Romany Rye. Murtagh settled any doubts that Borrow may have had as
to his ability to acquire Erse, by teaching it to him in exchange for
a pack of cards.

On 23rd December 1815 Ensign John Thomas Borrow was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant, he being then in his sixteenth year. In the
following January, after only a few months' stay, the West Norfolks
were moved on to Templemore. It was here that George learned to
ride, and that without a saddle, and had awakened in him that
"passion for the equine race" that never left him. {17a}

The nine months spent in Ireland left an indelible mark upon Borrow's
imagination. In later life he repeatedly referred to his knowledge
of the country, its people, and their language. In overcoming the
difficulties of Erse, he had opened up for himself a larger prospect
than was to be enjoyed by a traveller whose first word of greeting or
enquiry is uttered in a hated tongue.

On 11th May 1816 the West Norfolk Militia was back again at Norwich.
Peace was now finally restored to Europe, and every nation was far
too impoverished, both as regards men and money, to nourish any
schemes of aggression. Napoleon was safe at St Helena, under the eye
of that instinctive gaoler, Sir Hudson Lowe. The army had completed
its work and was being disbanded with all possible speed. The turn
of the West Norfolk Militia came on 17th June, when they were
formally mustered out for the second time within two years. Three
years later their Adjutant was retired upon full-pay--eight shillings
a day.