their most rapid movements; and not a little was due to the practical school of experience opened in the Peninsula; but, to their honour be it stated, the rapid progress towards the standard of perfection attained by the Royal Horse Artillery was mainly due to the labours, the devotion, of the officers belonging to it, who were inspired by the same _esprit_ and the same conscientious regard for their duties, as have continued to animate the officers of that brilliant arm to this day. While the Committee, appointed to decide the question of Horse Artillery in connection with our service, was--according to wont--babbling harmlessly and fruitlessly in the fourth year of its existence, a virtual rupture took place between England and France. The Duke of Richmond, then Master-General, immediately took the matter himself in hand; and of three schemes, very dissimilar, over which the Committee had been debating, he selected the following, as the basis of the organization of a troop of Royal Horse Artillery. INDEX. A. Horses. B. Drivers. C. Ammunition. D. Captains. E. Lieuts. F. N.C.O.’s. G. Gunners. H. Drummers. I. Civil Lists. ---------------------------+----+---+----+-------------------+---+--------------- | | | | Distribution of | | | | | | detachments. | | Detail. | | | +---+---+-------+---+ | Remarks. | A. | B.| C.| D.| E.| F.| G.| H.| I.| ---------------------------+----+---+--------+-------+---+---+---+--------------- 5½-inch howitzers (2) | 8| 4| 160| 1| 1| 2| 20| ..| ..| 4 men held the Waggons (2) | 8| 4| | | | | | | | horses in | | | | | | | | | | action. 3-prs. (2) | 8| 4| 480| 1| 1| 2| 20| ..| ..| Ditto. Waggons (2) | 8| 4| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6-prs., Col. Williams’ (2) | 4| 2| 160| ..| 1| 2| 20| ..| ..| Ditto. Tumbrils (2) | 4| 2| | | | | | | | Horses for detachments | 66| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| 2 Sergeants, Sergt.-Major,}| 2| ..| ..| ..| ..| 2| ..| ..| ..| and Clerk of Stores }| | | | | | | | | | Drummers to have }| 2| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| 2| ..| bugle horns, and }| | | | | | | | | | act as orderly men }| | | | | | | | | | 1 forge cart | 3| 1| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| 1 waggon for Artificers’ }| 3| 1| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| Stores }| | | | | | | | | | Officers’ horses not }| | | | | | | | | | included }| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..| ..|