ground, which in ordinary years was a swamp, had been selected for the site of the camp, and, as the Emperor himself had signified his intention of appearing in person, no pains were spared in erecting tents, wooden barracks, &c., in fact, it was a parade-camp. Everything went on very well for three or four days after the troops had arrived, when a most tremendous and unintermitting rain set in, consequently the ground reverted to its original and customary state, and became, in fact, a deep morass, as in other years. After having spent three days up to their chins in mud, the troops were extricated, and sent back to their winterquarters, the whole thing having an end as was hoped. This would not have been worth relating had it not given rise to one of the wittiest and most satirical caricatures which the laughter-loving Viennese ever produced. The parade-camp was represented in it, the troops being all drawn up in line, the Generals and Etat-Major before the front, the uniforms and facings all perfectly correct; the troops, however, instead of human had lions' heads, the Generals were decorated with asses' heads, while the Officiers d'Etat-Major were represented headless. I am afraid that this caricature had but too much truth in it, and the many unmerited reverses which the lion-hearted Austrian troops suffered in the commencement of the last campaigns, must be, no doubt, laid to the charge of the headless and asinine. On the other hand, we must in justice admit that many brilliant exceptions may be cited. To those conversant with the history of the French campaigns I would suggest the names of the Archduke Charles, Prince Schwartzenberg, Generals Radetzky, Gyulay, Bianchi, Frimont, Kienmayer, Nostitz, Wallmoden, and others. Although some of these heroes have disappeared from the scene, there are many young men to fill their places.

Such is the routine of the Austrian military year. We have now arrived at our point of starting, the 1st of November, the troops have marched back to their winter-quarters, to begin the same thing over again, and it only remains for us to take a short review of the whole system; but first I wish to call the attention of my indulgent readers to one or two regulations, which, although not immediately connected with the cavalry, are, I believe, worthy of notice and consideration.

In every garrison, where a river or other piece of water of sufficient size exists, a military swimming-school is established, a master appointed, and the men taught regularly to swim. The great benefit to their health derived from this must be obvious to every one; but in a military point of view it is also not to be overlooked. Of how much value is a good and fearless trained swimmer, in passing rivers where boats are to be got at which have been removed to an opposite bank! How many lives may be often saved by one good swimmer! Almost all the continental powers have been so convinced of the advantages to be derived from this, that regular establishments have been created, and a swimming-master is considered as indispensable as a band-master to a regiment. Regular manoeuvres are held on the Rhine every year, and prizes distributed by the Prussian Government to the best swimmers in the several regiments. Is not this worthy of imitation by the British Army, to nearly all branches of which the motto, "Per mare, per terram," equally applies? There can be, certainly, no want of water to hinder this being carried into effect.

The Pioneers (Zimmermann or Carpenter) are chosen on account of

their profession-carpenter, and receive a higher pay, as also the honorary distinction of sous-officier. Within a short time, not only these men, but also a certain proportion of the privates of each company, have been ordered to be instructed in all the duties of a pioneer in the field, the construction of field-works, the repair of roads and bridges, as also the best mode of destroying these communications. By this means, detached corps are rendered nearly independent of Sappers and Miners for ordinary occasions.

Each infantry regiment has at least three battalions, which consist of six companies each. The regiment has, besides these eighteen companies, two companies of grenadiers, which, instead of being attached to the wings of battalions, as in the British and French Services, are organized into separate grenadier battalions, the companies of three regiments being clubbed together for the purpose. Only the best conducted men, of the proper height, are admitted into these grenadier battalions. As they receive better pay, and only furnish garrison guards of honour in peace time, they form the élite and reserve Infantry of the Army, answering to Guards in other Services. As belonging, therefore, to the reserve, they are instructed in artillery duty; so that, if the Artillery of an army suffer severely, they may be replaced at once, from the grenadiers giving a proportion of gunners to act as captains of guns, as the sea-phrase is. This costs nothing, and its advantages are apparent.

