From the bright spheres,-my love, less high pre- Britain. Madame Stockhausen, who accompanies Catalani, ha

LITERARY CRITICISM.

Memoirs of the Extraordinary Military Career of John
Shipp, late a Lieutenant in his Majesty's 87th Regi-
ment. Written by Himself. 3 vols. London. Hurst,
Chance, & Co.

In these smooth joint-stock-dairy-company times of peace, the memoirs of a military life come across us like the sound of a trumpet vibrating in the ears of the old war-horse, quietly enjoying the clover and other good things of the fat meadow, wherein he is destined to enjoy his otium cum dignitate for the rest of his life. Or, like Mrs Hemans' captive knight, who longed to hear again the notes of the clarion" the clarion wild and shrill," we sit down in the imprisonment of our closet, and muse upon the "pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war." It is true,

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PRICE 10d.

whelming is to be deprecated, there is a principle in human nature which attaches to their recital a more than ordinary interest, especially when they no longer impend immediately over our own heads.

In the work whose title we have copied above, we are presented with a sufficient number of "moving accidents by flood and field" to satisfy the most craving appetite. Mr John Shipp seems to be rather a remarkable character in his way. His personal and private history is soon told. He was born at a small market town in the county of Suffolk, in the year 1785, of poor but respectable parents. He was left an orphan in early life, and being perfectly destitute, entered the army as a drum-boy, at the age of nine. From this situation he was gradually promoted to the rank of sergeant, in which capacity he visited first the Cape of Good Hope, and afterwards proceeded with his regiment to India. There he distinguished himself as a brave and active soldier, and returned to England in the capacity of lieutenant, in 1807, after an absence of twelve years. Here he seems to have committed several imprudences, and got so completely over head and ears in debt, that he was obliged to sell his commission for what it would bring, and found himself under the necessity of beginning the world again. Again, therefore, he enlisted as a private, returned to India, and in a few years found himself again a lieutenant. He married, and was in a fair way to rise in his profession, when he got involved in a quarrel with his superior officer, arising out of some racing transactions, and having been tried by a courtmartial, for "unofficer-like and ungentleman-like conduct," he was sentenced to be dismissed the service, which sentence, in consideration of his previous good conduct, was afterwards remitted, and on condition of his returning home and quitting the 87th regiment, to which he belonged, he was put upon the half-pay list, Shortly before he left India, he lost his wife, to whom he seems to have been deeply attached; and as circumstances induced him to leave his two infant children behind him, he has returned to his native country at the age of forty-one, and after serving thirty-two years, a comparatively friendless and certainly an unfortunate man.

"All these are quiet now, or only heard Like mellow'd murmars of the distant sea ;" but this very circumstance tends, in one point of view, to give an additional interest to the associations with which they are connected. The harsher features of "grim-visaged war" are forgotten, and only its chivalry and romance remembered; our "bruised arms" are hung up for monuments; the echoes of the " alarums" are faintly heard amidst our merry meetings; nor do the "dreadful marches" interfere any longer with our "delightful measures." In so far, indeed, as the leal subjects of Great Britain and Ireland are concerned, the three last lustrums of the nineteenth century have been so dissimilar to the three first, that we hardly seem to live in the same world. The lute and the guitar are not more unlike the fife and the kettle-drum, than the soft habits of peace are to those of the tented field. The soldier ses human life through a different medium, as if he wore red spectacles, and had a sixth sense, whose perceptions were cognizant only of combustibles. To him nothing is more common than the "gatherings in hot haste," the eager and impassioned countenances of men, the pale and anxious faces of women, the sudden rolling of the drum, the gleam of arms and the waving of banners, the muttering of distant artillery and the clouds of smoke rising up in the clear sky; then "louder, nearer, deadlier than before ;" and then the tumult of the fight, the struggle, the wavering, the panic, the brave and the timid overwhelmed together, the riderless horse, the rush through the bewildered city, the furious speed of the pursuers, the deserted streets, the wives and the children away upon the hills, the young and the fair in trembling groups among the woods, the labour of the husbandman and the riches of the earth trampled down, the domestic circle scattered and broken, the sacred privacies of household love interrupted, the heart and its affections changed, life strange, and death familiar. All these things are perpetually colouring the soldier's exist- The scene is, of course, laid principally in India, and ence; and greatly as the presence of evils so over-presents a number of minute and interesting, thongb,

Whilst we think it pretty evident that Mr Shipp is of a somewhat reckless, wayward, and violent disposition, we cannot at the same time help feeling for his present condition; and the tone in which bis book is written tends to increase our sympathy, for it is neither peevish nor discontented, but frank and manly throughout. Its chief fault is, that it is a great deal too long. Mr Shipp is a brave me he is not one of those who can easily turn abilities; but he one of their swords into pruning-hooks, and make as good use of pens as of pikes. There is a great deal of matter that might quite as well have been left out, and had the whole been reduced to about one-half its present size, the work would have pleased us much more.

