LIGHT HORSE. * 



" THERE is life in the old dog yet/' now may admirers of 

 cavalry say. Recent events have proved its utility, and 

 disproved the arguments of those who considered it an 

 exploded and useless force. These latter, by the way, 

 were a very considerable portion of one's acquaintances. 

 Every civilian now considers that he knows more about 

 soldiering than soldiers themselves at all events used to 

 do, whilst that admirable force the volunteer army is 

 better informed on the subject than soldiers and civilians 

 put together. To quote the sentiments expressed so 

 lately as the end of last July by my esteemed friend 

 " Smallbore," of the 50th Administrative Battalion 

 Pimlico Peashooters, " Cavalry, sir, has seen its day. 

 Whether it was ever worth the attention bestowed on it 

 is not for me to say ; but, mark my words, in future wars 

 we shall never hear of such arm. What chance could it 

 ever have against the worst disciplined infantry armed 

 with ' arms of precision ?' ' (Was he thinking of his 

 own company ?) " Before they could advance a hundred 

 yards a brigade of cavalry must be cut to pieces/' &c., 

 &c., and next day he returns to town, and shows his 

 military ardour by appearing on parade in Hyde Park 

 and his fitness for command by manfully " clubbing" his 

 company ! I cannot pretend to answer that question, 

 which, to all appearances, puzzles wiser heads than mine 

 viz., how it is that officers of volunteers who have never 



* Written in 1870. 



