guns, shot and shell, and a few distant rifle shots. After advancing about a mile, we took a battery without much opposition. I waited here for a short time, and left Meynell with fifty men in the battery. The second detachment from the steamer was about 250 yards from it, when I advanced. I told Meynell that he and Arnold might either follow me, or remain in the battery with the detachment just coming up and Arnold, who had skirmished too far to his left, but was coming down. I was exposed, for the next quarter of a mile, to a very severe fire of grape, shell, and rifles, and lost several men. I formed a junction with the first party, and reported myself to the Pacha commanding. I met Lieutenant Ballard here, who told me General Cannon had recrossed nearly two hours ago. The Russians made repeated attacks, which lasted until dark. The enemy re-took the battery from poor Meynell and Arnold; they held it for some hours.

"I think the poor fellows must have been killed about two o'clock. The enemy's force consisted at first of 800 riflemen and two guns; soon supported by three battalions of infantry and six guns; and, in the afternoon, cavalry with three additional battalions and four guns. Our force was not more than 2,500, until past one o'clock, when it was largely increased. After nightfall, we got over six guns and two battalions, and made a very good field work. We expected to be attacked at day-break, but the enemy retired. Our loss is between 900 and 1000. The Russians' I cannot say-200 or 300, I should think.

"The weather is fearfully hot, and I am not over well. The Turks do not fight over-well in the open. The Russians advanced and retired beautifully."

MARSHAL VAILLANT AND THE FRENCH MILITARY SCHOOLS *-THE LATE MILITARY EXECUTION AT VINCENNES.

Of all the institutions at present existing in France, and all of which have, more or less, engrossed the care and attention of her present ruler and Emperor, since the tristful, memorable month of December, 1852, when, nolens volens on the part of the nation, he grasped upon power supreme, the Ministry of War is, par excellence, the one where his innovations have been both incessant and numerous. Influenced, no doubt, by the same principle which actuated his ambitious uncle, that the army is the main prop of the crown-its fine tenue, honours and decorations, the magnet which gathers round it subservient satellites-and its devotedness to his person and dynasty the dread and terror of malcontents and the would-be factious, Louis Napoleon has been prodigal in the time, attention and outlays, which he has devoted to the "braves" of all grades and categories-to their comforts, welfare, promotion, honours and pensions, &c., from the

For the detailed history of Military Schools and Colleges in France, see United Service Magazine of September, October, and December 1853, and February and March 1854, by the same Author.

highest marshal down to the humblest piou-piou and lowest tambour. Even in his harangues and speeches to them, which were much more frequent four years ago than now, he seemed to give them to think, nay, he would have them believe the truthfulness of the famous saying "Every French soldier carries in his cartridge-bag, his staff of marshal of France."-"Chaque soldat Français porte dans sa giberne, son bâton de maréchal de France"-words delightful to military ambition, but which which have made more heroic aspirants bite the dust than they have made Marshals of France.

The uniform of every branch in the service has undergone more or less changes. The regimental schools have been inoculated with a healthier spirit, while the programmes or courses of instruction have been modified, and adapted to the special wants of one and all. The ordinaries or messes have improved, and the bread, particularly, has been bonified. A larger quantity of meat (4 oz.) is allowed to each man, meat which may pass for beef, and is no longer named "vache enragée;" and last, but not least-tobacco has been considerably reduced in price for the troops, that is, from five to one franc and a half per pound. This last measure, which was decreed some two years ago, wound round the soldiers' heart, and proved to be the "puff" direct, the cleverest blow to nail, rivet, and consolidate the Emperor in the esppit

bigaire. Some ambitious men there are in this moving scene

of life, .hope that the "vox populi" will change into the "vox Dei," and lead them to glory, honour and power. Others there are, who, relying upon their tutelary star, will recklessly "wade through slaughter to a throne" But Louis Napoleon added to all this, and, moreover, schooled and grown wiser by past avorted attempts, appealed to his centurions, who "bravely rowed him o'er the ferry" of his wished-for aggrandisement, and fixed him on a pedestal, around which rises every hour, in graceful spirals, the smoky exhalation incense of his devoted and grateful « braves.”

