_Capt. Ball._ There is none like him; he is a good soldier, a prudent general, and a kind man. He was strict and severe while in the Peninsula, but he could have done nothing had he not been so; not only his own private interests, but his country's hopes and glory, depended upon his success. Gentlemen, I'll give you “The Duke of Wellington and the Army.” [_This toast was drunk standing, and with “three times three,” and the band played “Rule Britannia” in the finest style._] _Capt. Killdragon._ By Gad! Wellington is the boy that made _work_-men of us at any rate. _Major Mc Rocket._ Yir nae far oot there, Killdragon; an' if we tak the field again, I hope he'll gang wi' us. _Major Swordly._ Mr. President, the paymaster on your right there, is neglecting his _accounts_ very much:—bring him to _book_, and send the decanter this way. _Mr. Cashly._ Don't fear, Major; I'll take a _receipt in full now:—à votre santé_. _Major Swordly._ Mr. Quartermaster Sharp, you should keep to the _allowance_,—come, fill! _Mr. Sharp._ I assure you, Major, I like a _full ration_. _Dr. Slaughtery._ So do we all; and if we go out again, Sharp, my boy, we'll keep you to your word. _Mr. Sharp._ I don't care how soon this may happen; another campaign would do the regiment no harm, particularly as regards these young subalterns here. _Ensign Steel._ Heaven grant we may have another breeze! _Major Mc Rocket._ Tak care, mun; it may come a bit too soon. _Ensign Steel._ No, Major, not a minute too soon. I don't like home service; give me the field. I wish I had it in my power to volunteer to-night for the storming of a breach at daybreak. _Capt. Ball._ You might have too much of that too, my boy; like young O'Connel, a lad of about eighteen—your own age. He volunteered on the storming-party at Badajoz, for his ensigncy in the 59th, and escaped; he then volunteered on the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, and there also escaped,—got his Lieutenancy. Again, at the storming of St. Sebastian he _would_ volunteer, against the advice of all his brother officers. God knows! to have stormed twice as he had done, was enough for any _one_, but he was determined, and like a hero mounted the breach. _Capt. Killdragon._ I saw him that day almost at the head of the column, smiling with as much confidence as if he thought the balls knew him and would run away from him. _Capt. Ball._ Poor lad! he was made a riddle of. I counted sixteen ball-wounds in his body.