his pedagogues, and one too common. It is an error that very generally obtains in our scholastic establishments; and when the training of the schoolmaster is considered, a not improbable one. They are, for the most part, individuals whose lives have been spent in learning words rather than the ways of men and a knowledge of things-who have been closeted up year after year, and whose acquirements are rather of what was writ by Grecian and Roman sages-to speak of Sparta and Athenian withow Tully spoke-where Cæsar fell. It is the doctrine of modern teachers that the great duty of their instruction consists in storing the young minds with the prolix rules of Greek and Latin, and with such their duties end; whilst the befitting them for the world and their communion with mankind are disregarded or forgotten.

I have said the young gentleman was introduced; ere long the conversation flowed freely between them. The ensign paid attention, as his new acquaintance was the friend of the colonel; and Alfred felt pleased he had found so agreeable a companion. On entering the dining-hall, Godfrey sat at the colonel's right hand, and Alfred by the side of the ensign.

In some of the crack regiments of the line the mode of life and style of living of the officers is almost princely, and at mess to see a set of fine men in their handsome uniforms is a sight imposing. The table crowded with all the luxuries that gastronomical ability can supply to gratify fastidious palates; the costliness, the elegance, the high-bred manners, the valuable plate, the rare delicacies, the recherché wines, possess imposing features in the mess-room of an English garrison not to be met with, on the same scale of extravagance and display, in any other country in Christendom. Those who enter our army are, with rare exceptions, of high connexions or in affluent circumstances. Humble appearance and thrifty economy cannot be practised, whilst fashion and gaiety, expensive amusements, and diversions that the wealthy alone can pursue, are zealously followed. Amongst the officers of the regiment now spoken of, those sports and pastimes which only the rich can indulge in were constantly sought after to relieve the tedium of military life. It is true, much depended on personal inclination, and certain extravagancies and expensive follies could be avoided without the sacrifice of station; yet it too often happened that those on entering, who then had little or no inclination to join in such, were, in the process of time, won over by their associates, and at length were as partial to the acquired vices as those who had seduced them to be entangled in the meshes of ruinous practices. The bottle and the gaming-table became alluring, and ere long held their victims by breakless chains. Strange it is, but habit can change our moral as our physical natures, and thus it is that we meet amongst mankind with examples where the original being has become so mutated as to render identity difficult and doubtful.

I have said the mess-table is a taking scene. That indeed was over which Colonel Sommerton presided. On the evening of the Spensers' visit, the gentlemen who sat around were a fine sample of warlike fellows! Some there were in the opening bloom of youth, whose smooth cheeks, calm brows, and merry eyes, told but of hopes that were cheering, of happiness sanguinely anticipated. They were joyous in the glowing expectations of future honours, and panted for opportunities to climb the rugged mount of fame. They had not seen service, in the real accepta

tion of the term; had not suffered from the rigorous cold of northern regions, nor wasted under the sickly and enervating influence of a torrid zone. Their young minds might exult in the bauble trappings of professional livery, and with new scenes and new life awhile be fascinated. They might dream of patriotism, of prowess, of crimson fields and dread encounters, but such with them were yet to come, and well, indeed, would it be if the career on which they were now entering proved felicitous as the pictures they had portrayed-well verily would it be if the looked-for sunshine was not obscured by darkling shadows. Others were there exulting in the strength and pride of manhood's matured perfection, some of whom, from their bronze-hued features, had evidently been the long dwellers in foreign lands-perchance where Eastern suns scorch the arid Indian plain, or in the tropic climes of the Western World. Yes; these dark complexions had been tinged by years of absence far-far from the shores of their native soil, in countries distant and remote, whither the high spirit of daring enterprise and the iron will of British bravery had carried the British soldier and asserted the supremacy of British arms! There, too, sat some veteran heroes-heroes in the fullest signification of the word. Time had silvered their locks, which once, like those of the younkers by their side, bore no traces of its blight. Colonel Sommerton was of the latter class, but, as previously stated, his frame so compactly knit together, and with such energy aud activity conjoined, he looked an individual on whom years would long fall powerless. Seated at the end of the board, he was the beauideal of the fine, jovial, good-tempered chairman, with face beaming with benignity, and which, after lighted up with the crimson draught, when it shook off the tinges of its sombre shades, indicated a generous and free-born soul, and he would then seem as light-hearted as many of those by whom he was surrounded. Some who had mistaken his occasional fits of melancholy had deemed his taciturnity intermitting periods of pride. Those who knew him best were aware that Sommerton's soul was too expanded to give place to those empty and foolish notions which the world calls pride. He had at all times a proper self-respect; knew precisely the bounds between friendly freedom and rude familiarity; and never forgot that he was a gentleman. He could not avoid those occasional attacks of despondency, and this his compeers well knew. They regarded the peculiarity as a bodily infirmity, and often, very goodnaturedly, sought some diversion, some stimulating change, to relieve the ennui under which he suffered; or they sent round the bottle with forced march; and often had he thus been persuaded to drink deep of the Lethean draught, and "lave all remembrance away."

