my fellow traveller at Bow, and after taking some refreshment, we proceeded on our journey, amidst the merry ringing of the church bells, being the 29th of May, the anniversary of King Charles's restoration. My companion, whose name was Moore, was under the necessity of reaching Colchester that night, his time then expiring; and owing to the bustle of so many troops embarking at Harwich, the coaches were all overloaded, so that the only chance we had of getting a ride, was by the return post-chaises. Being fortunate enough to get two or three lifts with these, we contrived to walk the rest of the distance. Moore was a good-humoured, pleasant fellow, full of anecdote, and amused me much by relating, among other things, the plans they adopted to get volunteers from the militia regiments into the line. The militia would be drawn up in line, and the officers, or non-commissioned officers of the line regiments, would give a glowing description of their respective corps, of the battles they had gained, and the honours they had won; and would finish, by offering as a bounty, £14 for life, and £11 for seven years. Sometimes the soldiers would not listen to "the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely;" then, if there was a great necessity for men, coercive measures were adopted; long harassing drills in heavy marching order, and field exercises were forced on them, and were found so oppressive, that to avoid them, the men would embrace the alternative and join the regulars.

It was late in the evening when we reached Colchester, having walked thirty miles, and ridden twenty-two. We went direct to the barracks, where Moore was at once admitted, and reported himself to the officer; but being after hours, they would not let him out again that night, nor would they let me in; so, that tired as I was, I was compelled to go in search of a lodging; rather a difficult thing to get, as the town was so full of troops. I was at length accommodated at a low public house, called the Harrow," near the barracks, and being much fatigued, went at once to the bed allotted to me in the attic, extending the whole breadth of the house, and containing ten or twelve beds, of the most miserable description (as I then thought). However, as I was too tired to seek better accommodation, and as I was about entering on a situation in life which would necessarily subject me to many priva

tions, I made up my mind to take life as it should come, and to do my best to struggle through its disagreeables; but, I must confess, on contrasting the wretched accommodation I now had, with the clean and comfortable home I had just left, I began seriously to ask myself whether I had not better retrace my steps, as I still had the power to do so. While discussing the matter with myself, I fell asleep, and had a strange medley of dreams, which rendered my repose anything but refreshing. In the morning, early, having had my breakfast, and paid my reckoning, I wended my way towards the barracks, still thinking, at times, that I had better go back; however, on I went, found Moore's room, and went with him to offer my services to the major. He seemed pleased with my appearance, and sent me with a note to the doctor to be inspected, and being pronounced by him "all right," I was next sent with a serjeant to the town hall for attestation. The serjeant was a Scotchman, and a pleasant fellow enough, so by way of bespeaking his future friendship, I treated him and myself to some hot steaks, with sundry glasses of good ale; after which, we went to the magistrate's office, and I was submitted to the customary form of attestation, being sworn to serve his Majesty, King George the Third, for seven years. They wanted me to go for life, but I thought the term I had selected, quite long enough for a trial. On my return to the barracks, I immediately obtained a suit of regimentals, and throwing aside my civilian dress, I was that evening parading the town, à la militaire, and no one, who saw me, would have supposed I had only just enlisted.

THE THREE SERJEANTS.

CHAPTER I.

Origin of 73rd Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.-The Route. - Embarkation. Signal for sailing. Departure. The Storm.- An Enemy in sight.- Catching a Tartar.- Put in at Yarmouth.- Bumboats. Start again.-Reach the Cattegat.- Passage through the Belt. -Amusement on board.-Reach the Baltic.- Land on Island of Rügen.-March to Stralsund, good Quarters.

THE 73rd regiment was originally the 2nd battalion of the 42nd Royal Highlanders, and was raised in the American war. At the peace, in 1783, it obtained its present number, on the disbanding of the old 73rd. From that period until the year 1806, it was stationed in the East Indies; and, for its excellent behaviour at the siege of Mangalore, obtained the honour of bearing the name of that place on its colours and appointments; it was also at the siege of Seringapatam in 1799. After then it was employed on very active service under Sir Arthur Wellesley, until its embarkation; and, on its return to England, it was quartered at Greenwich, and, subsequently, in Scotland, for the purpose of recruiting, being a Highland regiment. On being completed to its establishment, it was ordered to New South Wales, under Lieut.-General Macquarrie, acting governor of that colony.* The second battalion, with which it was my lot to become identified, was formed in 1809. It was always a favourite regiment; and was soon completed from the militia. Their facings are dark green; and the appointments equal to any regiment in Her Majesty's service.

