The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer | Page 4

brown and grey,
variegated the faded scarlet, "of our uniform," and scarcely a pair of
knees in the entire regiment did not confess their obligations to a
blanket. But with all this, we shewed a stout, weather-beaten front, that,
disposed as the passer-by might feel to laugh at our expense, very little
caution would teach him it was fully as safe to indulge it in his sleeve.
The bells from every steeple and tower rung gaily out a peal of
welcome as we marched into "that beautiful city called Cork," our band
playing "Garryowen"--for we had been originally raised in Ireland,
and still among our officers maintained a strong majority from that
land of punch, priests, and potatoes--the tattered flag of the regiment
proudly waving over our heads, and not a man amongst us whose
warm heart did not bound behind a Waterloo medal. Well--well! I am
now--alas, that I should say it--somewhat in the "sear and yellow;" and
I confess, after the experience of some moments of high, triumphant
feeling, that I never before felt within me, the same animating,
spirit-filling glow of delight, as rose within my heart that day, as I
marched at the head of my company down George's-street.
We were soon settled in barracks; and then began a series of
entertainments on the side of the civic dignities of Cork, which soon led
most of us to believe that we had only escaped shot and shell to fall less
gloriously beneath champagne and claret. I do not believe there is a
coroner in the island who would have pronounced but the one verdict
over the regiment--"Killed by the mayor and corporation," had we so
fallen.
First of all, we were dined by the citizens of Cork--and, to do them

justice, a harder drinking set of gentlemen no city need boast; then we
were feasted by the corporation; then by the sheriffs; then came the
mayor, solus; then an address, with a cold collation, that left eight of us
on the sick-list for a fortnight; but the climax of all was a grand
entertainment given in the mansion-house, and to which upwards of
two thousand were invited. It was a species of fancy ball, beginning by
a dejeune at three o'clock in the afternoon, and ending--I never yet met
the man who could tell when it ended; as for myself, my finale partook
a little of the adventurous, and I may as well relate it.
After waltzing for about an hour with one of the prettiest girls I ever set
eyes upon, and getting a tender squeeze of the hand, as I restored her
to a most affable-looking old lady in a blue turban and a red velvet
gown who smiled most benignly on me, and called me "Meejor," I
retired to recruit for a new attack, to a small table, where three of ours
were quaffing "ponche a la Romaine," with a crowd of Corkagians
about them, eagerly inquiring after some heroes of their own city,
whose deeds of arms they were surprised did not obtain special
mention from "the Duke." I soon ingratiated myself into this
well-occupied clique, and dosed them with glory to their hearts' content.
I resolved at once to enter into their humour; and as the "ponche"
mounted up to my brain I gradually found my acquaintanceship extend
to every family and connexion in the country.
"Did ye know Phil Beamish of the 3th, sir?" said a tall, red-faced,
red-whiskered, well-looking gentleman, who bore no slight
resemblance to Feargus O'Connor.
"Phil Beamish!" said I. "Indeed I did, sir, and do still; and there is not a
man in the British army I am prouder of knowing." Here, by the way, I
may mention that I never heard the name till that moment.
"You don't say so, sir?" said Feargus--for so I must call him, for
shortness sake. "Has he any chance of the company yet, sir?"
"Company!" said I, in astonishment. "He obtained his majority three
months since. You cannot possibly have heard from lately, or you
would have known that?"

"That's true, sir. I never heard since he quitted the 3th to go to
Versailles, I think they call it, for his health. But how did he get the step,
sir?"
"Why, as to the company, that was remarkable enough!" said I,
quaffing off a tumbler of champagne, to assist my invention. "You know
it was about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th that Napoleon
ordered Grouchy to advance with the first and second brigade of the
Old Guard and two regiments of chasseurs, and attack the position
occupied by Picton and the regiments under his command. Well, sir, on
they came, masked by the smoke of a terrific discharge of artillery,
stationed on a small eminence to our left,