True it is, indeed, that what makes and exalts one man, may unmake and precipitate another. "The people cry for bread," was told, some sixty and odd years ago, to Marie Antoinette, at the court of Versailles. Let them feed on cakes and pie-crust," naïvely replied the Queen whose doom from that day was sealed! "Sire," said a present Marshal of France to his Imperial master, Louis Napoleon, "tobacco is too dear, for the soldiers' pay-the poor devils (pauvres diables, historical) can't enjoy themselves." "Let it be sold to them alone at four-fifths reduction," replied his Majesty, who, from that day,; became the soldier's hero, his demi-god. Ainsi va le monde!

*

The spirit of amelioration and reform has progressed quickly and viench ban neersq eid of

A distribution of pay, called the "prêt," takes place in every company of each regiment, every fifth day of the month, whether on home or foreign service, when the private soldier receives five sous, 24d, or one halfpenny per diem, his keep and other petty expenses having been, previously deducted from his standard pay of eight Sous, or fourpence per day. In garrison towns, those soldiers who have trades are often allowed to work at them, provided they be well conducted and find employers. They pay their duty substitutes out of their earnings. While campaigning, the Jiny of the troops is almost doubled.

surely, till, momentarily leaving the ranks of the army, it has knocked at the gates of the military schools and colleges. That nursery-bed for aspirants to all military institutions in France-L'Ecole Militaire de la Flêche-has become the Prytanée Impérial Militaire, with a modified programme, and all the other schools have been dubbed "Imperial Institutions." The various courses of instruction followed in each, were severally and severely examined into; the old, or rococo, theories and systems were set aside, and new, easy, and expeditious ones introduced in their stead. The old routine professors were remerciés, and pensioned off; and others, full of youthful stamina and useful practical knowledge, appointed to the vacant chairs. Such judicious measures poured fresh vigour into the body of savants destined by imperial mandate to teach the young idea how to shoot;" and this naturally leads us to our subject.

On the 10th of July, 1852, a decree appointed a mixed commission of Artillery and Génie general officers, entrusted with revising the ordnance of the 5th of June, 1831, constitutive of the Ecole du Génie and Artillery at Metz, as well as the different regulations concerning the régime and instruction in the said school. The commissioners were presided over by Marshal Vaillant, the present Minister of War, who was succeeded therein by General Lapitte; and as they have now drawn their labours to a close, the following documents, supplied by them, will perhaps be interesting, and show the anxiety of the heads of the French army as to the general efficiency of this celebrated school, which at present counts many of its officers high up in the French and Turkish armies:

1. "Project of the decree for the organisation. 2. Interior or police regulations. 3. Administrative regulations. 4. Regulations for the execution of works by the pupils. 5. Regulations for the valuation of works done by the pupils. 6. Regulations for the staff officers' service. 7. Programme of the artillery course of instruction. 8. Programme of military art and temporary fortification. 9. Programme of permanent fortification, the attack on, and defence of, fortified places. 10. Programme of the geodetical course. 11. Programme of topography. 12. Programme of the course of sciences applied. 13. Programme of mechanics. 14. Programme of construction. 15. Programme of the German language to be acquired. 16. Programme of siege simulacre or semblant. 17. Programme of the Hippiatrique' course. 18. Programme of practical military instruction."

These documents, in their various developments, formed the basis for a report which was submitted to the Emperor, on the 12th of June, present year, and the Moniteur of the 1st of July published that report, together with an Imperial decree, in sixty-seven articles, establishing the new revised programme of re-organisation, which would be too long for the pages of a periodical. We shall, however, glean and abridge, from Marshal Vaillant's report, as much as may be interesting, as well as it will show the spirit which dictated the reform now decreed for execution.

