"I fear you have again an opportunity of calling me an idle correspondent. I have certainly delayed writing to you much longer than I intended. In truth my time is totally occupied in drills, &c. three times a day, an hour and a half each. I rise every morning at six and attend at the Riding School till nine.
"I have already made great progress in the equestrian art.
"I and a brother Cornet (junior to myself) perform together.
"The method of riding is altogether different to that of the country squires. At present we ride without stirrups, in order that we may obtain a firm seat. We must leap the bar, ditches and go through all the different evolutions of the field exercise, &c. without stirrups, indeed I find I can already ride better without their support than with it. So much for horsemanship.
"The reason I have so much drilling is I much wish to go on service and share the honours my comrades are likely to reap.
"We are in daily expectation of receiving orders to proceed to Flanders.
"The Regiment is without doubt the best disciplined and the most crack cavalry corps in the service. I don't think there is a private in it under 5 feet 11 inches, and the officers are a fine gentlemanly set of fellows. There are only three Scotchmen among the officers, but the privates are in general Scotch.
"The horses are all grey and in excellent condition.
"Mine is two inches too low but the colonel has passed him for a second charger. He has desired I will get one much stronger and higher immediately as a first charger, but where I am to find a horse of that description I am at a loss to know.
"It is the general opinion there will be more hard fighting and more bloodshed than in any preceding war, as that arch fellow Bony (who has been too deep for all our wise heads) will dispute every inch of ground with the sword.