struction possible: they consisted of a piece or lump of wood, the requisite height of the dispart, buckled round the gun at the muzzle astragal by a leather strap. As the French artillerymen had nothing to guide the eye between the line of metal (that from the breech to the muzzle, about 14 degree), and point blank, (i. e. line parallel to the bore,) I was now no longer at a loss to account for the superior correctness of the Dutch fire.

On observing these sights, the French officer remarked, that they were for taking aim when the object was considerably nearer than point blank distance: this I readily understood, as I was aware the French call point blank what we call the line of metal*. While on the subject of sights, I may mention that Captain Brown, of the navy, so justly celebrated as the constructor of the chain-pier at Brighton, proposed some time since a sight to be used in breaching batteries, and whenever the men, while taking aim with great guns, were unavoidably much exposed. The utility of such an invention was shown, particularly in one instance, at this siege; and if the French had had a little more reflection, i. e. used such an instrument, which is a small highly burnished metal reflector, some lives might have been saved: a chef de bataillon, a captain, and an artillery-man were killed while looking out of an embrasure along a gun in either the breeching or contre-battery, I am not certain which. I shall not take the liberty to describe minutely Captain B.'s simple invention; but I may state as a proof of its correctness in practice, that I once stood sheltered by the shipside entirely clear of a port, which is wider than the embrasures in these batteries, with my backt to an object at which I pointed a long 18-pounder, and although it was distant 600 yards, it was hit the first shot. Captain B. was present, and the trial was made at his request-it was thus proved to answer at long shot; yet it was not contemplated to make use of it except in batteries on shore, when under close fire from great guns or musketry.

It is not likely to be of service on ship-board, where the men are screened from view by smoke, if not by bulwarks when at close quarters, at which time all sights are nearly useless, excepting now and then for a chance shot as the smoke clears away.

66

But once more unto the breach." The Bastion Toledo was the point to which the curious made their way on entering the citadel. The breach which was made in its left face was nearly practicable, and would have been quite so, had the firing continued a few hours longer; the slope from the ditch, which was about 50 feet in height, appeared at a guess to be at an angle of 45 degrees. The coup d'œil from its summit was most imposing-one stood about 30 feet above the terreplein, or ground on the opposite side of the ditch, which was about 30 yards wide-one of the two descentes au fossé à ciel couvert, the ne plus ultra of engineering, was observable by the opening through the counterscarp or wall on the opposite side, at the water's edge, with the heads of the curious peeping through it. On looking far around, the position

Point blank is said to be about a mile, in a recent work by a Sailor. Surely the Excellent's establishment was much wanted.

+ Probably the necessity of thus turning one's back on an enemy may be an insuperable objection to its adoption in our gallant artillery, without it be remembered that it is only intended to be used while you are battering him en brèche.

of the different batteries was distinguishable, and the parapets of the trenches were to be seen crowded with soldiers, in their various uniforms, and in the intermediate spaces the artillery and miners were especially employed digging for shot, unexploded shells and their splinters, for which they received an established price at head-quarters-added to these, it appeared as if the whole population of Antwerp, dressed in all the colours of the rainbow, had sallied forth from the gates of the city, forming altogether such an animated scene as I had never before witnessed, the effect of which was heightened by seeing the breach crowned by French and Dutch officers, men who a short time previous had been such deadly foes, now interchanging friendly salutations, or in earnest conversation, discussing the merits of the siege, and awarding to each other praise where it was due. Among them was General Neigre, the head of the French artillery.

On reaching the mound between the Alba and Duke bastions, on which was the flag-staff, my companion observed a small piece of the flag, which had been flying during the siege, hanging to the splinters of the staff where it had been struck by a shot-this the French officer dislodged with some little dexterity, and divided it, presenting me with the largest portion, saying, "Nous partagerons ceci en frères"—we will divide this like brothers. I had in a few minutes after an opportunity of also making a fraternal offering. I observed a Dutch prisoner employed milking one of the miserable-looking cows which had escaped destruction, even "war to the knife." Some milk was immediately presented on asking for it; my companion and myself then drank from the same cup the milk of mutual kindness, which we both equally enjoyed. Nelson used to tell his youngsters to "hate a Frenchman as they would the devil." This was as it should be during a devilish long and tiresome blockade, mais quelle révolution dans les choses de ce monde et dans nos idées! Since my Toulon cruises I had been en curieux on board Admiral Villeneuve's ship at Spithead, and was now, by the kind permission of Marshal Gerard, in the Citadel of Antwerp.

It may be remarked that the Dutch flag sent to Paris by the Marshal was the colour of the 10th regiment in garrison in the citadel, and not the flag which was flying during the siege: the remains of this, for it was torn in several places by shot, were said to have been burnt by the Dutch.

