pensions to officers. The whole of that time there was the per centage on all the Admirals' prize money, and all the officers' prize money, which, being in the height of war, must have been a considerable sum; and the impression upon my mind is, that a sum must have been realized, as far as the officers were concerned, by the deduction, the interest of the principal sum of which would pay the officers' out-pensions now, because the pensions cannot amount to a great deal now. If the per centage did so amount, I consider to all intents and purposes we pay them. Then, if the Navy do pay, and there is an acknowledged surplus. beyond the necessities of the institution, why should not a part of that unappropriated amount be applied to the extended relief we propose, to old officers, who for so many years in war contributed to the general fund? 2406.-From what you have stated, it appears that you are not aware that Parliament voted, last year, about 530,000l. to defray the charge of military pensions and allowances in the Navy.-Those are pensions for wounds, I believe; still I consider, as I have said, I must feel, if the sum taken from us yields an interest sufficient, or to whatever portion of these out-pensions, it is not from Government. There are, on the out-pensions of Greenwich, 10 Captains, 15 Commanders, (not two per cent. of that list), and 50 Lieutenants. The amount of their pensions is about 43207. a-year. If then, in the 10 years' deduction of the five per cent. before any officer was given it, it amounted to 86,0007., the interest on that sum is equal to the payment, according to the then value of money. The retirement of 50 Commanders to the rank of Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel on the half-pay of 10s. 6d. per diem, appears the summum bonum of the Commission's recommendation for the relief of the veteran executive officers of the Navy. The sixpence per diem increase of half-pay, with superior rank, shows that "the smallest donation" will be silently received by naval officers, because all expectation of a liberal naval retirement has long ceased to cherish the hope of the British Navy. An officerlike, independent advocacy for the redress of the wrongs of the officers of the Fleet, shone conspicuously in the evidence of each officer examined, from the Admiral to the Lieutenant. Mark here the manly observation of Capt. Wise, R.N., to the Commission's suggestion to reward the senior Commanders with the extra 6d. per diem. 2293.-Do you think that it would be advantageous to allow a certain number of the senior Commanders to retire with the rank of Post Captain, and upon the same half-pay as the junior Post Captains? I should be ashamed to make them such an offer. 2294.-What offer would you make? I should propose an increase of the half-pay of the whole of the Captains. This proposition to indiscriminately increase the half-pay of the Captains, or Commanders, or Lieutenants, appears impossible to be realized, from the rigid economy of the Treasury governing each successive Ministry-from the general injustice to the active officers who have served in their present rank; and to the Army also, wherein the officers must serve to enjoy the half-pay of their regimental rank. A Commander promoted to Post Captain, and never after employed, runs up the list, increasing his half-pay from 10s. 6d. per diem-(1s. 6d. more than the Regimental Major going on half-pay with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel)-to 14s. 6d., and when at the head of the list, receives his Flag Promotion, and 17. 5s. per diem. It is this system of equally fostering the drones and the bees with the same proportion of honey that brings a general scarcity in winter retirement, after the incessant summer toil through life, to the active and industrious of the hive. 2295.-Supposing the half-pay of the Captains to remain as it is, what would you offer the retired Commanders? Before you can give them any advantage, you must improve the situation of the Post Captains; at present there is only 6d. difference in their half-pay. We improve the situation of Post Captains by increasing the halfpay for services afloat, and for the orders of the Bath. 2296.-The half-pay in all ranks increases with the seniority?—Yes, after a very long travelling up the list. The Post Captains and Commanders who are now reaching the first increase of half-pay, have held their present rank upwards of 24 years, and the Lieutenants more than 25 years. 2297.-Without reference to the amount of service at all?—Yes. This question and answer involve the whole reason of the present illiberal half-pay and retirement to the naval officers. 2298.-The officers at the top of all the lists are generally beyond the period of service by the time they reach the highest rate of half-pay. Are they not? Yes, in many cases. I am one of the youngest of my standing on the list of Captains, and I am 54 years of age. 2299.