own words, that, when the arrival of Leith's division was announced to him, he" directed it to proceed to the left, having no occasion for its services at the pass." And again, as admitted by Sir John Cameron, long before the advance of the column had reached the summit General Leith was aware of its approach, and had "placed a Staff Officer to indicate its point of ascent, that he might regulate his movements so as to intercept it." The result was, that, when their advance did reach the top of the ridge, finding themselves without any flanking support, and with an enemy in front and on both flanks, they fled without offering any serious resistance.

Sir Thomas Picton, with the force at his disposal, did everything that could be demanded of him. Had he left the pass of St. Antonio, the right of his position, exposed, he undoubtedly would have committed a most egregious error, and might "have cut a different figure in the Gazette to what he did that day," when it is considered, and, as was then evident, the enemy had, upon the continuation of that road, stationed a large force, with nearly the whole of their artillery, ready to launch forth the moment their infantry should be established on the heights.

When Sir John Cameron has shown how the right of Picton's division could be said to be turned, seeing, as I have formerly shown, that the brigade of Portuguese Artillery and other troops were stationed on it, and never moved from their position during the battle-when he has shown how this, or the danger of its happening, could be justly predicated of his centre, by the ascent of a column of the enemy, which merely reached, and never was established on, the heights, repulsed by the 5th, without the former division having any opportunity of joining in the attack, while in fact they were in part resting on their arms-when Sir John has got over this difficult task, it will be time to consider whether they and their Commander would have suffered in credit most by such an event occurring on the right or right centre of their line.

Till this has been accomplished, must General Picton and the 3rd Division retain the honours they so nobly earned.

WILLIAM MACKIE, late Major 88th Regt.

Army and Navy Club, July 7th, 1838.

Colonel Brotherton on some Remarks of Captain Jebb.

MR. EDITOR,-I would gladly have refrained from saying anything further in the discussion with the 3rd Dragoons, had not Captain Jebb thought proper to prolong it, although he professed to have closed it by his letter of the 23rd of March last. If his last letter were left unnoticed it might leave an erroneous impression on your readers.

Captain Jebb complains that he is accused, without foundation, of writing in a confused manner.

I will leave others to judge whether the following sentence is not a specimen showing that the charge is not unfounded; it is extracted from his letter of the 23rd of March last:

"Colonel Brotherton attributes this halt to have been, and continued, as he says, within a few yards of the broken troops, and to have been occasioned by the desultory fire of some French infantry."

Captain Jebb says that "the enemy fled at the approach of the 3rd Dragoons."

Captain Jebb was quite mistaken in fancying so. Such an enemy was not to be frightened by the mere inactive appearance of the 3rd Dragoons. The very slow advance of this regiment was certainly not calculated to strike terror into any enemy, much less into such an one as we had to contend with on this day. The fact was, that, the British infantry on our flank having driven back, by a most brilliant charge, the infantry upon which the enemy's cavalry depended for support, it became necessary, in consequence, for the latter to tire. Such is, at least, the view which the

Duke of Wellington took of this affair in his despatch on the occasion, and I prefer such authority to that of Captain Jebb, who attributes the retreat of the enemy to his own regiment, though it was never even engaged.

I have now done with this futile and injudicious controversy, of which your readers must be so heartily tired, and which has already occupied too much of your time and space; and I will conclude it, by way of recapitulation, with the following queries; the answers to which will readily suggest themselves to such of your readers as have waded through this discussion.

If the 3rd Dragoons volunteered to the assistance of General Alten's brigade," seeing the peril it was in, and that no time was to be lost," how came the 3rd Dragoons to advance at so slow a pace?

As it has been proved by ample testimony that both General Alten and Colonel Hervey expressed their strong disapprobation at the conduct of the 3rd Dragoons for not advancing on the enemy, is it probable that both these officers, so well known for their frank and unreserved dispositions, ever intended to express their approbation of that which they had just before, and have since, so strongly reprobated? and is it probable that General Alten ever meant that the 3rd Dragoons should have halted, having before and since expressed himself so displeased at their having done so?

If, as alleged, contrary to the express opinion of General Alten's Major of Brigade, the 3rd Dragoons were ever considered, during the day in question, as forming part of the brigade, and under the immediate command of the General, on arriving at the ground, how came the 3rd Dragoons to retire from the front, at a most critical moment, without orders to that effect from the General himself?

If, as alleged, it was "the overwhelming fire of a division of the enemy's infantry and artillery" that caused the 3rd Dragoons to retire, how came the loss of that regiment, from this supposed heavy fire, to have been so very trifling? And why has this loss been stated at so much more than it actually was according to the returns in the Gazette?

If, as alleged, Captain Jebb has abundance of testimony which he has kept back, why has he produced in this controversy none but mere hearsay evidence, with the exception of one, and that one a mere distant spectator, whereas the testimony on the other side is all that of eye-witnesses on the spot?

I now close this controversy, as far as I am concerned, unless forced again to break silence.

