The general question of the rates of pay next comes for consideration. It is certainly not according to strict justice that the officers whose services are always confined to the British islands should receive an equal amount of pay as those who pass two-thirds of their lives on foreign service, in peace or war, and who undergo all the dangers and privations during a period of hostilities. I felt inclined, in the first instance, to suggest the rate of pay given to the Army previous to the year 1797; but that, perhaps, is too low: a middle point might be chosen, and this with the less difficulty if we return to the original formation of the English militia, where every officer was obliged to possess a certain yearly income of private fortune, according to his position in the regiment*. This scale was liberal enough to make the possession of military salary a secondary matter; in proof of this I need only adduce the system of messing in the militia, where people did not pay for their eating and drinking what they actually cost, but in proportion to their pay, varying from twelve to fourteen days' pay a month for each officer, something less than half their pay, -for which they were entitled to a good dinner, beer, and a pint of wine, whether living in barracks or messing at hotels. When the daily allowance of wine became exhausted, the custom was then to whip, which signified to send round a wine-glass, into which all those who chose to stay dropped their one or two shillings, as the president decided. This arrangement was particularly favourable to the junior members, who were always secured a degree of comfort, and even luxury, without any of that envious feeling that naturally attaches to a man who sits by with his glass empty, and sees his neighbour on either side sipping his port, and casting looks of pity on his privation. Those only who have been placed in the position can understand the humiliating feeling it produces.

The militia mode of messing, I am aware, could not be introduced into the Army in the simple state I have just described. It would trench rather too heavily on the means of the senior officers, particularly those who were married; but I do think that by transferring the subscriptions of the mess and band to the senior officers, including the non-effective Colonel, and a judicious application of the Queen's yearly allowance, the Subaltern Officers of the Army might with ease be provided with a good dinner, beer, attendance, and a third, if not more, of a bottle of wine every day, for half-a-crown. Most undoubtedly the Subalterns of militia, in point of living, were infinitely their superiors.

The exchange of national militias was a very well-judged measure, that served to abate a good many prejudices, and make the people of what are called the three kingdoms more intimately acquainted. Many valuable acquaintances and intimate connexions were thus formed, serving to amalgamate the several parts of the empire in feelings and sentiments. By this locomotion, also, the men became more familiar with new scenes, which prompted them still further to improve or extend their acquaintance, by volunteering into the line, and going, as they said, to see the world. This feeling it is most desirable to keep up, as, according to our present system of voluntary enlistment, the

* The following are the qualifications of the several ranks:-Lieut.-Colonel, 600l.; Major, 4001.; Captain, 2007.; Lieutenant, 501.; Ensign, 201.

militia must be looked to as the chief source from which to draw the men for our land-service. This, unfortunately, cannot be made available at the most valuable moment, -the commencement of a war. As Mrs. Glasse says of cooking a hare, "first catch your hare," you must first catch your militia-man by means of the ballot-trap, peel him of his smock-frock, hand him over to his scarlet tormentors, accustom him to go tame about a barrack-yard, know his right hand from his left, and distinguish them both from the handle of the pump; in short, you must inoculate him with a new mode of life, and let him imbibe a fresh set of ideas, before you can expect that he will make the move of extending his services. All these preliminary steps exhaust a great deal of time, the first element of war; but such has been hitherto our position, and it is likely to remain so, unless some means are found to render the entrance of the Army more popular or more peremptory.

In speaking of a militia it would not be just or fair to restrict our notice to the British islands; there is a force of that kind existing in the Channel islands, and several of our colonies, whose services to the countries and islands they inhabit, as well as those to the state in general, are well worthy to be recorded by a competent person. It is not too much to say that on many occasions the tranquillity and preservation of the islands of the West Indies have been mainly owing to the courage and good conduct of the militia; and a laborious task they had in bygone times, when they had at all times to be prepared for negro insurrection, and were scarcely ever secure in their lives or property. It is enough to give one a fever to imagine a Maroon hunt with the thermometer at 90°; even a common parade or drill is rather awful. The Commandant of militia in one of our oldest western colonies, whom I shall not call a martinet, but only say that he was very zealous that his corps should excel in military exercise, and that, when he was a little baulked in tactical projects, his rhetoric sometimes assumed an intertropical character, having on one occasion projected a field-movement, which commenced with a march in column left in front, found that the leader, the Captain of light infantry, had swerved very considerably from the direction intended; he rode up, and called out, "Capt., Capt. -, where the h-ll are you going to, Sir?" "I am going to h-ll, Sir," was the pithy reply, prompted, perhaps, by the consideration that he could scarcely be hotter anywhere else than where he was. The militia of the larger islands is of all arms, cavalry, artillery, and infantry, composing small insular armies, every way effective, and fit to cope with a disciplined enemy,--proved on several occasions in Jamaica, Antigua, and Dominica, - indeed, the defence of the islands has often mainly depended on the militia during seasons of great mortality and sickness among European troops. The value of this force will increase rather than diminish, as, in the event of any future war in that part of the world, the islands might safely be stripped of all the regular troops for some particular service, and their places supplied for the time by the militia, now no longer distracted with anxiety as to domestic tranquillity; the restless and insubordinate slave, being transformed into a quiet and peaceable peasant, requiring only to be overlooked by the police in their present transition state, but who hereafter will, no doubt, contribute their share of defence to the "land they live in."

