134 BECORDS AND REMINISCENCES OF GOODWOOD 



leaves, a bit of red riband, a little metal cross, or a 

 medal, when we question much if mere money 

 considerations could have induced him to peril 

 life or limb in the contest. No matter how paltry 

 in itself the reward may be, if it is given by the 

 country as a reward for faithful services, and is 

 recognized by the people as a token of dangers 

 endured and victories won on their account, it will 

 be esteemed by the most practical and sensible of 

 warriors a full recompense for all his 'privations. 

 But for the Duke of Richmond, however, their 

 claims might have never been recognized, or only 

 been acknowledged when there were none left to 

 make them. At last, however, these faithful soldiers 

 and sailors, whom battle or the lapse of years has 

 yet left to us, have been rewarded by the war medal. 

 ... It was sad, to be sure, to witness some old 

 man, whose breast presented a harvest of orders and 

 decorations, sinking beneath the weight of years, 

 and to think that he would soon pass away from 

 among us, and that there were men who could only 

 see in the event a happy lightening of the annual 

 bill for military services. But generally they bore 

 themselves well, and baffled speculations as to age 

 by a rigid, uncompromising muscularity of face and 

 figure, that told of hard work and little luxury in 

 days gone by. . . . The sight now and then of a 

 coat-sleeve looped up neatly to the breast button, 



