6 
ARTILLERY SERVICE UNDER “JOHN COMPANY .” 
and gaiters or half spatterdashes, as they were called, a red leather 
belt with swivels, black silk stock, and buff gloves. The Regimental 
hat is supposed to have been a plain cocked, in the fashion of George 
the Seconds time. The hair was worn greased, powdered and twist¬ 
ed into a queue, false hair being substituted when the natural was not 
long enough. 
1775 In 1775 , the establishment of Lascars was reduced to two 
Serangs, four Tindals, and 100 men per company in can¬ 
tonments, the remainder being transferred to the magazines, from 
which on active service the company details were to be increased to 
four Serangs, twelve Tindals, and 325 men. 
1776 The climate of Calcutta, the head-quarters of the Regiment 
at this period, does not appear to have been particularly 
salubrious. Colonel Pearse writing to his uncle Admiral Mann, alludes 
to it, as follows :—“ The air of Calcutta is in summer like a hot steam 
u room, and in winter like a cold steam house. All the air is, in every 
fl season, full of moisture and saltpetre.” 
The manners and habits of the period, were somewhat peculiar as 
compared with modern days. The hours for parades, and in fact for 
everything were early, parades were before gun-fire in the cold season, 
while dinners were in the middle of the day, not only in private 
houses, but on public occasions; and invitations were given on a scale 
of hospitality only practicable in a small society. The order-book 
was the common channel of invitation used by the Governor-General 
and the officer commanding the garrison. Many such entries as the 
following will be found in it :—“ The Honourable the Governor* General, 
u requests to be favoured with the company of officers and gentlemen 
“ belonging to the army now in the garrison of Fort William and the 
(( presidency, on Monday next, to dinner at the Court house, and in the 
“ evening to a Ball and supper. The Governor-General requests that 
“ gentlemen will not bring any servants to dinner, nor their hookahs to 
" the Ball at night.” 
Or“ Lieut.-Colonel Wilding presents his compliments to all the 
“ officers in Fort William, the staff of the garrison, and surgeons, and 
<( requests their company to breakfast, and dinner, at half-past two 
“ o'clock.” 
In December the company marched into camp at Dum Dum for 
practice. Dum Dum was first used as an Artillery practice ground 
the previous year, but all the available camp equipage being required 
for the use of a brigade marching to Dinapore, the companies were 
ordered back to Fort William and their practice cut short to one fort¬ 
night, instead of two months. This year however—as the orders 
record—they marched out with their tents and stores and began the 
practice by firing a Royal salute, and after that one of nineteen guns 
for the company. 
The practice ground was obtained from the Brahmins of some 
temples in Calcutta (in exchange for other lands east of the salt-water 
lake), who afterwards laid claim to it, and appear to have abstracted 
the documents proving the purchase from the Magistrate's office while 
