often gave way. One of the seven sages of Corinth has left a maxim on record that it would have been well for the Major to have followed: Xóλ8 KOάTε-"Be master of thy anger." It would have saved him from all the humiliation of having to offer reparation for injuries done, or from the hardened alternative of having to justify himself when in the wrong. It is true that this passionate son of Mars usually vented his fury upon those under his control, more especially upon his servants; but occasionally by some sudden transport the Major would find himself involved in what Sir Lucius O'Trigger calls "a very pretty quarrel," and from which (as the gallant officer was brave as a lion) it was difficult to extricate himself. Upon reaching the barracks I reported myself to the Adjutant at the Orderly-room, and then for the first time found myself in the presence of the formidable commanding officer.

"I'd have you to know, sir," said the Major, addressing one of his men whose appearance showed that he had just come out of one of those cells called the "black hole," "that such conduct is unworthy & soldier of His Majesty's ——th; and-" (here followed a dreadful imprecation)" if it happens again I'll have you up to the halberds; and" -turning to a young officer, "I'd have you to know, sir," (this was a favourite phrase of the irate Major's) "that I think the discipline of the grenadier company very faulty-very faulty indeed, sir! and"here another expression which we cannot mention, at least to ears polite," was delivered. During the above harangue I was standing, not at what the soldiers call "at ease," for I felt quite awed at the rage of this red coated tiger. After a little pause Lieutenant Cludde (so the Adjutant was called) approached me, and in due form presented me to the Major, who eyed me from head to foot; I had encased myself (dressed I could not call it) in my best military frock coat, regimental trousers, sword, sash, and foraging-cap, and never having had a dress rehearsal of the part, found myself very ill at ease. My black silk stock nearly garotted me; the hooks and eyes of my collar seemed to have had a difference of opinion, and would not hold together; my sword-belt would not remain in its proper position, I know not whether I had shrunk with fear; my sword would get between my legs. After a very courteous, although rather stiff reception, the Major requested me to follow him to the mess-room, where he would introduce me to my brother officers.

"Unanimity is the motto of our corps," said my conductor-a senti ment I very soon found out was not acted up to, as far as he was concerned, for a more disunited body never existed. "Lieutenant Cludde, you will appoint Ensign Atherley to Captain Hornidge's company, and let him attend the usual drill.-Rather too tall for His Majesty's --th," continued the martinet aside, for he always considered his own "pocket"-size as the perfection of symmetry.

"Rather, Major," echoed the well-drilled subaltern, who I soon discovered was a toady of the highest order to his superior. As we entered the mess-room the buzz of conversation that had caught my ears suddenly ceased; a look went round the whole party there assembled, who at once rose and saluted their chief. A formal introduction then took place, the coldness of which almost petrified me; I looked at my captain's countenance, and the first glance made me think it was rather an unforbidding one. In a short time the Major and his

"shadow," Lieuteuant Cludde, left the room, but not before the former had addressed a sentry from the window, saying,

"A very slovenly walk! I'd have you to know, sir, that's not the way we like to have the duty done in the

th."

No sooner had the two disciplinarians taken their leave, than the life and spirit of the party were restored; the young officers flocked round me, offering every civility and attention, while the senior ones (most especially my own captain, whose physiognomy I had cruelly belied), paid me the greatest courtesy.

"What say you to some luncheon ?" asked young Belward, who I found was my brother "sub." We generally have it about this hour."

66

Before I could reply, the bell had been rung and answered. "What have you got, Higgins?" inquired the youth.

"A nice cold round of boiled beef, sir; ham, tongue, and a pig's face.

27

"Well, you may as well bring all you have, and some hot potatoes for Mr. Atherley, Lieutenant Sunderland, and myself."

"Allow me to be of the party?" said my captain, evidently anxious to get better acquainted with his newly-joined ensign.

"Captain Hornidge will also have luncheon. Bring me a pint of Scotch ale. Every one must order his own drink."

Higgins the messman retired, and shortly sent his assistant-waiter to lay the cloth. This done, the eatables were produced, and were of the most tempting order, A merrier party never sat down to a more agreeable meal.

"We dine at half-past six," said my captain," and if you are for a stroll through the town, I am at your orders at three o'clock. In the meantime I will select a batman for you, and will send him to your room."

