transferred somewhere else; the other five he allowed to remain,
but only for as short a time as possible till he could get rid of them
also, as he told them his company should not be disgraced by them
longer than he could help. He likewise told them that many of his
privates deserved the stripes more than they did; and indeed it was
not long before he got them transferred, and their places filled up by
some of the braver heroes from among such of the privates as had at
all distinguished themselves in any conflict.

CHAPTER XXI.

Embarkation of the troops -- Lawrence's regiment sent to Ireland
-- He receives his pay for the war and promptly spends it --
Ordered on foreign service again to the West Indies -- Terrific
storm which compels the fleet to put back into Cork -- Arrival at
Barbadoes -- Death of a young captain from fever -- Jamaica --
Discovery of a female stowaway -- Lawrence told off to deposit
her on shore -- The regiment proceeds to New Orleans -- A new
kind of fortification to be stormed -- Doings in camp on Dolphin
Isle -- Return to England -- News arriving of Napoleon's escape
from Elba, the regiment is sent on at once to Flanders -- Ghent
-- March to Brussels.

After remaining at Bordeaux for five or six weeks the army embarked on
board ships bound for various parts of the British Isles. Our regiment
was again despatched to Ireland, most of us being Irish. We were
conveyed thither by the _Sultan_, a fine man-of-war with seventy-four
guns. We had a very good passage, and amused ourselves very much with
the sailors on board, who on their part had many a good laugh at our
general ragged appearance. We landed in Ireland at Monkstown, near
Cork, and marched thence to Fermoy, whence after lying two three days
in the barracks there, we proceeded to Athlone in West Meath, where we
were stationed for about two months.

The regiment had never been settled with during the whole of our
Peninsular trip of six years, though money had been advanced to us at
various places, so now while we were waiting at this place the
accounts were made up, and some of our sergeants found they had as
much as 50_l._ or 60_l._ to receive. My own lot amounted to 40_l._, I
being one of the younger sergeants. When our pay had been given us a
week's furlough was granted to the whole regiment, and no doubt most
of the money melted away in that period--at least, I know mine di