Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-10-29
The Captains Story--A Peninsular
Adventure,

1
Ia the neighborhood of the IIaymarket, Lon
ion, there arc several minor chess, whist, and
| sossip clubs, held principally at cafes, in an
partment which, for club evenings, is sacred 10
he members, consisting chiefly of superanuated
Jerks, and other professional mediocriies, with
/ sprinkling of substantial, steady tradesmcn.
In one of these modest gatherings Captain
smith, an extremely communicative and auec-
| lotical gentleman, may occasionally be met
with, surrounded by an attentive circle Of ad-
.niring friends, listening with all their cars to
one of the many marvellous adventures it has
been his lot to encounter during wandering,
md varied life. He ia not a frequent visitor
his tastes inclinng him to scenes of more bois-
-erous conviyiality than cigars and coffee, with
seasoning of theatrical and political gossip,
IAN afford or supply; and he accordingly uses
hese, to him hum-drum assemblies, only as
esting or halting-places between more exciting
,rgies valuable chiefly for affording him lis
eners, much more easily amused and astonshed
han men of larger liie-adventure and expe-
ience. He is however, real captain, and
.ancy something of hero, too, in the conven-
| .ional use of the term, as he seems to be very
lfIerent, and, believe, has much truer notions of
war and glory, than gentlemen who shout about
'bright swords" and dilate with periphastic
JUNCTION of red-hattlc fields" A little active
man is he and stiff as ramrod withal. His
harsh stubby hair is brushed in ono particular
direction with parade precision; and his high
| bald forehead, when in conviyial mood, glstens
as brightly as his sharp gray cyesi which one
can sec with half one, have been wide opon
| all his life. He rose, it is understood, though
he never mentions it himself-perhaps from
feeling of modesty, quality albeit, in which
ike most field heroes, he ia somewhat deficient
from tho ranks. From his perfect knowledge
of tho Spanish tongue, (he passed his youth at
| Gibraltar) with occasional trips to the Spanish
| coast with his father, who turned an honest
penny in the smuggling linc) he was asfrequenty
| employed during the Peninsular war by the
| British commanders in the very necessary, but
extremely ticklish, duty of making himself
personally acquainted with the state ofthe French
camps and fortresses-in other words, as spy; ;
IN exceedingly uncomfortable Office forany gen.
tleman troubled with nerves. Captain Smith
frequently thanks God that he never had any,
20 his knowledge, in his life no more, he some
lines says, after reading the debates--no more
han member of parliament.
Thus much promised, suppose we step in for
minute, and make his acquaintance That is
he captain with his back to the fire. The gen.
| leman who has just handed him a cigar, and is
ddrcssiug such martial queries to the old cam
'aisner, is neghboring haberdasher. Just
| efore VIC entered he inquired, as is his nightly
iant, If the waiter was sure the clock was quite
| ight He is always little nervous about the
me, as his spouse is apt to be unplcasantly
ively for lady of her colloqual and other prow-
IS, if he is not at homo at half-past ten pre-
isely He loves peace "at home" as much MS
le seems to delight in war "abroad,n and is
Consequently extremely punctual. But sec,
fapo is tapping the cnptainagain. The veteran
cannot fail to aow forth presently; at first, por-
iaps, a little jerkingly--gltg giug, 9ing--but
lfter little coaTing, in tho freest, easiest style
imaginable.
Asplendid march, Captain Smith, that of
wellington upon cindad Rodrigo" 2"
"sloppy, Mr.. Tape, sloppy; nothing butmud,
md snow, and slush. Winter-time; rcmem-
ber it well,n replied Captain Smith.
"Beautiful account Napier gives Of IT," re-
oined the martial Tape. "wellington," he
ays, dumped on the deserted fortress with both
lis feetr
"Does Napier say that 2" demanded the vet
ran, knocking the consumed ashes of the end
Of his cigar ON the mantelpiece. HDoo Napier
say that?o
eyes indeed he doos.r
"Then Napier tells what is - replied
the matter-of-fact captain. HThe liehtest
longest-legged of the Light Bobs' couldnt have
done it. much less the duke. The dukes short
in the lees-sits high in the saddle, though
long body, dumpy-legs. Could no more do II
than hc could fly; didn't try either. All
fam"
Mr.. Tape explained that the Jumping was
motaphorical; and. after time. CAPTAIN Smith
seemed to have acquired misty notion of what
was meant. Still, it was, he said, very bad
way Of writing @history; !" which species OF
composition should, he emphstically observed
be all facts, and no mistakes.
"The retreat from Burgos was mastery af-
fair" persisted warrior Tape; "mastorly indeed
uncommon -
81 daresay Il was; and az Won seen, 10 admire