in the ARMS of LIGHT CAVALRT. 251 



a considerable degree of trouble and time required in faddling, 

 for, after # the faddle is put on, which is little more than a tree, 

 the fheep-fkin or cloth is to be thrown over and faftened. 



The alteration I have made confifts in removing the cantle 

 about two inches back, and the ftirrups one inch forward ; by 

 deprefling the feat to within one inch of the horfe's back, and 

 by making it fomewhat broader. By this means there is ftill 

 a current of air running below the faddle, the dragoon ftill re- 

 tains the manege -feat, and all the material advantages of the 

 huffar#-faddle are preferved. The faddle is covered with leather ; 

 it is infinitely ftronger, poffelfes every ufeful property of our 

 dragoon-faddle, and weighs five pounds lefs.' 1 



In general, I cannot help obferving, that the fabre ought to 

 be confidered as the right-arm of light cavalry, the carabine 

 or piftol merely as an auxiliary, to be ufed when the fword is 

 rendered ufelefs, or in a woody, morafly, or inclofed country, 

 where a light horfeman is unable to come to clofe quarters with 

 his adverfary. A light dragoon cannot be too lightly clad, 

 armed and accoutred ; for, as activity and expedition are his 

 principal qualifications, he muft not be encumbered by any un- 

 neceflary weight. A light dragoon -and his horfe fhould be 

 confidered as one animal : his arms muft be fuch as he can ufe 

 with eafe and dexterity when mounted ; at the fame time, pro- 

 vided it can be done without any additional encumbrance or in- 

 convenience, there is no reafon why they fhould not be adapted 

 as much as pofiible to his defence when difmounted ; but, if 

 you attempt to make him equal at the fame time to an huflar, and 

 to an infantry man, you inevitably render him inferior to either. 



With the carabine defcribed above, I think the piftol totally 

 unneceftary. A dragoon can only load and fire one arm at a 

 time in action ; another is fuperfluous ; it only gives him addi- 

 tional trouble, and his horfe additional weight j belides which, 



when 



