1829.] Memoirs of John Shipp. 259 
steady—put your left leg to him, and put him straight—don’t touch him in 
the flank, Sir, or he will soon have you off—that will do—march—sit still, I 
beg, Sir; you are all on one side, like the lug-sail of a boat—that’s better ; 
now, Sir, trot—/faster—halt. Pray, Sir, do be attentive.’ 
«« ¢ My stirrups are too long.’ 
“« Rough-rider, take them off, the gentleman will ride better without 
them. Now, Sir, off with you again—march—faster—hait. Why, Sir, you 
roll about like a ship in distress ; pray keep your seat—march.’ 
*°« T am off, I am off!’ 
« © Not yet, Sir’ 
« « Yes I am, yes I am.’ 
« « Well, I believe you‘are now, Sir; at least I never saw any thing more 
like it in my life. I hope you are not hurt, Sir.’ 
“© No, not much; but this horse is-worse than the other.’ 
« «Why, of course, I know that, Sir; you must have a worse horse every 
day. Come, Sir, mount again.’ 
*©«T can’t; you have taken the stirrups off.’ 
«© « Oh, never mind that, Sir, jump up.’ 
<< Vican't.’ 
«© Try, Sir; there is no remedy. Yonder I see the riding master coming 
this way.’ 
“ The riding-master now comes up, and inquires into the progress of all - 
his pupils. 
««« Well, sergeant, how gets on Cornet Waddle ?’ 
«© Very well, indeed, Sir; he has only had two falls in two days.’ 
“Tam glad to hear it. What horse is that he is on?’ 
« ¢ Kicking Billy, Sir.’ ' 
«« Ah! a good horse to learn on. Heads up, Cornet Waddle—six inches 
from hand to hand—four inches from holster-pipes—that will do—trot. Bless 
me, Cornet White, how your elbows go; one would imagine you had been 
either a tailor or a fiddler. Do keep them close to your sides, Sir.. We'll now 
‘try a little canter—canter. Very well, indeed—change from three to four. 
Cornet Shanks, pray keep those stretching legs of your’s quiet, and feel the 
horse’s mouth lightly. Not with that hand, Sir, but with the bridle. Keep 
down your knees—faster—halt. What, three of you off! Come, mount 
again, gentlemen; when I was.a recruit, I fell fifty times a-day, and laughed 
at the fun. Now, hold on—march—trot--gallop. Cornet Waddle, let go the 
horse’s mane ; let go, Sir.’ 
~ ©©T can’t Sir; if 1 do, I shall be off’ 
“© You must go faster, then, till you do—faster—fuster ; well done, indeed 
—halt. What, off again !’” ‘ 
The siege of Huttrass is detailed at great length; we take only a 
scrap, descriptive of the effects of shelling :— 
“On the following day, after reconnoitring the fort andthe ground in its 
vicinity, spots were fixed upon for new breaching and shelling batteries ; 
and, in twenty-four hours afterwards, we commenced our work of death on 
_ the fort and its obdurate inmates. Long ere the hour of the sun’s decline, it 
_ grew asdark as midnight. About ten o'clock, the terrific shelling commenced, 
ery whistling shell bearing on its lighted wings messengers of death and 
desolation. I never saw these implements of destruction so accurately 
thrown—some of them scarcely five inches above the walls of the fort. In 
five minutes the screams of the women in the fort were dreadful. In a place 
so confined, where numberless houses were crowded together, every shell 
must have found its way to some poor wretch’s dwelling, and, perhaps, torn 
from mothers’ bosoms their clinging babes. No person can estimate the 
dreadful carnage committed by shells, but those whose fate it has been to 
witness the effects of these messengers of death. On this occasion our shells 
_ Were very numerous, and of enormous size, many of them thirteen inches and 
ahalfin calibre. The system of eng had been so improved in the twelve 
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