remembered with pleasure by all those who were present on the festive occasion. The 19th of February will in future be held as a memorable anniversary in Pedlingham, for on that day our fellow-townsman, Lieut. Sparrow, of the 101st, son of Claudius Sparrow, Esq, of Cokely Lodge (a gentleman with whom we occasionally differ in matters of local politics, but have always honoured and esteemed as a private citizen), returned from the seat of war in the East, and his name will henceforth be honourably associated with those stirring events which have lately occupied the attention of the country to the exclusion of all other topics. Lieutenant Sparrow's name is not confined to the narrow boundaries of our town or county; he has achieved for himself a reputation which stands on an English basis-we had almost said that his fame is European. It was whispered in the town that our hero would arrive by the 12.15 train from London; long before that hour the station was crowded by his expectant relatives and friends, and by all the inhabitants whose business avocations permitted them to take part in the general holiday. On the arrival of the train, Lieutenant Sparrow was greeted with vehement and long-continued cheering. The enthusiasm of the people could not be restrained: the horses were unha nessed, and the carriage drawn by the populace to Cokely Lodge. It seemed to be the general feeling that the sanctity of domestic relations should take precedence of the natural desire expressed by all personally to congratulate our gallant fellow-townsman, and his friends deferred their felicitations until the public meeting in the town-hall, which took place at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. A triumphal arch extended across the High-Street, bearing the inscription "Welcome to Lieutenant Sparrow." It is not necessary to particularize the various private measures taken to welcome our hero; we merely refer to them to show that the enthusiasm was universal, and participated in by all classes of the community.

"TOWN-HA L.—It is seldom, amidst the strife of parties and the turmoil of local politics, that men holding different opinions on national measures all unite in one common object, yet such was the case on Thursday last : all joined in the bonds of fellowship to grasp that strong right hand which had lately been raised against our country's enemies, and to do honour to one whose deeds must kindle enthusiasm in every breast. The hall was decorated with the flags of the allied countries, to whose time-honoured glories the actions with which Lieutenant Sparrow's name will henceforth be associated have added fresh lustre; the glorious names, “Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann," hung in graceful festoons of dahlias, surrounding the name of Sparrow, encircled with laurel wreaths; but the object that excited most attention was an elegant ivoryhilted sword, made by our respected fellow-townsman, Mr. Johnson, of 27, High Street. Lieutenant Sparrow bowed his thanks in return for the enthusiastic applause that greeted his entrance. Our town band, during the proceedings, played appropriate airs-" See the conquering hero comes," "Cheer, boys, cheer," &c. On the platform we noticed, amongst others. Sir Richard Sey bank, Piers Bateson, Esq.; Sir J. Sutler, M.P.; John Sparrow, Esq, of Leaftip Manor ;

Captain Guibernam, Alfred Joell, Esq., &c., &c. When the cheering that greeted Lieutenant Sparrow's entrance had somewhat subsided, Piers Bateson, Esq., rose and said :- Ladies and gentlemen,—It is unnecessary for me to draw your attention to the cause of our meeting. Your enthusiasm at the entry of our gallant fellowtownsman (loud cheers) proves to me that you all cordially join in doing honour to him, and in begging his acceptance of the sword I see before me, as a slight token of our approbation of the distinguished part he has taken in the Crimean campaign (vehement and long-continued cheering). It is my pleasing duty to point out to you some of the great events in whose glories and whose dangers he has so lately shared. The glorious names he bears upon his breast tell their own story of hardships suffered and of dangers braved (hear, hear). The mute eloquence of the Crimean medal he so proudly wears carries a deeper significance than mere words can do. Suffice it for me to say that he followed the colours of his regiment up the Alma's blood-stained heights (cheers); his foot was firmly planted on the enemy's soil at Inkermann, and neither the bayonetthrusts of invisible enemies nor the charge of advancing thousands could cause him to recede (sensation). That little scroll of silver contains a name of glory, and proclaims to the world that the bearer returned from the death-ride of Balaklava (loud cheers). But that unyielding spirit which quailed not before the enemy's batteries on the Alma's rocky heights, and braved the storm of bullets at Inkermann, gave way before the unceasing and harassing trench duty (sympathetic murmurs); and enfeebled by sickness, brought on as well by exposure to the blaze of the noonday sun as to the chill and deadly night air, his stalwart spirit at last succumbed, he returned unwillingly to England, and we welcome him as one who has not failed to do his duty valiantly and well (loud cheers). May I be allowed to express a hope that the comforts of home, combined with those bright and pleasing influences which are the soldier's best reward for hardships endured and dangers past, and his greatest incentive to future exertions, may restore him to that health he has forfeited in his country's cause (prolonged applause)? Lieutenant Sparrow, I present you with this sword of honour, in the name of the inhabitants of Pedlingham and its vicinity. May you long live to wear it! It bears the inscription, "Presented to Lieutenant Sparrow by the inhabitants of Pedlingham and its vicinity, as a mark of their high approbation of his distinguished conduct during the Crimean campaign" (protracted cheering, the whole assembly rising to take part inthe scene of enthusiasm).' It would be in vain to attempt a description of the excitement manifested when Lieutenant Sparrow rose to return thanks. He endeavoured to address the assembly; but it soon became evident that the change from the scenes in which he had been lately placed completely overcame his feelings; his sensitive mind gave way under the circumstances of the moment. The meeting soon after separated, first passing a vote of thanks to C. Lawson and T. Muresby, Esqrs., under whose able directions the proceedings were carried on. These gentlemen wore conspicuous favours of Crimean riband.

