MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 27 



ti 1st, he was obliged to make the best of his way to 

 Holland. Thence he proceeded to Hanover, where 

 he had the fortune to witness the battle of Crevelt 

 (June 23, 17^8), the first engagement he had ever 

 seen. 



Yielding to the romantic ideas of military glory 

 with which that spirit-stirring scene had inspired 

 him, he resolved to quit the peaceful walks of life 

 and the insipid avocations of trade, and become a 

 soldier. His imagination pictured to him the ex- 

 ploits and the fame of his illustrious ancestors ; and 

 he might probably have embarked as a military 

 adventurer in foreign service, had he not received a 

 letter at Rotterdam informing him of his father's 

 death. This intelligence, and the consequent suc- 

 cession to the family estate, altered his intentions, 

 and obliged him to return without delay to Eng- 

 land. Having gradually disengaged himself from 

 his partnership in the wine-trade, he made prepara- 

 tions for returning to Scotland, the value of his 

 property in the mean time having been consider- 

 ably raised by the large demands of the Carron 

 iron-company on his coal-mines. 



A circumstance at this time happened which 

 formed the pivot on which the future destiny of 

 Bruce was to turn. During his short stay at Ferrol, 

 in Gallicia, he had been led, in consequence of a 

 rumour of war between Britain and Spain, to con- 

 sider that place as the most advantageous point for 

 the British squadron to attack with a view to invade 

 the country. This project Bruce now communi- 