66

Let me now take a retrospect of the whole system. A decided superiority has been for many years attributed to the Austrian Cavalry; and, although this may not be granted generally, I believe there may be some grounds for the assertion of it. Without attempting to enter into this difficult and very invidious question, I shall now state what the probable causes of this alleged excellence may be: and the first great cause is, no doubt, the attention which is paid to riding. This, however, is only possible when every officer is made to assist in cultivating this most necessary branch of military instruction. And here, again, it is evident, that the system of instruction for officers themselves, in the regimental schools, is of the greatest importance. Knowledge placed practically a portée de tout le monde," is of much more use than the most refined purely theoretical information: but, besides this, how few can make a proper application of their theoretical knowledge, without having had an opportunity of putting it practically to the test while learning! For this reason, I believe that it is very necessary for every Cavalry Officer to be obliged to teach what you expect he should himself be acquainted with. Give an officer something to do, upon which he can exercise his talents: throw responsibility on him, and at the same time give him an opportunity of showing his zeal and knowledge. Do not allow one or two officers of a regiment to have a monopoly of all the credit or discredit; and I believe that few who embrace our noble profession will fail, in proportion to their talents and capacities, to show themselves worthy of the trust reposed in them.

This same reasoning applies to the private soldier. Teach his duty, not mechanically, but rationally, giving him reasons why certain regulations which appear oppressive must exist: show him that his duty is not a mere useless caprice or whim of his superior's: give the soldier a value for himself, and he will behave better. On the contrary, make a

mere slave and machine of him, and, like all machines, he will require constant inspection and winding up, and is never so respectable in his own eyes.

A regulation of the Austrian Service, which I conceive to be of the greatest possible advantage, is, that the private is obliged to salute his corporal, and so on, up to the officer. This makes it a still greater object of ambition to become a non-commissioned officer: it puts him into another and higher sphere. An equally good regulation is that which compels every private and non-commissioned officer to salute a sentinel when passing by his post, he, the sentinel, being a representative of the supreme executive power. This excites a great ambition and self-esteem: it raises the soldier more in his own estimation than a dozen yards of tape embroidery on his coat ever could. Give a man a bad name, and he will soon deserve it: on the contrary, make him think well of himself, and he will become better.

With regard to the proportion of crime, I have already observed that this is nearly always greater amongst enlisted soldiers than amongst conscripts, both being of the same nation,—that desertion is most common amongst those old soldiers who have unlimited service, and see no prospect of ever regaining their freedom,—and, lastly, that many deserters are restored to the Service, and become afterwards excellent soldiers, by making a distinction in the punishment, according to the circumstances attending the desertion, and the previous length of service and conduct of the individuals.

I shall conclude this paper by offering a few facts on the subject of promotion. I have stated before that promotion goes by seniority, but that, notwithstanding, much nepotism prevails, and that, although it be most strictly forbidden, money can also procure promotion: this is, however, almost entirely to the lower grades. Where the convention system exists to a great extent, then, no doubt, promotion is considerably accelerated by it; but I must say, that, within my own observation, the officers who purchase are generally the most ignorant, -being, in fact, almost always cadets from other regiments who were considered unworthy of promotion: certainly much depends on the proprietor of the regiment.

The system of seniority must, however, be taken as that which regulates promotion in the Austrian Service; and I shall now give a few dates, to show that, notwithstanding this, it goes tolerably quickly.

There are only as many Generals as brigades, divisions, or other commands (invalids are pensioned, and do not belong to the active list) it is, therefore, easy to ascertain the rate of promotion in the higher grades.

As a full Colonel has seldom, if ever, more than six years to wait for his promotion to Major-General, so we may also take six years as the time a Lieutenant-Colonel remains in that rank (as the LieutenantColonel is never passed over if fit for promotion): now, I shall showincluding the whole of the war time, when promotion was exceedingly slow, in consequence of the frequent reductions which took place subsequent to the disastrous campaigns of the last war-that the time necessary to arrive at this rank was not greater than in the British Army, where purchase, brevet rank, and half-pay exist.

