COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 107 



and very good ones ; but I had seen no one who 

 could drive properly. I knew a man in London, 

 named Timms, who used to drive for Charlie Ward, 

 and had driven a three-horse 'bus over London 

 Bridge daily. He was a first-rate coachman, and 

 a big, stout, good-looking man, and looked quite 

 the character in a cocked hat and silk stockings. 

 He did his work very well, and in consequence 

 got the situation of head coachman to the Duke 

 of Portland. One day the state coach going out 

 somewhere, four-in-hand, the rotten old pole broke, 

 but no harm was done. 



Sir Frederick Hamilton joined the Grenadier 

 Guards in 1831, General, 1876, and Colonel of 2ist 

 Foot. Served in the Crimean War ; present at 

 battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman (slightly 

 wounded and horse shot) ; was in command of 

 Grenadier Guards after Inkerman ; C.B., medal 

 with four clasps, Officer of Legion of Honour, 3rd 

 Mejedie and Turkish Medal. He married Miss 

 Louisa Anstruther, daughter of Sir Alexander An- 

 struther, of Thirdpart. 



In 1874 Sir Frederick Hamilton stood for the 

 county of Fife. His opponent was Sir Robert 

 Anstruther. He was not a good candidate ; he 

 had only lately come to live at Pitcorthie, and was 

 not known in the county. He was by no means 

 eloquent. He read his speeches, which were ex- 

 cellent on paper, and he was by no means ready 

 at "heckling". He had long been known by the 

 nickname of " Froggy ". 



