who stand in front of the criminal, who is blindfolded and kneels before them, while they place the muzzles of their pieces within about nine inches of his head and his breast. The signal for execution is given by the Commanding officer striking his boot with his sword. For murder the soldiers are hanged. In many cases also of serious offences, they are condemned either for life, or for a period of years, to work at the fortifications.

The structure of the Austrian courts-martial is very different from that in the English army. It is not formed of officers alone, but includes two of each rank, viz., two privates; two lance corporals; two corporals; two serjeants; two Ensigns; two Lieutenants; two Captains, with a Major, as president. This court is competent to try all military offences committed by a Captain inclusive to a private. If a Major is tried, the lowest rank which can sit on the court-martial is a lance corporal, and the president in that case must be a Lieutenant-Colonel. If a Lieutenant-Colonel be tried, the corporal is the lowest rank allowed to sit, and a Colonel must be president, and so on.

The Austrians consider the structure of their courts-martial much superior to that of ours; but it seems difficult to understand how privates, or even corporals and serjeants, can ever be duly qualified to judge of the higher duties and obligations of their officers, which, under every variety of case, both of peace and war, are dissimilar to those to which their attention is almost exclusively devoted. An officer's business is to think for others, and by making himself minutely acquainted with the several duties of all the people under him, to be able to direct their united energies to a given purpose. The duty of the inferior is to obey implicitly, and without reflection. The practice of command begets habits of judging of the character, conduct, and motives of others, and enables an officer to make a just estimate of offences, and to balance with propriety the measure of punishment just necessary, and no more than is necessary, to preserve order. But the whole course of thought and action of the inferior has a tendency to destroy that independence of judgment, and the habit of considering the merits of other men's conduct, which is indispensable in persons who are to sit on the trial of others. From all I can learn, indeed, this Austrian system of courts-martial is but a deception, and leads by obvious ways to a tyranny far more severe than would take place, if the apparent power of deciding in these matters, as well as the real power, were left exclusively with the officers.

I remain yours, most truly,

Grätz, in Styria, 19th April, 1835.

BASIL HALL.

A SKETCH OF THE COAST-GUARD SERVICE.

THAT part of the coast of England in which I shall lay my scene, all know who are acquainted with it, is what sailors term an iron-bound coast-that is, the sea is bounded by cliffs. Perched near one of these, about a quarter of a mile from its edge, was situated a row of cottages, built by the Government as a station for the prevention of smuggling. These cottages were surrounded by a wall about four feet high, enclosing a piece of ground, which afforded each inhabitant a small garden, that enabled him to rear a few potatoes and other vegetables. The nearest habitations were half a mile distant, and these were only a few straggling dwellings, which collectively were called the village, inhabited by fishermen and their families. A solitary farm-house or two appeared in the distance, which broke the monotonous scene of fields without fences or trees, and was just sufficient to remind the spectator of the scanty means there was of enjoying society.

In the largest of the first-mentioned cottages dwelt Lieutenant John Thornville, R.N., chief officer of the coast-guard station, with his wife and family. In the adjoining one the chief boatman, the next in command; in the others, the riding officer, or, as he has been lately entitled, the corporal of the mounted guard. These, with the commissioned boatmen and the rest of the party, amounted to ten persons, exclusive of the Lieutenant.

As I suppose my readers to be unacquainted with the routine of the service I am about to describe, I trust they will excuse my being minute. One room in the house which the Lieutenant inhabited was set apart for the use of the service, and was called the watch-house. It had a separate entrance, and was unconnected with the Lieutenant's apartments. This room wore the appearance of great cleanliness, as the walls were kept neatly whitewashed, and were decorated with the arms, &c., used by the party. On one side was a stand, ornamented with a profusion of W.R.'s and ill-painted flags; it was filled with muskets, pistols, swords, and bayonets, all in order and perfectly bright. At the foot of this stand lay a mortar, a part of Captain Manby's life-preserving apparatus. Here were rockets, blue-lights, and port-fires, formed into semicircles radiating from the centre, interspersed with printed rules and orders. There was also a desk with a large journal on it, to record every event, however minute, that occurred. Altogether, the place wore an air of business and good discipline.

