(Vol. ix., p. 201.)
General Whitelocke being on a visit to Aboyne Castle, in this county, the seat of the late Marquis of Huntley, then Earl of Aboyne, and a public market being held in the neighbourhood, the Earl, the General, and some other visitors, were seen sauntering amongst the cattle and the tents of the fair. Amongst the attenders of the country markets at that period was a woman of the name of Tibby Masson, well known in this city for her masculine character and deeds of fearlessness. Tibby had accompanied her husband, who was a soldier, to South America; and, along with him, had been present at the unfortunate siege of Buenos Ayres; and, as a trophy of her valour, she brought with her an enormous-sized silver watch, which she declared she had taken from the person of a Spanish officer who lay wounded in the neighbourhood of the city after the engagement. Tibby was standing by her "sweetie" (confectionary) stall in the Aboyne Market when the Earl and Whitelocke, and the other gentlemen, were passing, and she at once recognised her old commander. They stopped, and the General tasted some of her "sweeties," and saucily declared that they were abominably bad. Upon which Tibby immediately retorted: "They are a great deal better than the timmer (wooden) flints that you gave our soldiers at Bonny's Airs." On hearing this, the consternation of Whitelocke and his friends can more easily be imagined than described. They all fled from the field with the utmost rapidity, leaving Tibby completely victorious; and the General, so far as is known, never again visited Aberdeenshire.
B. B.
Aberdeen.
I have not access to a file of newspapers, but have been frequently told by an old pensioner, who served under General Whitelocke: "We marched into Bowsan Arrys (as he pronounced Buenos Ayres) without ere a flint in our muskets."
L. G.
The subjoined charade, which I have seen years ago, is perhaps preferable:
"My first is an emblem of purity,
My next against knaves a security;
My whole is a shame