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I will then settle both points with him; but I think common leather caps would answer better than our foraging ones, for they are very showy and would at once lead to detection of our manœuvre, which would have the worst possible effect.

You may inform Captain Campbell that I will certainly comply with his request, but he had better come up to town and for that purpose go over to Hastings to get leave from Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, now commanding the 2nd Battalion, to which he is at present attached. I shall then be able to see him myself and talk matters over with him relative to his recruiting. As he passes through Hastings he would do well to communicate to LieutenantColonel Stewart his intention and to fix upon a Highland corporal and private from his own part of the country to accompany him.

As I must go to the House of Lords directly, and after sitting up the whole night there, in all probability set off at seven to-morrow, to Marlow, to take your brother Edward there I have only time to add, &c., &c.

EDWARD.

P. S.-Pray make your Adjutant enquire the next time he goes on board of the Sultan, whether there is on board her a man of the name of Chantin, who was a French horn in the Band of the 86th Demi Brigade, and if there is, what his general character and appearance are.

KENSINGTON PALACE,

February 5th, 1807.

DEAR DE SALABERRY,-Having this moment received your letter of yesterday, I hasten to thank you for it, and to assure you that I am highly gratified by the communication it contains, as also that I look forward with infinite pleasure to the prospect of your further success on Monday next. Lieut.-Colonel Buller being in town, I shall write by to-night's post to Major Muller, who commands the 4th Battalion, during his absence, relative to your batch of recruits, and trust that by taking that step, in addition to the explanations you proposed sending, last night, there can be no possibility of any error being committed in the attestation of the men in question.

I have great pleasure in informing you, that your brother Edward passed his examination at Marlow in my presence, with great credit to himself, on Tuesday, and that I left him there in charge of a very worthy man, Captain McDermott, who has promised me that he would take the same care of him as if he were his own son, so that you may write your good father and your excellent mother word, that all the roughest of his labor is over, and that I trust there is now none but the most pleasant prospect before us.

With sentiments, &c.,

EDWARD.

KENSINGTON PALACE,

March 10th, 1807.

DEAR DE SALABERRY,-I am duly favored with yours of the 7th inst., and its several inclosures.

Your fresh return of foreign recruits is an uncommon fine one, as indeed has been every one of that description which you have sent, and I beg your acceptance of my best thanks for all your zeal and exertions for the completion of my corps. The very moment I got your letter I sent for Carder, who promised me that he would forward to you immediately two dozen of great coats and caps, the same as the first he furnished, and when these are served out you have only to write to him for others, which I have directed him to supply. It will only be necessary for you to charge the men with the cost of the caps out of their bounty, and remit the amount to Carder, and also to keep a correct list of to whom you give the great coats, as it is meant that the men who get them should keep them, the same as if they were issued to them when they come to take their duty with the regiment.

I am not surprised that the musicians have acted as you described to me, for Leverier, who I now have, did exactly the same, till he found that my band although attached to my regiment, never joined but. when I was with it, or when upon duty on His Majesty's person, after which he immediately consented to enlist. I should think therefore that if I were to send over to you two of the band who are clever at talking over men of that class, the one an Alsacian, the other a Frenchman, both very well attached and disposed people, to help you for a few days, perhaps it might be of advantage to the cause; let me know your ideas on this, and if you like the proposal they shall immediately be despatched; only inform me whether you will have them sent in colored or in plain clothes.

I cannot tell how my heart bleeds at the idea of the vexation you must have suffered, from those two letters you have sent for my perusal, and which I herewith return. I am really ashamed that they should have come from the pen of a British officer, and still more so from that of man who has got so many good parts. I cannot attempt to palliate them, and therefore will only entreat you to endeavor to forget them, especially as you have my authority in future to make all your communications through Major Muller to Lieut.-Col. Buller, upon the principle that as the former is a good linguist, and doing duty with the battalion to which the foreigners are posted, he will find greater facility than any one else in arranging any details respecting them, having the advantage of being able to address them, if not in their own tongue, at least in French, which is next akin to it. With sentiments, &c., &c.,

EDWARD,

KENSINGTON PALACE,
March 14th, 1807.

