The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Oxonian, in, Norway. By the Rev. Frederick
Metcalfe, M.A., Fellow. of Lincoln College,
Oxford. Second Edition, revised. Hurst and
Blackett.
Last year the records of an excursion to the
North of Europe formed the subject of two agree-
able books of travel. A second edition being requi-
site, the work is now presented in a more concise,
form, and at a more reasonable price, to those de-
sirous of possessing' it. It is a light and lively
style that the author has adopted to convey his
opinions of the various places of interest and im-
portance, and this is certainly the best for such a
purpose. There are some additions to this im-
pression which will increase its attraction*, and Al
who wish to extend their knowledge of Scandinavia,
or amuse their leisure by legendary lore of the land
of the Vikings, will do well to peruse these notes
which afford glimpses of characteristic national
traits, a series of lively anecdotes, and a general
summary of events and occurrences which are edi-
fying and entertaining. The book is handsomely
bound, and finished off in a superior style.

History of the Royal Sappers and Miners. By T.
W. Conolly, Quartermaster of the Royal Engi-
neers. Second Edition. Two Vole. Longruans.
This is the second edition of this handsome and
compendious work, which traces the history of this
useful corps from its formation in 1772 to 1856,
when its designation was changed to that of Royal
Engineers—thus givinl the reader a summary of the
military history of the last 84 years, which embrices
some of the most remarkable exploits of modern
times. Their performances, it is true, are not
always in the most conspicuous part of the c3m-
paign, they have less to do with " the rattling
musketry and flashing blade " than with " the
bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder,"
but if less brilliant, their services are not leis im-
portant ; and, at the present day, with the siege of
Sebastopol fresh iri our memories, we shall not be
likely to underrate the difficulties of their profes-
sion. The following extracts narrate the circum-
stances of the formation of the corps and of its
change of name—

"Before the year 1772, the works at Gibraltar were
mainly executed by civil mechanics from the Continent
and England, who were not engaged for any term of
years, but were hired like ordinary artificers, and could
leave the Rock whenever they felt dispo4ed. Not being
amenable to prison discipline, they were indolent and
disorderly and wholly regardless of authority. The only
means of punishing them was by reprimand, suspension,
or dismissal, and these means were quite ineffectual
to check irregularities. The dismissal of mail:mice
and replacing them by others was always attended with
considerable inconvenience and expense, and often failed
,ato secure an equivalent advantage. onsequently, the
works progressed very slowly, imposing much additional
trouble and anxiety upon the officers. Even the better
el um of artificers—locally termed guinea men' from
their high wages—who had something at stake in their
situations, could not be relied upon. It, therefore, be-
came necessary that steps should be taken to put a stop
to the evil, and to secure the services of a sufficient
Lumber of steady, obedient mechanics, upon whom de-
pendence could, at all Limes, be placed, for the proper
execution of the works.
" With this view, Lienteaant-Colonel William Green,
the chief engineer at the fortress, suggested the forma-
tion of a company of military artificers as the only ex-
pedient. Of the value of this suggestion some experi•
ence had been derived, from the occasional occupation
on the works, of mechanics belonging to the different
regiments in garrison. Indeed, ever since the taking of
Gibraltar, in 1704, soldiers had so been employed,
particularly artillery men, whose services to the fortress
were always found to be beneficial. There was every
reason, therefore, to expect that, when the department
became entirely military in its character, corresponding
results on a large scale would owns. Besides which it
was considered, that the employment of a military com-
pany on the works, organised expressly for the purpose,
would produce a great saving of expense to the public
and also, that the men would be ready to participate in
any military operation for the defence of the place,
either as artificers or soldier", should our relations with
other countries render it desirable.
"Influenced by these considerations, Colonel Green
submitted the suggestion to the Governor and Lieuten-
ant-Governor of Gibraltar, Too well aware themselves
of the disadvantages of the system of civil labour in
carrying on the works of the fortress, they were favour.
able to the trial of any experiment that promised suc-
cess ; and in recommending the plan to the attention of
the Secretary of State, they expressed their decided
opinion that many advantages would certainly arise to
the service and the fortress by its adoption. The royal
consent was accordingly given to the measure in a
Warrant, under the sign mannel, dated 6th March,
1772 ; and thus originated the corps, whose history is
ettemptedito be traced in the e pages.
" On the 17th October—the second anniversary of
openin; the siege—the designation of the Royal Sappers
and Miners was altered by Royal authority, probably ac
a compliment to the corps for its approved services be-
fore Sebastopol. The announcement was made in the
London Gauge as follows :
" The Queen has been graciously pleased to direct,
that the corps of Royal Sappers and Miners shall hence-
forward be denominated the corps of Royal Engineers,
and form one body with the existing corps of Royal
Eugheeere.'
"Thus is removed that standing misnomer by which
the sappers and their officer., virtually one body, were
by some incompr,bensible caprioe in the now obsolete
military economy of the ordnance, called by a plurality of
Separatad by name from their officera, and thrown
.seemingly into a cold unfriendly shade, the want of a
family patronymic—one title of identity in common—
was keenly felt by the sappers. Sir Coerles Pasley was
the first to moot the question. His representations ran
through a period of forty years. Many other officers,
considering that no sacrifice of exclusivenesesbould stand
in the way of improving the status of the corps, adopted
his views; and with the generous assistance of Sir John
Burgoyne and the ready acquiescence of Lord Pan mnre
the change was effected—breaking up an anomaly which
it is proudly hoped will iuterlink and cohere both officers
and men."

