The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-10 00:00:00

ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY.

The following excellent letter on this ,uhject has he, 1,
communicated by a Correspondent well acquainted with
military service
The motion of Captain Liyard, for shortening the
period of soldiers' enlistment to ten years instead ,:f f r
life--although opposed by the Seel etary at War, and
thercbv lost—will no doubt awaken many consul, ration.
bearing on the subject, which may tend to the benefit
and advantage of those solOicrs who, h.,virig gained a
certain number of years' experience, are still, from an
unconqueiable dislike to a m..itary life, desirous of re-
linquishing it. The great consideration, and the great
difficulty of carrying out such a measure, is not so much
involved in the principle set forth by the Secretary at
War, as in the fact that our army is now altogether
colonial, and serving at vast distances, if not in the very
antipodes of -England ; and the transfer of soldiers from
the central parts of India would be difficult and expen-
sive beyond all calculation.
" The present custom of the service is for men in
general to obtain their discharge on the payment
of twenty pounds, under certain stipulations as to
character ; and also, after a certain length of service,
on the relinquishing all claim to pension. This is fair
and indulgent, but would bear extension. By the time
a soldier has served seven years, he is reconciled to ser-
vice—if he ever will be--and that is the period at
which his dissent should be ascertained and admitted.
Upon the procuring a good and sufficient substitute, and
ing
all claim upon his country for his past
service,relinquisahswell-as clearing off any expense attendant
on the approved substitute. This would come very near
the end proposed by Captain Layard, and if we mistake
not, be of mutual advantage to the individual and to the
country. Should the regiments to which such men be-
long be on dutyin the colonies or India at the time of
application, then upon the reported approval of such
application, the man should be transferred to the first
regiment or detachment returning to England, and for
the express purpose of a regular discharge.
" The Secretary-at-War, not having been bred a sol-
dier, must have been dependent on some military men
for the opinion he has expressed ; and it is very easy to
understand why colonels of regiments should be jealous
of losing a soldier in the very prime of his strength and
efficiency ; but the true policy of such opinions are ex.
tremely doubtful, and of a very narrow character. The
very thought of being tree to go is an inducement to stay.
No doubt the situatiCin, or present condition of soldiers.
much more cared for than formerly,' but their ',dare
prospects on the termination of service not so much so.
The mode of entrance into, and the mode of dis, . a,ge
from, the service, are both most obnoxious—a fiwitrou.
bounty and a miserable pension. Toe bounty should
bond file money, and a complete equiptnent for surtice
in the ranks without any shopping or unworthy trickery,
thereby rendering the first intercourse the soldier has
with his officer an apparent fraud. The pension for 21
years' service should be given under any circumstances,
and increased for superior ,2,onduct. The real bounty
should be found, not in the .Ulll p .1(1 at the ir.c,n.;iderate
moment of enli,tment, bait ill th,, charge.
Ooe discontented or bad.,pi;::e t ;::/rich will
spoil the recruiting ot a ols,i,e!. 7 11, !,tk 4111'11g
have only to feel that, after s( tying their enuoiry, they
re:urn to their homes b-1.1.er men and in bet:er condition
than they left it. and Viet e would be no lack of voun-
Wet., for the army. Notts can be more satis'ac:ory
than the tr.-a,m-ht f soldier: who are sick ; i.n :c-et . i.
almo.a ;anon t, that if ;c7. nitalh
~sre `.tier,' t•!ken cecta:n points of iTrac:l;
(lotion awl I,api, win,,ces4ary cxpoure iu

bad elimatei `et
by injudicious and inexperenced office";
wouid be iit-,;n redu,;
" A 'ew a to men it:tve i,t-rved
CJ
eountly night well be Thor, a into :ho scab; tie 041%
to the
,pension, such as tre right of trade or shop 11114
part of the kingdom; exemption of such men as have .o'"
served sewn years before their discharge from 11"1311$
ballots, &c., &c —and finally, to prevent. if possible.
return cat ,:Li soldiers in a state of rovertv to Great
,Britatn, f tilting the wo-risons of Au,tralta, °t he,'
nealih.) of men who have s,lvcd 14 cam ni
the end of 21 years' 57-TVICt, to settle,

small grants of land from the Government."

THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE'
(From George Cruikshanles Tabic.Book. -A a 171"y1;$9
kViten waildeg the sty ets of a great city, nothing for
struck us so fereinly as ihe general neglect of lzeu,enl e
the preservation of lie from the rivaees of fire.
is scarcely a street in Lendon but has given frighl!ts
testimony to the horrors of death by 'nailing ; at'd )b.
there seems to be such un'versal apathy upon the
jest, that nowhere can you find that any earnest, Per'
vering endeavours have twee tore .• to eeeere the en °Le-
ration of neighbours for mutuel preservation.
gialature has interfered for the protection propel
tire, and made the erection of party- walls corepulsorPo
has done nothing for the protection of life from the 59w
fearful destoer.
The streertsy have been tunnelled from one end t° tbef
other of this great metropolis, to ensure the cord'aib $
the in-dwellers—it was a gigantic thought to drain sue
mighty city !
Water has been brought from distant places' fiof
conveyed through conduits and pipes to the dwelling
the most humble. Earth had to be delved, and r
blasted, to effect this tremendous work 1 fell
Gas, subtle and treacherous as it is, is brought sa •
to our doors, even into our houses.
We walk as it were upon a mine; but such WI
the perseverance of man, such the triumph of k 1190,4
ledge, that the mighty power is made subservient to tbe
will, to be used as a blessing and a security.* 131114
subjugation of gas was the labour of nearly 200 )93'1,
And the conquest was worth the struggle! eetir
- When such vast things have been done by Co-Order
tion for the comfort of the commutiity, is it not wolibees
ful that nothing worthy the name of exertion has the
tried for the preservation of life from fire, wheat,*
means must be so insignificant in point of cost and 40
culty, although so greatly conducive to the security if
that most horrible of deaths—death by fire ?
We feel that in devoting the pages of the Tabk-,--11,
to the consideration of this subject, we are dischargilo
duty we owe to our fellow-creatures, and, therefore, °fa
no apology for the plans which we here put for r% 5
the remedy of the evil of which we complain. Our desieat
may be imperfect or objectionable, but they rpaY stjg,,gace
to others better and more practicable modes of e 5
and
from the horrors of conflagration.. The simplest of
surest escape is a continuous balcony erected in fOn.
the upper windows of every house. This is so obvl°f of
that it is unnecessary to advance one word in fav°l3ob•
the plata. We shall confine ourselves simply to the
jections that may be urged against it. a to
Ist. The facility that balconies are said to gia
robbery. 11.
To us nothing can be more futile than this objectogi°
Stronger fastenings to the windows would as effecitry
secure the second or third-floor windows as jtbii
and bolts do the street. door. Even well°, to
objection tenable, we consider that less 15,130
be apprehended from the burglar who 'ti'
the contents of a jewel-case or a drawer, ob.
from that fierce assailant that devours a toan's ss:4
stance, and suffocates him with reekings of the (-10
The destroyer which bursts into the chamber, 90 etrils,
ab..ut the bed and breathes its smoke into the n°s;ieg
until the head grows dizzy. and the heart faint, le9,;if
the wretch, thus made conscious of its desolatil
senee, scarcely time or thought for flight. Bewiley
as he is, he knows not where to se, k a refuge ;
unaccustomed to revert to any mewls for safety ,114/- the
an eatergency, has to fie m its plans, and not to °Vett
execution of those often considered and relied on. op!
the balcony understood by the household to be the e 5 ild
from fire, impulse and the instinctive love of life vt'lleit
generally guide the inmates of a burning house to t
place of refuge. the °lr
The