-Do you not conceive with regard to the Commanders and Lieutenants who receive that higher rate of half-pay at the top of the list, that there is no probability of their services being called for, and that they may be looked upon in some degree in the light of retired allowance? The best portion of a man's life is passed before he can get up that list. The Lieutenants have held their rank more than 32 years. 2300.-That is, the youngest has been 32 years a Lieutenant?—Yes. 2301.-But, as far as it goes, does it not bear the character of retired allowance? It does so, perhaps, because very few of them are employed; and so it is with respect to Commanders. It is not only true that "the best portion of a man's life is passed before he can get upon that list," but it is in reality passed by the majority before they arrive on the list of the highest half-pay for instance, the first 12 only of 1807, are upon the 7s. list of Lieutenants; and allowing them to have been promoted at the age of 21, their average age is 56 years; and it is doubtful whether they will arrive at the head of the 7s. list (the retired Brevet Commanders nearly 300 above them), before they are 72, to be promoted to the 8s. 6d. list of Commanders. It is also doubtful whether the Lieutenants of 1812, having 400 between them and the higher half-pay list, will, in their natural term of life, enjoy 7s. per diem. The senior Lieutenants of 1814, on the 6s. list, being 700 from it, never. What an encouraging prospect for the Lieutenants of 1815 and 1816, promoted for war services, and now of 26 and 27 years' standing! It is the number of officers, from 1812 to 1816 inclusive, of 27 to 30 years' standing, and 36 to 40 years in the service, that cause the hesitation in the Admiralty to retire 20 or 30 Captains of Marines upon full-pay of 11s. 7d. per diem. We would, therefore, benefit both ranks, by the extension of the 8s. 6d. list of retired Commanders, and promote 50 deserving sea Lieutenants to it, who are on the 7s., 6s., and 5s. lists, of 22 years' standing, 55 years of age, who have been 15 years off the half-pay list, 5 years of which on full pay, the remainder in other Admiralty nominations and employed within three years. This additional list of 50 retired Commanders to be kept complete, by old and good service Lieutenants who will accept of it; and not to increase the half-pay of the others by their removal from above them. This good-service promotion of 50 Lieutenants to the 8s. 6d. list of Commanders, to be paid out of the "unclaimed prize money"—a fund which the Commission named, as could be appropriated to the retirement of old sea officers. The grievous hardship which the active and meritorious of the Navy suffer, by the system of increasing their half-pay by seniority, would be removed from those officers who have public services to recommend them; and the interest of those who have merely the half-pay list for their claims, would not be affected by the propositions we submit for a "good-service half-pay"—an extension of the "out-pensions of Greenwich" to the Captains, Commanders, and Lieutenants, and a "goodservice retirement" to the latter. The country could not feel the loan from the "Droits of the Crown," to reward the veteran officers honoured with the Orders of the Bath, and to commute the half-pay of the junior ranks; or from the "unclaimed prize money" to retire 50 "good service Lieutenants," and bestow good-service grants on the Captains, Commanders, and Lieutenants; or from Greenwich Hospital, to repay to the naval officers in "out-pensions," a part of the 86,000l. which they contributed to that institution before they were considered entitled to its relief, and a per centage of their annual contribution-13,0007. of freightage. Recapitulation of the foregoing propositions for Naval Retirement, assimilated to those in the evidence of the Naval Officers examined before the Naval and Military Commission. Commutation of Lieutenants' half-pay (as supported by Sir Edward Codrington and Rear-Admiral Dundas), by loan from the "Droits of Admiralty.' Lieutenants on the out-pension of Greenwich, to be removed to the list of Brevet Commanders. Admirals G.C.B.'s, or those three years Commanders-in-Chief, 2007. per annum additional to half-pay; Admirals K.C.B.'s 150l. ditto. Vice and Rear-Admirals K.C.B.'s, or three years Commanders-inChief, 150l. per annum, additional to half-pay. Rear-Admirals C.B.'s, or 3 years Junior Flags, or Superintendents, and Captains, (late Commodores,) being K.C.B.'s, 100l. per annum, additional to half-pay. All General Officers of the Orders of the Bath, holding no appointments, the half-pay of Full, Vice, and Rear-Admirals. These grants to Flag and General Officers from the "Droits of the Crown." Captains of the Navy C.B.'s, and all those of 17 years' standing, and have served their sea time for flags, 50l. per annum, in addition to halfpay. Captains of 10 years' standing, and 3 years' afloat, 12s. 6d. per diem. Coast ard, semaphores, quarantine, contract packet, and transport services. Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels. C.B.'s having full-pay as Lieutenant-Colonels, 6 years, additional to half-pay, 50l. per annum. Commanders of 7 years' standing, and 3 years afloat as Commanders, half-pay of Regimental Majors, 9s. 6d. per diem. 100 Lieutenants of 20 years' standing, who have served 5 years on full-pay, if employed within 3 and 5 years, according to their respective lists, additional good service, half-pay, 1s. per diem. These "good-service grants" to Captains, Commanders, and Lieutenants from the "unclaimed prize money." 50 Lieutenants of 22 years' standing, 55 years of age, 15 years off the half-pay list, and 5 years' sea time, to the retired list of Commanders, at 8s. 6d. per diem. The out-pensions of Greenwich to be doubled,-viz., Captains, 20; Commanders, 30; and Lieutenants, 100. These officers henceforth to be removed from the active lists, but not to increase the half-pay of those on the active list, unless by death, as at present. The funds of the Institution to bear this additional charge. THE ARTILLERYMAN'S REVEILLEE. SCENE.-The Lines, before a besieged Fortress. COMRADES, wake! the gun is pealing Distant drum and trumpet call. Comrades, wake! the gun is pealing Distant drum and trumpet call. Comrades, wake! the gun is pealing Distant drum and trumpet call. Comrades, wake! the gun is pealing Till yon ramparts, rent asunder, *The Cape of Good Hope, discovered by Vasco de Gama, and formerly called the Cape of Storms," taken from the Dutch in 1806. + Copenhagen bombarded by the English in 1805. "An artilleryman's guns are his standard."-See Capt. Griffiths' Artillerist's Manual, p. 29. THE SIEGES OF BORSTALL. A TALE OF THE CIVIL WAR. HAVING observed that the Sieges of Borstall are either left untold by our best historians and biographers, or are merely alluded to in general terms, a rapid sketch of those events may be welcome to many of our readers. The several memoirs of Fairfax are silent upon the subject, and even the valuable manuscript journal of his services kept at Leeds Castle, in Kent, unfortunately closes in 1644. A recent visit to Buckinghamshire, has induced an examination of the available authorities, and the following concise narrative is the result. Borstall was a castellated mansion, on the borders of Bernewood Forest, in Buckinghamshire. It was erected by Nigel, to commemorate his slaying a tremendous wild boar, which had long interrupted the sports of Edward the Confessor, who occasionally resided at Brill, in the vicinity. The monarch was so pleased with the exploit, that he rewarded Nigel with the estate of Boar-stall; and, moreover, presented him with a huge horn, which long remained in custody of the lords of the property. All that now remains of this mansion, is a large gatehouse, with turrets at the angles, sufficiently spacious to have been occasionally the residence of its late owners. It is now the property of the highly-esteemed Sir T. D. Aubrey, Bart., of Llantrithyd, in Glamorganshire, whose family have been in possession about a century and a half; and it is remarkable that this manor has passed, without alienation or forfeiture, through a succession of heiresses, from a period prior to the conquest; with strong presumption of still descending to a female. Borstall was fortified and embattled by Sir John de Handlo, in 1312, and the gatehouse tower remains a capital specimen of the solid architecture of that period. The principal entrance is under a massy arch on the north side, with a paved approach over the remains of a moat, which was probably made in 1735, when the more ancient entrance by a drawbridge was altered. The gateway is secured by strong doors, with ponderous hinges, studs, and plates of iron. The interior is gloomy; and besides one large apartment on the principal floor, consists of small rooms communicating by narrow passages through thick walls, and by. spiral staircases of stone, with groined roofs. At the breaking forth of King Charles's troubles, Borstall, Brill, and all this part of the country became highly important, from its station between his loyal city of Oxford, and the nursery of patriots around Aylesbury. Indeed, here the civil war may be said to have been opened by the Earl of Essex's attack on the royal garrison at Brill, in which action Hampden commanded a regiment of foot; and in the summer of the following year, that remarkable man lost his life in a skirmish with Prince Rupert, at Chalgrove Field, in the neighbourhood. Hampden's residence was on the adjacent Chiltern Hills; and Cromwell, who, by an intermarriage of his grandfather, was a sort of deputy-assistant cousin to the patriot, is said to have often sojourned at the Chequers, a house immediately adjacent, and which afterwards was presided over |