In the midst of this, the ships were discovered to be East Indiamen running towards the land, probably to take a fresh departure. At this discovery, the King was evidently disappointed; he relaxed the tight hold he had taken of my arm, and in the next moment I was set at liberty; the king had seized upon the Captain, and walked the deck with him at a very slow pace.

CHAPTER XII.

The King's marked manner of saluting the drum-major when reviewing a regiment-The royal sash-A scramble-General Garth's Horse-Fortunate escape -Trip to Southampton in an open wherry.

HAVING returned to the landing-place, the company on board fell back to the right and left, forming a wide avenue for the royal family to pass on to the wharf, the gentlemen with their hats off and bowing low, the ladies in attendance saluting in the usual manner; whilst Colonel Campbell, a tall, serious, severe-looking man, his head uncovered, led the way, the King following close upon his heels, in a most condescending manner returning the salutations, with his hat in his hand, which he did not

replace until he had proceeded many yards on

the shore.

Before quitting the yacht, on passing me as I stood with those forming the avenue, the King stopped short, and pausing a moment, looking me full in the face, as one requiring time to reflect, he hastily said: "Well, well, to-morrow we shall consult on the spot about the martello towers for Portland. You must arrange with Garth about that-yes, yes-with Garth; but you will be there, you understand you understand; eh, eh, eh?" and the King passed on to the shore, followed by the Queen and Princesses, who were all met on the wharf by a large assemblage of well-dressed persons, cheering, waving handkerchiefs, and expressing their joy at their safe return.

It was by that time nearly six o'clock; the King, therefore, left the royal ladies to return to Gloucester Lodge, whilst he proceeded to the Esplanade, in order to receive the salutes of the picquet. I followed, and arrived just in time to take my place with the Duke of Cumberland's staff.

I must here remark, that George III. was notorious for invariably taking more notice of

the drum-major's salutes, who marched at the head of the band, than of any other person. In the course of a few minutes, the 1st Somerset regiment of Militia, whose tour of duty it was to mount the picquet, advanced in ordinary time, formed in open column as usual, and as soon as the drum-major came up, and began to flourish his dazzling silver, balloon-headed cane, with the large tassels, and had transferred the same to his left hand, and placed his right hand over the front of his hat, the King immediately seized his own hat by the forecock, and swinging it out with his right to the fullest extent he could reach, he dropped his arm close down to his side, and preserved that posture until the drum-major had gone past, and commenced to return the cane to its former position, upon which his Majesty replaced his hat on his head.

The band having wheeled to the left, so as to form immediately in front of the King, leaving the necessary space for the regiment to march between them and the King, LieutenantColonel Leigh, commanding the regiment, next came up, well mounted, and saluted, but the King merely raised his hat, and instantly replaced it. The King noticed the salutes of the

other officers by a slight and hasty touch of his hat, and even the Major and Adjutant, who brought up the rear, although mounted on prancing horses, and saluting his Majesty in the best style, were allowed to proceed almost totally unnoticed.

In accordance with his usual practice, the King now turned towards his staff and cortège, ready to hear anything amusing, or in any way worthy of being related to him, when Lieutenant-General. Garth, a little man with good features, but whose face was much disfigured by a considerable purple mark on the skin, extending over part of his forehead and one eye, stepped forward, and after exchanging a few words with the King, which I did not hear distinctly, remarked that the sash his Majesty had on was an exceedingly handsome one : upon which the King, with his left hand, taking up the ends that were hanging down, observed: "Yes, yes; this is a very handsome sash-very handsome very handsome; quite new: Charlotte makes all my sashes-all my sashes; she always makes them." The sash was a very full-sized one, composed entirely of crimson netted silk, and quite fit for the purpose for