The personal courage of the Duke was undoubted. In a
work just published, (Personal Memoirs and Correspondence qf Colonel Charles ,Shaw,) which we received only last night, we find an amusing instance of his indifference to danger. Colonel Shaw was engaged in the expe- dition against Antwerp, in January 1814: the village of Merxem bad been taken— "The 52nd were now ordered into the village to relieve the Rifles and 'Nth ; and, as they were entering with their greatcoats on, a Prussian regiment Ina them. Each took the other for an enemy ; but Colonel Gibbs, who was au excellent German scholar, prevented a collision which might under other cir- cumstances have taken place. I think it was on this occasion that I had a con- versation with his present Majesty. The regiment had removed to the left, and I was with the rear company, when a gentleman dressed in a blue coat with white lining came up. From his dress I thought he was one of the Commis- sariat; but remarking two musket-shots through his coat, I thought him a rather rash commisamy. I felt inclined to be offended, when, addressing me in a loud commanding tone, he asked, ' What regiment is that. Who com- mands it?'
"' That gentleman,' said I, pointing to Captain Diggle. "' Is be the commanding officer ?'
• 11 ' No; Colonel Gibbs commands.' " It was odd that the men should have bad the same idea of the mysterious stranger as I had myself. They, too, supposed he must be a Commissary, and began muttering something about ' Bread Bags better iu the rear,' when toy friend Captain Anderson of the Artillery suddenly rode up. What was my astonishment on seeing him salute the supposed Mr. Commissary Bread Bags in the most respectful fashion, uttering at the same time the following merle: If your Royal Highness moves a little more to the left you can have a little better view of the enemy. Sir Thomas Graham is in the steeple of the Church.' I, in a whisper, asked Anderson, ' What Royal Highness is this?' when he informed me it was the Duke of Clarence, who had landed from England the day before. The Duke's courage continued to he the talk of the army for some days ; but I said little, thinking I had gotten into a scrape for having mistaken his Royal Highness for a Commissary."
Previous page