The second edition has been delayed, we are told
in the prefacP, in expectat:on of this chaage, as the
author was desirous of completing his votk and
bringing the record of the services of the corps
down to the date at which they ceased to tear their
old name. The first edition, which has been some
time out of print, was largely patronit,el by the
non-commissioned office's and some of the privates
—thus proving the pri le and interest which they
took in their corps and its exploits. The reader
cannot fail to bs struck by the wide diffusion of
their labours. Almost every part of the globe
under British rule, appears to have been visited by
bands of the Sappers arid Miners. We full them
enrolled at Gibraltar, we meet them afterwards at
FlanderS, in the West Indies, in Turkey, inMalta,
iu Egypt, in the Peninsula, at the Cape, iu Canada,
in Corfu, in S-. Helena, with the Arctic Expedi-
tion, at•ached to the GreatlExhibition, in Central
Africa, in the Shetland Islands, in Australia, and
lastly in the Crimea, where their services were con-
spiow and where their exploits, under tie title
of Sappers and Miners, came to a conclusion. So
highly important does the antler regard the:r ser-
' vitas to have been, that he devotes ten chapters of
bii second volume ti an account of the s ege of
Sebastopol. Those who wish to have a scientific
and technical narrative of its slow progress will
therefore be able to trace the proceedings of the
besiegers from the commencement to the mduor-
able day of September. The following extract
shows some of the difficulties with which they had
to contend.

