In bidding farewell to this book before publication, I am most anxious to thank with hearty sincerity all those who, as past or present officers and friends of this historic regiment, have helped my efforts. There are two names above all that I must most particularly record—(i.) that of Colonel Coventry Williams, lately commanding the Greys, who has helped in so many details, though I can only particularly refer readers to pages 291, 292 and 293. Colonel Williams is the half-brother of Captain Williams, a portrait of whom, as he stands by his charger, I have been able to include in this volume, and who, as named by Kinglake (quoted on page 78), brought the Greys out of action at Balaclava. There, too, Kinglake refers to the anonymous officer whose Crimean recollections are given on pages 80 to 84. That officer has since died, and so, too, has Russell, the famous Times correspondent, with whom he was exchanging affectionate greetings. (ii.) In the next place I must record my gratitude to Major Lindsay, who has shown the keen instinct native to the noble house of Crawford. His grandfather opened his famous record with this quotation from "Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont allias lyoun herauld king of Armes":—

The fact is that to hold the King's commission in the Royal Scots Greys inspires a host of chivalrous thoughts and memories. Picture the simple pride shown in the laconic words quoted on page 293, "Greys, from your right number off ten!" and see pages 52 to 74. Here are letters from Francis Charlton Kinchant, who received his commission on 18th January, 1815, and was killed at Waterloo. After writing to a friend accounts describing how zealously he was learning to practise the art of war, he goes on: "The regiment is without doubt the best and the most crack cavalry corps in the service. I don't think there is a private in it under 5 feet 11 inches." The next personal allusion, describing the uniform of the corps, is to his own father: "Our dress altogether is extremely rich and consequently costs lots of money. The Court dress coat alone is 40 guineas. It is covered with lace from head to foot. The jackets are handsome, but they cost £15. 15. each. Every other part of the equipment is equally as expensive. In fact we make a most dashing appearance. I should like much to meet the old Buck at Bath or Clifton. I do not think he would know his hopeful son."

It is interesting to identify the noble Colonel James Gardiner, killed at Preston Pans, as an officer in the Greys. Of course the regiment has always held a peculiarly interesting position. For instance, it does not join the ordinary rota for foreign service. It shares with a very few the privilege of having a special honorary Colonel-in-chief.

Before writing of Sir Thomas Dalyell, the first colonel of the regiment, I wish to thank most cordially Mrs. Cornwall Dalyell of The Binns, who most kindly allowed photographs to be taken of the manuscripts of (and relics pertaining to) Sir Thomas Dalyell himself.

Thomas Dalyell or Dalzell, of Binns, was born about 1599, and seems to have taken part in the Rochelle expedition in 1628, as captain in the Earl of Morton's regiment. In 1640 he was serving under Major Robert Monro at Aberdeen. He accompanied Monro in his expedition to Ireland, 8th April, 1642, having obtained a commission as colonel to command 2,500 men. On 6th May, 1651, he was appointed by the King as General-Major of Foot, and fought at Worcester on 3rd September. He was taken prisoner and committed to the Tower, but escaped to the Continent. In March, 1654, he appeared off the northern coasts of Scotland, and helped in the rebellion in the Highlands in that year. Although a reward and free pardon were offered to anyone who would give him up, dead or alive, he again escaped to the Continent, and received from Charles a special letter of thanks, dated Cologne, 30th December, 1654. On 19th July, 1666, he was appointed Commander-in-chief in Scotland. Captain Crichton wrote of him: "He was bred up very hardy from his youth; he never wore a peruke, nor did he shave his beard since the murder of King Charles the First. He died on Sunday evening, 23rd August, 1685."

E. A.

ERRATA.