The morning after enlistment, at my own request, I was sent to drill; and, while so occupied, I observed the major watching my movements; and, calling me to him, he said, rather sternly,

Young man, you have been in the service before."

I replied that I had not been in any other than a corps of volunteers.

* The late Duke of Wellington had his first commission as ensign in the 73rd, in the year 1787.

B

2

JOURNEY TO HARWICH.

"Well," said he, "if that's the case, the proficiency you have acquired in your exercise is very creditable to you. If the volunteers were all as perfect they would not be so much ridiculed as they are."

Taking advantage of the major's good feeling towards me, I requested, as a favour, that he would allow me to join the regiment, which was still detained at Harwich, as he was going, with a draught of 150 men, in a few days; he expressed his regret that it was not in his power to grant my request, as the men were already selected, and their names forwarded to the Horse Guards, but he said he would take care that I should come out with the next draught. I then begged permission to visit my brother at Harwich, which he readily granted, giving me a pass for three days; so, drawing a portion of my bounty, I started immediately, and on my arrival at Harwich, having hired a boat, I boarded the head-quarters ship, the "Old Saragossa." The men crowded round me, to learn the news from the depôts. I reported myself to the officer commanding, and obtained leave for my brother to go on shore with me; before we went, however, partaking of their day's rations, which happened to be beef and plum pudding, with a good supply of three water grog. We then went on shore, to enjoy ourselves more fully than we could on board. Next morning, as we were strolling through the town, we met the colonel, who, till the time of sailing should arrive, was stopping with his family at the Three Cups Inn. As I had still a strong desire to go with the regiment, I made the request, with which he seemed pleased. He asked me when my pass expired? I told him that I was to return to Colchester the next day.

'Well," said he, "go back to-morrow, and I'll see what can be done."

I thanked him for his kindness; and we spent the rest of the day on board. Next morning, I started early for Colchester; but, owing to the rather free indulgences of the last two days, and the heat of the sun, I felt so exhausted, that I sought a shady spot, and had a comfortable sleep on the grass for a couple of hours; when I was roused up by a gentleman travelling in a chaise, and who inquired the direction in which I was journeving; and, on my naming Colchester, he invited me to join him; which, of course, I did with great

pleasure, or I should have had to walk the whole distance. I found the gentleman a very pleasant, as well as a most liberal companion, for he paid for everything on the road; and as he had a good horse, we were not long in running over the ground. On getting out of the chaise at Colchester, I expressed my thanks for his kindness, when he cut me short by observing, that it was to serve himself he had done it.

"The fact is," said he, "that I have a great deal of money about me just now, and the roads about here are hardly safe at present; therefore, I thought I might as well have a guard of my own. So, my good fellow, I wish you good bye, and God bless you." Then, giving his horse a slight touch with the whip, he was out of sight in an instant.

On my return to the barracks, I reported myself to the major, who told me he had received instructions from the colonel to include me in the detachment which was to go on the third day from that time. We were now all bustle and excitement. Many of the men were not at all desirous of going; but I felt as much joy as if I had been bound on a journey of pleasure. The morning of our departure came, and I received the rest of my bounty, with the exception of two pounds, which I was told I should have on my arrival at Harwich. What I did have, I very liberally spent among my comrades, during a long and fatiguing journey of twenty miles, a tolerably good day's march to begin with; and, at the close of it, we immediately embarked in a brig of about two hundred tons, called the "Gratitude." On the colonel coming on board next morning, I requested permission to sail in the Saragossa along with my brother. He promised to consider of it; and, in the course of the day, my request led to an inquiry as to whether the whole of us could be transferred there. The result was, that we were all removed immediately; and the brig we had left, was to accompany us, filled with stores, which she was previously intended for. The Saragossa was now rather inconveniently crowded by this reinforcement; but it was expected the voyage would not be a long one, although our destination was not as yet known. On the fourth morning after we had joined, there was an extraordinary bustle on deck; and the gratifying intelligence The vessels were was brought down, that the wind was fair.