3acF? /Blusters isi 



maintained by evidence, I am not in a position to say : 

 but I feel that so impressive a fact adds dignity to my 

 subject, and, therefore, I give it without question. Jack 

 Musters was the only son of John Musters of Colwick 

 Hall, by his wife Sophie, one of the most famous beauties 

 of her day, and was born in Grosvenor Square on the 

 6th of July 1777. In due course he was sent to Eton, 

 where he distinguished himself by his memorable fight 

 with Thomas Assheton Smith, to which I have already 

 referred. From Eton, Jack went to Oxford, but per- 

 suaded his father to let him leave the University before 

 taking a degree, and accepted a commission in the 

 Notts Militia, then quartered in Scotland, where he 

 was able to combine with his military duties the 

 pursuit of the sports most congenial to him. In 

 connection with his career as a militia officer, the 

 following anecdote is told. His company, like the bulk 

 of militiamen at that time, were very far from steady 

 in their evolutions, particularly when charging with fixed 

 bayonets, some of them stopping in their charge without 

 the word of command, and others waiting for it. 



' We'll do that again,' cried Captain Jack one day. 

 ' Damn it, you can hear, so now, remember, no more 

 stopping till I give the word " halt," and mind, above all 

 things, your " dressing " — that is, keep your line.' 



In order to see how they obeyed him, he placed him- 

 self several yards ahead of their centre. Facing his men, 

 and depending on his running powers, he retreated 

 backwards as they came on. 



' Charge ! ' he shouted in his powerful voice — and they 

 did charge. Musters' legs did their office well, but having 

 no eyes in the back of his head, he was unaware of the 

 presence of a quick-set brambly ' bullfinch,' immediately 



