4, 
ranks had agreed excellently and a great blank was felt in the Officers’ Mess 
which reverted to its usual diminutive proportions. 
The Colonel of the Greys and the O.C. the detachment both wrote very kind 
letters thanking the R.A. for what they had done, and the officers presented Major 
Boileau with a handsome silver cigar-case bearing a complimentary inscription. 
On the day of the Czar’s arrival the 39th Company were employed in firing 
Royal salutes from Edinburgh Castle—one for the Prince of Wales and two for 
the Ozar. 
On the Ist September, the officers R.A. headed by Colonel Alves, Colonel 
Rooke and General Chapman, gave a garden party at the fort, which was a great 
success, notwithstanding the rain which had been anticipated and allowed for. 
The decorations had been most artistically arranged by Mrs. Alves, and the hosts 
were fortunately able to secure the services of the Regimental Band which had 
been fulfilling a municipal engagement at Glasgow. Cavaliere Zavertal was 
present and conducted in his usual style to the gratification of an audience of 
about 250, who, despite the rival attractions of ‘St. Partridge,’ had managed 
to be present. 
At some tactical exercises held near Edinburgh the other day, the 39th 
Company, R.A., manned four 64-prs. onthe beach at Musselburgh and, 
carbines in hand, fired alternate salvos and volleys at imaginary warships at sea 
and troops of real cavalry on land—a novel réle for Garrison Artillery. 
The same Company carried out its Competitive prize firing at Inchkeith this 
year from 10-inch R.M.L. guns at a towed record target, and having been awarded 
a first-class Company prize, have now mounted the gold cross guns. 
Early in September the Company also held its aquatic sports at Inchkeith in 
half a gale of wind with a high sea running ; but, in spite of the ill-nature of the 
elements, the programme was steadily proceeded with; and General -Chapman, 
who was present with a large party, afterwards wrote the C.O. a very gratifying 
letter, congratulating him on the pluck and endurance af his men. The comic 
event-of the day was the competition for the Major’s prize—a pig in a box at the 
end of a horizontal greasy pole. Its capture was not effected without causing 
considerable amusement to the audience; most of the competitors having affected 
fancy female costumes, clad in which they disappeared in the water the usual 
number of times and mostly head first.. 
An association styled “ The Royal Artillery Edinburgh Association” has been, 
founded for the benefit of pensioners and army reserve men, late of the Regiment, 
who are resident in Scotland. The Honorary President, General Chapman, oc- 
cupied the chair at the first meeting and a good many other officers were also 
present. H.R.H.the Duke of Cambridge, as Colonel-in-Chief, has sanctioned 
the wearing of rosettes of the R.A. colours by the old soldiers belonging to the 
association. ear a 
On the 3rd October General Chapman held a review of veterans in the Queen’s 
Park. There was a muster of about 500, all in plain clothes, and the display of - 
medals, chiefly for the Crimea and Indian Mutiny, was very large. ‘The regular 
garrison, consisting of the Inniskilling Dragoons, the 39th Company R.A. and 
the 1st Royal Scots, with the addition of some Volunteer Begiments, were present 
and marched past the veterans. In spite of its being a wet afternoon there was 
an immense concourse of spectators. The veterans were afterwards entertained 
at a supper by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. 
The racing season in Scotland was brought to a close on the Ist and 2nd 
October by the Musselburgh Meeting: the weather was on its best behaviour for 
the occasion and two capital days’ sport resulted. The Inniskilling Dragoons 
very kindly entertained almost all the occupants of the private stand to lunch 
on both days, and on the second day their Regimental Band played in the; 
enclosure. 