There were several women in the citadel during the siege-these belonged to the soldiers; General Chasse's friends were wisely sent to Bergen-op-zoom some time previous; two women were unfortunately killed; one of the soldier's wives told me she was born in the citadel, and said, "Voilà le reste de ma maison," pointing to a heap of ruins.

I have to add to these remarks (which have been spun out far beyond my intention) an anecdote or two of Captain Koopman, the commandant of the flotilla, who, to use a French expression, appears to have been "brave comme son épée." As the firing had ceased, fearing that the negociations for the surrender of the place might succeed, he proceeded to the citadel to offer his services, and those of his 300 sailors, to General Chassé, to defend the breach: this he stated to a French

"Of many hundred grant but three,

To make a new Thermopyla."

officer himself in his rather imperfect French, "Je dis au Général Chassé que je defendra ton brèche avec mes trois cents matelots." When this French officer was sent to the Tête de Flandres to disarm him and his officers, the latter were inclined to resist, until Captain Koopman recommended compliance as of stern necessity. But when it was understood that the officer was to convey their commander to head-quarters, they rushed into the room in a body, and with tears in their eyes declared they would not part from him; and it was not until the French officer had given his word of honour that he should be treated with proper respect and kindness, that the separation took place*.

In expressing my acknowledgments for the pleasure and instruction I have received in reading the operations of this siege in your Number for March, I beg leave to make a remark on the statement respecting the Belgian army, contained in p. 355. It is not the result of my own observation; I should not, as a sailor, suppose myself competent to give an opinion on the subject; but having mixed much with French officers, whom all must allow to be tolerable competent authority, I can assert that the general impression among them was, that the Belgian army could not be considered effective, in proportion to the numerical strength it had from peculiar causes suddenly attained. Although there had been time to perfect le simple soldat, good officers could not be procured as readily in sufficient numbers for so large an army. It was admitted that it contained a vast number, but they are not so indigenous in a Belgian as a French soil, where they spring up à coup de baguette. The impression of this defect was such, that many of the French declared they hoped they might not have to act in concert on the same field of action.

It was at the same time gratifying to find that the French officers allowed our alliance with them necessary for France to maintain the political position she held at the moment of this siege, when it had been announced that le premier coup de canon ébranlera l'Europe de fond en comble: this was entirely overlooked by Mons. Gendebien and a few worthy members of the Belgian Chamber of Deputies, when they voted for the destruction of the Lion of Waterloo, as a compliment (en tout sens équivoque) to the French army, immediately after the broad ægis of England had been held over their backs, while fighting the Belgians' battle in the trenches before Antwerp.

But I shall avoid politics, for Shakspeare tells us

"When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks." mon siège est fait," I must take my leave, and remain Your most obedient Servant,

G. S., Captain R.N.

*The burning of his flotilla was both just and wise in Captain Koopman; it might otherwise have been used against forts Lillo and Liefkenshoek.

ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL.

Naval Club, Bond Street, April 22. MR. EDITOR,-The failure of the scheme for raising a building fund upon debentures of 251. and 107. entrance monies, having compelled the Council to commence operations on so limited a scale, that the expenditure must far exceed the revenue, I am induced, from the deep interest you have displayed towards the success of the Royal Naval School, and since the United Service Journal has become so completely the monthly organ of the Service, to request insertion of the accompanying letters, which were written expressly for publication, at a time when the unpleasant task devolved on me to oppose the baneful resolution adopted in council of appropriating Bell's donation to the altering and furnishing of Hartwell House, when the conditions of the great philanthropist were, by his own showing, in his first letter, that the establishment of the Institution and the Madras system should precede the gift. The more I see of the working of these debentures, &c., so inveterately persevered in against the declared wishes and sentiments of the Service at large*, the more am I convinced of the fallacy of the attempt to render any nomination rights more popular to the subscribers, more profitable to the funds of the Institution, or more useful and less oppressive to the junior branches of the profession, than those unanimously agreed to at the first meeting, presided by the late Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke.

Besides the impossibility, and, I may say, absurdity of raising anything like the amount required for building upon such trifling sums as 107. entrances, they are a direct tax upon the poor officer, by increasing to 277. the annual charge for board and education, which was fixed at 25/., and not to exceed that sum; but, on the contrary, to be reduced in proportion to the accumulation of funds, as recommended by the officers at the sea-ports, for whose benefit the plan was originally designed; and until that sum be reduced to 157., very few of those who are so anxious to avail themselvs of the superior education to be provided in the school, can derive any advantage from it.

