KIXG VICTOR EMM^\JS"UEL. 125 



paign couutry, well cultivated with vineyards and corn 

 fields, and here and there swampy grounds, where we 

 found plenty of snipes, which were never shot at by 

 the gentry or the lower class, ammunition being scarce 

 with the latter. The first red-legged partridge I shot at 

 I only winged ; he ran into a strong fence of prickly 

 pear, and not being aware of the reception I should 

 meet, its motto being "Nemo one iriipune lacessit,^^ I 

 rushed into the fence from my eagerness to catch him. 

 However, I was glad to make a hasty retreat to avoid the 

 sharp thorns, which had already wounded me in several 

 parts, but one of the dogs caught the bird. I believe 

 the noblemen and gentlemen who reside in the capital 

 take no pleasure in field sports, for I never once 

 met any of them, excepting when we went wild-boar 

 hunting on horseback with Mr. Hill's large rough grey- 

 hounds in the plains. They were too idle to walk. 



Our minister informed me that the king, Victor 

 Emmanuel, had fixed a day for the reception of those 

 persons who wished to be presented to him and the 

 Queen, and that he should have much pleasure in 

 introducing me. Having brought my regimentals, and 

 therefore prepared for the ceremony, I accepted the 

 obliging offer, and was most graciously received by 

 his Majesty. He made many inquiries respecting our 

 army, the strength of our garrison at Malta, and whe- 

 ther our men-of-war had brought many prizes to that 

 island.* 



* "UTiilst I was ill garrison at Malta the late Su- Robert Barry, -n-ho 

 was a particular friend of mine, then commanding the Pomone frigate, 

 was informed that Lucien Bonaparte and his family had left Genoa 

 on a Toyage to the United States, with the intention of residing there, 

 having quarrelled -with his brother the Emperor. In consequence 

 of this, Capt. Barry kept a sharp look-out, and captured the American 

 K 3 



