A visit to Hounslow became their favourite amusement on holidays.

The camp presented the appearance of a vast fair.

Mingled with the musketeers and dragoons, a multitude of fine gentlemen and ladies from Soho Square, sharpers and painted women from Whitefriars, invalids in sedans, monks in hoods and gowns, lacqueys in rich liveries, pedlars, orange girls, mischievous apprentices and gaping clowns, was constantly passing and repassing through the long lanes of tents.

From some pavilions were heard the noises of drunken revelry, from others the curses of gamblers.

In truth the place was merely a gay suburb of the capital.