As soon as the invading army quitted the coast, the troops were to hover on its front, flanks, and rear; it was to be obliged to fight for every article of sustenance; advantage was to be taken of the intricate and enclosed nature of the country; every inch of ground, every field, was to be to a degree disputed even by inferior numbers; should the enemy enter the strong woodland countries, trees were to be felled on the roads for miles around to impede his progress; incessant attacks were to be kept up by night with corps of various description and strength; the men were never to fire but when they had a good mark and a decided aim, and to use the national weapon, the bayonet, as much as possible, while every individual with a pike or pitchfork in his hand was required to unite his efforts to overwhelm and extirpate the unprincipled invaders, who, spurning at those generous modes of warfare established between civilized and rival countries, openly avowed their design to be the utter destruction of Great Britain as a nation. Against such an enemy the people were called upon to become more ferocious than himself, and their indignation being raised to the highest pitch would hurl back upon him that terror which he had struck into weak and degraded nations which had not the same liberty, renown, and constitution to contend for as Great Britain.

The measures of the government were nobly seconded by the people; the British spirit was roused; a sudden burst of patriotic enthusiasm pervaded the country; it animated the nobility, gentry, yeomanry,—all orders and conditions of men,—all felt alike on this momentous occasion; the danger was great, and it was met with corresponding resolution and exertions; the whole country, from the throne to the cottage, was animated with a determination to crush the French army, if it should dare to invade the British territory;—the Act for the LEVY-EN-MASSE was rendered unnecessary by their spontaneous zeal; the designs of the government were anticipated; voluntary associations were formed; loyal meetings took place in the metropolis and in the principal towns throughout the country; and large subscriptions were raised to bear the expenses of the volunteer corps. The unanimity and harmony which pervaded all ranks were astonishing; every city, town, and village, from the Lands-end to the Orkney Islands, poured forth its volunteer legions in defence of their country, and of their king; it was difficult to say, whether the people were more liberal in offering their persons, or their property, in defence of a country and constitution so dear to their affections; and the British monarch stood in a situation glorious and unexampled on the surface of the earth: he was not defended by mercenaries always sparing of their blood, not supported by tributary states impatient of their yoke, not assisted by allies envious of his prosperity, (Europe stood aloof leaving Britain to her own resources at the time of her utmost need); but in the moment of danger, his Majesty saw himself protected by the united efforts of all his people, by the persons of those who were able to wield a weapon, by the prayers of the aged and of the sick, by the purses of the rich, and by the hearts of all: the people knew for whom, and for what, they were preparing to fight; they knew they were not conscripts driven in chains to be sacrificed on the altar of an ambitious leader, but loyal subjects voluntarily engaging to encounter danger for a beloved sovereign, for the preservation of that limited monarchy which they viewed as the primary source of all the blessings they enjoyed as members of civil society. They were not preparing to fight from the base motive of desire to plunder other men's property, but to defend their own; not to fight ingloriously to subvert the liberties of others, but to prevent the yoke of slavery being fastened round their own necks; not in contempt of national character, in despite of the civil order of the world, in derision of religion, or in mockery of heaven; but to preserve their happy land from atheism, despotism, and anarchy, from that moral contamination of principle and practice which outrages the very nature of mankind. Actuated by such sentiments the aged, who had become indifferent to professional emolument and to professional ambition, appeared with renewed vigour ready for active service; and the youth stood forward in crowds ready to shed their blood for the good of their country. Thus exertions unknown in the history of this country, and unprecedented in the most illustrious nations of antiquity, were made, and Britain exhibited to the world the glorious spectacle of a nation rising simultaneously to assert its freedom and independence.

While the din of hostile preparation resounded throughout the country, the regiment which forms the subject of this memoir had the honour of forming part of an advanced-corps to the forces selected to cover the coast opposite Boulogne where Bonaparte was expected to land; for this purpose it was encamped at Shorncliffe, and was brigaded with the fifty-second, fifty-ninth, and seventieth regiments and five companies of the rifle corps, under the command of that distinguished officer, Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore. This corps was conspicuous for a high state of discipline; and the officers and men felt a degree of honest pride at being selected to commence the attack of the invaders whenever they appeared.

The noble attitude which the nation assumed, the strength[29] and energy it evinced while breathing defiance to the gigantic military power by which it was menaced, caused the spirit even of Napoleon to quail, and his legions did not venture to cross the British channel.

Thus the daring project of subjugating Britain, a project suited to that spirit of enterprise and ambition which characterized the martial leader of the French nation, was defeated by the vigour and promptitude of the government, and of the people, at the only period when it was likely to prove successful. If Bonaparte could have assembled in the ports of France and Holland a naval armament for the transport of one hundred thousand men across the channel, before the British fleets had been manned, the militia called out, and the people arranged in military array, the mischief he might have effected is incalculable. The immense preparations which were made on the opposite side of the Channel, particularly at Boulogne, the assembling of a large army in that quarter, the construction of vessels calculated to cross the Channel and approach near the shore, and his utter disregard of the loss of men, so that he accomplished his designs, prove beyond doubt Bonaparte's determination of invading the British territory; but the unanimous and glorious resolution evinced by the people to preserve their country, their freedom, and their privileges from the contamination of republicanism, and to shed their blood in the defence of what they valued above life, deterred him from carrying the threats he had so often repeated into execution.

The King's Own remained encamped at Shorncliffe; Martello towers were constructed along the shore, and batteries were raised to command the important points; and the soldiers, imbibing the spirit of their distinguished commander, calmly awaited the arrival of their vaunting adversaries. The Right Honourable William Pitt, who was at this period warden of the Cinque Ports, raised two regiments of a thousand men each; he frequently rode over to Shorncliffe, and Major-General Moore explained to this great statesman all his plans. On one occasion Mr. Pitt observed,—"Well, Moore, but as on the very first alarm of the enemy's coming I shall join you with my Cinque Porte regiments, you have not told me where you will place us?" "Do you see," said Moore, "that hill? you and yours shall be drawn up on it, where you will make a most formidable appearance to the enemy, while I with the soldiers shall be fighting on the beach." Mr. Pitt was exceedingly amused with this reply. On the 28th of November, the King's Own proceeded into the newly-built barracks at Hythe.

1804

In 1804 the preparations for invasion were augmented; the King's Own were again encamped at Shorncliffe, and were brigaded with the forty-third, fifty-second, fifty-ninth, and five companies of the rifle corps, commanded by Major-General Moore. The nation preserved the attitude of defence and defiance to the power of Bonaparte; the several corps were regularly exercised, and inspected, and kept ready for active service; and the King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brinley, attained so high a state of discipline and efficiency as to excite the special notice and approbation of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, who reviewed the regiment, with the remainder of its brigade, on the 24th of August.[30] Bonaparte's army remained inactive at Boulogne, consuming his resources; but he obtained from the French nation the dignity of Emperor. Another season passed away without an invasion; and on the 2d of November, the Fourth proceeded to the barracks at Hythe; a second battalion was added to its establishment, and the officers who had eminently distinguished themselves by their zeal and attention to the good of the service, were rewarded with promotion.

1805

The regiment left Hythe on the 9th of March, 1805, for Canterbury, and while stationed at this place Colonel Brinley was appointed quartermaster-general in the West Indies. On his leaving the regiment, the officers evinced their esteem for him by inviting him to an entertainment prepared for the occasion, and by presenting him with a sword valued at fifty guineas.[31]