What I have said generally of the militia will, I hope, prompt some one more competent to become their advocate, and bring out their merits in the way they deserve; and which none would be more willing to acknowledge than their brethren of the line, who have associated with them on all occasions in the most friendly manner, brought them into their clubs on perfect equality, and who would be glad to see the revival of the institution for the sake of old remembrance. The Navy and Army have their full share of supporters, and their good deeds have not been buried under a bushel; it is, therefore, only fair, then, to allow a portion of the meed of praise to the militia, in whose favour we might with ease paraphrase the lines of the poet,-

"But all our praises why should Lords engross?
Rise, honest Muse, and sing the Man of Ross."

This subject has carried me rather beyond my intended limits, and I must postpone to a future occasion a notice of the Volunteers, and other portions of our domestic defensive force.

SKETCHES OF FOREIGN MILITARY LIFE.

A CHAPTER FROM THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN RENAUD OF THE FRENCH HUSSARS.

"How little do the people in general know of war, and of the anxious midnight hours, which we experience! while they rest as happily in their nests, as a full stomach will allow." LORD COLLINGWOOD.

WERE I of higher grade, (said Captain Renaud, taking off his second glass of Sillery,) I might venture to say with Louis XIV., I have been too fond of war. For like others, in my boyhood, Bonaparte had quite intoxicated me with the love of glory, -in fact, it took such possession of my head, that I could find room for nothing else. My father, an old officer of rank, who passed his days in camps, I had never seen, until one fine morning, being appointed to accompany Bonaparte to Egypt, he purposed taking me with him. I was but then in my twelfth year, though I perfectly well remember the circumstances, and the enthusiasm, verging on idolatry, which the army evinced towards that wonderful and extraordinary genius which led it.

To speak allegorically, two spirits fanned our sails, that of glory and piracy; but my father was as indifferent to the latter as to the north-easterly breeze which impelled our ships, while the former resounded so frequently in my ears, that I was completely deaf to every thing else, producing much the same effect as did the sound of artillery in the ears of Charles XII., which he called his "music." These emotions produced in me a mingled sentiment of joy, and a spirit of enthusiasm, which has lasted me through life. A memorable interview decided this fatal admiration in me, to which I willingly sacrificed all else.

The fleet set sail for Egypt on the 11th of May, 1798. The spectacle being a novelty to me, I passed night and day in admiration of the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean, covered with an immense fleet, amounting in all to about 400 vessels of various sizes. Bonaparte was on board l'Orient of 120 guns. Our military line was about a league in length, while the half circle, formed by the convoy, extended to about six leagues. I was absorbed in silence, but observed the Corsica pass close by us, with the Sardinia in tow, followed by the Sicily to our left, while the Juno, on board of which my father and myself were, led the way, as an advance guard, in company with three other frigates. As we passed along the coast of Sicily, my father shewed me Mount Etna, which was then throwing up volumes of smoke; Marsala, the ancient Lilybæum, was rendered scarcely visible, while its white houses appeared, like so many doves in the distance, penetrating a cloud.

On the 9th of June we came off Malta, the appearance of which has left an impression on my memory which will never be effaced.

There stood the renowned bulwark of Christendom before me! with its immense impregnable forts, and fortifications, bristling with cannon even to the water's edge; and its adamantine walls of dazzling whiteness, like polished marble, reflecting back the sun's meridian beams; while a thousand caiques and galleys, rowed with their red painted oars, floated around us.

The island was completely surrounded by our ships, with their enormous sails spread to the wind, which, at a given signal, hoisted their tricoloured flags of blue, red, and white, while from Goza and Fort St. Elmo, we beheld the standard of the Cross Militant waving for the last time, and which we saluted with 500 guns.