"One grand principal question pervades the whole system of instruction to be followed in this school, and this question is-would it be

right-would it be fit, because the Ecole d'Application has been instituted for forming Artillery and Génie officers, to separate the instruction given to the pupils of both schools, by regulating for each of them apart what would be most special and suitable to them? The Commission opined not." They are of opinion that although, as a general thesis, it may be suitable to direct the young men's education with a view to the special service for which they may be destined, there exists, however, many considerations of a high order, which advocate in favour of instruction to be imparted in common and collectively, as much as possible, to the pupils of both schools. And I myself, am very much of the Commission's opinion, on every point therein, because the chief thing necessary for the success of the operations in which the Génie and Artillery may have to co-operate, is a perfect understanding (entente parfaite) between those two branches of our military service, and which are so constantly called upon to aid and assist each other, and sometimes to supply each other's places. The best means of obtaining, on every occasion, that perfect understanding, that unity of purpose and view, so necessary to the prosperity of the service, is, most undoubtedly, the forming of officers of both categories in the same school, and of imparting to them, as much as possible, the same courses of instruction, the same principles of science and military tactics.

66

However, the Commission are of opinion, although they have adopted this fundamental principle, that the said application should not be extended beyond certain limits. They have, therefore, very wisely maintained the separation with respect to some lectures and minor works, special to each arme or category. They were of the same opinion with regard to the practical part of the military instruction to be given to the pupils conformably to the prescriptions followed in each respective branch,

"In thoroughly (áfond) examining the general programme of the courses of instruction, the Commission have been guided by views which I deem it incumbent on me to make known to your Majesty. Those views arise from the changes that have taken place in the basis of the instruction given at the Polytechnic School, and those changes are the principal motives which have been brought about and rendered necessary the revision of the system of military tuition in the school at Metz.

There have been introduced into the Polytechnic School courses of fortification, military art and topography. Modifications have been likewise introduced into the too theoretical spirit in which the course of mechanics was taught, and the pupils of that school are now daily drilled in the full use of arms, as well as in general infantry manoeuvring.

66

Those different modifications and accessions were naturally destined to operate on the Ecole d'Application at Metz: hence the revision of its code of instruction. On the one side, a double employ of time and useless repetition were to be avoided; and on the other side, an excess of confidence in the preparatory military education followed at the Polytechnic School, was to be guarded against.

"The Commission were most particular in steering a middle course between those two difficulties (écueils); and when any doubt arose, they preferred returning to the matter already mentioned in the programme of the latter school, and they have done so most distinctly with regard to the military instruction imparted there. I cannot but approve them; for it must not be dissembled, that the military part of the instruction given at the Polytechnic School will ever be, quand même, considered as secondary by the pupils, and, as such, neglected or followed lukewarmly by them; whereas that very same instruction becomes a fundamental part at the school at Metz.

"But the Commission have treated the other branches of instruction in another spirit. They were of opinion that, in reference to the special theoretical courses, the great, the main point would be to avoid repetition. Some theories, which, either from their double employ, or the non-justifiableness of their use when applied, have, consequently, been set aside as useless; and such reductions have facilitated the completion of instruction upon certain points, the practical or military value of which seemed to them to require a greater development.

"I must not omit calling your Majesty's attention to the sixty-fifth article of the Decree, by virtue of which Artillery and Génie officers, promoted from the ranks, may be authorised, upon their personal application, to participate in the instruction communicated at the Ecole d'Application at Metz.

"It seemed to me just and right that every source of information should be kept open to young men, who, less fortunate than their brother officers, may not have been, like them, favoured with the many advantages of special preparatory instruction previous to their entrance into the army.

"Such, Sire, are the ideas which have influenced and actuated the Commission in the accomplishment of the task imposed upon them; and it is with confidence I have the honour of submitting to your Majesty the result of their labours. I feel fully convinced that the proposed modifications will exercise the most beneficial influence over the two schools, and will result in increasing more and more the high and just renown which both branches of the Artillery and Génie have so long enjoyed, and which they have so ably preserved, to the infinite advantage of France during the most critical periods of our military history."

Such are the modifications just now introduced into the military education to be in future given at the Polytechnic and Metz schools; and which, in our humble opinion, and from our previous long acquaintance with both institutions, are most judicious, and were called for. It is evident that the Ecole d'Application at Metz is the veritable practical one; and although no pupil obtains admission into it save through the Polytechnic School at Paris, still the advantage of practice over theory points to the former school as being the essential one. If, then, it were deemed requisite to modify the theory of the Polytechnique, for the same reason the practice of the Metz school required equal modification, in order to keep ground with its parent caterer. But it should not be forgotten that, although the Ecole du Génie and the Ecole d'Artillerie