I remain, Mr. Editor,

Your obedient humble servant, Cavalry Depôt, 25th June, 1838. F. M. BROTHERTON. N.B. This letter was too late for publication last month.

Captain Jebb in Explanation of the Passage alluded to by Colonel Napier.

MR. EDITOR,-Colonel Napier having misconstrued a passage in my last communication to you, I beg to refer to the contest, and feel satisfied that the public will have attributed the true meaning to that passage, and have understood me, when speaking of "acting under the orders of my superior," to allude to the 18th July, 1812, and not to the correspondence to which he applies it.

July 12, 1838.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

D. G. JEBB, late Capt. 3rd Dragoons.

Colonel Napier on a Statement in the "The Hussar."

MR. EDITOR,-In Mr. Gleig's book, purporting to be the memoirs of a German Hussar, which I have only lately seen, I find my statement relative to a report made by a German officer to Sir A. Wellesley, the night before the Battle of Vimeiro, contradicted. The Hussar is made to say it was himself, a serjeant, who carried the report, and that there was no consternation in his manner. Mr. Gleig would do well to confine his Hussar's gossip to what he is really acquainted with. The Hussar may have made a report; but the authority for my fact is the Duke of Wellington, who could not have mistaken his man, because he tried, though fruitlessly, to recollect the name of the officer, and called him a Baron. I suggested the name of a German officer bearing that title, but the Duke replied that it was not him.

66

The Expedition to Alexandria.

W. NAPIER.

MR. EDITOR,-In some of your late Numbers are certain "Notes of an Expedition to Alexandria in 1807," concluded in the May Number, under the signature of "Miles." The confident censure and disadvantageous insinuations occurring, from time to time, in these articles, coming from an unknown source, might have passed without particular notice, General Fraser's military and personal character being too well established and remembered to be affected by such reflections; but the account in the Notes" of the first attack (so called) upon Alexandria differs materially from that given by the General in his public despatch (see Annual Register, 1807, page 665). This anonymous version of the affair, in opposition to the General's official statement, so long after his death and that of most of his contempories and companions in arms, together with other assertions, for which authority is wanting, will not, it is presumed, find much acceptation with the unprejudiced readers of the United Service Journal.

May 22, 1838.

Your humble servant,

F.

Colonel Warrington in reference to Major Denham's Travels. MR. EDITOR,-In reference to Major Denham's Travels, in chap. i. page 14, I read the following:

Passing a small wadey and plantation of date-trees, we had soon a view of Sacknee, and were met on the plain on which it stands by the governor and principal inhabitants, accompanied by some hundreds of the country people, who all crowded round our horses, kissing our hands, and welcoming us with every appearance of sincerity and satisfaction, and in this way entered the town: the words 'Inglese, Inglese,' were repeated by a hundred voices from the crowd. This, to us, was highly satisfactory, as we were the first English travellers in Africa who had resisted the persuasion that a disguise was necessary, and who had determined to travel in our own real character as Britons and Christians, and to wear on all occasions our English dresses; nor had we at any future period occasion to regret that we had done so. There was here no jealousy nor distrust of us, as Christians; on the contrary, I am perfectly satisfied that our reception would have been less friendly had we assumed a character that could have been, at best, but ill supported. In trying to make ourselves appear as Mussulmans we should have been set down as real impostors."

The above was written by our friend Denham after his return, and contradicts the assertion of Major Head most thoroughly. Your's truly,

Tripoli, 24th April, 1838.

H. WARRINGTON.

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CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PRINCIPAL PORTS AND STATIONS. Portsmouth, June 21,* 1838. IF your readers will refer to the Number of the Journal for April last, they will there find an account of the loss of Her Majesty's schooner Pincher, on the 6th March preceding, while working to windward and taken in a squall under the Isle of Wight. The wreck having been discovered to have drifted near the Owers Light, on the coast of Sussex, the officers of the dockyard were despatched to ascertain the exact spot, and prepare for weighing her. Two or three attempts were made to effect this object, but, from the extraordinary tempestuous weather which prevailed all the spring, and the situation the hull of the Pincher was lying in, it was found impossible to do anything until this month, when, through the great exertions and skill of Mr. Sadler, Second Master-Attendant of the dockyard, and Mr. Armstrong, Master of the Victory, with parties of seamen and marines, the Pincher was got up, and towed by a steamer into Portsmouth harbour. A coroner's inquest being subsequently held on ten of the bodies found in the wreck, the jury returned a verdict of "Found dead on board the Pincher, from suffocation, supposed to be caused by the oversetting of the vessel near the Owers Light.'

H.M.S. Winchester, with the flag of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir T. B. Capel, K.C.B., from the East Indies; the Racer, 16, from the West Indies; four naval transports, Numa, Parmelia, Hotspur, and Sovereign; the Salamander steam-frigate, from the North coast of Spain; and the Apollo troop-ship, from Quebec, have arrived since my last communication. ViceAdmiral Sir T. Capel was relieved in the East India command on the 2nd February at Trincomalee, Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland having fortunately heard at Point de Galle that the Winchester was lying there, thus saving him a long voyage to Bombay, to which Presidency he was ordered to effect the relief.

