280 A CONTRAST. 



interred. The second in command was 

 severely wounded, and as hastily em- 

 barked,* as did the remains of that fine 

 army, that had left our shores but a twelve- 

 month before, completely equipped, and in 

 perfect order. What a contrast was pre- 

 sented to me, when, in company with my 

 friend, I witnessed them straggling up Ports- 

 mouth streets, in a most deplorable condi- 

 tion ; many in a state of intoxication some 

 with fire-arms, some without some with 

 nothing on their heads, others without shoes, 

 their regimentals discoloured and torn, 

 they presented a true though lamentable 

 specimen of a retreating army. How it 

 was that two battalions of the King's 

 German Legion marched up after them 

 in good order, with all their equipments, 

 and each man with a spare pair of shoes 

 strapped on his knapsack, I never could 



* Sir David Baird was borne to his lodgings in the 

 High Street on the shoulders of his men, seated in a 

 wine-cask, with the loss of an arm. 



