ace, but there
was many a time afterwards when I should like to have been given the
choice of laying bricks again.

After spending about a fortnight in this way, a fair wind blew up, and
we proceeded on our voyage. We called in at Rio Janeiro, the capital
of the Brazilian Empire, lying upon the western side of the entrance
to a fine bay which forms the harbour. Our chief object for putting in
there was to take in water and provisions; and whilst we were anchored
there we went on shore, and the Queen of Portugal reviewed us. Next
day she sent a quantity of onions and pumpkins on board as a present,
which we found very acceptable. We stayed there about a fortnight,
sailing on next further south to Maldonado, the rendezvous of the
fleet, whence after being joined by five thousand troops under Sir
Samuel Auchmuty, the whole fleet moved on to Monte Video and anchored.

We lost no time on our arrival there, but early the next morning
boats were ordered alongside the troopships to convey us on shore,
which movement, as the enemy was on the banks about fifteen thousand
strong to receive us, put rather a nasty taste into our mouths, there
seeming nothing but death or glory before us. The signal was hoisted
from the admiral's ship, and we started for the shore amid the fire of
the enemy's artillery. They killed and wounded a few of our men, and
sank some of the boats, but as soon as we struck the shore, we jumped
out, and forming line in the water, fired a volley and charged, soon
driving them from their position on the bank. We found even as early
as then that Spaniards were not very difficult to encounter. In case
of a retreat, our boats were still within our reach, but having gained
the victory, we had no need of them, stopping where we were on the
banks all night.

Some field-pieces were next sent on shore, and likewise a number of
sailors with drag-ropes to work them, as we had no horses with us, and
up to this time no artillery. The country was rather favourable for
the sailors, being very level and mostly green pasture, so that they
kept along pretty easily, seeming just in their glory, all this being
new work to them. After some little firing from the cannon the enemy
retreated into the town, which was well fortified. We placed an
outlying picket of some three hundred men to watch the enemy's
manoeuvres, while the body of our army encamped in the rear in a line
stretching from sea to sea, so that the town standing upon