The only person who occupied this room at the time we are describing it was one of the men, whose duty it was to be on the watch all day, and be relieved when the rest of the men went out at night. This person, for the time being, was called the watchman; and he literally was so, for no vessel or boat could approach the coast without being examined and re-examined through the glass which he constantly carried in his hand.

Just before sunset the Lieutenant assembled the whole crew in the watch-house, to see that all were present, not by calling over their names, but by numbers; each man when on duty being addressed by his number" Number One," "Here, Sir." "Number Two," "Here, Sir;" and so on with the rest. "Number One," said the Lieutenant,

"take Number Seven guard-Number Two, take Number One guard," the guards meaning the particular spots the men were stationed at.

The men having clothed themselves suitably to the inclement season of the year (December) in which the following scenes are laid, and having furnished themselves with arms, ammunition, blue-lights, and port-fires, pursued their different routes to the stations they were ordered to guard.

There was nothing uncommon in the history of Lieut. Thornville. He entered the Navy very young, and served nine years during the war with great credit; he thought himself most fortunate when he saw his name included in that liberal promotion which took place in the years 1814 and 15. Some time after this he married, and after a time found himself surrounded by an increasing family; he therefore sought and obtained an appointment to a coast-guard station. Here he lived, or, more properly speaking, existed, contented and therefore happy. Society he had none; for, with the exception of a farmer who did not possess an idea beyond his plough, there was no family he could associate with. The nearest market-town was five miles distant, and the church three. The Officers of the adjoining stations occasionally came to dine with him, and over a glass of grog would " spin old yarns." These, with the periodical visits of the Inspecting Commander, were the only reliefs to his monotonous life. His chief occupation, when free from duty, was the education of his children, in which he was assisted by his wife, who was fully qualified for the task; and then the small garden attached to his house claimed another portion of his time. These employments, with his duty, so fully occupied him, that ennui was unknown.

The Lieutenant, after he had issued his instructions, retired to his apartment, when a gentle tap was heard at the door; upon the customary mandate of "walk in" being given, in slided Mr. William Truman, the chief boatman, and the next in command, who came to the house for some further explanation to the orders he had received. Mr. Truman was nearly six feet high, a thin figure, with hard weatherbeaten features. The coast-guard uniform assimilating to a sailor's, any person who was not very critical in his observation might have taken him for one. But the fact was no two persons could be more distinct; for Mr. Truman was of a mongrel breed-half-soldier and half-sailor. In his way he was a strict disciplinarian, for he never addressed the Lieutenant without standing perfectly upright, with his feet in the first position, his left arm straight down his body, while with the right he lifted his hat from his head. He was slow and rather pompous in his speech, and particularly careful in addressing all persons with their proper titles. For example, he would say, "Lieutenant Thornville, Commander Bromley, who is the inspecting commander of our district, wishes to see you. He desires you will come as soon as you can, because he is in a hurry; and if you don't come directly, you may not see him, because he may be gone." Now of all the words in the English language there was not any so great a favourite with Truman as the conjunction "because;" he hardly ever spoke a sentence without using it; and in defence of his favourite word said he liked to give a reason for everything he did-" Because the world would then see that he differed from the brutes of the creation."

Accompanied by his chief boatman, Thornville now prepared to pay his nightly visits along the coast he was appointed to guard; and as it was expected that an attempt would be made to land some contraband goods on his station, he armed himself with a brace of pistols, a sword, and a thick stick. Their way lay over the bleak cliffs towards the sea. It was very dark, with the wind blowing directly on the shore; the snow was beginning to fall, and there was every prospect of a dismal night.

I should think," said Thornville, "nothing can possibly attempt to land on this coast to-night; if it was not for the positive information that I have, and from the number of strange persons we have lately seen about, I should feel inclined to give the men a night's rest, for they have been hard worked of late."

"Leeftenant Thornville," said his companion, " I admire your compassionate feelings. But, Sir, duty must be done, because we are paid for it. For my part, Leeftenant Thornville, I have been thirteen years in the service of the coast-guard, and during the whole of that time I think my life has been vice varsa."

"Been what, Mr. Truman ?"

