there quitted our ranks a man, of whom I shall have occasion to speak in the sequel, a native of Alsace, and a thorough soldier-sergeant Bliss. He went over to the enemy with his horse and other appointments, and was immediately promoted by them to the rank of a brigadier of cavalry. Well inured to the operations of war (for he had served formerly in the French army), Bliss became from that time our most formidable opponent. He headed all the scouting parties that broke in upon our lines-he led the advance wherever our outposts were to be attacked, and he was particularly active in causing handbills and printed papers to be thrown about-of which it was the object to entice our men into the adoption of his example. Many a plan was laid for seizing him, but they all failed; for he was an admirable horseman-he was particularly well mounted, and always contrived to keep at such a distance from his old comrades that none ever succeeded in crossing swords with him.

Such was the condition of the army in general, and of the Prince of Wales's hussars in particular; when even my iron frame, which had hitherto withstood all ima ginable attacks, yielded to the violence of the prevailing epidemic, and I became alarmingly ill. I was sent to the hospital at Cradobuckee, whence neither I nor any of my friends expected that I should be removed alive; but my constitution was excellent, and being treated with the greatest care, I weathered the five days, which few before me had seen out, and began slowly to recover. It is but just to state that my recovery I owe, in a very great degree, to the kindness of a negro nurse, who watched over me as tenderly as if I had been her own son; and was not tempted, even by the prospect of gain, to neglect me. For I had saved a pretty large sum of money, which I brought to the hospital in my saddle-bags, and in the simplicity of my heart, showed to her, assuring her, at the same time, that if I died, all should be hers, whereas if I recovered, she should have only a part.

Honour be to that noble-hearted negress whose right feeling the prospect of possessing all my store never corrupted. She carried me about in her arms like an infant —she watched beside my bed day and night, and brought me through. I gave her twelve Spanish dollars, and she was most grateful.

I pass by the occurrence of an earthquake while I lay in the hospital, for these things are common enough in the West Indies. Neither will I stop longer than to mention that the apartment in which I lay contained eighty beds, and that these were thrice filled and thrice emptied, the occupants going in succession to the grave during my sojourn. As to the hospital for invalids, it was managed on a different system, and gave to each of us all that we could possibly need, and almost all that we desired. At last, I rejoined my regiment, where my arrival was hailed as an event altogether unexpected; and my comrades were so happy to see me, that they made me ill again. But through that attack also I made my way; and I never again committed imprudences similar to those which brought it on. Moreover, I had not long been returned to my duty, when our squadron received orders to reinforce a body of infantry, by whom a redoubt, somewhat in advance of the position, was held. The enemy, it appeared, had given out that they would eat their new-year's dinner in that redoubt; and the post being an important one, the commander-in-chief determined not to yield it without a struggle. As it happened, the French never made the attempt. But the officer commanding our garrison not wishing to be idle, turned the tables, and, on his own responsibility, pushed forward one dark night, and took a whole body of French gentlemen prisoners, while enjoying the festivities of a dance within their own lines.

The time was now, however, at hand when the prophecy of Mr. Kiester, which, when first uttered, I had treated with such disrespect, was destined to receive its

accomplishment. There was no hope of success for the English in St. Domingo; in consequence of which our advanced line was abandoned, and we fell back to Port au Prince. A negotiation followed, of which the results were, that we agreed to evacuate the island-the French undertaking to return to us our prisoners, and to treat with kindness such, both inhabitants and soldiers, as judged it expedient to stay behind. It was now that Mr. Kiester, true to his original determination, hastened down to see me. Again he offered me the hand of one of his daughters, with an assurance that, at his death, all the property should come to me; but I declined it. Upon this he urged my acceptance of ten doubloons-entreated me, if I should change my mind in England, to returnlaid in for me a sea-stock superior to that of any officer in the corps--and took of me an affectionate farewell, I acknowledge that my heart misgave me when his back was fairly turned; and I think now, that my continued refusal of his alliance and patronage argued more of ob stinacy, on my part, than of prudence and good sense.

CHAPTER V.

I return to England, and pass from one corps to another. Visit Guernsey, Weymouth, and other places.

I HAVE as yet said nothing to illustrate either the manners of the settlers in St. Domingo, or to convey to my reader's mind any idea of the influence which these exerted on the minds of our officers. Like almost all the planters from France or Spain with whom, in the course of a wandering life, it has been my fortune to come in contact, the white people of this island were singularly illiterate. Their great passion seemed to be for gaming, a vice which they carried to such an excess, as to stake upon a card or the turn of a die, not only their ready money, but horses, carriages, slaves-nay, even their very lands. I have seen a French gentleman drive into Port au Prince on one evening (with what was there accounted an elegant equipage), in his carriage, drawn by four mules, and attended by a numerous cortége of servants— and return from it the next day on foot, after losing all, in addition to some thousands of dollars, at the faro-table. It was scarcely to be expected that from the influence of this dangerous vice our officers should altogether protect themselves. Several took to the gambling-house as they would to a mercantile occupation; and one, in particular, underwent such curious reverses of fortune, that I may, perhaps, be permitted to allude to them.

Captain Von Beckenhaupt, of our corps, was a very good officer, though somewhat violent in his temper, and very wilful. He was one of the first to visit the farotable at Port au Prince; and beginning at first with small stakes, he went on from day to day till he became as bold and dexterous a player as the best of them. I remember his returning to his quarters in the advance on several occasions, loaded with money. So weighty, in

deed, were the bags of dollars, that he was forced to hire persons to carry them; and once he emptied them out on the floor of his apartment, being too much elated even to count them. Next night he returned in equal triumph; while on the third he brought with him, not money alone, but a carriage, mules, slaves, and various trinkets, all of which he had won from an unfortunate planter. So much good luck could not fail, however, to render an ardentminded man giddy. Captain Von Beckenhaupt grudged even the time that was required for the performance of his ordinary duty; and being ordered to march with his troop to a distant station, he refused to obey. The consequence was, that, rather than be tried by a courtmartial, he sent in his resignation, which was accepted. But behold the result! Having removed to Port au Prince, and resigned himself wholly to gaming as to a business, his luck changed, and his winnings went from him; and so reduced was he when we marched in for the purpose of embarkation, that he was forced to solicit the charity of his former companions, in order to hinder him from starving. A subscription was raised for him in the corps, of which he received the amount. But how he used it, or what ultimately became of him, I do not know.

At the period of which I have just spoken as that of our return to the capital of French St. Domingo, the Prince of Wales's hussars were sadly reduced in point of numbers. When we landed at St. Nicholas de Mole, we could muster very nearly eleven hundred men; we were now about two hundred and twenty fit for duty, and about as many more in hospital. Of the latter, some, who considered themselves convalescent, followed us on board ship, and not a few out of this number were committed, during our homeward passage, to the deep. But the circumstance which gave greatest annoyance to the healthy members of the corps was the wretched condition of the vessel into which we were crowded. A drunken