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1
ADVENTURES
IN
Holland and at Waterloo;
AND
EXPEDITION TO PORTUGAL.
PROCEEDINGS IN HOLLAND, UNDER THE COMMAND
OF GENERAL SIR THOMAS GRAHAM, &c., &c.
By Corporal Knight.
MELBOURNE:
R. BELL, PRINTER, 97 LITTLE COLLINS STREET EAST.
1870.
2
About thirty-three years ago, Thomas Knight (theauthor of this work) published a very interesting accountof his adventures. A few members of the Stock Exchangebore the principal portion of the expense of printing them.While attached to the Army in Portugal, he was in thesame regiment as my brother, Major F. E. Ebsworth,and servant to him.
Sydney, 11th March, 1867.3
Adventures in Holland and Waterloo;
AND THE
EXPEDITION TO PORTUGAL.
My father was a cabinet maker at Frome, in Somersetshire. Iwas bound apprentice to a weaver, not liking such a quiet life Iran off to sea, and entered on board a collier at Southampton, ascabin-boy. In returning we were driven into Ramsgate by asquall. The cook and I left the captain to prepare his own dinner.We were fortunate enough to fall in with a return post-chaise,and were carried along like gentlemen to Canterbury.This was in the year 1811, or the beginning of 1812, when soldierswere much wanted, and I thought myself a sharp sort offellow, and was fond of a frolic. More than one sergeant tried tocajole me. Two rifle brigadesmen came to the town on furlough;they had green jackets; but their fine promises were too much forme. At length they got the best of me, and enlisted me. I wastaken down to Shawn Cliff to the regiment, and had to be inspectedby the doctor; and the following day I was taken to Hydeto be sworn in by the magistrate. He asked me which I wouldgo for—limited service or unlimited service. “What is the differencein the money?” I asked. “Limited service is 10 guineas,and unlimited service 16 guineas.” I said, “as I may not liveseven years, I will take the 16 guineas.” I received 8 guineas(one half of my bounty) and returned towards the barracks. I wasgaping about at what the soldiers were doing, when one old chapcame up to me and said I was his first cousin. “I am not quiteso green as to be done in that way,” I answered. However, I soonfell in with a few jolly comrades, and spent forty shillings out ofthe half of my bounty. After buying a few articles I stood inneed of, the rest of my bounty went in two days more. Then Ihad to go through my dis