• and I feel as if I should cut no despicable

figure, presently, upon a piece of roast beef

' which I heard the captain order.

"I wish I could make you, my dear mother, as easy as I am. I already feel pleasure in having been hurried off; as I think I

have done what is right, and what many ' in my situation would have excused them'selves from ;-comforts are so ideal. I shall,

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in two days, be as well as if I had my 'trunks, &c. &c. I bought fifteen shirts at fifteen shillings; as many handkerchiefs, stockings, &c. I have already too many things. Hurry that fellow Rymer for my boots; of them I shall be in want. Nesbitt 'will get sent out to me whatever is sent to ' him.

Tell Jane I had not time to answer her letter, but I shall from the West Indies; in the meantime assure her I make great al6 lowances for all weaknesses, and I shall prove myself a good brother to her, if ever 'I can. Remember me, also, to poor Charles. 'We are going, with a fair wind, through the

6

'Needles, and my captain says, if it con'tinues, we shall, in ten or twelve days, 'reach the trade (winds). Had Graham been ' at Portsmouth I might have got out in a 'man-of-war; but as it is I am vastly well.

My father will, I hope, call on General "(Sir Charles) Stuart, and tell him I am off; ' and remember me kindly to him and Mrs. 'Stuart. Be of good cheer, my dear Mother'; 'be persuaded that what torments you will, ' in the end, be your happiness. Believe me ' ever, Your affectionate Son,

'JOHN MOOre.'

'Barbadoes, April 17th, 1796.

My dear Father,-After a passage of 'six weeks and three days, we arrived here 'the 13th. General Abercrombie, with all 'the troops lately from Europe, are here: part of them sail this day for St. Domingo. The rest, under Sir Ralph, are to act in the • Windward and Leeward Islands.

The foreign infantry I brought out re'main under Sir Ralph, commanded by

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there for some time.

Nothing will be done.

I was anxious to be

'with that part of the army which is to be

' active, and requested to remain under Sir

Ralph he consented, and proposed sending

me second in command to St. Vincent. I 'shall not detail the reasons I had for wish

6

ing not to go there immediately. Upon

speaking again to Sir Ralph, he in handsome terms has permitted me to be with the part of the army he himself commands. I am not yet named to a brigade, but shall 'probably be in this day's orders. We shall "sail for St. Lucia in a very few days. That ' island, together with Grenada and St. Vin

6

cent, are the immediate objects of attack, ' and we hope will be subdued before the 'rains. For the present, I hope for ever, I have got quit of the foreigners.

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I am

'happy I was hurried off, as it has been the

means of
'Colonel Maitland goes

my being of this expedition.

*

with the troops to

*Afterwards Sir Thomas Maitland.

'St. Domingo; he has given me part of his 'room; and has been to a degree kind. I

I am sorry he is not employed with us, he is

so sensible a man; I am sure there are few ' like him.

'I received

rigg

your letter enclosed by Brownyesterday. My baggage will be a convenient supply upon my return from 'this expedition. The weather here is not 'hotter than we had it at Calvi: I dare say 'I shall stand it very well. Trust to the good 'fortune which has hitherto attended me, that it will not forsake me now, and keep yourself and my Mother free from unnecessary anxiety. I shall write upon every occasion. 'Tell General Nesbitt, for I have not time to write to him, that upon quitting the foreigners, the appointment of the Count de Maleissye, to be my brigade-major, could 'not take place. His situation, poor fellow, has become extremely disagreeable, as he ⚫ sailed from England in such a hurry; and has consequently no money. I

gave him

*Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Brownrigg.

'forty pounds, which Nesbitt will stop from

• his pay.

The Count has, or is to write to

him to this effect. He goes this day to • St. Domingo.

'I hope my boots and saddles will come ' with the trunks. Tell Rymer, the shoe

maker, that the boots and shoes forwarded for Major Stewart are to be sent to him at • Gibraltar.

'Any of your friends who have West 'Indian property had better dispose of it:

for whatever is our success, that property must be finally annihilated. Giving freedom and arming the Negroes is the inevi' table loss of these islands to the French as • well as English.

'I wrote to my Mother and Nesbitt from the transport, after I got under way at

Portsmouth. Remember me affectionately to my Mother, and all in Clifford Street, ' and believe me, my dear Father,

"Your affectionate Son,