population occupy only single rooms, and these of small size in which parents and children eat and sleep, sicken and die. These homes of the people in towns are usually in crowded parts, with few conveniences or means of ventilation; and in the country are most frequently low, damp, and without proper drainage. In contrast with all this, the barrack accommodation at home, which is now in general better at stations abroad, is of a decidedly superior description, and in situations favourable to health. Though the present regulation quantity of air space, viz., 600 cubic feet per man is not always attainable, the average is over 500 feet; the room floors are daily cleaned, frequently hard rubbed, and have the sides. and ceilings regularly white-washed, while adjacent lavatories and night-closets make complete sanitory appendages, the cooking being performed in detached kitchens. It may, indeed, be surmised that when so many adults as for the most part eat and sleep together in occupation of the same barrack-room, it cannot be regarded as salubrious. But in point of fact, it is not the number of persons occupying in common that makes the place unwholesome, so long as a sufficient air-space is alloted to each, and where means are taken for ventilation and cleanliness-and all these conditions are insured among soldiers. A non-commissioned officer who lives in the room is responsible for strict conformity to the appointed regulations, and the officer of the day, accompanied by a sergeant, has to pay repeated inspection visits to every quarter. Nor is it to be forgotten. that hurts, ailments, and diseases are treated only in the hospital, thus withdrawing a pernicious set of influences from barrack-rooms, to which the homes of the industrious are exposed.

These arrangements for sufficiency of pure air, and means of cleanliness would not, however, suffice to preserve health, were not attention given to ensure suitable and regular dietary. The food requirements of men at the ages usual among soldiers are in fact increased by the salutary arrangements as well as by outdoor exercises and rotine of guards. At the same time their temptations to spend in other ways, and the smallness of their daily pay, would often lead men to forego their stated meals, were they left any option in the matter. Here then again happily the regulations are strict and satisfactory, though complaints are sometimes heard which would not be thought of, but that they have in general enough and to spare. This may indeed be said truly; while the quality of the bread and meat provided by Government contract, being always subject to inspection by the officers in turn need never be objectionable; and if, as has been thought, greater variety in the material and cooking of the principal meal of the day would be desirable, arrangements are being made for such an improvement.

Well, every single soldier has each day a good dinner, with two substantial meals morning and evening. The dinner consists of three quarters of a pound of fresh meat for each member of the mess and the breakfast and supper are composed of bread with tea

or coffee, with the addition of any relish individuals may choose. or can afford. Then there is not only the advantage in economy and nutriment arising from the meat and bread of wholesome quality being served out at a reduced price, but from the quantity required for a mess being cooked in bulk and at once. There is also the punctual regularity of each meal, at seasonable intervals, partaken of with leisure and in cheerful company. Besides, means are taken to see that every one is present at each meal, unless when absent with leave, and if on duty, which prevents him being present, his portion is carefully sent as warm as possible wherever he may be, so that no man can go without his stated meals, or withhold money from the mess expenses to misspend otherwise. And to complete the whole of the arrangements, the officer of the day is required to see the dinners in every mess, and at uncertain times the messes are inspected by a superior officer. Thus, nothing is wanting which arrangement and oversight can do to secure to every soldier the full benefit of regular and sufficient diets of wholesome well-cooked food in variety enough for health and enjoyment, while by the time allowed for each meal and the stated intervals at which they recur, the body is more effectually nourished without oppression of the digestive organs than could be done by a greater amount or richness of food taken at irregular hours or without comfortable leisure. Indeed, even the well to do operatives can have no such provision available for dieting; and the labourers in town or country, however hard their toil, have to put up with very different treatment. Nay, long before cooking depots and dining-halls, furnishing cheap meals for the upper working classes were thought of, all the advantages they afford were enjoyed by soldiers. Yet such establishments can only be self-sustaining where the numbers who frequent them are large, and when aided at the outset by the benevolent. Nor can working men ever have all the benefits, in connection with social meals, which soldiers can have around their mess tables in the daily intercourse and sociality.

Now with all these favourable measures calculated to promote intelligence, cheerfulness, health, and comfort, it is reasonable to expect that the condition and conduct of our troops should everywhere bear a favourable comparison with the condition and conduct of men of the same age in the bulk of the population. And it is so, making allowances for the issues of warfare, the maladies engendered in unnative climes, and the effects arising from sudden changes of station. There is of course difficulty in estimating accurately the extent of sickness and death attributable to the several causes so as to fix the deductions which should be made as the result of warfare and climate. But there are laws of hygiene and mortality which are in constant action, and ages of male life of which there are statistics affording data for an approximate computation. Having regard to such points, the direct appeal falls to made medical returns, and then it appears that every possible attention which skill and

care can furnish is employed to secure the health of the troops at home and abroad; that the numbers treated in hospital for casual diseases and hurts are not beyond the proportion proper to their favourable circumstances, and that the sanitory state of the Army, under the beneficial influences which have of late years been brought into operation, has been of the most satisfactory character. The more gratifying fact is that in the troops serving at home, the deathrate is lower than that of the male population in England and Wales, and even that of the healthy districts.

