4 FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



Brigade as Captain at twenty years of age, and 

 almost the youngest Captain in the British Army. 

 I joined the depot of the 2nd BattaHon at Alder- 

 shot, and my chief remembrance of that spot is 

 in complete contrast to that of the Crimea : 

 eternal field days instead of the trenches, and 

 perpetual dust instead of snow. Upon the whole 

 I much preferred Crimean life. 



Another recollection of that period is the 

 enthusiasm about pugilism which animated a few 

 young officers in various regiments then stationed 

 in the camp at Aldershot. Willingly was I 

 enlisted in that select circle, prominent among 

 whom was a Second Lieutenant of the 6oth Rifles, 

 now a distinguished General ; also two officers of 

 that famous regiment the i6th Lancers, who are 

 still flourishing ; there may have been a few others 

 whose names are now forgotten. Many prize- 

 fights within reach did we attend, and more than 

 once we left by a night train to assist early the 

 following morning at what Bell's Life was 

 wont to term '' A Merry Mill in the Midlands.'' 

 Cock-fighting was also to be seen at that time, 

 more especially in the neighbourhood of Hendon, 

 a battle-ground well known to some of us. These 

 Corinthian pursuits, which were in favour full 

 fifty years ago, have long since been extinguished 

 — such tastes and attractions are to-day obsolete 



