CHAPTER III.

1800-1805.

COAST OF PORTUGAL-VIGO BAY-GIBRALTAR-LISBON-RETURN HOMEAIDE-DE-CAMP TO GENERAL COMMANDING N.W. DISTRICT-IRELANDJOINS STAFF COLLEGE, HIGH WYCOMBE-COMES OF AGE-CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS AUNT.

UNTIL the middle of the year 1800 the 9th Regiment was quartered in Norwich, but in July they were ordered to embark on foreign service, which they did, not knowing their destination.

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From Diary.

August 1, 1800.- Embarked on board the Brailsford transport at Southampton.

The regiments embarked are Major-General Manners' Brigade-viz. the three battalions of the 9th Foot; MajorGeneral Coote's Brigade-viz. the 13th and 54th Regiments; Major-General Lord Cavan's Brigade, 79th and 52nd Regiments, together with the Royals and 27th Regiments, under Major-General Morshead.'

To his Aunt.

'Vigo Bay August 30, 1800.

This is the first opportunity I have had of writing to you since I left England. We sailed from Southampton on the 6th. On the 16th we arrived at Quiberon Bay, off the island of Belle Isle, with full expectation of attacking it. This, however, we afterwards found was not our destination. We sailed from Quiberon on the 22nd, and arrived on the Spanish coast, near Ferrol, on the 25th. Here we landed the same day without opposition, except from a small fort, which was soon silenced. We then advanced up

the country as soon as we were landed towards Ferrol, which was about six miles from the shore. The rifle corps were engaged a little in the evening, but very slightly. The intention in landing here was to get possession of six or seven Spanish sail of the line in the harbour, which, they say, are loaded with immense treasure. We slept on our arms in the night, and at about 5 A.M. a firing was commenced by the Spanish. The 52nd and 79th Regiments were engaged, and, I believe, another regiment or two, for about half an hour, when the Spaniards retreated; indeed, there never were more than a thousand of them together, so that you may easily conceive the fire could not be very heavy. The 9th was not actually engaged, though we were close in the rear ready to blaze if required. I have not yet told you that this part of the country is very hilly, indeed mountainous. Everything was now done but the taking Fort St. Philip, a very strong work, which prevented our men-of-war from sailing into the harbour and attacking the shipping, as it commanded the channel. To take the fort we only wanted to get our cannon to bear upon it; but to our great disappointment we found it impossible to get it up the heights, so that all our plans were frustrated. We were close to Ferrol the whole day, upon an eminence which commanded the whole town. We were in hopes of being able to storm the fort, but this was pronounced impracticable by the engineers from its very strong situation. It was a great disappointment to us when we reflected that town, shipping, dollars, and everything else were ours if it had been possible to bring our cannon into the country. Nothing was now left but to relinquish our enterprise, and the troops were re-embarked the same afternoon. Though the old 9th have not an opportunity of being engaged yet, the 1st battalion had the honour of covering the retreat of the whole army. We were left on the heights till the rest were embarked, to resist the enemy should they attempt to follow; but the poor fellows were very glad to let us off without any obstruction; indeed, I believe they would have lent us boats to row us to our ships if it had been necessary. They seem to be

very poor soldiers; the French would have made it much warmer work for us. We marched a single battalion six miles along their country, and even saw them on the adjacent heights kindling their fires (for it was quite dark), and the fellows were afraid to assault us in the least, when they might, in our opinions, have cut us to pieces had they shown the least spirit. I assure you we thought ourselves in a much more disagreeable situation than they chose to make it for us. Он the 27th we sailed from Ferrol, and are now in Vigo Bay. The country is, indeed, more beautiful than I can describe it to you. We are close in shore. We have heard this morning that we are now going to Gibraltar, there to meet with Sir Ralph Abercromby's army and to attack Cadiz. Another report is that we are going to different parts of the Mediterranean. . . The best direction I can give you is Lieut.General Sir James Pulteney's Floating Army, off the coast of Spain. . .

