476 
MISCELLANEA. 
the 7th battalion of the 60th Rifles, was composed wholly of the 
elite of Napoleon’s soldiers taken in the Peninsula, and preferring 
the British service to a prison : they were principally conscripts, 
and many were evidently of a higher class in society than is 
usually found in the ranks. Among them were several chasseurs 
and Polish lancers, very fine equestrians, and, as my husband had 
a field-officer’s command (on detachments) and allowances, our 
horses were well looked after. His groom was a Chasseur, mine 
a Pole ; but neither could ride Fairy, unless she happened to be in 
a very gracious mood. Lord Dalhousie’s English coachman after- 
wards tried his hand at taming her, but all in vain. In an easy 
quiet style she either sent her rider over her head, or by a laugh- 
able manoeuvre, sitting down like a dog on her haunches, slipped 
him off the other way. Her drollery made the poor men so fond 
of her, that she was rarely chastized ; and such a wilful, intractable 
wild Arab it would be hard to find. Upon her I was daily 
mounted ; and surely the Lord watched over me then indeed ! 
Inexperienced in riding, untaught, unassisted, and wholly unable 
to lay any check upon £0 powerful an animal, with an awkward 
country saddle, which by some fatality was never well fixed, bit 
and bridle to match, and the mare’s natural fire increased by high 
feed, behold me bound for the wildest paths, in the wildest regions 
of that wild country! But you must explore the roads about 
Annapolis, and the romantic spot called “ The General’s Bridge,” 
to imagine either the enjoyment or the perils of that my hap- 
piest hour. 
Reckless to the last degree of desperation, I threw myself en- 
tirely on the fond attachment of the noble creature ; and when I 
saw her measuring with her eye some rugged fence or wild chasm, 
such as it was her common sport to leap over in her play, the soft 
word of remonstrance that checked her was uttered more from 
regard to her safety than my own. The least whisper, a pat on 
the neck, or a stroke down the beautiful face that she used to 
throw up towards mine, would control her ; and never for a mo- 
ment did she endanger me. This was little short of a daily 
miracle, when we consider the nature of the country, her cha- 
racter, and my unskilfulness. It can only be accounted for on the 
ground of that wondrous power, which, having willed me to work 
for a time in the vineyard of the Lord, rendered me immortal until 
the work should be done. Oh, that my soul and all that is within 
me could sufficiently bless the Lord, and remember all his benefits! 
I was then unmindful of and unthankful for His protection ; I 
revelled in the delights of a freedom that none could share but my 
dog, who never left the side of his associate. I will give you a 
sketch of the group in some lines composed during one of those 