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in some instances, rather tedious and monotonous details of Indian warfare, interspersed with many personal anecdotes, and descriptions of scenery, manners, and customs, on the authenticity of which we are inclined to place full reliance, from the unaffected manner in which they are related. Without attempting any analysis of Mr Shipp's military career, we shall present our readers with one or two miscellaneous extracts, which may be read disjointedly, and will, at the same time, serve as a specimen of the author's style, and of the light and amusing matter of which the volumes are chiefly composed. We commence with an anecdote illustrative of the tricks which soldiers in England consider themselves entitled to play upon those landlords, upon whom they may chance to be billeted during a march, who treat them scurvily. The story shall be called

THE STOLEN GOOSE.

"This was the mildest description of punishment with which we visited landlords who incurred our displeasure; for, in addition to this, it did not require any very aggravated treatment to induce us to teach some of mine host's ducks and geese to march part of the way on the road with us: to wit, until we could get them dressed.

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you.' Thus saying, he left us, muttering, as he went along, Get a child flogged for a tarnation old goose?

poor goose, now in its last moments, uttered another groan, more loud and mournful than the former one. In fact the vital spark had just taken its flight, and this might be construed into the last dying speech of the ill-fated bird, and a full confession of its dreadful situation and murder. The drum in which the now defunct goose was confined stood close against the landlord's elbow, and his ear was, unfortunately for us, so correct in ascer taining whence the sound of woe proceeded, that he at once roared out, Dang my buttons, if my goose bean't in that there drum!' The-e words were daggers to our souls; we made sure of as many stripes on our backs as there were feathers on the goose's; and our merriment was suddenly changed into mortification and despair. The drum-head was ordered to be taken off; and sure enough there lay poor goosy, as dead as a herring. The moment the landlord perceived it, he protested that, as he was a sinner, that was his goose.' This assertion there was no one among us hardy enough to deny; and the colonel desired that the goose should be given up to the publican, assuring him, at the same time, that he should cause the offenders to be severely punished for the theft which had been committed. Fortunately for our poor backs, we now found a truly humane and kindhearted man in the landlord whom we had offended; "These birds would sometimes find their way into for no sooner did he find that affairs were taking a more drums. I was once myself a party concerned in a pil- serious turn than he had contemplated, and that it was fering of this kind; at least, indirectly so: for I was likely that he should be the cause of getting a child accessory to the act of stealing a fine goose-a witness of flogged, than he affected to doubt the identity of the its death (or rather what we supposed its death)—and an goose, and at length utterly disclaimed it, saying to the assistant in drumming it. Moreover, I do not doubt colonel, This is none of mine, sir; I see it has a black that I should have willingly lent a hand towards eat- spot on the back, whereas mine was pure white; being it also. The goose, however, was, in our opinion at sides, it has a black head: I wish you a good mornleast, very snugly secured, and we commenced our marching, sir, and am very sorry for the trouble I have given without the least fear of detection, chuckling in our sleeves how completely we had eluded the landlord's vigilance. The bird only wanted dressing to complete the joke; and discussion was running high among us as to how that could be accomplished, when, to our astonishment, who should pass us on horseback but the landlord himself? He rode very coolly by, and, as he took no sort of notice of us, we concluded that he might very probably have other business on the road, and, for a time, we thought nothing more of the matter; but what were our feelings when, on halting in the marketplace, we perceived this very landlord in earnest conversation with our colonel; and, to all appearance, laying down the law,' as it is called, in a most strenuous manner. At last the colonel and he moved towards us; on perceiving which, my knees broke into double-quick time, and my heart into a full gallop. On arriving near to the spot where our guilty party was drawn up, the colonel, addressing us, stated, that the gentleman who stood by his side, complained that he had lost one of his geese, and had informed him he had good reason to suspect that some of the party to whom he now spoke had stolen it. For the satisfaction of the gentleman (whom we, one and all, wished heartily under ground), our knapsacks were ordered to be examined, and underwent the most scrupulous inspection; but no goose was to be found. Professing his regret for the trouble he had caused, and apparently satisfied that his suspicions were ill-founded, our worthy landlord was just on the point of leaving us, and the boys around were grinning with delight at the notion of having so effectually deceived him, when, to our utter confusion and dismay, the goose, at this very juncture, gave a deep groan, and the landlord protested roundly that that there sound was from his goose.' Upon this, investigation was renewed with redoubled ardour; our great-coats were turned inside out, and, in short, almost every thing belonging to us was examined with the minutest attention; but still no goose was to be found. The officers could not refrain from smiling, and the boys began again to grin at the fun; but this merriment was doomed to be but of short duration, for the

