410 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the army at an early period, and was present at the siege of Havannah in 1762.
In 1803, shortly after the Fencible regiments were disbanded, Major Clarkson
obtained the majority of the Berwickshire Militia, which commission he held
till his death, which took place in 1811 or 1812. His daughter, an only child,
married Lieutenant Norton of the Royals; and the wife of Mr. Sinclair, the
vocalist, is the offspring of that marriage.’
No. CLXI.
MR. JOHN ADARIS,
NASTER OF THE ROYAL RIDING MENAGE.
MR. ADAMS, who is here represented in the uniform of the Royal Mid-Lothian
Volunteer Cavalry, originally belonged to the 16th Light Dragoons, of which
regiment he was Quartermaster. He was subsequently a Lieutenant of the
Cinque Port Light Dragoons, commanded by the Earl of Liverpool, then
Colonel Jenkinson ; which corps was embodied in 1794, and had their colours
presented, in a field before Walmer Castle, the seat of the Lord Warden of the
Cinque Ports, by Lord Viscount Melville, then Mr. Secretary Dundas.
In 1797 Mr. Adams was brought to Edinburgh for the purpose of drilling
and organising the Mid-Lothian Cavalry, then about to be formed; and to
which regiment he was appointed adjutant. The duties of this situation he
discharged to the entire satisfaction of that highly respectable corps ; and when
old Tremamondo retired from the Riding-School,’ he was chosen his successor.
He died at the premature
age of forty-six, on the 18th of May 1804. His remains were interred in the
Greyfriars Churchyard with military honours-a company of the Edinburgh
Volunteers forming the firing party.
Adams was succeeded by Colonel Letham, whose son, Captain Letham,
afterwards held the appointment.
Mr. Adams did not long enjoy the Mastership.
1 A daughter of Mr. and Nrs. Sinclair was married, 23d June 1837, to Mr. Forrest, the celebrated
American tragedian.
a “he Riding-School was established in 1763, and Mr. Angelo wra the first master.-In a periodical
work of that year we find the following notice of the institution :-“A branch of education, not
formerly taught in this country, is lately established at Edinburgh-homemanship, or the art of
riding. For the purpose, a menage is erected by subscription ; and, at a general meeting, held 12th
December, the ordinary directors having reported that the building of the Riding-School and stables
was nearly finished, and that a sufficient number of homes, both foreign and English, was provided,
and several of them properly dressed by Mr. Angelo, it was agreed that the menage should be opened
for the reception of scholars on the first Monday of January. Each scholar pays four guineas the
first month, and two guineas every other month ; sixteen teaching days in the month. Gentlemen,
whose business will not allow them to attend regularly, get sixteen tickets for amonth, and pay three
guineas for the fist month, and two pounds six shillings for every other month.”