-e plan which we annex seems to remedy djers
jeetion as originally stated, and to render fire is
unnec. ssary. front
The-sketch represents a balcony extending in '-'-e,toc°
of the upper windows of a house, arid having tw° clifig
able end., secured by a latch, and attached to VI; the
which communicates with a bell. In the case of anr,j'vil
end, being enlastened, falls to the edge of the a.„01.10'"
balcony, and at the same time rings a bell.
being released falls inwards, and thus opens a con,l°„re
cation with the adjoining house. The bell woul°rod
vent any improper use being made of the balcony'
if so constructed, would serve as an alarum. id
2d. The formation of a continuous balcony w°,lo•
impracticable where houses were of different altitu:fire
In such case we would propose the erection of i.veil
Galleries," made in the form of a balcony, but P;soti;
iron shutters between each window, in order that Pebovlo
seeking refuge might be protected from dangerqo of.,
any flames issue from the adjoining windows. gAbu'
twelve persons might remain uninjured for a 10050
time in one of these fire-galleries, or until such u,
the fire-ladders could be brought to their rescue. 500
A ladder of iron placed in the front of the 11011.,s;e'
so constructed that a person might descend betty
and the wall, would also afford a safe mode of es d'`
We repeat that we do not put forward these 11;pell
pre-emineutly advisable, but the Legislature that CO 700
the formation of party-walls and sewers, ought t maps
the erection of some such simple and effectiveo
compulsory upon the landlord of every house in
metropolis.
As we are upon this tubject, we shall not hesitatelife
speak of another matter of gross neglect, where 111 to
of woman is more particularly at stake. We ail° oblie
the construction of fenders. How often is the rofeli
heart wrung by statements of some glad and bob!
creature being reduced to a mass of hideousness b.
eat
ignition of the dress which was to have lent adornder!
to, her beauty, even by the unexpected openingef.Bisbeti
Could not the frequency of such calamitiesbeditul° tha
by adopting some other form of construction for ea'
fender? We would suggest the introduction of a 0.
•
dicular ornament rising from the centre.
We will now add an extract from a letter wi)(jl4l
we have received from our worthy friend, " The ,
Sailor •:" .o.be
"It is a fearful thing in a dismal and dreary are
when the gale is howling above, and the breakel't of
roatmg below, to he lashed helpless to some Ilea the
m. at, or Arout, whilst the wild waves beat °P,", the
suff revs, whose hopes have been driven avkitY„",,i are
threatened death that appears inevitable. Dreao;-lico
the feelings as the ship writhes upon the rohckosrrr.bcileei to
grind her stout timbers to mere powder—
witnesS the-raging of the ocean as it seems to d'4l,ets'
mock, ry the cries of the despairing crew and paoel3'
' Alas I from thence there's no retreating.'
The f,lep lutist be their coffin, rind the bill' vq-;,:irce`"
their eatery grave. Thoe s who have not fife
such visitations, can never form an adequate itlett-es,
at to
horrors th rush out of the- blackness of dark°,e, ;1•16
tortiite the spirits of the afflicted, as they bell°l'a feo
one, and then another, washed away, and, fa ,do?'
seconds, struggling in the white foam of the sea air
the destruction that ensues, Even should the olvrt
be tine when a wreck takes place—it may be s"-4ilt
storm—or, striking on the rocks that the leak 13'3)4
overwhelm the sinking-craft in sill loth water--4114:hrie.,'
twony is the same—arid, ~h ! to he'. r the pier. jog '„
as the lost death-pang separates time from etertiDP
thrilling sounds are never to In. forgotten. t tecu
" Now, much of this might be prevented, and °lila%) t/..5
by the, simplest m• ans. The Chinese are far helc c ficP
in this matter. When their large j
n dunk, go to st3*.ial
passenger takes his own merct,andise under his I—thd
diate care ; and it is rarely, if ever lt,own, 11131„b,54
neglect to carry with them three piec,s of wont havoof
formed into a kind of triangular seat ; sometiole .bpiog
have four pieces fixed in a square. These -tai°
, wilt not only float, but will also
great weight ; and a fri, lid assured us that 1 „
104
eye-witness to the wreck cf one 'of these, ego'
junks, when crew and passengers clapped these Pi
bamboo round their bodies under their arms, acid .s 1),„'
themselves into the fickle waves. The burning hisclll"
the sun came down with fierce intensity 4 buti
Chinaman was prepared even for that. Like
the everlasting umbrella was at hand—it was Pr°-"Tiog
hoisted, and away they went for the shore, convie:‘,"roo
as freely as the noise would admit; and truly hirsotii
Was their appearance, resembling a fleet of gli.,go-t
mushrooms broke adrift from their mooringsr"--
were saved. esti
" And what does this simple contrivance 5,11%011'
The facility of preserving life. Let every. ell'ea:ore;
board our ships be made of a thoroughly floating °" 03-
chairs, stools, tables, mattresses, aid boats. Nay' row'
—every individual, male and female, should 1° Of,
themselves, the men with waterproof waistcoats'
ude/
ladies with pelerines, which may be blown and disteoreo
by the breath. We have seen some of this kind ~ibex
„,
with black satin, that look quite handsome; enu'bie
, their uses are taken into consideration, invalo° cot/
the time of peril. When we hear of the niel°lo,
'occurrences that have taken place in steam- h°,° COOr
would ask, why are they not all constructed 1° t tbB
partments with double bottoms, and especially
most probable point of collision—the bows ?
deed, a matter for serious contemplation." the
We We trust that none of our readers will consl;,t
small space which we have devoted to this subr-d the
misapplied—imperfectly as we feel we have exee°,,,tee 01;
task thus voluntarily undertaken : but having t"ferre",
vantages of illustration at command, we have re vvily
the risk of disappointing a few of our good frich&.'netir"
look to our pages for mirthful sentences alone, to 1.4)(0
ring the self-reproach of havin maintained silence ;Joie
a subject which we feel to be img portant, as affeet,ll)l•oo
good of many of our fellow-creatures, and whieD,leci'
not have Been so clearly putTorward without theb‘,
da-tion oF our pencil. G.
nd°°
*lt is calculated that the co ; sumption of gas 1;00'
amounts to eight millions and a half cubic feet every t
be
fou r rs.
About 1660, Dr. Clayton first made coal-gas, Widbiecr.
btu -d - Xll hot-- *wicked a blfiu

turned as it came from swat notes pricked in
See " Notes taken during the late War in Chin'
Captain Cutaway.—Table-Book, p. 91.
a
Ho; )11,41,..s (51' Firm--1
Prince rt, I,,iningen have arrived at Vienna.
lAN Et-Wolof,. II f, VIIILE A r A
Lion has been o,,ened in this town for the relief of the thoU674
persons whose property and homes have been destroyed bY doff,
astrous tire at Queoec. Hitherto, however, no public Prc)c,,,cepatbij
hate been taken here to excite an enlarged and general
with our suffering fellow suijocts or to swell the fund
see,'
amount beyond that which can be expnted from the t•lutr,eyie
of a sith•cription-sneet. The total amount subscribed
Na--
change uews-r,oin up to this evening, wan 7901.---
Ga.:weans.

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Town Pl..
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