We were soon settled in barracks; and then began a series of entertainments on the side of the civic dignities of Cork, which soon led most of us to believe that we had only escaped shot and shell to fall less gloriously beneath champagne and claret.  I do not believe there is a coroner in the island who would have pronounced but the one verdict over the regiment—­“Killed by the mayor and corporation,” had we so fallen.

First of all, we were dined by the citizens of Cork—­and, to do them justice, a harder drinking set of gentlemen no city need boast; then we were feasted by the corporation; then by the sheriffs; then came the mayor, solus; then an address, with a cold collation, that left eight of us on the sick-list for a fortnight; but the climax of all was a grand entertainment given in the mansion-house, and to which upwards of two thousand were invited.  It was a species of fancy ball, beginning by a dejeune at three o’clock in the afternoon, and ending—­I never yet met the man who could tell when it ended; as for myself, my finale partook a little of the adventurous, and I may as well relate it.

After waltzing for about an hour with one of the prettiest girls I ever set eyes upon, and getting a tender squeeze of the hand, as I restored her to a most affable-looking old lady in a blue turban and a red velvet gown who smiled most benignly on me, and called me “Meejor,” I retired to recruit for a new attack, to a small table, where three of ours were quaffing “ponche a la Romaine,” with a crowd of Corkagians about them, eagerly inquiring after some heroes of their own city, whose deeds of arms they were surprised did not obtain special mention from “the Duke.”  I soon ingratiated myself into this well-occupied clique, and dosed them with glory to their hearts’ content.  I resolved at once to enter into their humour; and as the “ponche” mounted up to my brain I gradually found my acquaintanceship extend to every family and connexion in the country.

“Did ye know Phil Beamish of the 3_th, sir?” said a tall, red-faced, red-whiskered, well-looking gentleman, who bore no slight resemblance to Feargus O’Connor.

“Phil Beamish!” said I.  “Indeed I did, sir, and do still; and there is not a man in the British army I am prouder of knowing.”  Here, by the way, I may mention that I never heard the name till that moment.

“You don’t say so, sir?” said Feargus—­for so I must call him, for shortness sake.  “Has he any chance of the company yet, sir?”

“Company!” said I, in astonishment.  “He obtained his majority three months since.  You cannot possibly have heard from lately, or you would have known that?”

“That’s true, sir.  I never heard since he quitted the 3_th to go to Versailles, I think they call it, for his health.  But how did he get the step, sir?”