2*]^ HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



an ensign in the 36th regiment, and at Edinburgh 

 he took lessons in French, ItaHan, German, and 

 mathematics. He learned to ride and fence, and 

 went in for debating. So having, as he said, done 

 so much in the way of having a good opinion of 

 himself, he was ordered to join his regiment at 

 Cork in the winter of 1807-8. He was wonderfully- 

 surprised to find the officers anything but dandies, 

 and, in fact, true old soldiers, quiet, well disciplined 

 and associated with a first-rate fighting regiment. 

 His chief, Colonel Burne, was a cool and gallant 

 officer, and a favourite of Sir Arthur Wellesley's. 

 In 1808 the regiment was prepared for service in 

 South America, and was suddenly ordered to 

 Portugal, and on August ist he landed, and saw 

 the future Wellington put his foot on Portuguese 

 soil, followed by his aide-de-camp, the future Lord 

 Raglan. 



A battle was soon to be fought, and at Vimiera. 



Professor Geikie's charming " Life of Murchison," 

 from which this little history is compiled, gives the 

 following graphic description of Murchison's first 

 fight, at Vimiera : — 



" To return to our own part of the battle, i.e., to 

 our left wing, the fire of the enemy soon became 

 very hot, and even though the 36th were lying 

 on their breasts under the brow, our men were 

 getting pretty much hit, whilst the regiment in our 

 rear, the 82nd, which at that time could not fire a 

 shot, suffered more than we did. General Spencer, 

 who commanded the division, when moving about 



