Grenadiers and Light Infantry. MR. EDITOR,-The Peace Establishment of the British Army being, through an unwise economy, too limited for the service it is expected to perform, its interior formation is of the more importance. The usage of selecting privates of large stature for the grenadier companies, with little reference to character, is confessedly injurious to the rest of the battalion. Some authorities assert that it should be altogether a light Army; others, that if there were separate corps of grenadiers (or a similar description of troops) as in the armies of Continental powers, two light infantry companies as flankers to each battalion would be preferable to the existing establishment. Presuming on the adoption of the latter proposition, it would be easy of accomplishment at once, or gradually, without disturbing the financial estimates or reducing the actual number of grenadiers. A battalion of the Royals, joined by the 99th Regiment, would form a regiment of Royal Grenadiers of two battalions, and become a nucleus for any increase which war or other causes might render expedient. To the five regiments of Fusiliers (the 5th, 7th, 21st, 23rd, and 87th) three others might be named, by a mere order from the Horse-Guards; and if the four senior regiments of the Line were permitted to assume the ancient title of "Musqueteers," armed, officered, and winged like the fusiliers, the result would give a united force of fourteen battalions of de facto grenadiers in addition to those which compose the brigade of Guards. How far the general efficiency of the Army on Colonial Service would be improved or deteriorated by this operation is a question for the consideration of experienced tactitians. There is no better mode of discussing military projects than through the medium of your very valuable Journal; and this is requested to be inserted in any future Number. November 18, 1836. Grievances of Old Subalterns. AMICUS. Mr. EDITOR,-We, that is, some dozens of us, had hopes that the plain and straightforward statement, together with your editorial remarks, that appeared in your columns some months since, from Chatham, respecting the present most unjust system-if system it can be called-pursued at the Horse-Guards, regarding unattached promotion, would have had some effect in altering, or, at least, modifying their plan; but, no!-however unjust to every other observer, let them once adopt a particular line there, whether for good or ill, it becomes as unalterable as the laws of the Medes and Persians. The writer has conversed with upwards of 200 officers, of all ranks, on this subject, and he pledges the word of an honest man, that he has not found one individual (even amongst those benefited by the present system) but expressed the most utter astonishment at the unjust plan (ay, unjust is invariably the word) pursued at present. In the name of common sense, is it just? is it manly?-to cause men again to suffer for a misfortunewhich, God knows, at the time was sufficiently afflicting-I allude to the reductions after the Peace. The officers hitherto promoted to unattached companies are chiefly Ensigns of about 1813. In consequence of the considerably less number of Ensigns reduced at that time than Lieutenants, they, by the mere accident of remaining on full-pay when their seniors were reduced, are now reaping the benefit of such accident! Perhaps the heads themselves are not fully aware of the utter discontent that their system has spread throughout almost every regiment in the Service; for who shall dare to say to those in power-" You are unjust!" But that this is the case, they might doubtless gather, did they feel so inclined, from the piles of memorials at Head-quarters, all touching most feelingly on the grand grievance-" of having been reduced, and using every means U. S. JOURN. No. 97, Dec. 1836. 2 N in the memorialist's power of being restored to full-pay, until successful." But the answer to all this is invariably the same:" Mr. So-and-So has been longer on full-pay than you have: it is true he came into the Service in 1813, or 1814, and could not possibly, we admit, have seen much service, but then he has never been on half-pay: it is true you are an Ensign of 1810, and have been in four general actions, but you had the misfortune of being an old Lieutenant instead of an Ensign, and were reduced: Mr. So-and-So has longer full-pay service than you have; therefore, although he has never seen a shot fired in his life, we consider him more eligible for promotion than you are." It will be asked, what is considered (by men whose opinions are worth anything) the fairest claims to this promotion? The writer has invariably found the answer to be-1st, Length of time in the Service, either on full or half-pay,-in the latter case, let it be seen that the officer was reduced, and when on half-pay used every means in