^34 REMINISCENCES OF 



" I had the honour of serving Her Majesty for 

 some years in a cavalry regiment — a regiment which 

 any man may be proud to belong to — I mean 

 the 9th Lancers — that gallant regiment whose ex- 

 ploits in the late Indian War all are conversant 

 with, and which has been aptly described as the 

 pattern of a cavalry regiment — that regiment which, 

 on leaving India, received the unusual honour of 'an 

 order in Council ' and a ' general salute'. That regi- 

 ment gained its laurels under the same system, and 

 under the same regulations which were put in practice 

 by its late commanding officer, and it will be gratify- 

 ing to you to know that its commanding officer is a 

 Fife man, and now sits among you — I mean the 

 Earl of Rosslyn, Whatever habits of discipline 

 and obedience I learned were acquired under his 

 tuition. Although my services were of short dura- 

 tion, and in time of peace, I believe I did attain 

 some practical knowledge of my profession and of 

 the necessary qualifications of a mounted dragoon ; 

 and, from the specimens both of men and horses 

 with which I am personally acquainted among those 

 who have enrolled themselves, I can confidently state 

 that they are of the right material. It is very 

 encouraging to see the warm interest which this 

 movement excites among the elder portion of the 

 community. I am sure the thoughts of many a bold 

 yeoman recurred to former times when he sat in the 

 saddle and rode in the ranks of the Fife Yeomanry 

 Cavalry when they had the honour of being reviewed 

 by his gracious Majesty George IV. I am happy to 



