70 BEC0BD8 AND REMINISCENCES OF GOODWOOD 



friend of the fourth Duke of Richmond, as previously 

 stated, and took much interest in his son, then Earl 

 of March. 



As soon as Lord March was gazetted, his strong 

 desire was to see active service, and to this end he, 

 like his great Chief, was ready to accept any em- 

 ployment, however subordinate, to which his sovereign 

 might appoint him. 



Lord March soon made his preparations and 

 secured a passage in the first transport bound for 

 the Tagus. Upon this transport the accommodation 

 was very different from that which our troops now 

 meet with in the splendid ships which carry them 

 to our Indian Empire. 



The rations were execrable — coarse "salt junk," 

 Irish pork, weevilly biscuits, impure water, and fiery 

 rum were the daily fare. 



When, in the summer of 1810, Lord March took 

 leave of his family, it was a pathetic farewell, for 

 he had to say good-bye to no less than thirteen 

 brothers and sisters. 



Upon reaching Lisbon he met with a cordial 

 reception from Vice-Admiral Berkeley and his wife, 

 who pressed him to make their house his home ; but 

 without loss of time he pressed forward to the head- 

 quarters of the army, where he met with a good 

 reception from the Duke of Wellington, who placed 

 him at once on his personal staff. 



