it would have been that night: but I hope
Englishmen know their duty and their minds
too well to offer for the militia and then run
off when they are really wanted. We went
on the railway that day, and in the afternoon
arrived—not at the garrison, as we
supposed, for we had not learned the duty, but
at the barracks on the other side the
harbour. It is partly the barracks that have
made us so busy. We had none of us lived
anywhere but in our own poor places at
home, except at Elwich, where everything
was done for us, in the way of our meals and
the like. We all had to learn how to live in
barracks. And, to be sure, the neatness
required would please you, Nan, if ever you
should be a soldier's wife, allowed to be
with your husband there. Then, besides all
the fuss about our ways, all day long, there
is the parade, of course, and a very fine one;
for, do you know, our companies have
already been brigaded with the liners. We
hold up our heads, I assure you; and no
shambling fellow is allowed to get off with
"O, we're only militia." We put him down
with saying that whatever the Guards do
we'll do. There will be no mistake about
that. Of course, we are practising firing,
and that takes a great deal of time, all the
more because Sir Henry Arundel has offered
two silver medals for prizes for the two best
shots; and we are all as eager as can be
about that, as is natural. Then, much of
the duty is new—sentry and garrison duty;
for we are to guard the dockyards and
fortifications. I hope my writing will show
you that we are not going back in our
schooling. Our colonel looks to that matter,
too. We have a capital schoolmaster. He
gets us on, and is a fair-minded man, too;
and he is to report by-and-by, and point out
his three best scholars for prizes. The prizes
offered by Sir Henry are a silver watch and
two writing-desks. It would be a mistake
to suppose him over-indulgent. There is
never an oath to be heard among officers or
men; because it is well known that he
would not put up with it, any more than
with any other real sin. Some faults the young
and giddy commit, and the culprits are made
to remember them: but there is no vice in
the regiment, as far as I know; and long may
it be so! Well, is not this enough to fill up
our time? I should think so; and so
would you, if you saw how earnest we are
to get into a fit state for garrison duty.

What will you say when I tell you that
that time has come? It has indeed; and
that time was to-day. I kept this till the
last, as my best piece of news; and I
delayed writing, knowing that I should have
it to tell. It was enough to make a man's
heart beat to march as we did this day into
Rampling with our drums beating and colours
flying, and to be put on garrison duty
immediately. Within an hour after we
entered the gates, my captain marched one
hundred and thirty-six of us to relieve the
Fencibles of the whole garrison duties of the
town and dockyard. We may say now,
"Whatever the regulars do we will do."
There is a rumour that Prince Albert is to
review us. And here I must stop for this
time. I believe I shall have more time for
the pen now; and if so, you will soon find
it out, for to write to you is the best pleasure
of your faithful

NED BARRY.

P.S.—If Goody Brice still worries about
the press-gang, you may tell her I understand
the press-gang has gone over to the enemy.

N. B.

The Mars War-steamer, Rampling Harbour,
April 23rd, 1854.

MY BELOVED NAN,—I am afraid I am
but a faint-hearted fellow, after all. Mind,
nobody says so but I myself; and what I
mean is this: that I am uneasy about how
you may take the news I have now to send.
Yet this is making you faint-hearted, which
you never were before, and so I hope you
will not be now, when I have to tell you that
I am going a long way off and into the
dangers of battle. Now, when I told you in
the autumn that I was going to be soldier for
good, you took the news just as I would wish.
I knew very well in October, on that day when
our commander told us that one hundred and
fifty volunteers were wanted for the regulars,
that if you had been there, and had seen how
hundreds stepped out to offer themselves, you
would not have had me, the strongest man on
the ground, hold back from the service of my
country. And you honourably said just that
in your reply; and it is a comfort to me now
that you did. I would not tell anybody
but you; but you will not think me conceited
about the strength which is no merit
of my own. My late captain says that
a bullet may lay one low as well as another—
the giant as well as the woman or child; but
that if a set of Russians get about Ned
Barry, they are likely to repent it; for the
game will be like Billy among the rats. You
must know I am stouter than ever. Johnny
List will wonder what I am ever to do in the
East, if my clothes burst out as he saw them
begin to do. The buttons do come off very often;
and Captain Helsham says, if we don't invest
the enemy's towns better than our tailor
invests me, we sha'n't have much to boast of.
However, I have learned to sew on my
buttons; and Johnny will be glad to hear
it, as he and his needle will be so far away.
Talking of Johnny, he and others may be
wanting to know what will become of the
Rampshire as a regiment. I don't know; and
it's my belief that the officers know no more
than I do. Perhaps there may be drafts
from it, from time to time, for the line; and
there is some talk of leave being got from
parliament to let them go abroad (those that
wish it, but none by force), to garrison some
of our places abroad, so that the regulars