Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

366 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. XV.
Wednesday, September 29.
I received yours yesterday. I am here in a village
close by the rear of the army, on command guarding
the train horses. I go home to-morrow, and I hope
to have no more command this campaign. Now that
you are in Mrs. Hamilton's lodgings, I hope your
mutual company will divert each other. Give my
humble service to her. I ordered you to drink our
healths in a glass of wine as often as we do yours,
which is twice a-day at least. It is a shame and a
sin both that you should look lean after such a great
campaign as this has been, when we in particular
have been so mercifully dealt with. How would you
look if the battle had been lost and your husband
killed, when you grow lean upon victories and de-
liverances. I must shame you out of it. Do you
want, or need you want any thing that may be for
your good. I told you long ago that no detachments
were to go from our army, and that I had got a cot-
tage to lodge in. So all your grievances are redressed ;
pray grow fat again.
We have a report this morning (Friday) that the
town is capitulating ; and indeed we have not heard
any firing all the night since yesterday afternoon, I
know not what truth is in it, till I go to the army to
hear farther. We hardly wish it to be over so soon,
for fear we be employed at another siege. But I am
glad for the sake of the public interest, and let Pro-
vidence dispose of our particular concerns as seems
good. I am thine. J. B.
To Madam Blackader, care of Serjeant J. Reid, >
of Colonel Preston's Regiment, Ghent. $
This report of the surrender of Mons was rather
premature, as it did not take place until the 12th of