OLDHAM.--Excuse me, Lovell,--I know something about the French, if
three years in the Peninsula could give knowledge; and I'll tell you,
for a fact, whatever you may hear said, that the organisation of the
French army--
PIPECLAY.--What! with that slovenly style of marching?
OLDHAM.--Never mind the style of marching: I say, that whether in the
field, in camp, or in quarters--
O'SHEEVO.--Devilish bad quarters they'd be sometimes, in them same
campaigns, eh, Oldham? Short commons, eh?
OLDHAM.--Short commons! sometimes no commons at all!
O'SHEEVO.--Thin claret?
OLDHAM.--Thin! the devil a drop. Sherry sometimes, of a quality
according to our luck; but for claret we had to keep our stomachs till
we got over the Pyrenees;--then, I may say, it ran in the rivers.
O'SHEEVO.--The devil it did! Then I hope the next Peninsular
expedition will sail direct for the coast of France.