" Equally dangerous was the double sap forming the
central communication between the two foremost pa-
rallels on the left attack. Not without great tell and
watching was it completed. In aspect it bore a wild
crenated outline, as if the miners, in struegling to make
a direct approach, were so oppressed with difficulties
that, defying the energy and capacity of art, they were
forced to make progress by running into sidings end
notches. The last gabion to connect the sap with the
parallel was fixed by corporal Issndrim. The whole way
was broken up by mining, and the planting of every ga-
bion was attended with insinenent risk. Stones blown
from the rock were built into the parapets and °impacted
with earth and clay thrown among the blocks from
sacks and bread-bags. So fierce at times was the firing
and so clear the moon, that the extension of the trench
throughout an anxious night was confined to the place.
taunt of only four gabions. Some nights the sap wa-
, pushed ahead as mach as ten yards, which was regarded
as an exemplary effort. 'For every three gabioue fixed
during the night two were knocked down at daylight by
round shot ;' and not unfrequently one has been Btruok
from the hands of the sapper essaying to stake it. Such
gaps and such violence sufficiently mask the trials of the
undertaking and account for its slow and wearying pro-
gress. Up to the close of the siege the sap demanded
the labour and vigilance of small parties to patch up the
broken revetments and replace the shivered gabinne.
Never were there less than two sappers in this zigzag ;
seldom fewer than 20 of the line.
Subjoined is an interesting account of the blowing
up of the docks.
" Of the nature of the duty which had develved on the
assailants some idea may be glanced from a corsidera-
ion of the dimensions of the docks. &retelling a line
longitudinally from end to end the mean distance was.
205 feet. The width was 92 feet ; the depth 29 feet.
The floors measured 190 feet long, compressed at the
sides into a width of 40 feet. The reventrnents at the
top were nearly 7 feet. The French docks were each
188 feet Ling and 92 feet broad. All the works were
of the most solid kind. The hills out of which they were
ogirneta t
wp
ha retr
ee mthb eed dgeedo
liong
ircoaclk
sot rr
aht ea w
fna
voouut
hollowed were of clay abounding with rook. The were
royeld itt
hate
adaptation of natural expedients tl
tehveereyinp
a great end. Hard
limestone was abundantly
usedin the work ; so also war
a material of a softer kiud in • unexposed situations.
Granite of different colours in heavy blocks was
used in all parts wh
bility re resistance and impregna
were essential. In their massiveness and durabi-
lity both rocks and basin seemed likely to tire the
patience of old Time himself. The steps—of the heaviest
masonry—cut around the elliptical hollows, forming
I them, as it were, into amphitheatres, were "fit for a

giant's staircase." But what seemed impenetrable to
the wear and, tear of ages and innocuous to those influ-
ences which insidiously eat away vitality from the
mightiest fabrics was, in a few short months, torn up by
mines and dashed into ruins as prodigious perhaps as
_these of N nivah. Curved iron gates, unrivalled for size
and strength, and covered with thick iron sheets over-
lapping each other and ri vetted like the plates of a levia-
than boiler, closed the entrances to the several docks.
They might have served to turn back the sea in some
tfirbulent strait ; and when it was required to move a
single pair of them as memorials of Russian greatness
and our own energy, it took no less than 140. artillery.
men under a skilful engineer, Lieuttniant-Colonol Beet,
to lift them from their position, not in their entirety, but
rib by rib and sheet by sheet "

A severe storm interrupted their proceedings.
docks
levelcksw atai caocnrtaroshiled the
n e
bye.e
!rt.
curn"eTtabnecb.:slo.wilntg wuaps ofdhotpbeei t
works by a simultaneous burst of the whole mogssmes.
The • intention,- however, was shown to be abortive by
the constant intrusion of water into the arnep„ which
necessitated the less striking resort to a • piecemeal
demolition, The explosions were numerous, bat three
or four large ones were ventured which amply repaid
by their success the risk of the experiments. Several
failures took place, as was natural in an undertaking
so great, from the unavoidable dampness of the powder
and accidents to the agencies of ignition. The quan-
tity of powder used woe 49,384'be. or more than 22
tons! On the 6th February the last explosion took
place, and the memorable d,-)oks of Sebastopol wars
numbered with the structures of the past."
We are glad to see this record of the courage and
perseverance of British soldivis has met with so
cordial a reception, and the Paine encouragetneot
will, no doubt, be accorded to t',is Lev•• and en-
larged edition. It is necessarily somewhat limited
iu its character, for as the auJhor set himself the
taskof ertinga chronicle of the deeds and f ,rtunes
of the Sappers and Miners, any unnecessary intro-
duction of other parties, wool 1, we I,el, impair its
consistency. ' He has not given a part al or pre-
judiced account, for the accidents or misconduct of
the Sappers are faithfully recorded when they are of
sufficient importance. One fevurA especially de-
serves notice: as the Sappers and Miners have been
always officered by the R:)yal Engineers, according
to the writer's plan the officers are rarely men-
tioned, as their body poss?sses its own annals and
memorials, and c.msequently there is ample oppor-
tunity for the names and achievements of inferior
grades. Those recommend promotion for
merit will thus be able to find many oases to en-
force their arguments. We must not omit to men-
tion that the volumes are embellished by seventeen
coloured plates, illustrating the various changes in
their uniforms at different epochs.