The Express.
London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

Octets of meditratiea, is the temptation of intoxication
ben alliid tith mental inactivity and uncontrolled
ifr adacatide. '
there seems also to have been a marked increase
intoxicatioa among the French troops since the
terminatioa of the siege, much more so than can be
amounted for simply by the relief from trench duties.
Formerly it was a very rue occurrence to meet a
French soldier insensibly drunk ; his habit seemed to
be to halt at that stage of intoxication when an un
reontrollable desire to exercise his vocal powers was
excited, and then, at certain hours of the day, the
tunes of French chansonnettes and snatches of Italian
melody, with wonderful roulades and variations, all
fortissimo, were heard on all sides; now examples of
• stage of intoxication far beyond the singing stage
are by no means *infrequent. Perhaps the prizes
drawn from the ruins of Sebastopol may
have had something to do in causing this change, for
the sales effected by the French soldiers must have
pissed a good deal of Ludy money in their pockets—
the liquors supplied at the English canteens,
they have free access to them. It is a mistake to
suppose that the French soldiers are so temperate as
they are generally considered to be in England; in-
toxication is nearly as common among them as among
ear own men, but it is not usually carried to the same
degrading excess. Indeed the French Zanies', like
oar own Highbinders, have the character of being
bard drinkers, men who can carry well a large
quantity of liquor; and most of the line regiments
[who have been serving in Algeria exhibit a tendency
to the same distinetioe. The native Algerian
Lowe', like the Turks and other Mahommedem
troops, are examples of the opposite extreme se

