The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-02 00:00:00

The British soldier, under the old regime, might expect to
be a corporal, or sergeant, by steadiness of conduct and
gallantry in the field. His ambition was amply satisfied if
he attained the station of sergeant-major, or quartermaster's
sergeant. The French conscript, on the contrary, was
taught that he might win his way to the command of,
armies, and that a marshal's baton lay at the bottom of
every knapsack. This was no dream, for he saw it realised
in the case of many a fortunate comrade. But promotion
from the ranks occurred more frequently in the British
service than many suppose, who are either forgetful or
slightly informed. A reference to Cannon's Historical
Record of the Seventh Fusiliers,' will show that in that
single regiment no less than 20 sergeants received commis-
sions for gallant conduct in the field between the years
1795 and 1815. Sergeant Graham, who planted the Eng-
lish colours on the ramparts of Seringapatam, received his
death-shot while exclaiming, " Huzza for Lieutenant
Graham I" A sergeant of the foreign brigade, Anthony
Lutz, who captured the standard of the Invincibles on the
21st March, at Alexandria, immediately received a commis-
sion. We could name sevgral generals of high ability and
repute who have stood in the ranks as private soldiers: Sir
John Elley and General Cureton are usually included in the
list.

" An English army, in which the enlistment is entirely
voluntary, being constituted on a different principle from
that of any other, cannot be governed by the same rules of
discipline. Non-commissioned officers when lifted beyond
that rank are seldom comfortable. They can scarcely afford
to live at the mess, and their habits of life assimilate incon-
gruously with their new associates. The encouragement
held out to merit in the inferior grades should assuredly be
increased, rather than circumscribed; and there are many
ways by which this maybe carried into effect, such as aug-
mented pensions, additional time allowed in counting ser-
vice, civil situations afer retirement, in the police or public
parks, and badges of distinction, with a graduated annual
stipend, as in the French Legion of Honour, attached to
each rank. A regulation something like this was estab-
lished in a general order by the Duke of York, after the
battle of Waterloo, the first action for which medals were
given to the inferior officers, non-commissioned officers,
and privates. But the rule was confined to Waterloo men."
It is both pleasing and novel to find our neighbours
on the other side of the channel criticising our naval
and military services without any national bias,
and doing justice to our merits and censuring our
faults. A French view of the Royal Marines is
written in this spirit. "An Overland Route between
Calcutta and China," by T. M'Cosh, M.D., is a very
cleverly written article. The author has had great
personal experience of the country, and describes
the various practicable and unpracticable routes
across Assam and the Burmese Empire ; as also the
character and habits of various tribes who inhabit
the vast extent of country which extends between
Calcutta and China. There is no accounting for
taste, but the following arrangement, we opine,
would not tend to domestic peace or comfort in
Europe :
" The Abors are reported to be a jolly, social sort of fel-
lows, keeping up a round of feasting all the year through.
They are not at all particular about what they eat; and
every animal, from a mouse to an elephant, has a place in
their bill of fate. The skulls of every beast that has graced
the festive board are carefully preserved, as testimonials of
good fellowship ; and when the master of the house dies,
the whole collection is piled upon his grave, as a monument
and epitaph. Their marriage ceremonies closely resemble
those of the Tartars ; the fathers of the happy pair arrange
the whole affair, whilst the principals never see one another
till the wedding day.
"The most delicate compliment a yeung Abor swain
can pay his sweetheart is to send her a couple of field
mice, not as pets, but as a dinner. In fact, this is equiva-
lent to popping the question. Previous to marriage, a
new house is built by the villagers for the happy pair,
who take possession of it after they are married, and live
there.

"It is not uncommon for one woman to have two hus-
bands living in harmony under the same roof, they being
brothers."

Under the head of "Serf Emancipation and the
Warsaw Insurrection," it is maintained that the
delay imposed on the serfs in acquiring their inde-
pendence is a great advantage to them. It is
unquestionably a boon to the nobles, but we
question if it be much benefit to the serfs. That it is
necessary to do the thing gradually we admit, but
people are too fond of asserting that their fellow
creatures are unable to appreciate the first of God's
ordinances. The defects of our Naval Service are
ably considered. A substitution of confinement
instead of flogging for first offences is recommended,
also that court-martials to inflict corporal punish-
ment ought to be composed of officers of every line
in the service, executive and civil, also that
"The naval rule would be better sustained by a system
of rewards, solid and enduring, for good conduct ; for in-
stance, looking on the sailor as a reasoning being, we
would hold out the prospect of a happy home on his return
from sea, as a reward for good conduct, by a plain written
rule, that all may read, to be kept in full integrity and
good faith ; for the seaman is naturally suspicious and
weary at the first sign of trimming or expediency on the
part of those superior to him. A barrack system, and a
rule of continuous service on full pay, would be the greatest
public lagoon, thetreatest sailor's boon. Keep a roster of
home and foreign service, allow a certain percentage of the
best conducted to get married, recognise, as in the sinter
service, the claims of wives and families of the said per-
centage, give them barrack room and medical attendance,
under certain rules, and the British Navy will become the
best-manned service in the world. For though the ' grey-
beards' of the former school may assert that ' Jack will
never take to barrack,' yet depend upon it, now-a-days,
with a certain prospect of a comfortable home about him,
the wildest scamp ere long will look as happy as his neigh-
bour for his turn of respectability, and comfortable,
acknowledged, married life, doing his duty to 'the state
none the leas for this assurance in prospect. What pray,
would hinder the sailor thus on the home roster, having
served-hia turn abroad, from Isarriaoning our naval seaport
towns and arsenals, relieving so many regiments of the
line ? Nothing but the trammels of routine. The sons of
such men, destined themselves most naturally in most cases
for the flag their fathers sailed and fought under, would
alone turn out an invaluable future nucleus of sailor-born
defenders of our ' iron walls,' well repaying with common
care the paltry cost of a nation's justice to their gallant
fathers, a nation's wise consideration of their fathers'
partners. The old salts' day, 'that dreaded nothing but
land,' is passed away. Our navy now must be in great
part artificers, gunners, and soldiers, as well as sailors
thanks to steam." ,

