I do assure you that none of your present guests (not even
excepting the landlord!) will more sincerely regret than I do the absence of
that worthy gentleman, myself, from your expected and pleasant party. But the
unforeseen event being no less than a summons from his Majesty’s
deputy-lieutenant to answer respecting my free-will and consent to be draughted
by the Training Act to serve (should it please His Majesty—God bless him)
in a regiment of the Line, the absence of my company among the
deputy-lieutenants might be attended with still more unpleasant consequences
than absenting myself from your
328 | MEMOIRS OF JOHN MURRAY |