traordinary attacks. They usually went out in parties, as if they were going out to hunt a wild beast, and no huntsman ever followed the chase with more delight. The French might fairly exclaim with the frogs in the fable-Ah! Monsieur Bull, what is sport to you, is death to us.' "Regularly every day after their mess, (for they messed generally on a green in the village of East Zuburg) they would start off to their 'hunt,' as they called it, in parties headed by a petty officer. Then they would leap the dykes, which their poles enabled them to do, and dash through those which they could not otherwise cross; they were like a set of Newfoundland dogs in the marshes, and when they spied a few riflemen of the French, they ran at them helter-skelter: then pistol, cutlass, and pike, went to work in downright earnest. The French soldiers did not at all relish the tars-and no wonder; for the very appearance of them was terrific, and quite out of the usual order of things. Each man seemed a sort of Paul Jones-tarred, belted, and cutlassed as they were. Had we had occasion to storm Flushing, I have no doubt that they would have carried the breach themselves. The scenes which their eccentricities every hour presented, were worthy of the pencil of Hogarth. Among the most humorous of these, were their drills, musters, and marchings, or as they generally called such proceedings, 'playing at soldiers.' All that their | officers did, had no effect in keeping either silence or regularity; those officers, however, were part and parcel of the same material as the Jacks themselves, and as able to go through the pipeclay regularity of rank and file, as to deliver a sermon on the immortality of the soul. But the fact is, they were not either expected or intended to be regular troops, and their drills were merely adopted to teach them to keep together in line when marching from one place to another; so that they might not go about the country after the manner of a troop of donkeys. These marches and drills afforded the highest degree of amusement, both to soldiers and officers; the disproportion in the sizes of the men -the front rank man, perhaps four feet one, while the rear rank man was six feet two; the giving of the word from the 'middy,' always accompanied by a 'G- d-n;' the jibes and jeers of the men themselves. Heads up, you beggar of a corporal there,' a little slanggoing Jack would cry out from the rear rank, well knowing that his size secured him from the observation of the officer. Then perhaps the man immediately before him, to show his sense of decorum, would turn round and remark: 'I say, who made you a fugle man, master Billy? can't ye behave like a sodger afore the commander, eh?' Then from another part of the squad, a stentorian roar would arise, with I'll not stand it, if I do, bl-t me; here's this here d-d Murphy stickin' a sword into my starn.' Then perhaps the middy would give the word right face,' in order to prepare for marching; but some turned right and some left, while others turned right round and were faced by their opposite rank man. This confusion in a few minutes, however, would be rectified, and the word, march,' given; off they went, some whistling a quick step, and others imitating the sound of a drum with his voice, and keeping time with the whistler, 'row dididow, dididow, row dow, dow' every antic trick began immediately, particularly treading on each other's heels. I once saw a fellow suddenly jump out of the line of march, crying out, I'll be d-d if Riley has'nt spikes in his toes, an' I wont march afore him any longer,' and then coolly fell in at the_rear. Keep the step,' then was bandied about, with a thousand similar expressions, slapping each others hats down upon their eyes, elbowing, jostling, and joking,-away they went to beat the bushes for Frenchmen; and even when under the fire of both the hidden riflemen and the rampart guns, their jollity was unabated. One of these odd fellows was hit in the leg by a rifle-ball, which broke the bones, and he fell: it was in a hot pursuit which he and a few others were engaged in, after a couple of riflemen who had ventured a little too far from their position, when, seeing that he could follow no farther, he took off his tarry hat, and flung it with all his might after them: there, you beggars, I wish it was a long eighteen for your sakes." This poor fellow was carried off by his comrades, and taken to the hospital, where he died." 6 In another part is the account of a most dreadful catastrophe which befel a portion of these brave fellows during the cannonading. It is thus described :— "By the 11th, the heavy cannon had all been brought up to the lines, principally dragged by sailors, and on the 13th, (Sunday) at one o'clock, all our batteries were ready to open. Every gun was manned, and the matches lighted, while a death-like silence pervaded the air, not a breath stirred, and the sun was broadly shining, when the signal was given, and a hundred metal mouths opened upon the devoted town. The peal was like a thousand thunder-claps: it shook every thing around, and gave to every heart an ecstacy of courage. At the moment the men