presented to them for their victories in
India. Sir Harry inspected them on foot; but afterwards mounted a
horse, and put the regiment through a variety of evolutions, which were
performed to his great satisfaction. This done, the regiment was drawn
up in close column. Sir Harry rode up to the front, and addressed the
troops as follows:--'Soldiers of the 16th Lancers, I hope you are now
as happy as you made your enemies unhappy. You served in India with the
highest honour. Whenever you were called on, you were ready to obey your
officers, either in the field or in quarters. If I have not this day
addressed each separate individual whom I know, it is not because I do
not feel towards you all as I know you all feel towards me, but because
I do not keep you and your officers on the ground. I have served many
years, and commanded many soldiers; but never did I know a regiment of
dragoons or of infantry superior, either in the field or in quarters,
to my gallant comrades of the 16th Lancers. I think I now see you on the
morning of Aliwal, marching in that order which would have done honour
to a barrack parade--your hearts in the right place, your hands on your
lances, and doing what I believe was never before done--charging twice
through a dense mass of infantry. On the following morning I saw half of
you, I believe, with your heads bound up, looking in the field of battle
for your dead and wounded comrades. I saw you also, when the enemy had
taken your baggage, with a cheerful heart and ready hand, willing to
redeem what was considered to be a reverse, when I asked you to do it,
and to make the enemy and the world know that you were equal to all
trials. The Duke of Wellington has often talked to me about this
regiment of dragoons, who have frequently distinguished themselves under
his command, and also of the memorable morning of Aliwal. Soldiers of
the 16th, I have on this occasion more particularly addressed you. I beg
to address Colonel M'Dowall and the officers of the 16th Lancers: That
you are gentlemen we all know, and none know it more than the privates
of the regiment, and that they have a commander and officers who will
ask nothing of them which they will not obey. I regard the 16th Lancers
as the nucleus of another corps, which in future times will achieve
another Aliwal. I tell you again, what I told you at Lahore, where
Runjeet Singh asked if you were all gentlemen, and if her majesty had
many such regiments of ge