DEAR DE SALABERRY,-Just as I was going to take up my pen to inform you that a very sudden order had been issued for the embarkation of my 2nd Battalion for India, and for their being filled up for that purpose by transfers from the 3rd to a thousand rank and file, and for the full complement of officers, consisting of two Lieutenant-Colonels, two Majors, 10 Captains, 22 Lieutenants, and 8 Ensigns, being made up from those who could be immediately collected, in consequence of which both your brothers are ordered for that duty, I received yours of yesterday, to the contents of which I shall do myself the pleasure of replying, after I have concluded what I have to say on the former subject. To that I shall therefore now return and commence by saying that if our Canadian project cannot be effected, of which I have great doubt from the length of time it has flagged, and the opposition made at Head Quarters to the reduction of the present Fencible Corps that bears that name, I consider it the most fortunate of all possible events that could happen to your brothers, to be sent upon the service on which they are about to embark, especially as Maurice, who by the bye, goes out as senior of his rank, was on the eve of being ordered to the West Indies, and the two brothers will not now be separated, both continuing in the Grenadiers, and with Captain McLean, who, being a protégé of mine, will, I am sure, feel towards them just as I could wish. I flatter myself therefore that you as well as they will feel rather pleased at the event than otherwise. But as it is extremely probable that at this moment the advance they may get on embarkation may not be equal to meet the little demands upon them, for the payment of the debts they must have contracted for their equipment, should they require any little aid to discharge every stiver with punctuality and honor, a failure in which would be unlike the principles instilled into them by their good father, I commission you to find out what additions they may require, and to tell them that I shall be their banker for it; at the same time assure them of my most friendly regard and best wishes. With regard to your recruiting from out the prison ships, I am not sorry that it is suspended for the moment, as Lieut.-Col. Buller is about to go from the 3rd Battalion to the 2nd, with which he is to embark as 2nd Lieut.-Colonel, when the command of the 3rd will devolve on Major McDonnell, and that of the 4th remain exclusively with Major Muller, from whom you will be sure of receiving every aid you can wish or desire.

As to the musicians, I do not think it worth while having any more plague with them, since they choose to be so stubborn, and therefore it will be perhaps as well to decide on not having Dacosta

up.

From General Mink I am sure you will receive every possible assistance, were his hands not tied up as they are, and I am much obliged to you for the attention you have shewn the poor fellow whom I really am interested about, but it would not be fair in us to encourage him to go against his orders, as that might be very injurious to him, and I am sure we will always be more successful by following our present plan than by any other. I have not time to add more, I am, &c., EDWARD.

CHAPTER XII.

Letters to the de Salaberry's.-The Duke's strong attachment and untiring exertions for them.

1807.

THE last chapter was concluded by a letter from the Duke, announcing that Maurice and Louis de Salaberry had been suddenly and unexpectedly ordered with their Battalion for India. The following letter from one of the brothers, shews what they felt on the subject.

It may be mentioned that it was a custom among the French families to call the eldest son in common parlance, by the family name, thus in speaking of his elder brother the writer here refers to him as de Salaberry. The second son was in like manner designated " Chevalier," but in the present case from the circumstance alluded to by Madame de St. Laurent in one of her letters, Louis the third brother was known as "Chevalier."

PORTSMOUTH,
April 1st, 1807.

MY DEAR FATHER,-You will be a little astonished when I tell you that we are to embark in three or four days for India. We are waiting for the ships which are expected every moment. They are Indiamen. It will be much more pleasant to be on board such vessels than in transports, for they are like men of war. Tho' my dear father it is a very good country for us, I nevertheless feel very much at the idea of being absent from you and the family for such a long time; but it is the fortune of war.

This Battalion, the 2nd, is 1,000 strong, rank and file. It was reported here a few days before our going to India, we should go to Buenos Ayres, but no confirmation of it. It is not impossible, we might go by the Cape of Good Hope, for Government is determined to recapture that country. If we are really lucky enough to go there we shall perhaps make a fortune, but this is not expected.

His R. Highness came down here to inspect us, and stayed two days. The very first thing he did when he knew of our going on board, was to write to de Salaberry, begging of him to give us the

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