no, no!' Every step he took carried a ton weight off our hearts. Notwithstanding this generous conduct in the publican, who was also, by his own acknowledgement, a sinner, our colonel saw very clearly how matters stood; but in consideration of our youth, and that this was our first offence, (at least that had been discovered,) he contented himself with severely admonishing us; and the business ended shortly after with the demolition of the goose-roasted."-Vol. I. p. 44-9.

At the Cape, our hero, besides many other adventures, had several rencontres with baboons, which are worth letting him tell in his own words:

AFRICAN BABOONS.

"On these hills whole regiments of baboons assemble, for which this station is particularly famous. They stand six feet high, and in features and manners ap proach nearer to the human species than any other quadruped I have ever seen. These rascals, who are most abominable thieves, used to annoy us exceedingly. Our barracks were under the hills, and when we went to pa rade, we were invariably obliged to leave armed men for the protection of our property; and, even in spite of this, they have frequently stolen our blankets and greatcoats, or any thing else they could lay their claws on. A poor woman, a soldier's wife, had washed her blanket and hung it out to dry, when some of these miscreants, who were ever on the watch, stole it, and ran off with it into the hills, which are high and woody. This drew upon them the indignation of the regiment, and we formed a strong party, armed with sticks and stones, to attack them, with the view of recovering the property, and inflicting such chastisement as miglit be a warning to them for the future. I was on the advance, with about twenty men, and I made a detour to cut them off from caverns to which they always flew for shelter. They observed my movement, and immediately detached about fifty to guard the entrance, while the others

"Well, sergeant, but I am very seriously hurt.' "Nay, nay, I hope not, sir; but you must be more cautious for the future.'

"The pupil mounts again, and the order is again given to march, and off goes the horse a second time, the sergeant roaring out, at intervals,- Well done, sir! Head a little higher-toes in, sir-heels outbend the small of the back a little more-that will do, sir-you look as majestic as the Black Prince in the Tower, or King Charles's statue at Charing-Cross. Bravo, sir,-rode capitally! We will now try a little trot. Recollect, sir, to keep your nag well in hand,— trot.

kept their post; and we could distinctly see them col- you will have many ups and downs. Come, sir, jump lecting large stones, and other missiles. One old grey-up, and don't be downhearted because you are floored." headed one, in particular, who often paid us a visit at the barracks, and was known by the name of Father Marphy, was seen distributing his orders, and planning the attack, with the judgment of one of our best generals. Finding that my design was defeated, I joined the corps de main, and rushed on to the attack, when a scream from Father Murphy was a signal for a general encounter, and the host of baboons under his command rolled down enormous stones upon us, so that we were obliged to give up the contest, or some of us must inevitably have been killed. They actually followed us to our very doors, shouting, in indication of victory; and, during the whole night, we heard dreadful yells and screaming; so much so, that we expected a night attack. In the morning, however, we found that all this rioting had been created by disputes about the division of the blanket; for we saw eight or ten of them with pieces of it on their backs, as old women wear their claaks. Amongst the number strutted Father Murphy. These rascals annoyed us day and night, and we dared not venture out, unless a party of five or six went together.

