Welsh Journals

BYE-GONES FOR i884. NOTES, QUERIES, and REPLIES, on tubjects interesting to Wales and the Borders, must be addressed is " Askew Roberts, Croeswylan, uswestry." Real names and addresses must be given, in confidence, and MSS. must be written legibly, on one side of the paper only. OSWESTRY ADVERTIZER, JAN. 2,1884. NOTES. MARTIAL SHROPSHIRE. We purpose, from time to time, to give in Bye-gones some consecutive account of the rise and progress of the Yeomanry Cavalry force of the county of Salop, and shall be much aide J in so doing by the kind permission of Col. Wingfield, the present popular commander of the regiment, to publish several letters, and other documents, that have hitherto remained in manuscript. We may remark that, at the outset, what afterwards became two strong regi¬ ments—North and South—were isolated companies, be¬ longing respectively to sundry towns and districts in the county. The movement began, at the close of the year 1796, after the passing of the "Provisional Cavalry" Bill, and the name of " John ^Hill, jun.," is the first we have on record in the ranks of Martial Salopians. Mr. John Hill, jun., was born in 1769, the eldest son of Mr. John Hill, who, in 180S, succeeded his elder brother, Sir Richard Hill, in the title. The younger John began his military career early by entering the Royal Horse Guards Blue, and was engaged on foreign service in Flan¬ ders, under the command of his Royal Highness the Duke of York. His brother Rowland—afterwards the Hero of Waterloo—said of him, that fthe was sure if Jack had fair play he would manage half-a-dozen Frenchmen," and "that those in office entertained the same opinion, is demonstrated by the fact of his being promoted to the rank of field officer in the 25th Light Dragoons." On his marriage to Elizabeth Rodes, daughter of Philip Cornish, Esq,, of Exeter, he yielded to the earnest desire of his rela¬ tives that he should quit the army ; and he did so at a time when his military ardour and skill found ample develop¬ ment in his native county. The Provisional Cavalry Bill having passed both Houses, and received the Royal assent, no time was lost in com¬ municating with Lords-Lieutenants of counties ; and our first document is a letter written by the Duke of Portland to Lord Clive :— Whitehall, 26 Nov. 1796. My Lord,—As it is enacted in the 24th clause of the Act for raising a provisional force of cavalry, " That every man who shall be enrolled by virtue of that Act shall be furnished with and appear on every day of muster in a suitable dress tor a private soldier of cavalry, which dress shall be provided by himself, if he shall serve on principal, or, if he shall serve as a substitute, then by the person for whom he shall so serve, according to the pattern of dress which shall be fixed and settled at a general meeting of Lieutenancy for the County, Riding, or place, where the persons shall respectively serve, and which shall be approved by His Majesty. I have judged it alvisable to direct that the pattern of a rap, jacket, and pantaloons should be sent to you to be submitted for the inspection and consideration of a general meefinsr of Lieu¬ tenancy for the county of Salop, and should the above dress be fixed and settled as the pattern dress at such General Meeting of Lieutenancy,it will on your lordship's acquainting me therewith be submitted to His Majesty, who I have reason to believe will be disposed to approve thereof.—I have the honour to be, my lord, your lord¬ ship's most obedient servant, Portland. P.S.—Below is an estimate of the expense of the Pattern Dress proposed. £ s. d. Green Cloth Jacket, faced scarlet & corded white 19 0 do. do. Pantaloons feathered red, Cloth same ) as Jacket J 10 0 Leather Cap and Feather 2 6 Half Boots IS 0 £2 9 6 Your Lordship will be pleaded to acquaint me to what place you would wish the above dress to be sent. To Lord Clive, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Salop. The Pattern Dress having come to hand, Lord Clive wrote to Major John Hill as follows :— Ensden, 15 Deer 1796. Sir,—The Pattern Cavalry Dress being arrived Mr. Loxdale will have one made up immediately & trans¬ mitted to you. I duly received your letter respecting Mr. Betton's wish of engaging himself in the Provisional Cavalry in Preference to the Supplementary Militia and can have no objection. I would recommend the ac?epting offers of assistance generally rather than specifically promising troops, as by that means we shall keep in our power the means of selecting the persons of most conse¬ quence to fill the highest situations. As yet. no instruc¬ tions have been sent me as to the Plan of forming and regimenting the Cavalry,—I am, with much esteem, Sir, your most faithful Servant Clive. Major Hill. QUERIES. BISHOP'S CASTLE.— Is there any published account of the early history of this place—Why was it called Bishopscastle ? An Inquirer.