RETURN TO ENGLAND--PARIS--ENGLISH AND FRENCH OFFICERS--UN VERITABLE ROSBIF--PLUM POUDIN--TOUCHING COURTESY--ISLE OF WIGHT--PARKHURST BARRACKS--ELECTION AT COWES--A TIPSY DRIVER--CAMP AT CHOBHAM--VISITORS TO THE CAMP--THE REV. DR. CUMMING--IN THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS--ORDERED TO THE EAST--GENEROUS CONDUCT OF THE CUNARDS--WAR DITTIES--SCUTARI--A WRESTLING MATCH--A GOOD STORY--A FAIRY SCENE--THE SULTAN’S WIFE. CHAPTER III. On our arrival in England we disembarked at Chatham and marched to Canterbury, where we were quartered for some months. The 17th Lancers, who occupied the cavalry barracks, were one of the most hospitable and pleasant corps I ever met; many of them have passed away, many of them fell in the glorious charge of Balaclava, but at the time of which I write they formed a gathering of the finest specimens of the light dragoon. When the leave time came round I went to Paris. The late emperor was then President of the French Republic, and enjoyment seemed the order of the day. The balls of the Tuileries were most amusing; all officers were in uniform, and the dress of the 17th Lancers of that day, several of whom were present at one of these balls, was universally admired. I went in the tight coatee with epaulettes which was an infantry officer’s costume at that time, and no doubt thought myself very fine; but my vanity received a shock when a French lady passed, and, looking towards me, said to her friend, ‘Ma foi, c’est un véritable Rosbif!’ We were received with great civility by the officers of the artillery quartered at Vincennes, who invited us to pay them a visit, which we did a day or two after the ball. Nothing could exceed the friendliness of these French gunners. We dined with them in a café, as they had no mess, and I remember the great event was the ‘plum poudin,’ the very remembrance of which fills my mind with horror. The excitement of the Frenchmen was intense when a large soup tureen was placed on the table. ‘Ah, le voilà! Le plum poudin! Ah, oh!’ When the cover was removed a mass of liquid horrors was brought to view, among which a bottle of cognac was poured and then lighted. This fearful decoction was ladled out into soup plates, and with anxious eyes our friends gazed on us as we began to eat. I suppose the brandy saved us, but we certainly endangered our lives for the honour of our country.