To both of these propositions I gladly and gratefully assented; and Belward having shown me to my quarters, I waited there in breathless anxiety for the appearance of my servant, it being the first time that I found myself a master of one. In the mean time I east a look round my apartment, which was a tolerably-sized one, fronting the parade. The furniture was alone remarkable for its simplicity: a deal table, two wooden chairs, and an iron coal-box were all that it consisted of. A knock at the door, very much like that given by the marble statue in Don Giovanni, when the ghostly intruder arrives as an unexpected guest to supper, was heard.

"Come in!" I exclaimed; and in a second a man made his appearance, equipped in a fatigue-dress.

"Private Hargreaves, of Captain Hornidge's company," said the soldier, saluting me at the same time: "I'm ordered to act as your batman, sir."

"Very well," I responded, attempting to return the military compliment, quite forgetful that I had no hat or cap upon my head. "There are my keys."

In a short time my bed and camp furniture were unpacked, and properly fixed, and everything looked very comfortable. Another knock was heard, and Belward made his appearance; Hargreaves, now

retired, having received my orders to attend me again at six o'clock. Frank Belward was one of the most open-hearted creatures in the world, possessing a good share of sound judgment, which his light and off-hand style of conversation did not give the casual observer any idea of; but the more keen looker-on would easily trace amidst the effervescence of his sparkling talents a foundation of solid sense.

"You must be careful of the Major," he said, "and always bear in mind that he is ready to explode at any minute. Smoking a mild Havannah on a powder chest is about a parallel. The slightest want of caution may blow you to atoms.

I thanked him for this advice. He proceeded rather abruptly, as I thought, to ask me whether I understood zoology. To this I gave a negative, never having studied in those days that admirable work by Broderip, which has since given me so much delight, and which I strongly recommend to the notice of all my readers, as the most perfect "recreations" extant.

"I was about to give you an insight into Lieutenant Cludde's character," continued Frank," and was anxious to know whether you had ever read Buffon; for that most enlightened authority gives so graphic a description of the adjutant-bird, that it looks as if he had ours and not the feathered foreigner in view. The natural historian writes as follows:In its appearance there is some singularity. There is no hair on the head, which looks as if it were made of wood; and this oddity is heightened by the eyes seeming to be set in it, as if without lids or any cartilaginous appendages. The legs are long and slender.'"

I could not resist smiling at this extraordinary and certainly correct likeness.

continued Belward, still

"This bird is a native of Botany Bay,' quoting Buffon. "Now it is far from my wish to insinuate that Cludde is, or ever deserves to be connected with that settlement-so there my sketch fails, but in other respects it is true to life."

After a pause Belward proceeded.

"Cludde toadies the Major to an alarming extent, and encourages, rather than checks, his imperious disposition. Sure such a pair were never seen, so justly formed to meet by nature'-or rather, ill-nature; and the result is that we have long since refrained from all intercourse with him-except, of course, on points of duty."

In reply I lamented this disunion among the gallant asked my new acquaintance what line I had better adopt.

-th, and

"Do not be deceived by any specious manner," he replied, "to get on intimate terms with the Adjutant, for, as our chief says, 'I'd have you to know' he would turn upon you like a tiger. Do your duty, and treat him with that courtesy due to a brother officer."

At this moment the stentorian voice of the Major was heard in the barrack-yard, as usual rating some unfortunate man who had fallen under his displeasure.

Oh that's not a very serious affair," said my companion, "It's the Major's private servant, Pat Mahoney, adopting the principle of the domestics of the Earl of Dorset, who, according to Prior, 'used to put themselves in their master's way when he was angry, because he was sure to recompense them for any indignities which he had made them suffer. Before I finish my catalogue raisonnée, I must say one

word for our captain, who is a thorough gentleman, and an excellent officer he insists upon every one doing his duty, and himself sets the example by never flinching from his. The moment we are free he enters into all our fun: he is a good shot, a forward rider, an expert fisherman, and up to every manly amusement; and as punctuality is his motto-without which, as he says, neither duty, business, nor pleasure can be carried on, I am reminded it is near three, so you must be off."

With this tolerably good insight into the characters of those I ought to avoid, and those I ought to seek, I hastened to the mess-room, where I found Captain Hornidge ready to accompany me in a walk through the garrison.