The table boasted a splendid display of plate; substantial meats were flanked by the most delicate French dishes; rarities of every kind were there that could add to the choice repast; whilst the finely mellowed tones of the regimental band placed before the window conferred an air of regality, and contributed to the liveliness and enjoyment within. When the cloth was drawn, wines of celebrated vintages came on: delicious Sauturne, sparkling Moselle, Château-Margot, old Madeira, crusted port, cooling ices, foreign fruits, and all the et ceteras, succeeded a meal which would have well entertained a crowned head. Sommerton generally took a pretty liberal quantity of a remote vintage, but at the public

table his conduct was ever decorous and guarded. He was more than commonly impressed with the responsibility of his position, and would on no account place an ill example before the eyes of his young officers. Captain Spenser, in accordance with his moderate habits, drank little. In other parts of the table glasses were drained and replenished with celerity, and in no great length of time they became noisy and loquacious. The worthy chaplain considered it one of his orthodox customs to daily engulf the major part of a bottle of port, but whether he did it for his infirmities' sake, it is not meet to say, yet one thing may safely be averred, he drank the generous juice with seeming gusto. It was unanimously conceded, without the sign or semblance of opposition, that the parson's judgment on wines was unequalled, and report whispered his opinions were equally to be trusted in deciding on the virtues of the strong waters that made their appearance at a more advanced hour in the evening. He had not been the spiritual helper so many years of the regiment as to be unable to know something about the various qualities of those liquids which he had seen so freely poured as oblations to the tippling god. Twenty vintages he could rattle over, and give the particulars of each could talk ore rotundo about full-bodied, fruity-in-wood, out of wood, thick and thin, with other adjectives fraught with explanation end meaning. In all vinous disputes the chaplain was umpire, his dictum was final. There, too, was another gentleman who had cures to effect, but these were of the body. This was Surgeon M'Leech, and, like him who had the cure of souls, he never wished to think of his profession after he had once drawn his chair to the dinner-table. Not by any means that he was a man devoid of good feeling-far from it, as perhaps few had a kinder heart and possessed of more sterling worth; but this was one of his peculiarities, and who has not his peculiarities? It was, indeed, a thing that ran counter with his feelings to be drawn forth by any case, however urgent, after he had once sat down to dinner. M'Leech, at the time now spoken of, was on the shady side of forty. Though presenting some inclination to corpulency, there was a nimble sprightliness in his step, and a high flow of spirits, which made him forget he had turned the zenith. His sandy-coloured hair had become thinned by years, but those merry twinkling orbs, so full of fun and raillery, made one almost say, in the words of the poet, that

There was a laughing devil in his eye!

whilst the plump and rubicund features, the slightly up-turned angles of the mouth, the dimpled chin, bespoke a soul full of sunshine and summer! In one way or another he had mingled much with life, and was, in the conventional expression, a man of the world. Bred and brought up in Auld Reekie, a Scotchman in every sense of the word, full of prejudices and patriotism, it was his delight to chant the praises of his country. Being an elder son, and reared with the expectation of having a competency, he was at nineteen a gentleman on town, and familiar with half the fashionables who paraded Princes-street. Nature had endowed him with vocal powers of a high order, and, delighting in convivial pleasures, it was his besetting folly to vex the "drowsy ear of night" in singing the lyrics of Ferguson and Burns. The unfortunate accomplishment of a fine voice had the effect of making his society courted, and of