"One morning Father Murphy had the consummate impudence to walk straight into the grenadier barracks; and he was in the very act of purloining a sergeant's regimental coat, when a corporal's guard (which had just been relieved,) took the liberty of stopping the gentleman at the door, and secured him. He was a most powerful brute, and, I am persuaded, too much for any single man. Notwithstanding his frequent misdemeanours, we did not like to kill the poor creature; so, having first taken the precaution of muzzling him, we determined on shaving his head and face, and then turning him loose. To this ceremony, strange to say, he submitted very quietly; and, when shaved, he was really an exceedingly good-looking fellow, and I have seen many a 'blood' in Bond Street not half so prepossess ing in his appearance. We then started him up the hill, though he seemed rather reluctant to leave us. Some of bis companions came down to meet him; but, from the alteration which shaving his head and face had made in tim, they did not know him again, and, accordingly, pelted him with stones, and beat him with sticks, in so unmerciful a manner, that poor Father Murphy actually Bought protection from his enemies, and he in time became quite domesticated and tame. There are many Dow alive, in his Majesty's 22d regiment of foot, who can vouch for the truth of this anecdote."-P. 80—3.

We can afford additional space only for the following bamorous account of the manner in which the young soldier is initiated into the mysteries of horsemanship:

AN HOUR IN THE RIDING SCHOOL.

"The first morning after a young officer joins his egiment, he finds himself exalted on a spirited steed, Bore sixteen hands high, from whose back he dares not cas: the eye downward, to take even a glimpse of the mense space between him and the earth. His chin is elevated by a leather stock, that he can just see the bead and ears of the animal on which he sits; his heels are screwed out by the iron fist of the rough-rider, and small of his back is well bent in. Having been ocked and hammered into this posture, the word arch' is given. This command the well-drilled anial obeys immediately, and the machine is suddenly tin motion, the result of which usually is, that the ng gentleman speedily finds his way to the ground, th a loss of half a yard of his skin from his shin, or With his nose grubbing in the earth.

"Well done, sir; Astley himself could not have done ter. Mount again, sir; these things will happen in the t-regulated riding academies; and in the army, sir,

"Well done indeed, sir-knees a little lower down, if you please that's higher, sir-no, no, sir, that's higher, I say-you look for all the world like a tailor on his shop-board! What are your elbows doing up there, sir? Elbows close to your body-you pay no attention to what I say, sir-faster, faster."

"Oh dear! oh dear! oh dear! sergeant, halt, for God's sake! I shall be off! I shall be off! oh dear, oh dear!'

"Bravo, sir, that's better-faster.'
"Sergeant! I am sick, sergeant !'

"Never mind such trifles, sir; riding is an excellent remedy for all kinds of sickness. Now, recollect, in changing from one to two, you round the horse's croup well, by applying your right leg to his flank, and take care he does not kick you off.-Change from one to two.

"Halt, sir; halt! that won't do; what the devil are you about? That's the wrong way; I told you from one to two; turn your horse about from one to two.' "I can only just see the top of the riding-schoolI can see no figures at all, sergeant.'

"Well, sir, we'll dispense with this for the present; but soldiers should learn to turn their eyes every where. Suppose we have another march, sir,-March trot-faster-faster; very well indeed! Now, sir, you must recollect, when I say the word halt, that you pull your horse smartly up, by throwing your body well back, and pressing the calves (if any) of your legs to his side. If you don't keep your body upright, the horse's head will soon put it in its proper place. Faster-a little faster-halt. There, sir, I told you what would be the consequence of your not keeping your head properly up!'

"Stop, stop; my nose bleeds, my nose bleeds!' "Rough-rider, get a bucket of water for the gem. man. You had better dismount, sir.'

"Dismount, sergeant? How am I to get off this great beast?'

"Why, jump, sir, to be sure,-jump off. Come, sir, we cannot wait all day; you delay the whole drill. Come, come, sir, dismount.'

"Put your hand on the horse's rump, and lay fast hold of his mane,' cries a young officer who had just surmounted the same difficulties, and you will soon be off. The tyro in riding follows this friendly advice, and finds himself neatly floored by a tremendous plunge of the horse,-thus finishing his first day's drill."Vol. II. p. 3-7.

Two of the best chapters in the book are devoted to the exposure of the bad effects of corporal punishment in the army. We recommend them to the especial attention of military readers. The observations they contain are at once simple and forcible, and are founded, not only on an honest desire to save brave men from treatment so ignominious and degrading, but on a longcontinued observation of its pernicious and dangerous effects, which are illustrated by many anecdotes of a striking and painful kind.