Marias and Pater-nosters which could lay a ghost, or tell him the history
of everyone who had perished by the flame of the Inquisition, relating
his crime, whether carnal or anti-Catholic; and he could join in the
seguadilla or in the guaracha. But what rendered him more efficient
than all was his wonderful power of observation and accurate description,
which made the information he gave so reliable and valuable to the Duke
of Wellington. Nothing escaped him. When amidst a group of persons,
he would minutely watch the movement, attitude, and expression of every
individual that composed it; in the scenery by which he was surrounded
he would carefully mark every object:- not a tree, not a bush, not a
large stone, escaped his observation; and it was said that in a cottage
he noted every piece of crockery on the shelf, every domestic utensil,
and even the number of knives and forks that were got ready for use
at dinner. His acquaintance with the Spanish language was marvellous;
from the finest works of Calderon to the ballads in the patois of every
province, he could quote, to the infinite delight of those with whom
he associated. He could assume any character that he pleased: he could
be the Castilian, haughty and reserved; the Asturian, stupid and plodding;
the Catalonian, intriguing and cunning; the Andalusian, laughing and
merry;- in short, he was all things to all men. Nor was he incapable
of passing off, when occasion required, for a Frenchman; but as he spoke
the language with a strong German accent, he called himself an Alsatian.
He maintained that character with the utmost nicety; and as there is
a strong feeling of fellowship, almost equal to that which exists in
Scotland, amongst all those who are born in the departments of France
bordering on the Rhine, and who maintain their Teutonic originality,
he always found friends and supporters in every regiment in the French
service.

He was on one occasion entrusted with a very difficult mission by the