sisted of about twenty-five sail convoyed by a frigate. Yesterday a lugger hove in sight about 6 A. M. From her appear

ance we supposed her to be an enemy. There was only one transport with us, so that we should cut a very poor figure against a lugger, which in general carries heavy metal. She hoisted English colours and passed us about twelve, though not within gunshot. We did not admire her hoisting English colours, which looked rather suspicious. She hovered round us some time, and at last went out to sea, when we perceived that she took down all her sails and put up fresh ones, which gave her quite a different appearance. This confirmed us in our opinion that she had some evil designs, and we expected a visit from her in the night. About four o'clock a pilot came on board us, who said she was a Spaniard, who had been cruising off Lisbon for three or four days past. Upon this we prepared ourselves as well as we could, resolved to do our best, and stand out to the last. During the whole fourteen weeks we have been at sea, we have been generally separated from the rest of the fleet off the Spanish coast, for we are one of the slowest sailers in the fleet. After having been so long exposed to the mercy of any enemy that chose to appear, it would be hard indeed to be taken in sight of Lisbon, where we expected our cruise would be at an end. The evening was very dark, so that it was difficult to perceive a ship unless very near. About 8 P.M. the lugger passed close across our bows, with the intention we suppose of seeing what we were. We determined the next time she came near us to fire into her, and find out what she was, but we did not see her afterwards. Most likely seeing us to be a troopship, she did not like attacking us as she would perhaps lose a number of men, and could not gain much if she took us.

'Thus ended the premeditated achievements of the Brailsford transport off Lisbon!

This morning the wind came fair, and we are now at anchor in the harbour. The greatest part of the fleet are a great way to the leeward, and will most probably not get in for several days. It has always been a recommendation to the regi

ment, as well as a satisfaction to all the officers, that since we embarked from England we are the healthiest regiment in the whole army. Some regiments have two or three hundred sick,

and their ships are perfect hospitals.

I do not believe we have

twelve men sick in the whole three battalions, In our ship we have not one.'

To his Aunt.

'Lisbon: December 10, 1800.

I told you in my last that we expected to land every day, but barracks could not be got ready till about a fortnight ago. All the officers are in lodgings, as there are no barracks for us. We are allowed lodging money, so that we are very well off. I have got into a very comfortable box, with two other officers, which, however, I believe we shall not keep long, as we have had orders to return to England. You no doubt heard this long before us. It is reported that we are going to war with Russia. I hope this is far from being the case.

'We are very well pleased with our quarters here; Lisbon is a very fine city, but I never was in a dirtier place. We have not seen all the lions yet, but as our stay is so uncertain, I have determined to have a peep at everything worth seeing before I leave the place. I have received the most flattering encouragement and marked attention from Sir James Pulteney and General Manners. Pray tell Colonel Benson when you see him that Sir James Pulteney inquired very much after him when I dined with him last Sunday. I cannot help mentioning that it is entirely to him that I owe all the attention I have been honoured with. I have forgot to tell you that Colonel Fisher is appointed Brigadier-General, and commands the 3rd battalion of the 9th. We lost General Manners when we were lying off Cadiz. Never were fellows more disappointed, for though I have the greatest respect for Colonel Fisher, yet we could not help regretting the loss of a commanding officer with whom we had been on service before, and who we all hoped would have headed us when we expected to attack Cadiz. He was beloved and respected by men and officers,'

His notebook entry about the same time is

Lisbon would appear to much greater advantage were the streets kept clean, which is far from being the case. Their churches are magnificent; the altar-piece in St. Roque is said to be the richest in Europe. The aqueduct which supplies all Lisbon with water, situated about three miles from the town, is reported to be the grandest of the kind in the world. This stood unshaken during the great earthquake (1755) which convulsed the whole country round, as appears from its rugged appearance and the ruins. The people seem an indolent race ; quiet if unmolested, but once provoked revengeful to excess. It is looked upon as a prodigy if three or four murders are not committed every week. They are bigoted to the Catholic religion. They seem to have a great aversion to the English.

'Several men have been murdered since we came here. Their soldiers (such as we have seen) appear sluggish and illdisciplined. We suppose that our coming has raised the price of provisions, for they are very dear. The weather is fine, and the heat sometimes oppressive, even at this time of year. Their principal amusements are on Sunday. The opera is very good, though perhaps inferior to that of London.'