An article on New Zealand, the continuation of
"The Bahamas or Lucayos Islands," and the
usual naval and military intelligence bring
us to a conclusion.

The St. James's Magazine. No. 2. Kent and Co.
We are not surprised to learn that this light and
pleasant miscellany has achieved a degree of suc-
cess which has fully realised the anticipations of
its well-wishers. As its second instalment shows
no diminution in the character of the contents, we
hope the satisfactory outset may be only a.prelude
to a continuance of public favour The accom-
plished editress continues her interesting and
vividly written story, " Can Wrong be Right ?"
and places her fair young heroine in a position full
of perplexity, anxiety, and alarm. She also
finishes the history of" Bessie's Beginnings" for the
benefit of younger folk, who will be charmed with
the Irish Biddy's quaint sayings, and with the
fairy tale interwoven with the story. The strange
and startling tale of " Ralph, the Bailiff," is also
continued, and will be brought to a conclusion in
the succeeding number. The reader's curiosity is
strongly excited by the aspect of affairs at the
Grey Farm, and by the evil influence of the
übiquitous bailiff. It is to be hoped that his malig-
nant designs against the fair young bride will be
defeated. Although fiction occupies a prominent
place in the number, it by no means monopolises
the contents. On the contrary, a larger space than
is common in serial literature is devoted to science
popularly explained. " The Mystery of Water"
by so eminent a writer as Professor Ansted, and
a paper on " British Diamonds" by Robert Hunt,
F.R.S., prove that, although under feminine direc-
tion, the staff of authors is by no means superficial.
Dr. Doran contributes a paper on" The Middle-age
Woman," meaning by that somewhat invidious
title not the lady of uncertain years, but the
maidens and widows of mediaeval time; telling
their matrimonial troubles, owing to the arbitrary
authority possessed by the Crown in those
clays over the hands and hearts of wards and
heiresses. " What the rich are doing for the poor,"
is the title of an essay, which sums up the names
of our numerous and well supported charities,
which are, however, neither too many nor
to
o well provided for the siekness and sorrow
oofoohb our vast metropolis. A sketch of Doctor
J
Tofhethelady, as
writer speaki‘rs
sio. Thrale takes the part
most
o thest critic'seorvi
service
now.
rendered
lboy
Johnson to the honest independence, might
n c
ootra "the e
ttot
he
and meaning of literature,"
ser-
vility and time-serving spirit of the age—an age
which had learned to depend for fame and fortune
on patrons and dedications ; she admits him to
have indulged in some bad taste and more tyranny,
and says forcibly that " The republic of letters
commenced with him in a literary despotism."
Miss Proctor gives us some very pleasing verses on
" Twilight Dreams." Of the longer poetical con-
tributions we cannot speak so highly- The one is
confessedly an imitation of Edgar Poe's famous
" Raven," and, however superior may be its
teaching, the verse certainly will bear no com-
parison with that wild and wonderful poem. The
other is a pastoral story, which reminds es some-
what (again to its own disadvantage)
of Tennyson's
"Dora.' Thelikeness,however, is in the style not in
the tale, but good blank verse is not easily written.
There are other subjects of interest, amongst them
" Little Ones," and " A Night in the Catacombs."

Macmillan's Magazine.

This magazine commences with a chapter on
" Supplementary National Education," in which
the advantages of night schools, for the complAion
of the education of those who have left day schools,
is considered. The writer takes a very comprehen-
sive view of the subject, and maintains that, as it
requires both a bodily as well as a mental exertion
and self-denial, in those who have been engaged in
laborious occupations all day, to induce thm to
attend evening classes, it is necessary to engage
competent lecturers, to vary the evening occupa-
tion, and by experiments and entertaining and
instructive lectures, to render the attendance at
these evening schools amusing as well as instruc-
tive. " Ravenshoe," although entertaining as
441; does not contain anything which AtlTlince4