WALCHEREN EXPEDITION. 281 



understand ; but I remember it called forth 

 some severe remarks on military discipline, 

 or the want of it, from every respectable 

 observer. 



This was speedily forgotten in the 

 preparations that were made the following 

 Spring for the not ill-conceived, but badly 

 executed diversion to the waters of the 

 Scheldt, better known in history as the 

 Walcheren expedition. A large camp was 

 formed on Southsea Common, and batta- 

 lion after battalion of regiments of the 

 line, together with the Guards, assembled 

 from all parts of the two kingdoms. 

 After remaining about a month, they 

 were embarked, one hot day in July, 

 in flat-bottomed boats provided for the 

 purpose, 011 the beach at Southsea. They 

 went off in excellent health and spirits, 

 amidst the cheers of a multitude of spec- 

 tators, amongst whom I and my friend 

 were not the least conspicuous, either 

 from the observations we made on the 