felt that they could have conquered thrice their numbers; their countenance brightened, and every peel seemed to impart an electric delight to their bosoms. The cannonade continued without an instant's intermission, until ten o'clock in the evening, when it ceased; but the mortars continued to throw shells during the whole of the night. Immediately after the cannonade ceased, the Congreve rockets were despatched upon their destructive missions. It was the first time they had been used in hostility; and indeed the manner in which they were managed, amply proved that practice was much wanted in order to render these destructive engines effective. Not more than one in six fell within the walls of the town, and a much less proportion went far enough to do injury. They usually dropped short in the ditches, and for the first hour we had no hope that the evil could be remedied; however, an improvement in their discharges might have been gradually observed. A more awfully grand effect cannot be imagined than these rockets produced. They and the mortars continued to play all night without intermission, and the garrison bravely returned the fire as well as they could; but the guns on the ramparts at many points were gradually silenced, and on the whole, the enemy was evidently getting the worst of the affair. Next morning, Monday, the 14th, the fleet bore up, and attacked the town, the walls of which were washed by the sea; they were mostly line-of-battle ships, and commanded by Sir Richard Strachan. It was about ten o'clock in the morning when they passed. They were full in our sight, and a grander effect could scarcely be imagined than the sight of their operations-sailing with a light breeze slowly up the broad Scheldt, and nearing the town, these immense moving batteries, as they passed, poured in tremendous broadsides, which were returned from the town. At each discharge from the ships, the bricks, tiles, &c. were seen flying into the air, whereas little or no effect was made on the ships by the guns from the town. One after the other following the same track, and doing similar execution, each grand and beautiful vessel passed by, until the St. Domingo grounded close to the town. In consequence of this she was terribly peppered for half an hour-after that time the tide rose sufficiently to float her off; but she, sooner than remain idle, amused herself with repeated broadsides; so that, considering the immense damage done to the town, I am of opinion that the enemy would have much rather that the accident had not happened. "This attack from the sea did an immensity of damage to the enemy, and contributed mainly to our conquest; indeed, they were so completely reduced, by this time, to all appearance, (having but a few guns capable of service) that a flag of truce was despatched to them, in the full expectation that they would capitulate, and thus save farther injury to the unoffending inhabitants of the town. During the negotiation, which lasted about two hours, our ears were relieved from the monotonous thunder of the field, and we hoped no more blood would be shed in taking the place. But in these hopes we were disappointed, for the commandant, General Monet, was determined to hold out to the last. In consequence of this, the whole of the batteries were opened again upon the devoted town, at about sunset, and with redoubled energy, for our men felt provoked at the enemy's obstinacy, and laid their hands to the work with renewed spirit and determination. The sailors' battery, containing six 24 pounders, almost split our ears. These enthusiastic demi-devils fired not as the other batteries did, but like broadsides from a ship— each discharge was eminently distinguished by its terrific noise, for the guns were all fired at once, and absolutely shook the earth at every round. So vehement | all astonished at Jack's not being called were these seamen in their exertions, that they blew themselves up at last! This was done by a little squat fellow, who served the guns with ammunition: he placed a cartridge against a lighted match in his hurry; this exploding, communicated with a large quantity of powder, and the natural catastrophe followed. About twenty of the brave fellows, among | whom was a young midshipman, were severely burnt and bruised; out of which number, were I to judge from their appearance as they were carried past us, I should suppose not more than half a dozen recovered. They were all jet black, their faces one shapeless mass, and their clothes and hair burnt to a cinder. In the midst of their suffering the only thing that seemed to ease them, was swearing at the little sailor, who was the author of their misfortune; while he, poor creature, in addition to his wounds and burns, patiently suffered the whole torrent of his comrades' abuse." THE JEW OUTWITTED. A hardy tar, who had been paid off from one of his Majesty's ships at Portsmouth, feeling a great desire to visit London, and being fearful if he took the whole of his cash with him he might chance to lose it, and not be able to return, hit upon the following expedient for its safety. At each house of entertainment he stopped at on