304 REMINISCENCES OF 



of their intention to entertain him that night, he felt 

 half afraid of meeting them. But since then affairs 

 had taken a different turn, and he trusted they might 

 have a happy meeting and look on it in the light of 

 what the ministers called an induction dinner, for he 

 had again been admitted into the regiment, and as 

 Colonel Gilmour had been promoted to his place as 

 Lieutenant-Colonel, and they now had two Colonels, 

 he thought they should get on better than ever. 

 They had paid him the greatest compliment in 

 making application for his appointment as Honorary 

 Colonel. It was the honour which he most wished 

 for, and as there was no limit as to age he hoped 

 that his connection with the regiment would only 

 end with his life. He did not think that he was 

 getting treated with much consideration in only 

 getting five days' notice before he was gazetted out 

 after thirty-five years' service ; but he had met with 

 so much sympathy and kindness, not only from them 

 but from every one he had met, that it had done 

 much to smooth over any feelings which he had on 

 the subject. He said, on another occasion, that the 

 greatest compliment which they could pay to him 

 would be to maintain the regiment in the highest 

 state of efficiency, and he trusted and believed that 

 they would do so. He thanked Colonel Gilmour and 

 all the officers for the willing and loyal assistance 

 which they had always given to him. He thanked 

 them all for their zeal, energy and attention, without 

 which they could never have arrived at the degree of 

 efficiency which they now possessed, and he begged 



