the double curtains red and purple. The costly magnificence of all within the building is not to be described, at least by me. There is neither sculpture nor painting in the whole abbey, except a few bad pictures of old English kings, and a figure of St. Anthony on the altar, at one extremity of the gallery. The whole building is of stone.

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'It is with great pleasure I learn that you have obtained the pension to which your services and your wounds so fully entitle you. Long may you, my dear General, enjoy every mark of honour and of comfort that can be bestowed on you.

"I have just seen a severe example of the fate of war in Colonel Packenham, who is here at his sister's, Lady Wellington. He received seven or eight balls quite close to the enemy's platoon in the breach. He considers himself recovering, but is shockingly mangled. Lord Wellington has still an arduous task before him. The French have upwards of an 100,000 men in Spain still; I trust Bonaparte is ill at his ease in Moscow. A Russian winter before him, and a Russian army behind him, are no trifles to contend with. None of my people know of my writing, or a quire of paper would not contain all they would have to say. Pray, assure Mrs. Graham of my sincere regards, and believe me, my dear General, most faithfully yours, J. FLOYD."

In 1814, Sir Frederick Adam, who had served with him in the Enniskillens, thus writes to him in allusion to his old corps, for which he always retained a just partiality:

"6 Sackville Street,

"London, 11th February 1814.

"My dear Sir-If Lieutenant Drysdale's own merits as an officer had not fully entitled him to my aid in procuring the company vacant by the promotion of my old friend Mill, you may be quite sure that your feeling an interest in Mr. Drysdale would have ensured whatever I can do to assist him.

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I am, as you observe, still very partial to my old friends the Enniskilleners; and though the younger brothers are not to be compared in fineness of materials to the elder branch, they have always shewn themselves to be of the same good breed-to drop metaphor, the second battalion fights admirably, which is, after all, the great essential. Your friend Paddy Reeves, with all his originality, is a good officer, and I was lucky in the hour of trial to have him and his gallant battalion.

"I am very sorry to hear your eye is affected, but I hope only temporarily so. My wounds are getting better. I shall not only save my fingers, but eventually recover the use of them; in the mean time I suffer considerable pain by the exfoliation of bone from my arm. Reeves, when I last heard from him, was still complain

Poor

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ing.—With every good wish, believe me, my dear general, very sincerely and truly yours, FREDERICK ADAM."

During the time Sir Thomas Graham commanded in the Netherlands, he addressed the following reply to an application which General Graham made, in the hope of obtaining employment under his command:

Calmhout, 26th March 1814.

"Sir-I had the honour of receiving your letter dated 2d December 1813, only by the last mail. I cannot guess what has occasioned so extraordinary a delay.

"There certainly could be no apology necessary for making the offer of your services, for I know well the estimation you was held in by Sir Ralph Abercrombie. But there has been no opening that could have suited you; nor is there any probability of there being one; for, in the event of any fortress being taken, the Dutch Government would certainly name a governor of their own immediately, as they have done at Breda and other places which the Russians got possession of. I regret, therefore, being under the necessity of saying, that it is not in my power to be of use to you.-I have the honour to remain, with great regard, sir, your most obedient humble servant, "THOMAS GRAHAM.

"Major-General Graham."

CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH.

Stirling Castle-Sieges-Stirling Heads-Rise of the enthusiasm about Scotland-Sir Walter Scott.

THE Conclusion of peace in 1814 was followed by a large reduction in the staff of the army. Major-General Graham being amongst the officers struck off the staff at that time, retired to his government at Stirling Castle, where he principally resided for the remainder of his life.

Recent improvements in fortification and artillery have tended to diminish very much the importance of Stirling Castle as a fortress; and anything like disloyal feeling in the country having expired, it seems improbable that the scenes of strife from which it took its name will be repeated under its walls; the office of governor has therefore, in modern times, been abolished; but at the period of General Graham's appointment, a few years, comparatively speaking, had elapsed, since the castle stood a siege, and the name of its gallant defender, Blakeney, was still familiar as household words, the post of governor therefore continued to be an object of ambition to an old officer. It stamped him as a tried

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servant of the Crown-a man in whom his Sovereign placed confidence, and gave him a certain degree of military consequence in his.declining years, which is gratifying to a man whose life has been spent amongst soldiers.*

Few places in the country are connected with such a number of romantic traditions and stirring events in history as Stirling. Undoubtedly a Roman station, it was afterwards an important pass in the line of demarcation between the Scottish tribes occupying the country north of Stirling, and the Romanized Britons inhabiting the country south of the Forth. In the twelfth century it was one of the four principal fortresses in the kingdom, and as such was given up to the English in 1175, with the other three, Edinburgh, Roxburgh, and Berwick, as part of the ransom stipulated for the release of William the Lion at the treaty of Falaise.

In the wars of Edward First, it was frequently taken and retaken, after protracted sieges, and was evidently at that time a place capable of an obstinate defence.

By the victory of Bannockburn it fell into the hands of Bruce, who had been long endeavouring to get possession of it.

*“In 1447, James, styled Lord Livingstone, being a nobleman of great courage and prudence, was constituted captain of the Castle of Stirling, and had the custody of the young king committed to him by his father when he was the king's governor." -Crawford's Peerage.

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