ral Dundas, who
expressed himself equally surprised and pleased by the state of
discipline he found them in.... I like all this sort of thing,
and I admire my uncle most particularly when surrounded with a
tribe of military attendants. But what is all this pageantry
compared with the unaffected simplicity of real greatness!

Walmer Castle, _Nov. 19, 1803_.

To F. R. Jackson, Esq.

To express the kindness with which Mr. Pitt welcomed my return
and proposed my living with him would be impossible; one would
really suppose that all obligation was on his side. Here then am
I, happy to a degree; exactly in the sort of society I most
like. There are generally three or four men staying in the
house, and we dine eight or ten almost every other day. Military
and naval characters are constantly welcome here; women are not,
I suppose, because they do not form any part of our society. You
may guess, then, what a pretty fuss they make with me. Pitt
absolutely goes through the fatigue of a drill sergeant. It is
parade after parade at 15 or 20 minutes' distance from each
other. I often attend him; and it is quite as much as I am equal
to, although I am remarkably well just now. The hard riding I do
not mind, but to remain almost _still_ so many hours on
horseback is an incomprehensible bore, and requires more
patience than you can easily imagine. However, I suppose few
regiments for the time were ever so forward; therefore the
trouble is nothing. If Mr. Pitt does not overdo and injure his
health every other consideration becomes trifling. [She then
states her anxiety on this score. She rarely speaks to him on
it, as he particularly dislikes it. She adds:] I am happy to
tell you, sincerely, I see nothing at all alarming about him. He
had a cough when I first came to England, but it has nearly or
quite left him. He is thin, but certainly strong, and his
spirits are excellent.... Mr. Pitt is determined to remain
acting colonel when his regiment is called into the field.

On this topic Pitt met with a rebuff from General (afterwards Sir John)
Moore, commander of the newly formed camp at Shorncliffe, near
Folkestone. Pitt rode over from Walmer to ask his advice, and his
question as to the position he and his Volunteers should take brought
the following reply: "Do you see t