too frequently drawing him into social pleasures that gave an instability to character, and the desire for an irregular and unsettled life. Wherever he went he made friends, fresh invitations flowed in, and every night was a night of pleasure. At the period now spoken of volunteers and militia were common in the country. M'Leech, like several of his Edinburgh companions, resolved to buckle the sword on his thigh, and consequently joined the Barnton troop, of which renowned squadron he was a corporal. Corporal M'Leech, as he was ever after called, was a general favourite, and much his merriment and good company added to the hilarity of those winged hours which the gallant cavaliers were wont to pass in one another's society. He made a brave-looking defender of his country. This entering the irregulars had the effect of making him determine upon a profession (as that had become necessary from a disappointment of fortune), and such was from a mere accident. A private of the Barnton squadron of horse was, when at exercise on Porto-Bello Sands, precipitated from his saddle, and thereby received serious injury. The corporal chanced to be near the fat burgher, he stemmed the ebbing tide of life by his promptitude and judgment, and thus prevented a fatal casualty in the troop. This gave him a taste for surgery. He resolved on the medical profession, and soon after entered his name at the hospitals. Amongst the studious throng he became a signalised character, not however from a superlativeness in his studies, but from those convivial recommendations which in society ever made him a favourite. Often at the rooms of some jovial wight, where a knot of half a dozen equally jovial had assembled, would his voice at a late hour be heard, in finely modulated tone, lamenting that "The flowers of the forest would never bloom again!" and, perhaps, almost at matin-time, he would be in harmonious strain telling of the good qualities of "The Monks of Old," or assuring his hearers that "The Pope he leads a happy life," amongst the fumes of tobacco and the odour of usquebagh. In after-life he had a great delight to tell stories of the frolic and fun which he had in Edinburgh; and some of his hairbreadth escapes, and concerted mischiefs were, indeed, amusing in the relation. With such an education in his younger days, it was probable he would retain a liking for old customs. When he became surgeon in the regulars, he did not discard social pleasures, and the convivial hour was dear to him as ever. It has been stated he had a more than common prejudice in favour of not being disturbed at or after dinner. He used to say, "he would na be draggit out for every wee bit trifling case ;" and however important might be the case, he then put his trust in the professional capabilities of the assistant-surgeons. In certain matters he was a regular man; indeed there was a kind of diurnal periodicity in his observances. He was always latest up in a morningfirst in the dining-hall, and last to forsake his glass for bed.

The entire party for sometime sat on very leisurely and very comfortably. The colonel rose to depart, as was his custom before any of the others left their chairs, Captain Spenser accompanied him. When Sommerton was leaving the room, he looked round and missed the ensign and Alfred. "Where are these two young gentlemen?" said he, "where have they gone?" On inquiry, it was found they had stealthily stole away to the ensign's private apartment where they were comfortably taking their coffee. The ensign had not yet happily become initiated Oct.-VOL. XCVI. NO. CCCLXXXII.

into the then deemed gentlemanlike vice of tippling; eighteen months association with a gay and thoughtless set had not sapped good resolutions, and it was his stout determination not to be led away by those syren-tongued pleasures that have allured so many from better resolves. His every thought was directed towards an honourable advancement in his profession, nor did he conceive, that decorous conduct, habits of reflection, and propriety of deportment, were at variance with such hopes. Instead of becoming a slave to his cup, he sought to be an accomplished soldier. With the great historical events of ancient and modern times his mind was amply stored, and he had paid considerable attention to the plans and policies adopted by renowned commanders; carefully reviewed the emergencies in which they had been placed; the methods had recourse to in pressing moments of difficulty and danger; and with the best works on military tactics, strategy, fortification, and mathematical calculations, he laboured to become familiar. Some there were amongst his light-hearted, and it might be added, light-headed companions, who would speak in burlesque and deride at one whom they might rather have emulated. His mind rose superior to such contemptuous remarks, and as they ere long knew him to be a man who illbrooked an affront, and whose arm was prompt and heart bold, they cared to speak lightly of one whom they were led to fear and respect. The colonel had admired the talents and turn of mind which the ensign gave, and as he himself had a great liking to study his profession as a science, as well as to consider it a calling of defensive power and courage, he became partial to the young officer, and through this partiality afterwards recommended his acquaintance to Alfred, which, as will hereafter be seen, ripened into a sincere intimacy.

THE WITCH-CATS IN SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.

BY JOHN OXENFORD.

Now, although a cat that sat in a cow-house, and spoilt the milk by the most witch-like of "mews," was a great annoyance; and although a strong desire to remove such annoyance was very natural on the part of the Schleswig-Holstein peasant to whom the cow-house appertained, yet must it be confessed, that when, having caught the offending animal in a sack, and having belaboured it with his cudgel, he found, not the remains of a cat, but the body of a dead old woman, his feelings were not to be envied.

The exploit earned for our peasant an unhappy celebrity. His neighbours were all well aware that witches and evil spirits (perhaps good spirits too) are endued with the power of converting themselves into the forms of divers birds and beasts. They also held that, with all their preternatural superiority (or inferiority), the witches, or spirits, are fully capable of receiving bodily hurt. And herein they agreed, let us observe, with that most familiar author, Michael Psellus, who was some time a great favourite at the Byzantine court, and whose views are not to be lightly