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and rivers as may be conceived from the number of its bridges
We were in this Town several days, quatered on the houses of the
inhabitants, who treated us with attention and hospitality beyond
all comparison – the family with which I resided seemed
to consider me as one of themselves, and I was under a
a species of compulsion of dining altogether at their table –

On the 25 of July I took leave of this worthy family and preceded
my Regiment by one days march, which I was directed to
do till we reached St. Denis, in order that quarters might be
ready for it on arriving – This was one advantage arising
from my small knowledge of the French language, for instead
of a tiresome march with my Regiment, I was permitted
to start off every Evening by myself. In our march through
Flanders we were much gratified to find that our Countrymen
were invariably well spoken of, and stood very high in
the estimation of the inhabitants; and that their conduct
in the late operations had been even more exemplary than
that of the native Troops.

As it would be only tiring your
patience I shall not detain you on the road to Paris
but merely mention that we passed through Mons, entered
the French territory at Bavay, and completed our March to
St. Denis on the 9th of August, a distance from Ghent of
about two Hundred Miles. We are now only a short walk
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of endearment had rendered precious in your estimation, be laid waste, what
wanton zeal would be displayed in the research, and how strangely the human
mind directed to the commission of such at once useless and unnecessary –
But let me not disturb my dearest, my tenderest mother, the tranquility which
I hope you enjoy, by so sad and melancholy a supposition.

We were in this Village only two days when an
order came for us to encamp (and the ground pointed out for the
purpose was a plain between St Denis and Paris, where we were exposed to
the Sein [Seine] as well as numberless other inconveniences incident to Camps, within
view of all the commodiousness and luxury of Paris – But the education of a
Soldier teaches him to submit cheerfully to privations worse than these)

During the fortnight we remained in this encampment we saw hosts
of the allied troops on their march – One day the King of France drove by, and
the soldiers attracted by the equipage ran in crowds as to a spectacle per-
ceiving who it was, they spontaneously gave his Majesty three such cheers
as I dare swear neither he nor his family will receive from the Parisians
for the next generation. Two days before we broke up we were reviewed
by the Duke of Wellington together with the other Regiments composing
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