The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-26 00:00:00

understand. The fusees fix into a wooden plug, which is
placed in the usual manner in the shell with the bursting
powder; percussion caps fitted on the hammer, and were
made of paper instead of copper. These were carried
packed in tin cases of 1,000: and during the Mexican war,
were never known to explode. Lastly, the fire from the
caps is so strong, the cartridge need not be pricked.

The discipline of the American army is pecu-
liar. During the Mexican war a great jealousy
existed between the " Regulars " and the
" Militia," the rank of whose respective officers
occasionally clashed. Here is a good aces•
dote in point :

General " Downy," of the militia (lauded in a History
of the War), in passing a volunteer sentry, who was lounging
on the trail of a gun, called out, " Stand np, sir, and salute,
or I'll take you off your post," whereupon the sentry,
applying his thumb to his nose, said, " That won't do,
Uen'ril, I tell ye; I was posted here by a regular
lootenant."

About the only detailed narrative in these
volumes is the account of the arrival and recep-
tion of Gavazzi in Canada. Gavazzi's first lec-
ture was delivered at Toronto, where no opposi-
tion was offered him, the Protestant element
being in the ascendancy ; but at Quebec the
Roman Catholics prevailed. The first lecture
passed off quietly—it took the Catholics by
surprise. On the second occasion they were
prepared. Gavazzi had told thorn in thrilling
terms the horrors of the Inquisition, and,
adding action to words, so closely imitated the
dying agonies of the sufferers, that the people
were spellbound for a moment, and then
burst at him in a flood of fury. He was very
nearly enjoying a practical application of the
tortures he had so well imitated :
Nine o'clock had struck ; it had become dusk ; when, in
talking of Ribbonism in Ireland, that combination for mar-
der and violence, Gavazzi asserted that the priests did not
try to put it down, when a voice front the body of the
church called out, " It's a lie I" whereupon there was a cry
of " Turn him out." The interruption seemed to be a
signal for a general outbreak. The greatest confusion and
tumult immediately ensued, and a volley of stones was
thrown from the outside through the windows and in at
the doors towards the pulpit. Dr. Cook, the eloquent and
excellent minister of St. Andrew's Church, got into the
precentor's or clerk's seat, and attempted in vain to ad-
dress the excited multitude. The sheriff Sewell, and Mr.
R. Symes, the energetic magistrate, tried also to restore
order ; but rioters from the outside rushing past the unre-
sisting police, and joined with those already inside, first
hurled bibles and psalm-books from the pews at the head
of Gavazzi, and then attempted to storm the pulpit, which
is lofty, stands out from the well, and is ascended by two
stairs in the rear. The design of the rioters seemed to be
to tear Gavazzi from the pulpit, and to beat him to death
with bludgeons on the spot. He knew he was in great
peril, and that the most strenuous efforts were required to
preserve his life. His muscular power and well knit
frame stood him now in good stead. Seizing the chair
whiet stood in the pulpit, he struck down the first rioters
who ascended the stair, and he battled with this weapon
valiantly. A gallant sergeant of artillery, " Lawson " by
name, an honour to his corps (and afterwards presented
with a gold watch by some of his civilian admirers),
seeing the fearful odds mustering against Gavazzi, sprang
to the rescue, got into the pulpit with Gavazzi, and fought
by his side. His aid was very important; likewise that of
Captain Houltain, R. A., and Lieutenant Noble, R.E.
The chair was torn from Gavazzi's gra►p, when he
seized a stool, and wielded it also with effect; till his
assailants, climbing up behind when he was occupied iu
front, overpowered him, and the sergeant and the padre
were hurled out of the pulpit by the legs. Fortunately
there was a crowd of rioters and Gavazzi's friends strug-
gling below. He fell fifteen feet, on their heads, and thus
escaped death front the fall. Regaining his feet, he
hurried into the basement, where his secretary was also
carried, though with black eyes and much bruised.

It is agreeable to turn from this tumult to a
pleasant little " aside ":

One or two strange incidents ocottrred, not reflecting
much credit on the gallantry of the sterner sex, one of
whom, having escorted a lady to church, after the tumult
began, climbed into alkali) position, and then, looking down
at the lady, said—" Can yon get np hex ?" " No," was
the agonising answer. " Well, for God's sake, take care of
yourself," said the hero.

A more serious riot, and the loss of many
lives, compelled Oavazzi to retreat.
We must pass rapidly over the remainder of
the gallant colonel's Canadian career, his
voyage to England in 1855, and his arrival at
Balaklava the same year. From an officer of
his rank, intimate with the generals, and daily
employed upon active duty in the front, wo
expected some authentic statements upon
many of the great events of the war. But
there is nothing of the sort. a wretchedly
meagre description, apparently made up of
disjointed extracts from private letters and
hasty jottings from a camp diary. comprise all
that is novel in his det tile. He says not a
word about Alma, and does not deign to men-
tion the fatuous flank maroh, so daring in