"We regret that we are compelled to conclude our account of this day's proceedings by drawing attention to the fact, that Lieutenant Sparrow's name does not appear amongst the list of appointments to the Companionship of the Bath in last Tuesday's Gazette. Routine must give way in this instance; the authorities will have to bow to the expressed wishes of the country. Such men as Lieutenant Sparrow cannot, on account of their subordinate rank, be debarred from receiving the C.B."

My readers can picture to themselves the class of heroes from whose letters, published in the Times of January, 1855, I make the following extracts:

In the Times of the 2nd, an officer writes, "Every one is grumbling and growling, being thoroughly disgusted with the whole affair. Everything is grossly mismanaged-the command of the army, the commissariat, the ordnance, and all none know where." A coloursergeant writes, "I am much obliged for various presents from the people of England; also a nightcap, but that will not be much used between the sheets, for such a thing I have not seen since I left Dublin, and Heaven knows when I shall again, but I hope some time." In the paper of the 3rd, an officer writes, "I got an alarm at seven this morning, and felt bitterly cold in the trenches with two flannel shirts on, then a waistcoat, then a pea-jacket, then a regimental greatcoat; but as the ground was hard, the moon bright, and the Russians not firing, I could keep in motion. I am of opinion that if there had been the usual mud, it would have been perishing work. I hope iron houses will be sent out, and am of opinion nobody will be able to survive it." Another officer writes, "I had to stop on the top of a bleak hill for two hours; the enemy advanced in column up the high road leading from Sebastopol to Balaklava. I think if the Russians advanced in columns they must have got their greens. My martial glory evaporated very fast by the time I was marched from the piquet. I want 70,000 men sent to Perecop. If it was not for the French, we should all be on our way to Moscow." Another officer writes, "The Emperor Nicholas is going to take us all away in a single line-of-battle-ship." Such sentences as, "if we keep the field during the winter few will live to tell the tale," frequently occur. A cavalry soldier writes, "The shot and shells were bursting beside him; a ball would burst under a horse, blow him to pieces, and never hurt the man. You would see men running back with arms off, and others bleeding from all parts of their bodies." An officer writes, "I think illness arises from 'catching your death of cold;' gravedigging is our men's principal occupation. The poor gunners have been terribly harassed. The blue-jackets look very miserable, and must wish themselves on board ship again." An officer thinks that if the hospital gangrene at Scutari increase to a grand epidemic amount, it will be food for columns of censure against the arrangements for the sick and wounded of the army. A visitor writes, "I find travelling in these parts disagreeable; for about five miles the path is across fields completely ploughed up with shot and shell from the enemy.

