AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 



papa. In his twenty-second year, Mr. Hector O'Brien was 

 a bold Lieutenant of Grenadiers in his Majesty's 50th Foot, 

 then distinguished by the nattering title of " The Dirty Half 

 Hundred."* My father was a strapping fellow as ever wore a 

 wing, kept a showy horse, and was decidedly the best dancer 

 in the regiment. Being quartered in the vicinity of Bath, he 

 attended the assemblies, and " in double quick" managed to 

 effect a conquest. The lady had a fortune, and my father 

 required one. Unluckily, she had a brother's consent to gain ; 

 and on being consulted, he was unmoved by importunity, and 

 deaf to " every plea of love." The case was hopeless. Mr. 

 Wamsley disliked Ireland, detested military men, and above all 

 things, abominated " The Dirty Half Hundred." 



To account for the gentleman's antipathy to this celebrated 

 corps, it will be necessary to remark, that the regiment was 

 then afflicted with a mad Major. His, the Major's delight, 

 ley in drinking port wine and slaying pheasants. Mr. Wams- 

 ley, on the contrary, preferred water and preserved game. 

 The Major beat up preserves without remorse, and deforced 

 keepers who, though good men and true, prudently declined 

 joining issue with mad Majors and double-barrelled guns. 

 Now Mr. Wamsley resisting an invasion of his rights, applied 

 to the Justice for redress, whereas Major O'Farrell considered 

 that a reference to the pistol would be much more gentlemanly 

 a deadly feud was the consequence, and Mr. Wamsley was 

 closely blockaded within his park walls by the military delin- 

 quent. Fortunately for all concerned, the regiment got the route ; 

 Mr. Wamsley recovered his liberty, and his detestation of the 

 gallant 50th only ended with his life. 



But his sister held a very different opinion respecting the 

 merits of the brave " Half Hundred." She was devoted to 

 the Lieutenant of Grenadiers, and the route hurried matters to 

 a crisis. The result may be anticipated. Despising park 

 walls and surly keepers, Mr. O'Brien overcame every diffi- 

 culty, and with the assistance of a garden-ladder, the mad 

 Major, and his double-barrelled gun, he carried off the lady, 

 and at Gretna they became " one flesh." 



Mr. Wamsley was irritated beyond the possibility of being 

 appeased. Ten thousand pounds, which his wife possessed 

 without the control of her brother, enabled my father to leave 



- rrom their black facings, the 50th received this sobriquet. 



