AND THE DUKES OF RICEMOND. 81 



of the battery that if he would fire canister at the 

 enemy's cavalry, the Fusiliers would be greatly 

 relieved. " Enemy's cavalry ? " said the officer ; " they 

 belong to the German Legion." " You are wrong," 

 Lord March replied. " I am confident they are 

 French. I have no authority to order you to resume ; 

 but if you ceased fire under the impression that they 

 were friends, not foes, I advise you to blaze away 

 again." In a second the officer took the hint, and 

 again opened the ball in a manner that compelled 

 the French to fall back as quickly as they could dance. 

 When this was reported to Wellington, he warmly 

 commended the young stafi" officer, who was always 

 on the alert. 



At the termination of this memorable campaign, 

 when peace was signed. Lord March retired from 

 active service, his health being much impaired ; and 

 though his dangerous wound healed, it permanently 

 precluded violent exercise on horseback. Had he 

 remained in the service he would, no doubt, have 

 been promoted, and would have filled positions of 

 eminence. But his sense of honour did not permit 

 him to stand in the way of the promotion of more 

 active officers. 



In April, 1816, the Earl of March married Lady 

 Caroline Paget, eldest daughter of his old friend and 

 comrade in arms, the Marquis of Anglesey. This 

 union was in every respect happy and fortunate. 



G 