his power to be restored to full-pay; 2nd, Gallant service; 3rd, Ill-health constracted in the Service. Should this meet the eye of the Commander-in-Chief (and who doubts, Mr. Editor, his reading your valuable publication?) we-i. e. the proscribed officers by the present system-most earnestly implore his Lordship to judge for himself, whether the claims, as stated above, are not stronger than those at present attended to. To show the utter inconsistency of the present system, the same objection to an officer's having been on half-pay, even for some years, does not hold good in promoting a Lieutenant from one regiment into another-many cases of which might be adduced. All we claim is fair play and no favour. Have we had it? Is there an individual in existence who, on a candid examination of our case in all its bearings, but must unavoidably come to the conclusion that we have been most unjustly treated? Shall the oppressed not have even the acknowledged miserable privilege of protesting against the oppression? I call on my fellow-sufferers-men of long, arduous service-to come forward with their views on this subject. I feel convinced they will not materially differ from anything here advanced. As there does really appear to be something about to be done for the old hands, let us hope that that most shameful piece of injustice may not be repeated-i. e. of excluding the officers who had the misfortune of being reduced, for the convenience of the country, after the Peace. If the thing to be done is merely a Brevet, unaccompanied by increase of pay, for all ranks of a certain standing, it will not be worth having the military ardour of men of from twenty to thirty years' standing must have nearly evaporated. What care they, at their time of life and service, for mere rank, unaccompanied by the more substantial good of increase of pay? As, no doubt, every military man has his own scheme for the benefit of the Service, perhaps I might be allowed to suggest the following:-Allow Field Officers of thirty years' standing, from the date of their first commission, and Captains of twenty-five years, to retire on the full-pay of their ranks, their vacancies to be filled by the seniors of ranks in the Regiment, or if these happen to be very young, then by old Subalterns promoted from other corps, or by Captains from the half-pay. You, Mr. Editor, have always advocated the cause of fair-play-pray do not fail us in the present case-pray admit into your columns every rational view of this business that may be submitted to your editorial cognizance. It may be said by a few pacifiers, that such a statement as here put forth, although perfectly true in itself, can do no good; that men in office do not like to be told of their faults; that it is an additional reason with them for not rectifying what may be amiss, &c.: but should this once be admitted, then farewell to all manly bearing-independence of feeling on any subject -nothing for it but to kiss the rod with the greater submission, the harder it is applied to our shoulders. Away with such timidity! It has lately become the fashion amongst a certain set of expectants &c., to cry up the fairness and courtesy one meets with at the HorseGuards. The fairness, I think, the case here complained of sufficiently disproves; and I take it, there is mighty little satisfaction to the injured in being received with courtesy, and most politely bowed out. Any chance of a change, Mr. Editor, of the powers that be?-(at the Horse-Guards). It might do us good, and cannot by possibility do us any harm-that's done already. Any change, as far as we are concerned, cannot be for the worse-and might be for the better. May we venture to hope (but I acknowledge I am sick of hoping) that there is some truth in the report that Captains and Lieutenants of twenty years' standing are to be included in the talked-of Brevet, with the increase of pay of 168., and 11s. 7d., respectively? There ought to be no more objection to the latter than in the case of the favoured Foot Guards (Lieutenant and Captain) particularly as the fortunate Ensigns of 1813, who happened to escape reduction, seem fated to be almost the only ones to be benefited by the unattached promotion. Allow me, Mr. Editor, to conclude, by asking a very home question of the Authorities-Why should Subalterns of upwards of twenty years' standing be treated worse than Assistant-Surgeons of ten? (these officers receive 108. per day). Indeed, the condition of all the Regimental Staff has been bettered of late years. Is the working and fighting part of the regiment, alone, to receive no amelioration of its miserable condition? I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Junior United Service Club, Oct. 29, 1836. CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PRINCIPAL PORTS AND STATIONS. Portsmouth, Nov. 21, 1836. MR. EDITOR,-The only