SWABEY DIARY. 309 
To return to the diary and “ D ” troop. 
24th August.—Rode in the evening to Villa Franca and called on 
General Long; whilst there Stenowitz, Sir William Erskine’s aide-de- 
camp, who was taken whilst reconnoitring a few days ago, was sent in by 
the count d’Hrlon, even without being exchanged. This handsome con- 
duct excites universal applause which is the due of our courteous and 
liberalenemy. Instead of expecting to have him restored everyone be- 
lieved he would be hung asa deserter from the French, for, having been 
taken from the Austrians in the battle of Wagram, he had entered 
their service, but on their entering Spain had deserted and enlisted in 
our Ist Hussars, where his story and his merit soon brought him a 
commission. Huis exploits since are well known; certainly with all 
justice he might have been hung. 
goth August.—I was fortunate enough to find in my landlord’s house 
an old edition of Don Quixote and commenced reading, but found the 
early Spanish language as difficult to understand as the work of 
Chaucer would be to a Spaniard instructed recently in our modern 
English. 
My priest was one of the few well-informed of this country, and had 
a very fair collection of books. This exception is not as generally 
supposed peculiar to priests, for in most of their houses I have generally 
in vain tried to find any other than religious books. These usually are 
the lives of different saints, alias a compendium of ecclesiastical imposi- 
tions. 
26th August.—Received an order to march at 2 o’clock in the 
say to them I hope I have behaved like a soldier.’ He soon after became insensible and remained 
so for some time,when he recovered the doctor saw it was his last moments, went up to him but 
found him speechless. On perceiving him, William stretched out his hand, and when he gave him 
his, he squeezed it and expired. 
Macdonald at this time was suffering so much from his own wound that he could not see him. 
Tt is impossible to say how much we owe to these two gentlemen for their kindness and attention 
to him, as well as the regard we must all feel for the kind manner in which they speak of him, 
indeed he was beloved by all his brother officers as much for his virtues as his bravery. Macdonald 
says had he and poor Cromie* lived they would have been particularly mentioned, and every interest 
made for their promotion, that before poor Ramsay was killed, he came up to him and expressed 
his astonishment at their cool and gallant behaviour when the fire was so hot that it was impossible 
to imagine that anyone could escape. He expressed himself nearly in this manner. ‘ Those two 
fellows, Cromie and Robe, are invaluable officers, did you ever see anything to equal such behaviour.’ 
The man who shot him was quite close, and took deliberate aim at him, indeed the enemy were so 
near that the guns were nearly surrounded, and still the men remained firm to them.” 
In the church at Waterloo there is a monument to Lieutenant Robe’s memory with the following 
inscription. 
Erected by his brother officers 
to the memory of 
Lieutenant William Livingstone Robe 
of the British Royal Horse Artillery 
Son of Colonel Sir William Robe 
K.C.B., and K.T.S. 
He fell nobly at Waterloo, 18th June, 1815, 
aged 24 years 
being the 83rd time he had faced his country’ foes. 
He was known and distinguished by 
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington. 
From Record of Service and letters in possession of the late Miss Vimiera Robe. 
* Lieutenant Cromie was in “D”’ Troop, and died from the loss of both legs; both troops were on 
the right of the Charleroi road and contiguous to one another, 