The heavy shot and shell flew over our heads almost like flocks of birds; the fields are completely black with the number of shot and shell from the enemy." An extract from a letter to a friend in Dublin states, "The English keep their guns loaded all day, and only fire them off at night, then reload them and remain quiet until next night. As a rule, the officers complain far more than the men. An officer told me he would be better off sweeping a crossing in London than commanding a regiment here. I saw a beautiful movement of the French cavalry; the Russians ran like hares before them. Two men were taken prisoners last night making a forbidden short cut rope nooses, as if all ready for hanging, were thrown round their necks." An officer writes, "A company on piquet were on a rainy night nearly drowned and swept into Sebastopol. I hear Lord Raglan says the army has endured unparalleled privations without a murmur; but it shows what he knows about it, for, from the highest to the lowest, all complain of this inaction and misery. I was deceived by accounts of winter quarters at Malta, and did not get any warm clothing. I wander through blood-red battle-fields, and feel intoxicated, but my heart afterwards sinks within me. I sat for ten days almost constantly on an old tea-chest, hourly receiving reports of deaths from the hospital, and chronicling them." A soldier, whose regiment was at Balaklava, writes, "I was on piquet last night, and had to sit till three A.M. up to the knees in mud; I was forced to sit, as the ground was so dirty I could not walk about." An officer writes, "All one's friends being sick is not at all pleasant. I do my best, and buy all the luxuries I can. I hope I shall not have to live on salt pork and biscuit for a fortnight again. Everybody is complaining and wishing himself out of it." An officer writes, "I was kept making a battery all day whilst 200 guns ranged over me; the wonder was that any of my party escaped. I think huts should be made for the piquets.' An officer writes, "It is impossible in the short space of a note to describe this place . . . . . There is nothing to eat, nothing to drink, no roads, no commissariat, no medicine, no clothes, no management; the only thing in abundance is cholera." A soldier writes, I up's with my musket and shot a Russian; my regiment then came to my assistance, and a little combat took place that lasted for a quarter of an hour."

66

P. D.

CONTRARIETIES IN THE NAVY ESTIMATES AND THE

NAVY LIST.

GREAT surprise will be engendered by the disclosure of the extraordinary variance which exists between the grants for half-pay in the Navy Estimates, and the anomalous state of the lists of naval officers, from flag-officers to lieutenants inclusive, as published in the Navy List for the present quarter. So great is the variance indeed that it will be imagined that the orders in council for the promotion and retirement of naval officers, "with a view to the general benefit of

the naval service, and, at the same time, the ultimate reduction of the present charge for half-pay," have been disregarded, or not duly considered when framing the estimates for the retirement or half-pay of the respective lists of naval officers.

It is evident there must be an urgent desire at the Admiralty to reduce the captains' active list down to 350, that a more liberal promotion may be made in favour of the commanders than at present exists, by the circumscribed promotion of one commander in three vacancies on the captains' active list. To accomplish this advantage to the service at large the legislature has contributed very liberally, but the reduction completed to 350 of active captains, the legislature will pause before it will continue its vote for the maintenance of the increased promotions of non-qualified captains to the reserved list of rear-admirals, on 25s. per diem half-pay, against the letter and spirit of the orders in council, which have "in view the ultimate reduction of the present charge for half-pay." The truth of this greatly increased promotion can be verified by stating, that to promote five captains to the active list of rear-admirals since the 1st of January last, it has been requisite to promote twelve captains to the reserved list of rear-admirals, who become an extra charge on the half-pay list, but to reduce which the orders in council were obtained by the Admiralty.

The present system of promotion of captains to the active and reserved lists of rear-admirals will ultimately entail on the exchequer an expense which was never contemplated in the plans of retirement of the 1st September, 1846, and 25th June, 1851. Besides which this extravagant promotion of captains to rear-admirals cannot realize the original intention of the Admiralty to infuse officers of younger age throughout the lists of vice-admirals and admirals. But, if it were intended that England's battles were to be henceforth fought by rear-admirals only between the ages of fifty and sixty years, then indeed this disguised system of brevet, though abolished by order in council, will work like clock-work, ticking the average age at fifty five of the successive captains for promotion to the active list of rearadmirals, and marking, for the information of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, twenty five shillings extra per diem for each captain added to the inordinate increase of reserved rear-admirals, whose list is the Maelstrom which engulfs the proportions of the annual vote intended for the gradual retirement of veteran commanders and lieutenants, as expressed by the order in council :

"While my lords have recommended the abandonment of the system of brevet promotion in future, they are nevertheless desirous of meeting the claims of old officers who have served long and well, and who seek their promotion rather as a reward for past services then in the expectation of further employment. To meet these claims equitably, and at the same time not to fill the active list with officers who cannot long continue fit for service, their lordships will promote by selection fifty commanders to the rank of captains. These officers will be placed on reserved half-pay.' "***

The essential points in this paragraph for the promotion and retire