foreign arrival of a King's ship during the past month has been the Hyacinth, 18, Commander F. P. Blackwood, from the East Indies, and she came up on Saturday last, but, having been expected for some weeks, had not any news. She was last from Trincomalee (4th August), leaving Rear-Admiral Sir T, B. Capel in the Winchester, with the Algerine, at anchor there. The Andromache was in the Straits of Malacca, actively employed against pirates. Captain Chad's exertions were highly extolled in the East India journals for this and other service, An extract from a Madras paper is laid before your readers, relative to the excellent gunnery practice of that corvette, in another part of this com munication. The Hyacinth put into the Cape on the 14th of September, and afterwards touched at St. Helena and the Island of Ascension. The following is the disposition of the East India and African squadron:Rattlesnake and Victor at New South Wales; Rose on the Malabar coast; Zebra on her passage from Sidney; Thalia, Rear-Admiral Sir P. Campbell's flag-ship, cruising off the coast; Water Witch at Ascension; Seout in the Bights. The cruisers were constantly at sea, but the slavetrade is greatly on the decrease. About 60 miles s. w. of Scilly, Hyacinth was signalized by the Inconstant, who gave her the latitude and longitude, but beat her into Spithead by at least six hours. She will most probably be paid off at this port, having been four years in commission, and her orders are expected to-morrow. The Conway, Captain Drinkwater, was to have gone to sea yesterday, but has been prevented by bad weather; her destination is the East Indies, to relieve the Andromache, but carries out 10,0007. in silver coinage, on account of Government, to be landed at the Cape of Good Hope. She is also to touch at Rio Janeiro, with dispatches for Rear-Admiral Sir G. E. Hamond. Lieutenants Dunlop and Pelly, supernumeraries, to join the Winchester, are passengers in her. Two brigs from Sheerness called in at Spithead on their way foreign, viz. Harlequin and Serpent; the former has gone to the Mediterranean to relieve the Favourite, her three years being out; the latter is for the West India and North American station, and will sail to-morrow. The Inconstant, Captain Hayes, with the flag of Rear-Admiral the Honourable Sir Charles Paget, and the Pantaloon, Lieutenant Eyres, returned from the Experimental Squadron on Saturday; and it is most gratifying to hear that this splendid frigate is pronounced to be as perfect as skill can make her: in every trial she has beaten her opponent, the Pique. On conversing with her officers, they assert that the statements of her sailing qualities, and trials with the squadron, which the papers have put forth, are rather underrated than otherwise, so that there might not be any cavil on the point. The gratification experienced in this result is enhanced, because the surveyor's ships are so highly puffed. If they had not been trumpeted in every possible manner, not a tenth part of the acrimony which has been said and written would have occurred; and now it is ascertained, beyond a question, that there is not anything very special in the construction of Pique, Vanguard, &c., although they are fine ships, but that other naval architects can build as well, if not better, when they are not limited in length, width, or tonnage. The system of puffing which has been carried on lately will open people's eyes. Rear-Admiral Sir C. Paget went into Cadiz on the 2nd instant with his flag in the Vanguard, accompanied by Pique, Inconstant, and Pantaloon, and, after remaining there a short time, moved back on board the Inconstant, and returned to Spithead. The Vanguard and Bellerophon have gone to Malta; the Pique and Hercules are at Cadiz at present; all the Experimental ships have been informed of their destinations, to which they have proceeded, and the Inconstant will doubtless go to the West Indies to relieve the Belvidera on a new Captain joining her. To convince you that the officers of the Inconstant are not the only persons that pronounce her to have beaten the Pique, a gentleman on board the latter, who is a most excellent officer and impartial writer, as he cares not a rush which is the best, states-"The result of the trials has been highly favourable to the Inconstant; for, with the exception of two days (once nearly before the wind, and another time on a wind, with royals set), she, the Inconstant, has beaten us most decidedly every time we have tried with her-with one other exception-off Lisbon-when we were pretty nearly equal, but the trial was of very short duration. In several instances— especially on a wind blowing fresh, with a head sea-she has both forereached and weathered on us surprisingly; at other times, on a wind, moderate and smooth water, the difference has not been so great. As far as I can learn, also, she