"Vice varsa, Sir-that is, it has been turned upside down, sleeping all day and up all night. Now, Sir, I shall become an amphibious animal, because I turn day into night, and because I live on the water and on the land; but my wife, Sir, she doesn't like it at all, because she grumbles, Sir, and says I am a most unchristianlike husband, not to take my natural advantages like other people. Now, Sir, women will be women, because they are women. I reason with her, Sir-I give her a because for it; and as I say to her, what makes the difference between us and the brutes of the creation? Why, Sir, because we have a because for what we do, to be sure."

Conversation similar to this had beguiled their way to the edge of the cliff. They had now to descend to the beach, and their path lay in a sort of valley, which had been formed by the rain washing away the loose earth, and which, from its being so steep, and the loose stones lying in the path, rendered the descent in the daytime difficult, but at night, with the ground covered with snow, to those unacquainted with it it would be impossible; but the Lieutenant and "Billy Because"-a soubriquet he had acquired by the frequent use of this conjunction-had traversed the path so often, that they felt confident in their knowledge, and proceeded rapidly; Billy leading the way, entertaining Thornville. with a because in every sentence, winding up his numerous list with a stanza of his own composing, which he took great delight in singing particularly when he was in a good humour. It ran thus

"I eats, because I'm hungry;

I drinks, because I'm dry;
I smokes, because I likes it ;

So here's a health to you and I.'

By this time Billy had advanced about twenty yards before the Lieutenant. As he increased the distance he elevated the tone of his voice, and at least in his own opinion was singing most melodiously, laying great emphasis on the last line, finishing with a chorus of

"Tol de rol lol,

And here's a health to you and I, tol de rol lol

Hoo!" burst from his lips as he ran against something in the road, which by the concussion threw Billy flat on his back. The first words the Lieutenant heard were Billy calling murder with all his might; at the same time a most dismal yell saluted him. The Lieutenant mechanically drew forth a pistol, cocked it, then hurrying to the spot as fast as the miserable road and snow would allow him, he had nearly tumbled over Billy, who was lying on his back kicking at some object that was across him with all his strength, calling out they were cowardly rascals to strike a man when he was down. "Let me get up, I'll give you a because for it! When a man is sprawling in the snow he has no chance, because he can't stand."

The Lieutenant's voice assured Billy he was in friendly hands; and having gained his confidence and his legs at the same time, he with the Lieutenant went groping about to discover if possible the cause of their alarm. The mystery was soon solved, for they had not proceeded far before they discovered a poor ass and her foal, which had sought this lane to shelter them from the inclemency of the night.

"This donkey," said Billy, "must have caused the noise we heard: I suppose it could not bray better because it has a cold-ha, ha, ha!" Billy Because tried to be facetious to hide the chagrin he felt at taking a couple of asses for a set of smugglers. The Lieutenant, however, continued his walk in silence, which soon produced the same effect upon his companion, except that he would occasionally murmur to himself his favourite ditty of

"I eats because I'm hungry," &c. &c.

On reaching the beach, the Lieutenant gave a low whistle, which was answered at a short distance from him, when a tall athletic figure stood before them. "Who's that?" inquired the Lieutenant.

"It's me, your honour," said the man, with a broad Irish brogue. "Is all quiet here ?" demanded the Lieutenant.

"All is as quiet here, Sir, as a cat watching a mouse in

pantry."

"You have not seen anything?"

"Nothing, Sir, barring snow and a bitter could night."
"When did you communicate with Number Seven guard ?"
"At twelve, Sir."

"Exchange guards with Number Six."

"I will, Sir." And away he trudged to put his orders into execution. Thornville and his companion visited the rest of the guards, and then made the best of their way to the watch-house.

The

It was near two o'clock before the Lieutenant retired to bed. wind by this time had increased to a gale, and the snow and sleet fell in abundance. Thornville lay listening to the howling of the blast, and congratulated himself on being so comfortably housed, and that he was not like hundreds of poor creatures obliged to keep the vessel's deck for the safety of their lives. His thoughts wandered from one subject to another, until at last sleep buried all in oblivion. On this occasion, however, he was not destined to enjoy it long, for some time before daylight a smart rapping at the shutters belov few pebbles thrown lightly against his bed-room window, a jumped out of bed, threw open the casement, when th boatmen saluted him-" A vessel on s

of one of his