“The flag which braved a thousand years The battle and the breeze.” Fleet after fleet forsook the tranquil bosom of the harbour where hitherto they had nestled, and struggling with the stormy billows of the sea, begirt our island home with those “wooden walls” which, defended by our “hearts of oak,” have so long been our pride, and deemed impregnable; whilst regiment after regiment mustered on the beach, daring the foe to set foot upon these hallowed shores. In such times the noble lord of Seaforth a second time drew his father’s sword, and with the valour and loyalty of his house swelling in his breast, called on his clansmen yet remaining to follow him. Foremost, in the very van of this army of patriots, was thus marshalled the gallant subject of our sketch—the Seventy-eighth Highlanders. Assembled and embodied at Fort George on the 10th July, 1793, the fine physical appearance of the regiment was very remarkable—a characteristic which it has been fortunate always to maintain. Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, was the scene of its earliest service on comparatively peaceful duty. Removed from thence, in 1794, to Holland, it ultimately joined the allied army, under the Duke of York, which vainly endeavoured to stem the tide of French aggression, then inundating the Netherlands, and bereaving these provinces of their ancient freedom. Engaged in the defence of Nimeguen, it contributed, by its excellent behaviour, to retard the progress of the enemy, whilst that fortress held out. Overwhelming might necessitated the evacuation of the place; the garrison in consequence retired with the army towards Germany. At Meteren our rearguard was overtaken by the advanced posts of the enemy, when a bloody action ensued. In the course of the fight the Seventy-eighth was charged by a regiment of French hussars, who, wearing a uniform similar to the regiment of Choiseul in the British service, and the better to deceive our troops, shouting as they advanced, “Choiseul! Choiseul!”—thus mistaken for friends—were permitted to penetrate our line, and were upon the Highlanders before their true character was discovered. Unmasked, in an instant the bold horsemen were met by a terrific volley of musketry, which, emptying many saddles, cooled the ardour of the assault, but could not arrest their progress. Piercing the intervals between the companies of the battalion, the cavalry furiously rushed upon the Highlanders, trampling them down, but, being warmly received, failed to overwhelm the gallant Seventy-eighth, whose firm, unflinching valour was very conspicuous, and altogether surprising from so young a corps in such trying circumstances. A column of infantry, which had witnessed the success of the cavalry, now advanced, big with high hopes, as they supposed, to complete the ruin of the British. Meanwhile the further career of the hussars had been stayed by the determined front of a company of the Forty-second Royal