To account for the steadiness of promotion in the Austrian service, it may be well to explain in a few words the system of pension.

There are two classes of pensioned officers: those who are temporary invalids, and those who have been declared incapable of farther active service, termed "real invalids." The temporary invalid may, at any time that he has recovered his health, present himself to a medical board, when he regains his rank and place in his former regiment.

The real invalids are classified on being examined and passed by the medical board; those whose age and malady allows of the possibility of future service are noted in a list kept for the purpose, and receive employment in the garrisons-military studs and remounting departments; or if their conduct lists warrant it, receive civil employment. In case of augmentation, their services are made available in organizing the reserves of the army.

As a reward for long and good-service, officers of a certain rank receive the pension and rank of the grade immediately above them; and some years ago it was established as a rule, that the two senior chefd'escadrons, or captains of each regiment, having good conduct lists, and having been the seniors of their corps for two years, have the right to demand the pensions and rank of Major.

The artillery having slower promotion from a variety of causes, have the right of receiving the pension and rank of the grade above them, through all ranks; and there is besides a large establishment of garrison artillery, composed of half invalids, men, and officers. The field-cavalry and train-batteries being always kept in the most effective state by this

means.

I shall now conclude with a few words concerning the regulations on quitting the service. This may be done in two ways, either retaining the rank of officer without any pension, or the right to demand readmission, or giving up the military character, as it is termed, and becoming a civilian altogether. Those officers who quit the service being allowed to retain their rank, wear a distinctive uniform, the same as that of the pensioned officers; for those who have served in huszar regiments, there is a special huszar uniform.

As the officer who quits retaining his rank, remains under military jurisdiction, and has nothing to do with the police or other tribunals, most natives who quit the service desire to retain the rank of officer; this is however only allowed to such individuals as have a good-conduct list. Foreigners in the service seldom avail themselves of this regulation, as it obliges them to engage "never to serve against Austria or her allies;" and, except in case of their remaining in the Austrian dominions, is of no use to them.

F. D. D.

PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A SAILOR.

No. XI.

(Continued from p. 227, No. 163.)

NoT many days after our arrival off Minorca, it was known at Mahon that hostilities had ceased between the two countries, and that deputies from the Junta of Seville had proceeded to England for the purpose of adjusting and concluding a definitive peace; whereupon the Governor politely informed Admiral Martin that he was at liberty to enter the harbour with his squadron, and that the island and all it contained were, in Spanish parlance, "Muy a su disposicion," entirely at his disposal.

The following morning the Canopus, Magnificent, and Soldan, entered the harbour, amid the cheers and vivas of the inhabitants who thronged the shore; and before the ships were well at anchor, they were surrounded with boats, some laden with fruit, vegetables, and all kinds of comestibles grateful to the eyes and senses of hungry tars, while others contained visitors anxious and curious once more to behold a British man-of-war, and the wonders and animals it held. Visits of friendly civility were exchanged between the officers of the British and Spanish squadrons. Amongst the latter we found some names, such as Bray, Butler, O'Connock, which showed that Spain was an adopted country, not that from whence they originally sprang. Before many days had passed, we had a number of our new friends to dine with us, when the healths of "Jorge Tercero," and "Fernando Septimo," with many other loyal and patriotic toasts, were drank. The strength of the wine, to which foreigners are little accustomed the quick and continuous call to "fill glasses," a call unrelentingly enforced-the hip! hip! hurrah! that followed each bumper, all united, soon told with fatal effect upon Spanish heads. At one part of the table might be heard snatches of patriotic airs, and amatory seguidillas; while at another, the speech of an orator, full of the prophetic god, "his eye in frenzy rolling," foreshadowing the heroic deeds and future victories of the united nations, was cut short in the midst by a couple of valtzers, (your Spaniard and Frenchman are fond of capering in their cups,) who in their enthusiasm and glee had spun themselves into the speaker's lap. Soon the abrazo, or Spanish fraternal hug, declared the triumph of English hospitality achieved, and that our friends were gloriously and right royally drunk.