COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 303 



something to mark in the future, when words may be 

 forgotten, the esteem and the affectionate pride with 

 which you have for so many years been regarded by 

 all ranks. We therefore beg your acceptance of the 

 casket which I now have the honour to hand to you. 

 enclosing as it does a purse of sovereigns, the balance 

 of the money subscribed by past and present members 

 of the regiment. Our earnest hope is that you may 

 be spared for many years to enjoy the reminiscences 

 that we trust a look at this casket may awaken, and 

 we feel very certain it will be valued by those who 

 are dear to you as a proof — if proof were wanted — 

 that from first to last during all these years you have 

 gained, held and maintained the regard, the affection, 

 the confidence of every member of the regiment you 

 have so long and so well and ably commanded.* 



" The toast to Colonel Anstruther Thomson's 

 health was then drunk with great enthusiasm, the 

 band playing ' He's a jolly good fellow'. 



" Colonel Anstruther Thomson, who on rising to 

 reply was enthusiastically received, said he could 

 hardly tell them how proud and gratified he had 

 been to receive their kind invitation. He was very 

 glad to see that many of his old comrades, veterans 

 of the regiment, had rallied around him on that 

 occasion, but how he would ever be able adequately 

 to reply to the kind and eloquent remarks Colonel 

 Gilmour had made regarding him he was utterly 

 at a loss to say. Farewell dinners were generally 

 melancholy festivals, and it was a hard task to part 

 with old friends. When Colonel Gilmour told him 



