The infantry destined to serve on our expedition, were three battalions of the Foot Guards; the Eighth, or king's regiment; the famous Twentieth, or Kingsley's; the Welsh Fusileers; the Edinburgh regiment; the Twenty-fourth; Thirtieth; Thirty-third; Thirty-fourth; Thirty-sixth, Sixty-eighth, and the regiments of Richmond and Talbot. From Southsea Common the whole force was ordered to the Isle of Wight, where for a short time a camp was formed; but on the same night that the order for this movement was issued, I was despatched on duty to London, bearer of a letter from Commodore Howe to the Lords of the Admiralty. I knew not what its contents were then, but departed on my mission with the document in my sabretasche, my orders being simply to deliver it at the Admiralty office, and to bring back the answer without a moment of delay. I shall now proceed to relate how I was personally concerned in the contents of the document entrusted to me for delivery. From the day I joined the army, I was full of eagerness to bring myself prominently before my leaders; but my first essay was singularly unfortunate in its sequel. One evening when on duty as sentry on foot with my carbine, posted near some sea-stores that were piled on the beach, not far from Southsea Castle, I observed two men of a foreign and somewhat suspicious aspect, who were loitering near, and observing with unmistakeable interest the shipping in the harbour, the distant camp on the common, and the stores that were piled near the castle-gate. On perceiving that I observed them they came directly up to me, and touched their hats with great politeness. "Mon camarade," said one, in very good French, "we are French sailors----" "Then you have no business to be loitering here," said I, bluntly and hastily. "Pardonnez-moi, camarade; but we cannot help it." "Then you are prisoners of war?" "Nay----" stammered the other. "What then?" "Deserters," was the candid response. "You are very rash to be here at such a time." "We have escaped from the castle of St. Malo, where we were shamefully treated, and are anxious to offer our services and our knowledge of the coast." "To us?" "_Oui--mon brave,_" said the fellow, with a grimace. "Against your own country?" "Sacre! our country deserves nothing better at our hands," he continued, smiling and bowing. My disgust was so strong that I felt tempted to club my carbine and knock the traitor down: but I restrained the emotion and said-- "I am only a private dragoon, and can in no way assist you--so please to move off. It is contrary to orders for me to converse thus, and for you to loiter here." "We are aware of that," said one, in a deep, growling voice, who had not yet spoken; "but monsieur will perhaps direct us to whom we can apply." "If you have been in the French Marine service, you should know that well enough yourself."