294 
THE HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY. 
productive of most striking results, more especially in the artillery 
division. The Company had been, no doubt, regarded as a valuable 
adjunct to the existing Volunteer Force before that date, and Sir 
Charles Dilke, in a striking article in the Fortnightly Review of 1888, 
referring to the absence of any mobile batteries in the Auxiliary Forces, 
hazards a conjecture that “ that ancient and well-to-do organisation 
called the Honourable Artillery Company .... could put six 
field pieces in line. - ” In this, however, he was mistaken, but in March 
1889, with the Royal Warrant under which the Regiment now thrives, 
came a new order of things, which has resulted in the Artillery division 
becoming an important factor in the national defence. A Royal Artil¬ 
lery Officer on full pay was appointed Adjutant, and three picked Royal 
Artillery N.-C.O.’s were appointed as Sergeant Instructors. The guns 
previously held in charge having been returned to Woolwich Arsenal, 
six 9-pounder R.M.L. guns with new harness and saddlery were issued 
to the Company. A little later a special set of Regulations for the 
Honourable Artillery Company was issued, prefaced with the Royal 
Warrant of 12th March, 1889, under the provisions of which the Regi¬ 
ment passed under the control of the Secretary of State for War. 
Military The Company is privileged to assemble “ whenever an order for 
the embodiment of the Militia is in force, and Our said Company is 
called out by Our Royal Proclamation .... and shall remain on 
actual military service until released in accordance with Our Royal Pro¬ 
clamation,” also to continue to act in aid of the Civil Power “ when 
duly called upon.” 
It had been exempted by name from the operation of the Volunteer 
Act, 1863. 
Conversion On 12th March, 1890, an Army Order notified the conversion of the 
ca°v f aty g iiSto Light Cavalry troop, which had not hitherto attained any high standard 
Artillery e ffi c i euc Jb into a troop of Horse Artillery, the Government supplying 
the necessary equipment. The two batteries go into gunnery-camp at 
Shoeburyness, and in addition have a week’s camp of exercise at some 
military station every year, when they are fully horsed, and elicit as a : 
rule most favourable commendation from the authorities. 
Towards the end of the year 1890, the Adjutant-General, Sir Redvers 
Buller, wrote that “ the excellent progress reported already in the 
mounted branch of the Regiment, confirms His Royal Highness (Com- 
mander-in-Chief) in the opinion that a valuable Artillery Corps could 
be formed from the Honourable Artillery Company.” The appointment 
of a supernumerary Lieut.-Colonel in the course of the following year, j 
in the person of the Hon. R. Allsopp, Major (r.p.) R.A., tended to give 
a fresh impetus to the growing efficiency of the artillery branch, which 
it appeared the desire of the War Office authorities to develop. 
Government The formidable expense of maintaining two batteries of artillery in 
tSned% 89 i\ thorough working order induced the Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. 
Lord de Vesci, to apply for capitation grants and allowances for that 
branch of the Regiment. This being partially conceded by the Trea¬ 
sury, the Lieut.-Colonel was enabled to accept the offer of a definite 
place in the mobilisation scheme. The batteries will thus be able to 
place eight guns fully horsed and equipped, in a position to reach their 
