We afterwards went on the parade, where the soldiers were mustering,
and found Captain Fuller's men all half intoxicated, and laughing so
violently as we passed by them, that they could hardly stand upright.
The captain stormed at them most angrily; but, turning to us, said,
“These poor fellows have just been paid their arrears, and it is so
unusual to them to have a sixpence in their pockets, that they know not
how to keep it there.”
The wind being extremely high, our caps and gowns were blown about
most abominably; and this increased the risibility of the merry light
infantry. Captain 'Fuller's desire to keep order made me laugh as much
as the men's incapacity to obey him; for, finding our flying drapery
provoked their mirth, he went up to the biggest grinner, and, shaking
him violently by the shoulders, said, “What do you laugh for, sirrah? do
you laugh at the ladies?” and, as soon as he had given the reprimand, it
struck him to be so ridiculous, that he was obliged to turn quick round,
and commit the very fault he was attacking most furiously.