temperance.
As the Allied Commanders act together in matters
of strategy, and occasionally afford mutual assistance
in respect to transport, materiel, and munitions of
war, could they not combine to arrest this evil,
affecting the health and moral welfare of the troops
lender their command? They have the control over
all the imports which reach the camps in the Crimes
and here military authority over every merchant and
settler who enters within the lines of the allied army.
The opportunities of getting intoxicating liquors in
the camps are almost as many as the temptations.
The canteens attached to the English regiments are
not permitted to sell spirits, their sales are supposed
to be limited to beer, wine, and groceries. A non-
eommissioned officer is on guard at each canteen to
prevent these roles from being infringed. Draught
bier is seldom sold; the limited demand and liability
to becoming spoiled, prevent a prospect of sufficient
profit to the canteen-men. Bottled beer, and bottled
prter, are still sold at Is. 10d. the bottle, and were
lately 2s. each bottle, so the demand for this article are
not very frequent. The wine is usually execrable
staff, its flavour does not suit the sol-
dier's palate, and but comparatively little is
consumed. Other kinds of drink must be bad, and it
is not difficult to imagine that in spite of the vigi-
lance of non-oommissioned officers, the extortionate
money-seeking Greek, Armenian, and Maltese, by
whom the canteens are principally held, find mesas'
and opportunities of supplying them. But if they I
did not, there are the French canteens and shops'
always accessible. No regulations prevent tie
English soldier going to them on the same footing as
.the French soldier. Potent alcoholic compounds o f
various denominations are to be obtained in these shops;
and some, double in strength, as they are in price,
are manufactured expressly for the English, but all
declared to be veritable oogoiac. The effect of some
of these adulterated compositions, the basis of which
is probably raki, is more than intoxicating—they are
sometimes maddening and almost poisonous. In ad-
dition to the shops, there are numerous hawkers of
spirits. French soldiers walk into the English camps
and, ander the pretence of visiting them from motives
of curiosity, or selling trifling articles, disport of
slyly-concealed bottles of cognise—always cognac;
the generic term, eau-de-vie, is unknown. This
practice has been repressed u much asble, short
of keeping the French soldiers out ofpossi the English
camps, but the checks see still evaded. Again, there
are Frenchmen who may be observed sauntering jest
outside of the line of English regiments, with whom,
every now and then, English soldiers jois in waver-I
lotion. After a little circumspection a bottle appears
from one of the Frenchman's pockets, a " tot " or two
of something out of it are tossed off, or perhaps the
bottle itself changes its master, some coins pass in
exchange, and, mutually satisfied, with a "Bono
Francis—bone logles " the allies part.
From ttemerrow, the 10th instant, the ration of
rum, according to general orders, is to be reduced our
half in quantity. It has hitherto been a gill, it is in.
Mare to be half a gill for each soldier daily. This
diminution is counterbalanced by an WOMAN! in the
quantity of sugar to be issued to each man. It is a
question whether the regular daily issue of ardent
spirits is productive of more benefit than harm. In
the cold, damp, and dreary watches of the trashes,'
during the winter season, when no better mesas "
artier the circulation could be found, the artificial
warmth and "fillip" of the rum ration was a prise to
offiormand men. It may be useful still to counteract the
chilling effect of a damp tent before seeking rest 40
Witerzder its comparatively frail protection. Old
perhaps, require it from habitual use. But
is the army at present there are many young soldiers
...some mere boys—who have not yet acquired
the use. No distinction is made in this respect, and
it would be difficult to do so; the drummerboy is as
Illnib entitled to " draw " his ration as the stoutest
weedier of the nervier. There is the force of example,
land a spirit of emulation to be able to tio like others,
and so the boy 'esquires a taste for the alcohol, and
this taste is not easily laid aside.
Quo sisal sot timbal& remote, e•rvabit edema
Testa dila.
It is not sufficient to lessen the quantity of the ration
of rum, for the most part of it is manifestly not in *el,
ration itself, but in the desire it excited for more
stimulus of the same kind. Neither wouli it answer
the purpose of counteracting the evil of drunkenness
if the field allowance lately granted to the soldier'
was withdrawn. The commanding officers are already
authorised to withdraw it for a limited period from
each soldier who is brought before his notice for
rioting and intoxication, and there can be
no doubt that there are very many deserving
soldiers in the field to whom the grant has
been a great boon, and to whose families
far away it has also proved a benefit. Nothing but a
determination on the part of the allied commanders-
in-chief in the, Crimea to restrict the importation of
ardent spirits, or to organise in concert regulations
for their sale and consumption, eau eradicate the evils 1
which result from their present abuse. And it is s
matter worthy of consideration whether, though ealy
for the few months which will elapse prior tat the
active operations of Spring, some places for warmth
and shelter cannot be erected, some means of ammo. ,
I meet cannot be devised—whether reading huts, I
coffee rooms, or skittle sheds—to distract the thoughts
and employ the leisure hours of the soldiers when
I sleet and snow will prevent outdoor occupation, and'
when otherwise the drinking shops in the baesars
and the canteens will offer the only inviting places of
retreat. The provost-marshal and his assistants
would be spared a good deal of exertion and trouble
V some such places of amusement were established
is the various camps.
The weather during the past week has continued
'remarkably fine, warm, and dry. In the daytime the
I atmosphere has been as pure and bright, and therm
lan glowing sod powerful, as in the finial summer day
in England : the early arrival of the shades of even-
ing has alone reminded us of the lateness of the sea-
son. The sunset has been speedily followed by mists,
and daring the n4,hts, when the temperature becomes
greatly lowered, heavy dews have fallen. But we
base not had rain, and in this respect the week
which has jest passed forms a remarkable contrast
with the corresponding week of last year.

AUSTRIAN ITALY.

The New Gazette of Zurich mays Other poli-
tical arrests have just been effected in Lombardy.
IPersone coining from Switzerland are most minutely
searched on their arrival at Canterata, which leads to
the supposition that fears are entertained of attempts
being expected from the Swiss cantons."

VIBNNA. Nov. 22

The amount of the subscription to the Austrian
Credit Mobilise will be 16 millions of dories. The
lists will be open from the 10th to the 16th of
December.