice made of its commander, marked it for some bold enterprise. Public rumour assigned its destination for the attack of Ceuta, on the coast of Africa, and there is every reason to suppose that to have been its real destination. On its arrival at Gibraltar, and whilst the necessary measures were maturing for its execution, the resistance of the Spanish nation to the domination of the French Emperor broke forth; and the armament now so opportunely situated, and whose objects were thus so singularly changed, was ordered to render them all the assistance possible. This offer, however, was refused by the high national, once dignified, pride of the Spaniards. Major-General Spencer, therefore, after having given all the assistance in his power to the operations of the Spaniards, by some joint movements with the navy on the coast, was soon afterwards ordered to join Sir Arthur Wellesley, with all the troops under his command, in Portugal. On the junction of these forces, operations were immediately commenced against the French army; the celebrated battles of Vimiera and Roleia were fought, and the surrender of all the French troops in Portugal soon followed, in all which services Major-General Spencer was particularly engaged; and for his advice and assistance he was thanked in the most warm and friendly manner by Sir Arthur Wellesley. After the convention of Cintra, Major-General Spencer returned to England, and was a material witness on the military inquiry relating to that measure. His evidence was marked by great circumspection and delicacy, and did him the greatest credit and honour. In the following year, 1809, his Majesty conferred on Major-General Spencer the honourable distinction of a Knight of the Bath. In May, 1810, Sir Brent Spencer was appointed second in command to the army in Portugal, under Lord Wellington, with the rank of Lieutenant-General. The state of Portugal at that period was extremely precarious: the force of the enemy was accumulating to a degree truly alarming; and Massena, esteemed the second General of the age, was appointed to its command. The most sanguine scarcely ventured to think favourably of the situation of our army in that country, and the public opinion went to the length of the most gloomy despondency. At this critical juncture, Sir Brent Spencer accepted this appointment. The discrimination of the Government in this selection was for many reasons highly judicious; it served to animate the army, and they welcomed his return. The overwhelming force of Massena soon compelled the Commander-in-chief to take measures for his retreat, and the lines of Torres Vedras were then contemplated and finished, as the last resource of the British army. During this retreat, the battle of Busaco was fought; planned and undertaken by the Commander-in-chief, more, perhaps, for the purpose of trying the Portuguese troops, and to give an éclat to his proceedings and to the valour of the army, before it was doomed to retrace its steps to the shores of Portugal, than for any other effect it might have produced.* The position taken for this fight was most admirably chosen, and its results manifested the deep and comprehensive mind of its commander. The Portuguese troops, linked in line with the British, fought and charged with equal bravery. He obtained a complete victory; and, animated by their success, and confident in the skill of their great commander, the army began their retreat towards those celebrated intrenchments, to defend the interests of their country, and their own honour. In this battle, and during the retreat of the army, LieutenantGeneral Sir Brent Spencer had an opportunity of rendering essential service, and received the warmest thanks from the Commander-in-chief on the occasion. The army was followed by the enemy with a force truly alarming. But, notwithstand *The Commander-in-chief had, perhaps, other reasons for making this stand at Busaco; he had many detachments around him to withdraw and extricate from their positions: but whatever were his reasons, it is impossible not to admire and appreciate the consummate skill with which all their manoeuvres were executed. ing the great military skill of its commander, and the sanguine expectations formed by the French emperor of the final overthrow of the British army, they paused only to behold the resistance offered to them; and in the spring of the following year they retreated from this scene of British prowess, in the greatest confusion and dismay. During this arduous struggle, Lieutenant-General Sir Brent Spencer nobly supported the post of honour as second in command, and on all occasions manifested the most ardent desire to promote the plans of the Commander-in-chief, for which he constantly received his warmest acknowledgments. Some circumstances having rendered it, at this time, necessary to order Lieutenant-General Graham, his senior officer, from the command at Cadiz, to join the army, Sir Brent Spencer returned to England in the month of August following. The military character of Sir Brent Spencer was marked by an ardent zeal, an inflexible firmness, and a devotion to the performance of the trusts reposed in him almost unparalleled. The charge and the use of the bayonet were his constant and favourite mode of warfare. In the numerous actions in which he was engaged, he on all occasions possible adopted it with the most powerful effect; and he must be considered to have been particularly instrumental in establishing a practice which has, in all our late military movements, given a decided superiority to our arms, and in restoring to the British soldier that mode of fighting, the most consonant to the national character, and by which the victories and conquests of former ages were gained. * *The philosopher, in his retirement, whilst contemplating the moral duties of mankind, may ask, after perusing the transactions of a long life passed in such adventurous pursuits, Will this rage for military glory never cease? or is it an instinct of our nature which no time or circumstances can control? and in his meditations will come to the melancholy conclusion, that the progressive improvement of the human mind, with all its present refinement, has done nothing towards its mitigation; that it seems to mock to scorn alike the reasonings of philosophy and the precepts of Christianity; that the modern world acknowledges its influence in as great a degree as the ancient; and that instances abound of devotion to this passion during the late war, that have equalled, if not surpassed, any of Greek or Roman fame. Since the peace, Sir Brent Spencer passed his time in perfect retirement, enjoying the pleasures of a rural life, and the society of a few chosen friends. Conspicuous and honourable as was his public life, his private virtues were equally transcendent; his friendships were lasting and sincere; and his latter days were passed in the performance of those beneficent acts, which become a great and exalted character, and do honour to human nature. His long and arduous career is now closed, and his memory will be long cherished in the breasts of a large circle of friends, who are best able to appreciate his private worth, and the virtuous and honourable sentiments that regulated all his actions. Vixêre fortes Multi, sed omnes illacrymabiles Nocte, carent quia vate sacro. This gallant officer's death took place at the Lee, near Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, on the 29th of December, 1828. With the exception of a few brief paragraphs, we are indebted for the foregoing Memoir to "The United Service Journal.” No. X. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES ABBOT, LORD COLCHESTER. L. L. D. F. R. S. F. S. A. &c. "Deo, Patriæ, Amicis." LORD COLCHESTER was born at Abingdon, in Berkshire, October 14, 1757; and was the younger son of the Rev. John Abbot, D.D., Rector of All Saints, Colchester, by Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Farr, (which Sarah, after Dr. Abbot's death in 1750, was re-married to Jeremiah Bentham, Esq., and died in 1809.) He was educated at Westminster School, where he manifested the same diligence which distinguished him in after life, under Dr. Markham and Dr. Smith; and went off to Christ Church, Oxford, as the student at the head of the election of the year 1775. He gained the prize poem for Latin verses in 1777; and the subject being the Czar Peter I., he was honoured with a gold medal by the reigning Empress of Russia. He travelled to Geneva for improvement in foreign law, in 1781; took a law degree the next year, and became Vinerian scholar. Soon after he was called to the bar, and practised with increasing success till other objects attracted his notice. Lord Colchester seems to have first turned his thoughts towards public life in the year 1790, when the name of Mr. Abbot appears in the Journals of the House of Commons as having been a candidate for the borough of Helston; and upon a vacancy in the representation of that place, caused by the remarkable appointment of Sir Gilbert Elliott as Viceroy of Corsica, he came into Parliament in June 1795. In the |