186 A JACOBITE EXILE

and it was settled that he should go down with the next
convoy to Revel, and thence take ship for Sweden. He
was so weak, that although very sorry to leave the army
just as spring was commencing, he himself felt that he
should be unable to support the fatigues of the campaign
until he had had entire rest and change. A few hours
atter the decision of the surgeon had been given, Major
Jamieson and Captain Jervoise entered the room where he
was sitting, propped up by pillows.
“TI have a bit of news that will please you, Charlie. ‘The
king sent for the major this morning, and told him that
he intended to increase our company to a regiment if he
could do so. He had heard that a considerable number of
Scotchmen and Englishmen had come over, and were de-
sirous of enlisting, but from their ignorance of the lan-
guage their services had been declined. He said that he
was so pleased not only with the conduct of the company
in that fight, but with its discipline, physique, and power
of endurance, that he had decided to convert it into a regi-
ment. He said he was sorry to lose its services for a
time; but as we lost twenty men in the fight, and have
some fifteen still too disabled to take their places in the
ranks, this was of the less importance. So we are all going
to march down to Revel with you. Major Jamieson is
appointed colonel, and I am promoted to be major; the
king himself directed that Cunningham and Forbes shall
have commissions as captains, and you and Harry as lieu-
tenants. ‘The colonel has authority given him to nominate
Scotch and English gentlemen of good name to make up
the quota of officers, while most of our own men will be
appointed non-commissioned officers to drill the new
recruits. The king has been good enough at Colonel
Jamieson’s request to say, that as soon as the regiment is
raised and organized, it shall be sent up to the front.”
“Vhat is good news, indeed,” Charlie said with more