the road, he entered into a contract with its landlord to pay him a sum of money sufficient to cover any expence he might incur on his return and, that he might know him again, he was, by way of signal, to hoist his hat upon his cudgel and twirl it round. Quite elated with his plan, Jack made sail, and after a successful voyage, arrived in town, where he soon launched into all the gaieties and amusements the place afforded, until his cash began to run low; and thinking, if he stopped longer, he should not have sufficient left to pay any trifling expences he might incur on his passage home, resolved to weigh anchor and return. Having arrived as far as Godalming, he brought to at one of his houses, and called for refreshments, which were immediately brought him free of expence, by his giving the signal agreed on. Among the company present, who were on for the reckoning, was a Jew, who alone had observed the twirl of the hat, which seemed to satisfy the landlord, and taking no notice of the circumstance, told Jack that as he was also going to Portsmouth he should be glad to accompany him thither, to which our hero readily assented, and they proceeded onward. Arriving at the next house of call, Jack again produced his talismanic cudgel to the fresh surprise of the Jew, who now really thought there must be some invaluable virtues in the stick, and he became determined, at whatever price Jack might ask, to possess himself of it; but thinking if he appeared too eager in the purchase, he might put an advance upon it, or, perhaps, not part with it at all, he took no further notice of it then. They pursued their journey, and at every house of refreshment, the bill was discharged by the twirl of the hat. At length the impatience of the Jew overcame his silence, and he determined on broaching the subject. He accordingly asked Jack the reason he never paid any reckoning at the different houses, but always twirled his hat upon his stick. A lucky thought now struck our tar, and he determined, if possible, to bring the adventure to some humourous conclusion; and, after great apparent unwillingness, he told the Jew that there were such surprising virtues in that stick, that he would almost sooner part with his life than with it. The Jew, wishing to know how he became possessed of such a prize, eagerly inquired where and how he got it. Jack told him he cut it from a tree growing on a floating island, which they discovered while the ship was eruizing round Cape Horn, and that he was compelled to swim twenty-four hours before he could catch it; and that the stick possessed such singular charms, that if he only twirled his hat upon it he could get provisions in any part of the world, free of expence-but not money; and, as he would rather be without life than without money, he should have no objection to sell it, if he knew any one that would give a good price for it. The Jew took the bait, and asked him what he would be inclined to take for it. "Why, as for that," replied Jack, "I think £100 would be a fair price, but I should feel inclined to take less from you, seeing we have been tra velling together." The demand startled the Jew; he bid £30, and after some time spent in bargaining, the price eventually fixed on was £50; but to raise this sum he was obliged to sell part of his jewels at a lower rate than he would otherwise have done, being afraid the stick might soon get another owner, as they had now arrived at Portsmouth; he, therefore, paid the money and they parted, both well pleased with their bargain. Jack, quite elated with this adventure, invited some of his shipmates to partake of a supper, at which he related, to their no small amusement, the manner in which he had deceived the Jew, and what a sum he had made by it, more than he would have gained by a six months cruize. was immediately acceded to by the Jew, who was glad of the opportunity of getting back what he could. He accordingly paid all expences, amounting to £15, and quietly pocketed the balance, feeling happy he had escaped as he had; but swore that he would, in the end, make sailors pay for what he had lost, in remembrance of Jack. DISASTERS OF THE FRENCH ARMY DURING The Jew, wishing to make a grand display of the virtues of his stick, gave a supper on the following evening, at which some of those who had supped with our hero the night before formed part of the company. The grog and punch circulated freely, and the joke went round, till the potency of the liquor began to shew itself, by some of the party capsizing out of their berths. The Jew now thinking to surprise those that remained sensible, ordered the landlord to bring up his bill upon his presenting it, round went the hat upon the stick, to the no small amusement of the company, and the surprise of the landlord, who could not make out the Jew's meaning, but hoped that he had found every thing to his liking, and mildly demanded the payment, on which the Jew began to twirl the hat in the contrary direction, thinking that the first way might have been wrong. The landlord, not being of a Job-like temper, loudly insisted on the payment instantly, and swore he would have him and the