Star.
London, England, 1826-09-20 00:00:00

MILITARY TAUGHT TO SWIM IN UNIFORM.

TROM THE TRAVELS 07 Wit. RAI WILSON, ESQ. F.A.S.
Am-ng the judicious regulations laid down in the
Danish army, there is one that it is impos,ible to pass
over unnoticed—namely, instructing the men in the art
of swimming. They are occasionally made to plunge
into the sea in uniform, with their knapsacks on their
back, and to buoy themselves up with muskets over
their heads, so as to be able to discharge, them. This 1,
is unquestionably a most excellent practice to prepare'
them for military operations in fording rivers. I had
occasion to see many of the cadets in Copenhagen ,
marching in a body to the sea, as to an Ecole de nata-
tion, to be taught the art. This manly exercise appears
to be an imitation of what constituted part of the edu-
cation of youths in the time of the Greeks and Ro-
mans. In fact, it was among these people an ordinary
expres,ion when they meant to speak in contemptuous
terms of any individual to say, " that he had neither
learned to read nor swim." Man, it may be remarked,
is the only animal who has occasion to learn this exer.
cise, since all others swim naturally ; and it may be in
general remarked, that we find those near the sea, and
whose countries are intersected with canals and rivers,
are well skilled in it, while others living more inland
are ignorant of the art. This exercise was particularly
recommended by Dr. Franklin, who observes, that sol-
ders in particular should be taught to swim ; and after
giving an opinion that boys should also be learned, he
says, " if 1 had many boys to educate, I should prefer
those schools where an opportunity was afforded of ac-
quiring so advantageous an art."
These considerations would lead me to suggest the
propriety of submitting to his Royal Highness the Duke
of York, whose name is so dear to every English sol-
dier, and who has used such indefatigable exertions in
bringing the British army to its present high and ad-
mirable pitch of perfection, how far it would be proper
to issue an order that every soldier should be taught to
swim, since the most important effects might result
from it during a state of warfare ; independent of which
it is most beneficial to their health, and is an art, in
short, that when once learned, is never forgotten.

James Sbrt, alias Country► Jens, lately broke out of
prison at Bedford, but has been taken, and sent to his
old quarters. Jem was over his pipe when spoken to,
and made a most desperate resistance.
A Cheltenham Paper says, the body of a rich Israel-
ite, who died at one of the most distinguished hotels
in that town, was lately taken to London, neatly' cased
in lead, on the roof of a stage-coach, at the contract
price of Ss. per pound.
Such is the increase of crime in Nottingham, that 26
years ago, the average number of those confined in the
House of Correction was only three, while at this time
the average is 90 confined in that prison.

A number of hands are now employed in removing
the rare exotic and indigenous plants, belonging to his
MAJESTY, from the gardens of Carltoa.palace, to the
grounds attached to the new Palace, in St. James's park.

The seeds of the sunflower are a most nutritious and
agreeable f.)nd for game and poultry. If given with
barley, it will generally be found that the sunflower sees
will be picked out by the chicken.

As trades are in the habit of congregating in differ.
ent pat is of the town, a punster suggests that the setup-
stresses should take up their abode In fiemming's-row.

Friday, a clerk in the house of Mr. Warner, an emi-
nent tea-dealer, in Rood-lane, absconded, taking with
him, of his master's money, between 7001. and 800/.
with which he had been intrusted. He had, it is sa'd,
planned, with another young man, a clerk in a public
office, to go to France with the booty. Soon after the
former left the house of his employers, it was suspected
that he did not intend to return, and officers were em-
ployed to search after him. The clerk in the public
office arrived at Dover at the appointed time, but soot)
afterwards learned that the officers were in the same
place on the look-out for his friend. He forth .vith
returned to town, and gave up the sum of 751. which
he bad received from has friend, into the hands of those
to whom it justly belonged. The unfortunate principal
in this transaction was soon afterwards apprehended in
Dover. He is a young man of respectable connexions.
Tuesday, about half-past seven in the morning, a man
went with a cart to Messrs. Oliver's uear Fal-
mouth, to get a load of lime, when not finding the old
man who was employed as lime-burner at work, he
proceeded to the dwelling-house adjoining, to inquire
for him. The door was shut, and not being able to
make any one hear, after repeated calls and knocking,
he broke open the door, when a thick cloud of smoke
immediately issued from the house. Alarmed at to
unusual a circumstance, he procured the assistance of
two other men, and entered the house, in which they
found a woman who officiated as housekeeper to the
old man (who is a widower) senseless, with a candle in
her hand. It is supposed, that just before she intended
to get into bed, she was seized with a fit, and set fi,e
to the clothes, which smouldered, there being no chim-
ney in the room, and filled the house full of smoke.
The woman, and a child which was with her, were im-
mediately removed into the open air, but the child was
quite dead, and the woman was so dreadfully burnt
that she died the same day. The old man and his son
were also found quite senseless, and nearly dead from
suffocation, but it is hoped that they will recover.

One of the Fire Offices has the following in one of
its prospectuses:-" When a female discovers her dress
to be on fire, she runs screaming about the room, and
if no one is there to assist her, she opens the room door,
and rushes to the head of the stairs for assistance. By'
this action of the lighted clothes, and of the air, the
greatest rapidity and fierceness are given to the fire,
and the face, neck, and arms, become almost instantly
enveloped in flames. Now, when a female finds her
clothes on fire, she ought instantly to drop on the floor
at full length ;if she can do so on a hearth-rug or louse
carpet, and wrap it round her, the fire will be imme-
diately extinguished: If there be not these things at
hand, she should turn over till the part un fire be un-
dermost, and then press her clothes .to the floor with
her hands. If her clothes are on fire all round, she
must turn over and over again. The portion of dress
underneath her person, by pressure, will be extinguish-
ed, and the portion above it will burn feebly and harm-
lessly, compared to what it does when the sufferer is
running about. If there be any one in the room, drop
down as before ; the assistant must then throw a car-
pet, rug, woollen shawl, or cloak, or man's coat, or the
like, over her, and press it closely, until the flame be
extinguished.",