The Court was composed of the highest officers in Lisbon, and on the awful day of inquiry, the General minutely detailed before it, the circumstance of which he had to complain. The Lieutenant, with an air of the utmost confidence totally denied the charges, and insinuated that the General must have laboured under some aberration of mind, or else had mistaken him for another person. The only witness of the transaction (the Portuguese dragoon) was called, who answered by an interpreter. His evidence was conclusive against the General: for, on being asked by the Court to describe what he had seen, he said that the Lieutenant met the General in the street--_took off his hat most politely--that the parties shook hands cordially_--that in a few moments they parted, the Lieutenant _bowing, with his hat off, most respectfully_:--and that then the General talked a good deal to himself. “But, Sir,” demanded the complainant petulantly, through the interpreter, “what did the Lieutenant _say_?” To which the evidence answered with a Portuguese shrug--“that he _did not understand a word of English_, but that he supposed the Lieutenant to have been _enquiring after the state of the General’s health_!” Further evidence in favour of the officer than the prosecutor’s own witness was needless--the Lieutenant was released from his arrest, and the General obliged to “pocket the affront.” A VOLUNTEER OF FORTY. ---- “Seeking the bubble reputation, Even in the cannon’s mouth.” SHAKSPEARE.