the present day, the necessity for truthfulness in the picture, will, I trust, plead in extenuation for the breadth of outline in which I may have occasionally indulged.

It is but a just tribute, however, to the improving condition of the army, to inform the reader, that the scenes here depicted, refer to other days, when tyranny, peculation, and license of every kind, were carried to an extent that now would scarcely be credited, much less tolerated; for great and important changes and ameliorations have— chiefly through the agency of the press and owing to the force of public opinion-since then, taken place, whilst yet greater changes and ameliorations are, it is hoped, in actual contemplation by the "powers that be;" for the disasters of the late war have made it too evident that still further changes are absolutely required, to ensure the efficiency of several branches of an army, the mass of which, though composed of such undeniably sterling materials, has, at such a fearful cost, experienced the want of either a capable General or a competent Staff; but which, without either science or generalship, has nevertheless astonished the world as much by its discipline and patient endurance of suffering, as by its heroic deeds of arms.

For, when, have such great, soldier-like qualities

-during either ancient or modern times-been ever more strongly displayed than amidst that "horrible and heartrending" winter, on the plateau of Sebastopol-than in the stern death-struggle of Inkermann, -so appropriately called the SOLDIERS' FIGHT?

Long, however, ere the occurrence of those events, incident on the war in which we have so lately been engaged, had proved the utter inefficiency of our whole military system, whose foundations had further been sapped by the supine inactivity of a lengthened term of peace-before those stirring, disastrous, though glorious events, which since the spring of 1854 have stamped an indelible impress on our military standards in the East; before this memorable period of glory-not wholly unalloyed-of achievements which from the unprecedented heroism, patience, and endurance under suffering, have elicited in favour of the British soldier the surprise and unqualified admiration of the world,—of heroic deeds performed in spite of maladministration, blunders, incapacity, want of knowledge, and want of foresight, which have equally elicited the surprise and contempt of enemies no less than of friends;-long ere the defects of this system had thus become patent by undeniable and incontrovertible facts, military men, whose powers of observation enabled them to peer

into futurity through the mist of established "regulations and routine," foreseeing the eventual necessity of a change, already suggested many of those indispensable innovations which are now daily taking place.

66

These reforms were however chiefly due to the agencies before adverted to, carried out by successive Secretaries at War; and it were to be wished that amidst the benefactors of their profession, could be included many of those General Officers whose names cumber the pages of our " Army List," and who alas! instead of aiding the career of improvement, have too often done all in their power to impede or retard its progress,-though it must be admitted, there are a few bright and honourable exceptions, to what might otherwise have been considered almost a "general" rule.

Sir Charles Napier was probably the first military man to whom credit is due for suggestions of reform in our army. Before he had established for himself a fame unsurpassed in our historical annals—at a time when, merely a Colonel on half-pay, and whilst under the cloud of official displeasure—at a time when military men were wont to express themselves much less freely on professional topics than at the present day—then, from his retirement, did Colonel Charles James

Napier wield his caustic pen; then, did he strike by his "Remarks on Military Law" the first great blow at official mismanagement and routine, by the expression of sentiments which subsequently—as "Conqueror of Scinde"-he was able to carry into effect; for it is the proud boast of every one bearing his honoured name, that Sir Charles Napier was— amongst many other ameliorations introduced into the army under his command-the first in lending the British soldier a helping hand to drag him out of the "cold shade"-the first Commander of a British Army who ever noticed the names of Private British Soldiers in the columns of a public despatch and eternal is the gratitude he has thereby earned from that noble race of men!

Foremost amid such benefactors of the army, during that period, which may comparatively speaking be termed the "dark military age," ranks His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who has since, so nobly proved himself not only a real soldier, but the "soldier's real friend."

The late Lord Frederic Fitzclarence likewise contributed his part at attempted improvements in those days; whilst Sir Howard Douglas did his best to shed the light of science on that profession which he adorned.

Major-General Sir Arthur Torrens (the la

mented friend and comrade of my early years, when Cadets together at the Royal Military College) an officer of high scientific acquirements, did much whilst commanding that noble corps, the 23d Welsh Fusiliers, towards the instruction and improvement of both the officers and soldiers under his command; and a few other military names might perhaps be adduced, who lent their strenuous endeavours towards the then apparently unattainable object in view.

Though no longer numbered amongst our military men, the Duke of Richmond will ever be gratefully remembered by the time-worn veterans of the Peninsula, for those generous and unwearied exertions which placed on their breasts, that decoration, earned by the blood and toil of earlier years.

Lastly-though not least-of those who are appropriately recorded as the benefactors of the British soldier, may be mentioned Colonel Alexander Murray Tulloch, to whom these volumes are inscribed,that man so justly designated of late as "rich in public opinion," and whose able discrimination, was the means of securing justice to our soldiers in India, from the grasping potentates of Leadenhall; who originated that admirable mode of embodying and paying the pensioners, which has now for several years been tested with such good effect; in whom originated the present rotation system of service in