120 EEMIXISCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAIT. 



month of September Major Sutton visited Malta. From 

 having been schoolfellows at Rugby, we naturally re- 

 sumed our intimacy, and he frequently dined with me 

 at the mess of our regiment. Just before quitting 

 Malta he announced his intention of going on a visit 

 to the Hon. William Hill (afterwards Lord Berwick), 

 also a Eugbean, who was British Minister at the 

 court of the King of Sardinia, and resided at Cagliari, 

 where the king held his court, the French republic 

 having deprived him of his Piedmont ese dominions 

 and the Duchy of Savoy. Major Sutton expected, 

 from what he had heard of the shooting in Sardinia, to 

 have first-rate sport. I confess I envied him this grati- 

 fying prospect, being then a decided disciple of St. Hu- 

 bert. Observing my anxiety to be of the party, and 

 to escape from the " little military hot-house," he pro- 

 mised as soon as he arrived at Cagliari to ask jNlr. Hill 

 to send me an invitation, certain that he would do so, 

 and that we shoidd have some capital shooting together. 

 He kept his word, and succeeded in his embassy, for, to 

 my great joy, I received a letter from the major, -svith a 

 most friendly invitation from ]Mr. Hill. 



Having obtained two months' leave of absence from 

 the late Greneral Sir Hildebrand Oakes, an excellent 

 officer and a most hospitable man, and having made 

 all my preparations for the shooting expedition, 

 amongst them an excellent Joe Manton gun, I em- 

 barked on board a king's packet arrived from Con- 

 stantinople on its way to England with despatches, 

 and which was to touch at Cagliari to receive those 

 of our Minister there. Nothing could be more un- 

 propitious than the commencement of this voyage. 

 For nearly a week w^e had a strong wind right in our 