The journal entries for some days are only at anchor in Vigo Bay,' which is soon increased by tired of Vigo Bay.'

On September 6 there was a violent hurricane, in which some of the vessels were driven ashore, but the Brailsford, though she dragged her anchor, managed to hold, running foul of a frigate or two.

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The Brailsford sailed for the Straits of Gibraltar, and anchored for some days at Tetuan Bay, on the Morocco coast; and the diary records how, though forbidden to go ashore on account of the plague,' the young officers used to disguise ourselves as sailors when the boats go for water and smuggle grapes, figs, fowls, and everything that we can catch hold of."

In the beginning of October they went across to Cadiz.

October 5, 1800.-The ships belonging to Sir Ralph Abercromby's army, which did not join us at Tetuan, joined us in coming through the Straits. We lay about two leagues off the shore. Flags of truce are passing and repassing from the

moment.

shore to our fleet during the whole day, but we can learn nothing of the proceedings. We expect signals for landing every We hear to-day that General Manners is removed from our brigade, which is a great disappointment, for we hoped to be again on service with a commanding officer who had gained the love and esteem of his brigade. He sent us a shoulder of mutton and six bottles of wine.'

The three battalions of the 9th Regiment were then put under command of Major-General Fisher, and a general order was issued by Sir James Pulteney on October 5 detailing the landing which was to be effected that night. The wind, however, rose, and the surf was so high they were unable to land, but had to put out again to sea. On October 12 they were once more in Tetuan Bay, after encountering contrary winds, as usual, in the Straits. The journal says: The old tub Brailsford has the singular property of making about twice as much leeway as headway.' They remained off and on at Tetuan till the end of the month.

October 31.-Anchored in Gibraltar Bay. We understand that the three battalions of the 9th are to go to Lisbon. Several other regiments to go with us. The remainder to go, under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby, up the Mediterranean. We are permitted to go ashore at Gibraltar, on account of our having no sick, being the healthiest ship in the fleet.

'November 1.-Land this morning and see the guard mount. We go round the works. Find the town a miserable hole. They have no fresh provisions, on account of the plague raging in Barbary, from whence they get all their fresh provisions. We look upon ourselves as the luckiest fellows existing in not remaining here, which we had long been afraid would have been the case.'

At the same time he writes to his aunt from Gibraltar, showing how weary the troops were of doing nothing but knocking about on board ship. He says:

I have been in as good health since I have been on

board this "elegant ship," the Brailsford, as ever I was in my life, though, God knows, it is not from the comforts we have enjoyed. If we were doing our country service in lying on board transports in the manner we have done, that alone would remove all the inconveniences we labour under. We should then live sumptuously on salt junk; but rolling about in this way for no earthly purpose whatever, I own, does not suit with my taste. However, I believe we shall still remain loyal subjects. The army will not always be lying on board transports. I hope for the credit of the British army that something will soon be done worthy of them. I am afraid that the business of Ferrol and other occurrences are represented in a very disadvantageous light; but, however, I hope soon" you shall see what you shall see." We expect to winter in Portugal-at least everybody tells us we shall. We are all heartily glad that we are not destined to garrison Gibraltar, which we were once afraid of. I have been told that this is the place to make an officer, but at the same time it is a bad place for a young officer. The field is a much better school for him than a garrison-as our colonel often tells me. The town is a wretched hole. They have scarcely anything in it, having no intercourse with Barbary, from a report that the plague rages there. Everything they have is at an enormous price, and there is never any amusement for an officer but gaming and drinking. We have some prospects before us in going to Portugal; we shall have everything in plenty there, and may see a little service.'

To his Aunt.

'Off Lisbon; November 14, 1800.

'In my last letter from Gibraltar I told you we expected to sail for Lisbon every hour, but we were obliged to go back to Tetuan Bay again to get a supply of water. We sailed from Tetuan on the 5th, and got in sight of the rock of Lisbon on the 12th, with a fine breeze most of the time. On the 12th the wind came against us, and separated the fleet, which con

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