In December orders for returning home were received, and on the 20th the 9th Regiment were once more on board the old Brailsford. They sailed out of the Tagus on the 29th; but the new century began for them inauspiciously, as they encountered very heavy weather, which on the 3rd increased to a gale. The diary says:

At 7 P.M. gale more violent than ever, with heavy rain. The old Brailsford sprung a leak; we are now worse off than ever; they have three feet of water in our hold; however, we manage to stop it up pretty well, but not completely.

'4th.-The gale increases at night; we are in danger of running aboard a ship, the man at our helm being drunkbad work!'

On the 21st they reached Portsmouth, but after the ship had been fumigated they were re-embarked for Jersey.

Heard of the news of the death of General Goldsworthy, January 8.

'February 1.-We land at St. Aubins and march to St. Heliers. We are in the Granville barracks, the 2nd and 3rd battalions in the town. This is a very fine island, and we are in the pleasantest part of it. Our men are falling sick every day, on account of having been on board ship so long.

24. We have now scarcely 200 effective men in the battalion, which was 700 strong. The other battalions are very sickly, though not so bad as we. It is reported that the French intend attacking the island. We should at this moment muster a very small force, but they are British soldiers!

Recruiting parties are ordered to be sent to England immediately from each battalion. I am appointed aide-de-camp 1 to General Benson.

' March 10.-Embark on board the packet with my recruiting party, landing next day at Southampton, and send my party on to Liverpool.

April 1.-Arrive at Liverpool. I was unsuccessful, in common with nearly the whole army, in raising men.'

In June 1802 Gomm rejoined his regiment in Silverdale, and in August they went to Chatham; in October to Plymouth.

1803.-Early in this year he raised men for rank, and thereby got his promotion to a field officer's company in June.

In September the regiment embarked for Ireland, landed at Kinsale, a wretched hole. March through Cork to Kilkenny, county Tipperary, very highly cultivated: Cork, mountainous and barren. Kilkenny, very flat, but rich and well cultivated. The regiment is reviewed here by the Com

That the duties of aide-de-camp were discharged to the satisfaction of the public is testified by the fact that, at a common council, held on January 6, 1802, on the motion of the Mayor, Peter Whitfield Berncher, Esq., Lieutenant William Gomm was presented with the freedom of the City of Liverpool, for his general attention to the duties of his office as aide-de-camp to Major-General Benson, commanding officer of the North-Western District, during the time of his residence in the town.

mander-in-Chief, Lord Cathcart. Two of our sentries were fired at by some mischievous persons-a trick much practised in Dublin at this time by the disaffected-chiefly upon the yeomanry, at night; one of them was wounded in the ham, the offender never discovered. Some of us fall in love with Kilkenny.'

1804.-In the beginning of January the regiment marched to Kilbeggen, Moat, and Clara, county Westmeath. A very flat country all the way; the roads remarkably good; provisions much cheaper than in England; the people indignant to excess. Accommodation on the roads indifferent. The country is quiet now; invasion by the French, or rather an attempt at invasion, daily expected. The regular force in the country is supposed to be about twenty-six thousand, militia included.

"We found Portarlington the only town worth noticing on our route; it is much smaller than Kilkenny, and appears to have little to do with trade, but there are many excellent houses, and consequently I suppose there is a very genteel society.'

It is no doubt matter for some surprise to find that William Gomm, who joined his regiment as a mere boy, and at once went abroad on active service, should have found time and opportunity to make himself a well-educated man, both in history, classics, and modern languages; for in those days our regimental messes were not supposed to represent a high state of mental culture. One of the secrets of his success is given in aletter to his sister from Kilbeggen, January 17, 1804.

'I generally pass my mornings, when not engaged in regimental duty, with which by-the-bye, we are far from bein g overburdened at present, in reading history.' In the same letter occurs the following amusing story: I do not know if you have ever heard of the famous Lady Cuffe. She keeps the inn at this place; we have been not a little entertained at the story of her obtaining and retaining the title. It is first of all necessary to tell you that the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has, or had, the power of knighting whom he thought proper. The Duke of Rutland, while presiding in this country, hap