In vital statistics and hygiene the reports and annotations connected with diseases in the Army are the earliest and the best. They are now furnished from every quarter with the most careful accuracy, and condensed with great skill. It is therefore unavoidable that the volumes of the Statistical Sanitory and Medical Reports issued under authority appear a year or more after the periods to which they belong. We can thus refer only to the Blue Book Reports for 1863. And from that it is shown that, with the exception of the Household Cavalry, Foot Guards, and Depôt Battalions, the rate of deaths per thousand of all branches in the Army in the United Kingdom has been lower than that of the civil male population of the healthy districts in England and Wales.*

Nor is this all. During the whole of his soldier life, in whatever circumstances he may be placed, every one is favoured with the ministrations of religion, according to the persuasion to which he chooses to attach himself. This at first and for a time is not, perhaps, deemed a privilege, and no doubt there are hindrances as well as difficulties in camp and quarters in following out a course of Christian decision and consistency, though many educations in civil life are less favourable to the growth and enjoyment of religion than the Army. At all events, the instructions, consolations, hopes, and morality of our most holy faith are, with the national consent, regarded as all-important, while experience has shown that officers and men, truly religious, are zealous in the discharge of every military duty, and prepared to fall in battle the foremost among the brave; so that in the emphatic language of the Duke of Wellington, it is now "The better Christian the better soldier." There is, in

* Ratio of deaths per 1000 men in 1863, in the United Kingdom.

Household Cavalry

Dragoon Guards and Dragoons

6.90

6.46

5.59

5.25

9.61

7.41

3.63

fact, a great and salutary change in the concern taken, with the fullest sanction of authority, in whatever can promote the soldier's highest and eternal welfare. In many ways the kindly services and sympathy of considerate chaplains, who have made themselves familiar with the trials and feelings of those under their charge, have a most beneficial influence. Nor should it ever be forgotten that our soldiers, whether after full or limited terms, fall at once into the general community to speak by their principles and conduct either for or against the service.

Here, however, we must pause for awhile, as the space at our command is exhausted. But in the front of what has been said, challenging refutation of the facts and reasoning, we think we are warranted to hold that the British Army is a grand national institution, salutary, educational, disciplinary and moral, at once creditable and beneficient. The bulk of our rank and file come from the lower stratum of society, and receive advantages of the most beneficial and permanent character. Though, from the age and circumstances in which they for the most part are, when they enlist, they have little education, and their habits are not to be boasted; they are not the debased, the worthless, and the vile, the refuse of our large towns, and the pests of our rural neighbourhoods, as some would have it, but at the worst, restive, friendless, neglected or unfortunate youths who might have sunk and become hopeless, and such as they were, are raised and benefited by being soldiers, as they might never have been otherwise.

This is our argument. Not an assertion, but a matter substantially proved. If, therefore, it were true that recruits were all the dregs and off-scourings of the population, our proved case would only be the more valuable, and we only repudiate the description. under the conviction that it is not true. As a point of sheer justice, and a rejection of an ignorant prejudice, we would remove the stigma which from first to last many inconsiderately attach to soldiers. For this purpose, we have set forth the advantages of a military life against those of other callings, and the condition of soldiers in comparison with that in which the men are of the same original circumstances who have chosen to remain in civil life. The result should be a fair and not exaggerated plea for enlistment in a service which is recruited, not by conscription, but by voluntary choice. It should also have value as affording a measure of satisfaction to the kindred of those who from year to year enlist or are in the ranks of the army, as showing that no disgrace should attach to men in the honourable discharge of sacred duties to the Queen and country.

Men who enjoy advantages over most of their early compeers, have every reasonable provision for their comfort and improvement, and who, despite of stigma and prejudice, everywhere merit and receive a gratifying amount of consideration. How far the consideration is deserved may be seen in the appearance in and out of uniform of

the local force throughout the country, composed chiefly of limited service men, who retain attachment to their former profession. Of these often, and many others, a desire to benefit their near relatives is the avowed reason for claiming their discharge, and not dissatis faction. In fact, the men in the ranks, both young and old, themselves the best judges, do not scruple to admit that little can be done for the welfare of well-disposed soldiers by general regulations or regimental economy that is left undone.

We adunit, too, that any considerable increase of daily pay would augment their temptations, and necessitate severe discipline and penalties. What is required, is not so much more daily pay as increase of pensions, as an inducement to enlist and re-engage. Nor would the attracting of recruits from a higher grade, with better education, be of any advantage to the character or efficiency of the service. Something of a pecuniary kind must, however, be done, and that speedily, to promote recruiting. Not that there need be any fear of deficiency in the event of war, but the troops requisite must be kept in readiness for ordinary duty as well as for the first exigencies of war. The purpose of a Commission or Committee is not a day too soon, and ought not to be delayed. Meanwhile we blush for shame, when the necessity for higher rewards to soldiers arises from the abundant prosperity of the country that a nation so generous should palter about the requisite expenditure for the Army, or deal unjustly with those who are willing to do what they can, and go any and every where to forward and conserve the honour and interests of the British Empire.

EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO;

OR,

NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER.

After the long retirement imposed by her deep affliction, Her Majesty the Queen has again entered on public life. Almost as a matter of course, Her Majesty's first appearance seemed due to the representatives of the nation, and accordingly this was made at the opening of the new Parliament; but that duty discharged, it must be very gratifying to the United Services that the Queen's next appearance in public has been given to the troops at Aldershot. On the 13th of last month, though the weather was anything rather than conducive to personal comfort, the Royal party proceeded from Windsor to Aldershot, where the troops in both camps were paraded, and, it is almost needless to say, received their illustrious