I have always bbeen skeptical about the "ten guineas in gold ye shall have in your fist, and a crown in the bargain to kick up the dust".

Ten guineas was a sizeable fortune to a working class lad in the nineteenth century, and my gut feeling is that the real bounty offered to a potential soldier would be nearer to "a guinea in gold" with possibly a "shilling to kick up the dust".

I am, however, as always, open to correction.

Murray