The Orient stood in advance and apart, like a huge leviathan on the deep, when the men-of-war passed her, one by one, in review order, and I was near enough to perceive Desaix salute Bonaparte from his ship. Here we went on board the Orient, and, for the first time, I beheld the Emperor!

He was looking over the ship's side, engaged in conversation with Casa Bianca, Commander of the unfortunate ship, and was playfully passing his hands through the beautiful curling hair of an interesting little boy, about ten years old, -this was the ill-fated Captain's son. I remember becoming immediately jealous of this protégé, while my heart bounded within me when I saw him touch the General's sword. My father now advanced towards Bonaparte, and remained some time in conversation with him, of whom I had not obtained a fair view, all at once, he turned round, and looked me full in the face. I confess it was a glance which made me tremble in all my limbs, and my spirit of curiosity very soon evaporated at the sight of his sallow countenance, overshadowed by his long flowing hair, hanging in a most careless manner over his shoulders, looking for all the world as if he had just emerged from the sea; he had large expressive grey eyes, sunken cheeks, with lips curling over his pointed chin; these were my first impressions, and, I believe, correct ones of him at that period of his fortunes. He had evidently been speaking of me, for I heard him say, "Listen, my dear fellow, since you wish it, you shall accompany me to Egypt, while General Vaubois can very well remain here without you, with his 4000

I however must frankly tell you, I do not like the idea of taking children with us, and I confess I have done very wrong in allowing Casa Bianca to do so. You must send this little fellow of yours back to France, I'll make a good mathematician of him, and should any thing befall you in the interim, I'll provide for him myself; that is, if I survive, I'll bring him up and make a good soldier of him:" saying which, Bonaparte stooped down, took me in his arms, and kissed my forehead. This upset me quite, and I felt as if his magic influence had already won me from my father, who had seldom seen me, from his having been always with the army.

From this moment, all my thoughts were for soldiering. I now quitted my father, and for ever! I pursued my destiny; night and day I studied classical and military literature, spurred on with an emulous and ambitious hope, that I too, would, like my father, follow in the footsteps of the most renowned warrior of the age, and like him rise to an enviable rank in the career of arms. In the midst of my horoscope, came the astounding intelligence of the conquest of Egypt-Marengoand the Empire-with its immortal Emperor! As to my father, I no longer knew what had become of him, until I one day received a letter, which we will now peruse. I always keep it in this old pocket-book, which once was red, and often do I muse over it, to convince me of the inutility of the example which a generation gives to its succeeding one, and lead me to reflect well, on the absurd illusions which influenced my headstrong and wild impetuosity. Here the Captain, unbuttoning his uniform, drew forth the precious document from his breast pocket, which, on carefully opening, he read as follows:

"On board the English ship Culloden, before Rochefort, 1804.

"Sent to France with Admiral Collingwood's permission. "It is useless, my son, that I should acquaint you how this letter is conveyed to you, and by what means I have been made acquainted with your present position, and line of your conduct, suffice it to say, that I am much pleased with you, although, perhaps, I may never see you more. From our little intercourse this may be a matter of indifference to you, as you knew me only at an age ere memory is awakened, or the heart fully matured. On this point, my son, you are not worse than others. I shall therefore frankly tell you, that I have been a prisoner in the hands of the English ever since the 14 Thermidor of the year 6, or to use the old style (which they say is coming into fashion again), August 2, 1798.

"I had gone on board the Admiral's ship l'Orient to persuade the brave Brueys to make sail for Corfu. Bonaparte had already sent me his Aide-deCamp Julien, who was fool enough to allow the Arabs to walk off with him, while admiring antiquities. I arrived, however, but without avail, for I found Brueys as stubborn as a mule. He told me, he was looking out for the passage, to enable his ships to enter the harbour of Alexandria; muttering something in a haughty tone to himself, by which I very soon saw he was not a little jealous of the army. 'What, do you take us for mere water carriers?' said he, 'or think you we are afraid of the English?" It would have been better for France, perhaps, if we had been so. Poor fellow! if he committed faults, most gloriously has he atoned for them. I was on board when he was attacked. The Admiral was first wounded in the head and hand, but bravely continued the fight, till a cannon-ball fairly cut him through. He then commanded the sailors to put him into a sack of bran, and died like a hero on his quarter-deck!

"Towards ten o'clock, we clearly saw we should eventually be blown up. What remained of the crew now took to the boats, and saved themselves, with the exception of Casa Bianca, for he had already made known his intention of remaining to the last, while his son, a beautiful boy (the same you saw when we were off Malta), came up to me, saying: 'Citizen, what does honour now require of me? Poor child, but ten years old, and talking