is much easier in a sea-way, and pitches easier than this ship. We have been sailing her on the surveyor's trim, occasionally running some of the bow-guns amidships. Although we have been beaten so much by the Inconstant, the Pantaloon has, I think, almost invariably weathered on her; and, what is still more extraordinary, that immense ship the Vanguard, in a fine breeze, under double-reefed topsails, &c., &c., beat both this ship and Inconstant. She is certainly a splendid ship, and I do not think any one is inclined to dispute the point. Captain Hayes must be highly gratified with the result of the trials. As we are trimmed at present, nothing could be more decided; but give me this ship in fine weather, or rather on a fine weather station. The difference of room at quarters and accommodation below is quite ridiculous. Even the Vanguard's deck is not at all striking after going out of this ship. Doubtless there are plenty of good-natured people at home who will, to please the surveyor, say that the most has not been made of the Pique; but I can vouch that nothing could exceed Captain Rous's aftention and care in sailing the ship. Everything was done that could be done, as far as trimming the sails and steering the ship with care, keeping the ship quiet, &c., &c.; and I never saw a man evince more anxiety in anything than he did that this ship should be properly sailed. I do not think, however, that any trimming or staying the masts will ever make her beat Inconstant, which has certainly turned out a very fine ship." So much for Pique and Inconstant. The ships fitting in the port consist of Samarang, supposed to be destined for the Mediterranean, to relieve the Volage; and the North Star, for temporary service, viz. to carry the broad pendant of Captain Lord John Hay on the north coast of Spain until that irksome duty is finished, -his ship, the Castor, having been upwards of four years in commission, and now ordered home to be paid off. The North Star has not got a pendant up, but will doubtless be fitted by Commander Robertson, of the Castor, and navigated by him to St. Sebastian. The Princess Charlotte, 104, has been in dock to be coppered and got ready for commission, and is now under the shears to be masted. She is either to be flag-ship here or in the Mediterranean; if the former, the Britannia will, it is thought, go thither, being a more roomy and commodious three-decker, and consequently better adapted for a flag-ship. The flag-officer to command the Mediterranean fleet is not named, but, should a promotion take place at the end of the year (which is generally believed), the Honourable Sir Charles Paget will, without doubt, be selected, as he stands only nine from the list of Vice-Admirals, and I question if they could find a fitter officer. The Rhadamanthus steamer, having been refitted at Woolwich, is expected here hourly, with a brigade of artillery, guns, ordnance stores, provisions, &c., on her return to St. Sebastian, and to take on board from this division three subalterns of Marines, and two from Plymouth, to join the battalion under Major Owen; consequently there appears no doubt but the force will be continued during the winter; and, as the service appears to agree with the officers and men, it is quite as well, if not better, that they should be employed there than in quarters; for Lord John Hay having three or four powerful steamers at command, the whole can easily be moved from the coast, if necessary, at short notice, and conveyed to any place in which their presence might be needful. (This garrison-duty falls heavy upon the troops of the Line, particularly since the 97th Regiment has gone to Woolwich, as the Marines can now furnish only a few officers and non-commissioned officers for guard and drill, and in consequence some of the sentinels round the works, here and at Gosport, have been taken off.) The Echo steamer, intended to be employed as a Postoffice packet among the West India islands, put in here last week on her way out, and took the last West India mail. Among other passengers she had on board Commander Belcher, to join the Sulphur surveying vessel, in place of Captain Beechey, invalided. If any of your readers should refer to the former observations in your Journal respecting the Auxiliary force which has gone from hence, from time to time, to join General Evans, and the way it was predicted the dupes would be treated when disabled, or their services no longer required, they will now find the predictions have been realized. Small detachments of 70 and 80 of these miserable people occasionally arrive in cutters and sloops, without adequate supplies of provisions, bedding, or clothing, and rarely a particle of medical aid, although an invalided surgeon is sometimes on board, notwithstanding most have been wounded or suffered from illness in the Queen's cause. About 200 of |