Portsmouth, in the days I write of, was very different to what it is at the present time. The excitement, interest, and bustle of war, contrast greatly with the monotony, quiet, and dulness of peace. Who that strolls down the High-street, or wanders to the common-hard, and sees the deserted look of the town, the desolation of the hotels, the dulness that prevails in the streets, the prison-like look of the middy's happy retreat, the Blue Posts, the absence of men-of-war, could picture to himself that eight-and-thirty years ago all was life and activity-the George and Dolphin swarming with colonels and majors of the army, admirals of all colours-like the un, deux, cinq balls-red, white, and blue; commodores and captains trotting about the town, and "reefers" just emancipated from school, seeing as much "life" on shore as the Point and Blue Posts could procure for them? Then, independent of these, jovial soldiers and sailors, regiments of cavalry and infantry, were constantly embarking, many, alas! to leave their bones in a foreign country. All was animation and spirit, enlivened occasionally by a "bailiff" race, for many a young spendthrift received notice not to quit his "Vaderland," as the Germans call it, at the suit of two most disagreeable, yet well-known personages, John Doe and Richard Roe. How often did it happen that a pack of sheriff's officers ran with a burning scent some wretched ensign "to ground" at the barracks, and after "ferreting" him out, would "chop " him as he was about to em

bark for distant lands! How often has the silver oar boarded some transport, as she was actually under weigh, with the unpleasant intimation that Captain, Lieutenant, or Cornet So-and-So was wanted, and must come! and how often has the unfortunate debtor, like a weatherbeaten boat, failing to be "bailed out," been water-logged, and become the victim of these land and sea-sharks! The look-out from the platform was a most exciting affair. The booming of heavy guns might be heard at a distance. A captured prize might often be seen entering the harbour. Men-of-war, from the ten-gun brig to the three. decker were constantly arriving; and departing transports crowded with troops were waiting for a convoy. Prisoners from the scene of carnage were being landed. Wounded men, past recovery, were sighing to return once again to the soil of their ancestors. As the melancholy Prince of Denmark says, "Look on this picture, and on this," and contrast the platform with what it was and now is. At the present time some half-boosy sailor, who has probably never been in deep water, asks "his honour" to take a look through his glass, which naturally reminds him of another glass, and in the tone of a Victoria Theatre Jack-tar adds, that he hopes "his honour" will allow him to "splice

the main brace." If the telescope is sufficiently clear to see through, a few steamers, freighted with London excursionists, some half-dozen yachts, with haunches of venison, legs of mutton, and grouse hanging to their sterns, an English barque or two, foreign merchantmen, the admiral's tender, governor's barge, and fishing-smacks are all that greet the eye; and if the stillness of a summer's day is broken, it is by an irregular fire of small cannons from the Club-house of the Royal Squadron at Cowes, the authorities of which scorning all modern innovations, prefer the primitive red-hot poker to the more improved detonating-lock of later days.

THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST-ANOTHER WORD FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

BY HAWTHORNE,

"D'ye like the mountains, where the red heather grows-
Where dwells the red grouse, the wild harts and roes;
Or the roar of the torrents that rush down their side?
Then on wi' the tartan, and off wi' me ride."

"The glorious twelfth" is past, and fully has it justified the anticipations we ventured to foretell in our "Prospects of the Season." For plenty of game it has realized all that could be wished by the most ardent votary of the trigger: yes, here they are in hundredsaye, thousands, all over the wild face of the Grampians. Still, notwithstanding their numbers, the grouse are not so very easily made food for powder this season, as they are strong on the wing, while the weather has been rather unsettled for these last few weeks; yet, despite these drawbacks, some capital sport has been obtained. The morning and forenoon of the 12th itself was stormy, and the birds very unsettled and wild. It continued very rough for the next three or four days, but since the 17th the weather-the greatest consideration to the grouse shooter-has been all that could be desired; and there is every appearance at present of its remaining favourable.

At Drumour Lodge, Strathbraan, the Earl of Panmure bagged 123 brace of grouse on the 12th, and since that period his lordship, Col. Dundas, Sir George Grey, and others, have had first-rate sport every day they have been out. On Saturday, the 21st, we hear Lord Panmure bagged 100 brace of birds.

The Earl of Mansfield and party of three guns shot at Logiealmond Lodge, on the first two opening days, and bagged 300 brace of grouse. His lordship and party are now at The Barracks, Rannoch, where they are having good sport, the grouse being very plentiful in that wild district.

The Duke of Atholl and friend killed, on the 12th, 82 brace of grouse, and could have doubled that number if they had been intent only on slaughter. His Grace has not done much as yet among