- • A YEOMAN'S LETTERS...
CM THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.] crave your indulgence for a few lines in reference to your notice of the above-named book in the $pectator of September 28th. Of. course, I regret you do . not like my unpretentious _effort, but I gather from your note that the dislike is founded, on the . four pages of extracts from Sergeant - Major Fownes's "confession- book." Originally I had written, "Row far the' reasons assigned are genuine must be left to the discerning reader," but afterwards omitted it as unnecessary. -My mistake probably is in quoting from a soldier's book, not intended for publication, the jests and would-be flights of humour of his comrades. With the Imperial Yeomanry at Maitland Camp the
book, whatever its faults, was very popular as a source of Amusemeut, and contained contributions here and there from officers.
God help the man who takes things too seriously or sedately on a campaign! On p. 42 of the book and on others-I think you will see that we were patriotic enough. As regards doing one's duty, I was promoted to full corporal on the field, and -awarded a D.C.M. in last Friday's London Gazette, (14th Batn. Imperial Yeomanry). Apologising for troubling yea on such a small matter as my book.—I am, Sir, &c., [We are delighted to publish Mr. Ross's manly letter, and only regret that he did not make his potation more clear in the book itself.—En. Spectator.]
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