The Winchester left Trincomalee on the 5th February, and called at the Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, and Ascension, on her passage home. At the last island, the Vice-Admiral heard of the melancholy death of Captain Bate of the Royal Marines, who was for many years commandant of the party serving there, and had the management and charge of the Government stores on the island, and who, on all occasions, rendered every assistance to those who had need thereof, when compelled by sickness, or other cause, to resort to that spot for relief. A high and just eulogium has been bestowed to his memory. The Winchester remained at Spithead little more than an hour, as orders had been in the port for a considerable time, directing Sir Thos. Capel to proceed with his flag to Chatham, and there strike it, thus making a second edition of the Thalia's trip with Sir Patrick Campbell.

Sir Frederick Maitland was at Trincomalee when the Winchester quitted the East Indies, and he intended to remain there until he received despatches from Captain Hobson of the Rattlesnake, who, with the Larne, and some other vessels of the squadron, was at Ava, endeavouring to obtain some satisfactory explanation relative to the murder of a native chief in alliance with this country.

The Numa transport brought part of the 84th Regiment from Jamaica, to rejoin the head-quarters at Gosport. The regiment during the last two days has been moved from thence to this garrison, in the room of the 2nd Battalion of the Rifles, who have marched to London to attend the Coronation.

The Parmelia transport brought to England from the Mauritius part of the 29th Regiment, and some invalids from the 35th, 87th, and 91st Regi

*The Port Correspondence having been unavoidably omitted in our last, we introduce the letters of June into our present Number.

U. S. JOURN. No. 117, Aug. 1838,

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ments and Royal Artillery. The 29th were landed, and, for a few days, occupied Cumberland Fort, until the Messenger steamer was ready to take them to Plymouth to join the head-quarters in that garrison.

The Salamander steam-frigate came from St. Sebastian, and merely put into Spithead to land letters, &c., being on her way to Woolwich to have new boilers, and, when they are fitted, will most probably resume her station on the north coast of Spain. She was followed from thence a day or two after by the Pantaloon brig, tender to the Royal George yacht, which, with the Modeste, was despatched in a great hurry to take out some supernumerary marines for Lord John Hay's squadron, and public letters to be put on board the Columbia steamer, and to be taken by her to the West Indies. Having succeeded in getting hold of the Columbia, and giving the despatches to her commander, the Pantaloon returned to Portsmouth. The Modeste is to remain out for a short time longer.

The Apollo troop-ship, after a quick run to Quebec with 600 of the Grenadier Guards, and a more expeditious voyage home empty, is in the harbour fitting for further service. The two battalions of Guards, consisting of the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier and 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream, were, as your readers may remember, embarked in the Apollo and Inconstant, and Edinburgh and Atholl. Their departure was at different periods, varying from three to ten days of each other. They were not able to get up the St. Lawrence until the first week in May, in consequence of the ice. The Inconstant took the lead, and the men from the four ships were all landed on the 9th May without a single casualty, and in high spirits. On the 12th May, the Malabar, 74, arrived from Cork with the 71st Regiment. The Hastings, Dee, steamer, and Charybdis, brig, had not arrived in the St. Lawrence when the Apollo quitted, which was on the 17th May; but the Hastings was spoken on the 4th May, near the banks of Newfoundland.

You may have heard that a waterman was shot at and wounded by a sentry on board H.M. ship Rainbow, while she was preparing to be paid off in this harbour. It is said the man was attempting to smuggle liquor, for the third time, into her, or else entice some of her crew to desert. The transaction occurring after sunset, and not heeding, or defying the repeated warnings given to keep off the ship, he was fired at, and unluckily hit near the vitals. The fellow has, however, recovered, and, it is to be hoped, will take experience from this escape, and not endeavour to force past a sentry again, particularly after the watch is set. The marine has been committed by the magistrates to Winchester gaol, to take his trial at the next assizes under Lord Ellenborough's act of wilfully cutting and maiming; but as he is to be defended by the agent for the Solicitor of the Admiralty, by order of their Lordships, there is little doubt of his acquittal, he being at the time in the execution of his orders.

The Board of Admiralty, who are always on the alterative plan, have made another arrangement relative to the seamen gunners who enter and go through the course of gunnery instruction on board H. M. ship Excellent. Being, as they profess, desirous of giving that description of men every encouragement possible, their Lordships have ordered a small increase to the pay to each, and directed that in future no seamen gunners, or what was formerly gunner's crew, shall be entered on board a man-of-war unless they have previously gone through a complete course of instruction in that floating battery. The following are the terms on which seamen gunners are in future to be entered, and the advantages held out to them :"To enter for a period of five years, to be instructed as seamen gunners, for Her Majesty's Navy, and from them only Master Gunners and Gunners' Mates will be selected.

"They will also be preferred for the situation of Boatswain, if otherwise qualified, and all the ratings of petty officers will be open to them.

"On being discharged into sea-going ships, they will receive two shillings a month in addition to A.B.'s pay, or that of any higher rating which they