The main causes which have retarded the progress of this infant Institution are the little courteous and gentlemanly deference shown to practical and professional men of literature, abolishing the share, making 257. the minimum charge for education instead of the maximum, and raising the annual subscription from one day's pay to two, &c. These changes and innovations created a hostile feeling towards the Parent Society, and contributed more than anything else to the fatal resolution respecting Hartwell, which deprived the Society of the greatest benefit yet conferred on it, as in this princely mansion, and in no other, can our original intentions obtain that importance in the public opinion of the country which they deserve, or can we put into practice those genuine principles of philanthropy, contained in the Original Prospectust, which commanded the admiration and sympathy of the whole

In proof of which, I refer to the resolutions passed at the general meetings called to consider this subject at Portsmouth and Plymouth.

"I have read with attention and admiration the prospectus which you have sent me, for the establishment of a school for the education of the sons of naval officers. Under the full persuasion that such an establishment is calculated to be of the most extensive benefit to men whose services are entitled to the gratitude of every Englishman, I shall be happy to have my name inserted as a subscriber for one share.

"To Capt. J. Brown, Bath."

"RICHARD SAUMAREZ, Physician."

"Dear Sir-Parliament, I believe, votes annually sums in aid of schools of a public nature. I think there is a school in Ireland that receives such assistance. I would ask can there be any school in the United Kingdom that has a stronger claim on the country than the proposed Royal Naval School?

"MATTHEW P. LUCAS, Alderman."

"To Com. W. H. Dickson, Watlingbury, Kent." U. S. JOURN. No. 54, MAY, 1833.

G

service and country. In Hartwell House only* can the terms for board and education be gradually lowered, and a building fund amassed at the same time; whilst at Camberwell they will most probably be augmented, and the idea of building must be totally abandoned. Had Hartwell therefore been supported in a less domineering manner, no opposition or resentment would have been manifested towards it at the Portsmouth meeting, at which I understand the general cry was, We will have nothing to do with Hartwell or with the report"-"We think it all wrong and inadmissible:" and although Admirals M'Kinley, Austin, Ommaney, Captains Purvis, Whylock, &c., attempted to soothe these harsh feelings, nothing would appease them; they proceeded to demolish every atom of the report, not one line of which met with a single expression of approbation: indeed I am told that more general indignation never was expressed by gentlemen.

66

It is much to be deplored that the advocates for an expensive education had not first allowed the original plan, which appeared to give “universal satisfaction," to have been tried; and when that had been found to answer, they might have ventured to indulge in expectations of a higher nature,-they might have further enlarged the objects of study in any way they pleased. The school might have been furnished with museums of natural history, mineralogy, a riding-school, and even with a chemical laboratory, and permission might have been given to particular boys to indulge in any special taste they might have for collateral studies; but the extensive circle of sciences proposed by the "esprits forts" would, in the opinion of practical men, have distracted the attention, and have far exceeded the mental powers of mere schoolboys; the plan took in too wide a range for an institution whose professed object is merely to afford a cheap and suitable education to a class of the community whose circumstances do not enable them to furnish that advantage to their children. Classics, mathematics, arithmetic, history, geography, English literature, and the modern languages, with those studies which more particularly concern the naval profession, as recommended by Professor Laurent, appeared, therefore, to the parents who had taken shares upon the original plan, quite sufficient to occupy a youthful student; while botany, mineralogy, and geology, with all the rest of the ologies enumerated by the "philosophers" in their plans and supplements to plans, were pursuits which ought to be left to the taste of maturer years.

Were the Council to act wisely, they would be the first to hold out the olive-branch, andinvite the subscribers at the sea-ports and Bath to select an officer from among them to attend the next general meeting, whose travelling and lodging expenses should be defrayed by the Institution. This conciliatory step was proposed last year to the Council, but, like every other suggestion of mine, was negatived, or, if adopted, never acted upon. know many 101. donations at Portsmouth and Plymouth, which were made and withheld for the want of a little courtesy towards the sea-ports, which, if extended to them in this instance, would be immediately forthcoming, and more than cover the presumed expenses.

"In conclusion, I am of opinion that there is not an objection to Hartwell House, except the distance from London, (this objection is obviated by the ingenious suggestion of Mr. Laurent, who proposes that the establishment should defray the travelling expenses, and put on an additional charge of average to each student.' The Greenwich boys are brought by steam from London to Plymouth, and vice versa for 3s. 6d. each; and any coach proprietor would contract for the conveyance between Hartwell and London at the same moderate rate;) but I am also of opinion that no house like this will ever be found near London, under at least double the rent: and I beg also to call the attention of the Council to the circumstance, that no house or building could be entered upon to accommodate three hundred boys, without an equal or even greater outlay than what is now proposed for Hartwell; and the estimates therefore may be taken at the outside. "ROBERT CANTWELL, Surveyor."