The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 298: what you’re looking at

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TUN -_— ee, ee eee eee Ee 2 ee oe he met Elien again, according to the appointment elrrs tv arranged, he would represent to her the ne- erelty of their eternal separation. But when they ciiimeet, and in a eccluded place, sho appeared £0 ravishingly beantiful, and spoke with s0 much tendernces, and seemed s0 completely happy in his society, and was withal 50 unfeignedly loving, that ho could not bring himsolf to give utterance to the words that trembled upon his tongue—words that would have chased away those charming smiles, dimmed with tears the lustre of thoso melting ercs, hushed with sighs that language of fervid passion, and ebhanged to dark despair all that bright and glowing bliss. Therefore they separated a sccond timo with an arrangement to mect again :—and on the occasion of the third intervieww Leonard found himself less disposed than before to make a repre- sentation which would be fatal to the happiness of both. Lo be bricf, intorview succeeded interview, Livonard resolving that each ono should bo the Inst,--until at length Jove’s dalliance becamo irrc- histiblo in its couscquonces; and, opportunity scrv- ing In all respects, the lovers were criminal! From that day forth Leonard thought no moro of the improprioty of their mectings, which thereafter grew more frequont and longer in duration. We shall here interrupt the thread of our narra- tivo for a brief space, in order to make a few obser- vations upon the condition of the privato soldier. And, in tho first instance, let us record our conric- tion that there is not a more gencrous-hearted, a nobler-minded, or a more humane set of men broath- tne than thoso who constitute the ranks of the British Army; whilo thero is not a more tyrannical, overbearing, illiberal, and self-sufficient class than that composed of the officers of this army. But how is the latter fact to bo accounted for? Because the Army isthe mere plaything of tho Aristocracy— a means of providing for tho youngor sons of noble- men, and enabling titled mammas to show off their striplings in red coats. What opinion can wo have of tho constitution of the army, so far as the officors are concerned, when we find Prince Albert suddenly created a Field-Marshal ?* Such a spectacle is nau- ceating in the extreme; and the German must have execrably bad taste, or clso bo ondowed with inor- dinate conccit, to hold tho baton of n Marshal when he bas not even the military knowledgo of a drummer-boy. Siuce the Army is thus mado a mero tool in®ho hands of a rascally Aristocracy, what sympathy can possibly exist betwoon the officers and the men? Tho former look upon tho latter as tho scum of the carth—mero slaves on a level with shioe-blacks; and henco tho barbarons cry of “ Flog! flog! flog!” But thero is no love lost betweon the classes : for the soldiers hate and abhor their officers, whom they naturally and most justly look upon as their tyrants and oppressors. Itis enough to make tho blood boil with indignation to think that those finc, stalwart, gallant fellows should bo kicked about at the caprice of a wretchéd cnsigo or con- tomptiblo cornet just loosened from his mamma’s apron-Strincs,—or bullied by older officers whoso only “excellence” is their relationship to nobility, and theic power to obtain promotion by purchase. Tho generality of tho officers in the British Army ae om ¢ This mighty warrlor ran atay from London when caager was apprehended in conseqnence of the glorions érnioctatic mecting of 250,000 enlightened working men, at Kenosinugtea Common, on the 10th of April, 1848, MYSTERIES OF LESDON., ar ase fare nothing more Jorlers than a eet of purse-proud ; bloodhounds, whore greatest delight is to behold , the blood streami:.¢ down the backs of thoee men who alone win their country’s battles. When the Duko of York (who was o humano tnan, thourh as preat a scamp as ever had a COLUMN OF INFAMY erected to his memory) limited corporal punishment to 390 lashes, the full amount was invariably in- flicted in nineteen out of twenty cases: but eren this would not satisfy the bloodhounds, who an- noyed and pestered the Duke on tho subject to such an extent that he was literally bullied into em- powering them to hold General Regimental Courts. Martial, by whoso decision 500 lashes might be administered to tho unhappy victim. For years and years was tho torture of military flogging in Iing- land a shamo and a scandal to all Europe; and it was absolutely neccssary that a fine fellow should be murdered at Hounslow by the accursed Jash, before the barbarous Government would interfere, All the world knows that a DRITISH SULDIER twas saurdered in this revolting manner, and in the pre- sonce of his horror-stricken comrades: for bo it re- membered that when these appalling spectacles tako place, the eyes that weep and tho hearts that grow faint are thoso of the soldiors—never of the officers! Again we ask, then, what sympathy can possibly exist between tho privates and theso in command } None: the soldiers would be moro grovelling than spaniels if they conld possibly kiss the hands that cuff them, or lick the shoes of thoso who kick and spurn them. The British soldier has his feel- ings as well as others—ayc, and his spirit too; and he feels the iron of a crucl disciplino and a hearticss system rankling in his very soul. Tho celebrated John Wilkes was wont to say, “ The tery worst use you can puta man to,isto hang him.” We agree with the dictuir: but wo aver in addition that it is an equally vilo use to flog him. In fact, tho whole treatment of the soldier, from the day of his enlist- mont until that of bis discharge, is one continuous system of tyranny. Deception is mado uso of to ensnare him into the service—a crushing despotism is maintained to render him a docile, pliant tool while he isin it—and the basest ingratitude marks his departure from {t, whon ho is turned adrift on the world without a ponny to help him. Tho infamy commences with the recruiting sergoant—is perpe- tuated by all tho officers—and is consummated bry the Government. Take tho caso of Juconard Mitchell in respect to enlistment. Tho young man was as. sured by the recruiting sergeant that his pay would be o guinea a-week: it however turned out to bo only 92. dd., from which 5s. 10d. were stopped for messing and washing, 2s. 74d. for clothos, ond 34d, for articles to clean his uniform with—leaving 7d, per week, or one penny a-day, for pocket-moncy | And this is tho condition of a British dragoon— with Iess pocket-money than a school-boy recolves from his parents | The Government relics upon the fidelity of tho Army from the fact that it is officered by tho scions of tho aristocracy, who are of course interested in upholding all kinds of abuses. Henco tho belicf which tho Gorernmeut cntertains thatin case of a popular convulsion tho trocps would be certain to fire upon the people, But, in spite of tho lordlings and aristocratic offshoots who command the army, we firmly belicre that it nll depends upon the caase in which such popular conrulsion might ariee, whether the troops weuld really massacre thelr (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)