whole company taken up as swindlers. The uproar had now in-into effective co-operation, and all the creased to such a height that it became necessary to unravel the mystery, which was done by one of Jack's shipmates, to the great chagrin of the Jew, who certainly would have seized a knife that lay near him, and plunged it in his breast, had he not been prevented. At this moment Jack made his appearance, and promised that if the Jew would agree to pay the expences of both entertainments, he would return him the balance. This resources of Poland would have been brought into action for the ensuing campaign. During the retreat, a ducat, then worth one pound sterling, was, with thanks, the price of a single horse shoe, even in the Russian army. But the Russian horses, in their own country, are always rough shod, that they may be prepared for the frost. "In the hospital of Wilna, there were left above seventeen thousand dead and have been so perfectly compatible with the rest of the contrivance, that we wonder it was not resorted to. Should actions like these receive the sanction of governments, the science of war, and the laws of nations, will degenerate into the barbarity of the Algerines: and murder and pillage will take the place of kindness and humanity to our enemies. Every honourable mind in America will blush for his country, when he reads this account, and detest the authors of such diabolical treachery. NOBLE RESOLUTION. dying, frozen and freezing; the bodies of the former, broken up, served to stop the cavities in windows, floors, and walls; but in one of the corridors of the Great Convent, above one thousand five hundred bodies were piled up transversely, like pigs of lead or iron. When these were finally removed, on sledges, to be burned, the most extraordinary figures were presented by the variety of their attitudes, for none seemed to have been frozen in a composed state; each was fixed in the last action of his life, in the last direction given to his limbs, even the eyes retaining the last expression, either of anger, pain, or entreaty. In the roads, men were collected round the During the last disgraceful mutiny in burning ruins of the cottages, which a the navy, Admiral, then Captain Douglas, mad spirit of destruction had fired, pick-commanded the Stately, 64 guns, at St. ing and eating the burnt bodies of fellow men, while thousands of horses were moaning in agony, with their flesh mangled and hacked to satisfy the cravings of a hunger that knew no pity. In many of the sheds, men, scarcely alive, had heaped on their frozen bodies human carcasses, which, festering by the communication of animal heat, had mingled the dying and the dead in one mass of putrefaction!!!" AMERICAN TREACHERY. Captain Sir Thomas Hardy, of the Ramillies, was off New London, in June, 1813, when his boats captured a schooner, making for that harbour: the crew had left her. The vessel was brought close to the Ramillies: Sir Thomas Hardy orordered her to be placed alongside of another prize. Lieutenant Geddes, and thirteen men, were in the execution of this order, when, about half-past two, the vessel blew up, and the lieutenant, with ten of his men, perished; three men only escaped, but were dreadfully scorched. Such was the effect of a wicked and cruel artifice, planned by American merchants of New York, and sanctioned, we fear, by the government. It had been reported, that the Ramillies was short of provisions; they had therefore placed some articles of this description in the hatchway, in hopes the vessel might have been taken alongside. In the hold were stowed several barrels of gun-powder; trains were laid to explode at a given time, by means of clock work. A quan tity of arsenic among the food would| Helena, and was dining with Governor Brook, when his first officer came and told him that a ship had arrived from England, and told the Stately of the mutiny, and that his men had come and demanded the command of the ship, and were then in mutiny. He said coolly to the governor-"I will go immediately on board, and if, in fifteen minutes after I am in the ship, they do not return to their duty, you will fire on her, for better that I go down with the ship, than they command her." This spirited determination he made known to the men, and added, if the ringleaders were not given up unconditionally, they knew what they were to expect. The fifteen minutes expired, and the fort began to fire; and thus ended the mutiny in those seas by The the intrepid conduct of one man. ringleaders were given up, and two or three of them hanged. INTREPIDITY. At the defence of the Castle of Trini dad, when the Spanish flag, hoisted on the wall, fell into the ditch, Lord Cochrane, under a most dreadful fire from the enemy, was the only person, who, regardless of the shower of balls flying about him, descended into the ditch, returned with the flag, and succeeded in placing it where it was before. London:-Printed by JOSEPH LAST, 3, Edwardstreet, Hampstead-road; and published by W. M. CLARK, 19, Warwick-lane, Paternosterrow; J. PATTIE, 17, High-street, Bloomsbury, and may be had, by order, of all Booksellers, in town and country. |