enough of it to make the oldest inhab- | there is a good deal of fog over the itant think the world was coming to an islands at times. This would not suit end. The children, less experienced, all invalids, quite apart from the effect thought the sky was raining sugar- the warning-guns in the night from the plums. Bishop Lighthouse might have upon people of a nervous temperament. In the little churchyard of the island of Bryher (area two hundred and sixtyeight acres ; population about one hundred) there is a tombstone to one Jacob Hicks, who died in 1852, aged ninetysix. He was probably the patriarch of the isles, a position which, from part of his epitaph, he seems to have valued: This is to let you see I've had the fifth generation on my knee. The absence of the usual kinds of social amusement may also be regarded as a deterrent for people in ill health, to whom diversion is one of the best of tonics. A Methodist cantata, now and then, appears to be the most advanced form of dissipation in the capital. To be sure, there is a local book-club; but as the subscribers are still busy with Scott's novels, it will be long ere the writers of our time come into their hands. I was asked what I thought of Waverley much as in town one is asked one's opinion of the latest of Ibsen's trifles. They live long in the Scillies if they survive the first thirty years of life. Hale octogenarians are numerous for a community less than two thousand in number. A certain Tresco man of eighty-seven or eight (he couldn't remember which) was my boatman one day to St. Martin's, an island two miles away. He rowed me thither, and while I was there he took himself off for a few hours into the open Atlantic and caught half a score of fine pollock, after which he returned to convey me back to Tresco. I let him do all this because I wished to see if he was as capable as he was reputed to be. They told me he was full of knowledge about the islands; but he was so cautious and reticent that I am constrained to believe he has not always "acted on the square." Indeed, he let out that he had borne many a barrel upon his back in the old days, by which he meant smuggled rum and brandy. He also told with pride how, some forty years ago, when a merchantman drove upon an island north of Tresco, he was the second man aboard her in the morning. I saw much of this old fellow, but he was never more interesting than when I met him for the first time prowling among the granite blocks of the north coast of Tresco, with bent back, his white beard shaking to and fro, and a coil of rope round his meagre waist. I asked him what he was doing. He glanced at me shrewdly with his beady eye, and replied, in a shrill, pipy voice, "I be just looking to see if I can pick up some bits of things; but it be a bad time; there be nothing here." To my mind the charm of the islands Agnes ! he exclaimed, when I men- is the simple, primitive life of the tioned my visit to that fatal island, islanders. To appreciate this, it is of "there's plenty there. There be many course needful to abandon the hotels of a ship goes to pieces off Crebewethan St. Mary's, with their charges of eighand them, and washes up there." He teen pence daily for attendance. was glad on this occasion to get rid of other islands do not breed hotels, though me, and I left him peering like a gull there is a house in Tresco where visitthis way and that as he groped along. ors can lunch, and a licensed house also in Bryher. On Agnes or St. Martin's 66 Ah, Yet, though undoubtedly salubrious, However, I need say no more on this count. There is no resident invalid population here as in Penzance or Torquay. A single doctor looks after the entire archipelago, upon a tariff of five shillings per visit in the daytime, and ten shillings by night. As in other island groups, the islanders on such occasions take their turns in manning the boat which is to convey the doctor to his patient. The poor gentleman sometimes earns his fee at considerable self-sacrifice. The you are at the mercy of the hospitality | colored the shallow currents pale green. of the people; and it is the same in the The perfume and gold of the gorse eastern part of St. Mary's. upon all the islands in sight added to the charm of the scene. I spent three days in the little white house of a retired mariner on the east There was further an old seventeenthcoast of Tresco, and quite fell in love century block-house on a headland with the serenity of the life. It was a within gunshot of the cottage window, house built shipwise. To enter it one and soft turf with scentless violets in it had to stoop as if one were going down on the slope from the block-house to a hatchway; to ascend to the bedroom the sea. The Tresco church was about it was further necessary to take heed of as near in another direction a bijou one's head. Here I lived on plain food place of worship, with Himalaya palms and kept early hours. The walls were and palmetto dispersed among the populous with grocers' and drapers' graves. From the low, wind-blown Christmas almanacs. A funeral card or patch of firs a little more remote, the two kept me in mind of my mortality. cuckoo sounded its soothing note from The crockery and cutlery were of an still grey morn to dewy eve. And by unassuming kind. I drank out of a climbing the hill in the middle of the Jubilee mug, with the words "A pres- island, I could in a little while reach ent for a good little girl" upon it. The the Smith monument, set in the heart cooking was far below club standard. of a gorse thicket, with rabbits speeding But what of all this? There was hither and thither, and the finest panonothing really of the nature of a hard-rama of the islands north, south, east, ship about it, and as a change it was and west. This was the place for the delightful. The ex-mariner's boat was sunset. Even though the wind might moored just outside, under the cottage wall, which at high tide the Atlantic half hid. It was easy enough to get into it and row to Norwethel, Tean, St. Helen's, or the serrated shape of Menawore, in search of adventures. The adventures were of course likely to be of the moderate order; but I was content enough when I found myself chased by the thirteen young bullocks of Tean (unused to the sight of mortals) with singular unanimity and in a lusty manner that reminded me of a Spanish bull ring. On St. Helen's there is what some take for the ruins of a church, and also the dismantled building which years back was used as a pesthouse. The bedsteads upon which the sick sailors lay still stand disjointedly in the roofless rooms. On calm days at low tide the space between Tresco and St. Martin's presented an odd appearance. Its two miles of waterway shrank to three or four poor little channels between the black island rocks, and here, too, care was essential to avoid sticking upon one of the protrusive weed-clad granite edges which peeped above the blue water. The white sand underneath be ever so fierce, the granite base of the pile (in memory of the late governor) afforded stout protection from it; and with one's back to the thing, one might watch the changing hues of the sky until the gloaming had arrived, and the lonely rock of the Bishop Lighthouse, four miles from inhabited land, had disappeared into the distance. It was a cottage, too, for lazy moods, as well as for a certain amount of romance. For there was a well-made bench in the sandy garden, with some gillyflowers and young onions growing in front of it; and the ex-mariner had a famous telescope through which one could see the men of the Round Island Lighthouse (the third in the archipelago) moving about their limited rocky domain. Like other ex-mariners, this good fellow could tell yarns beginning, When we were off Cape Hatteras, one day in the year so and so." But he was never so utterly tiresome or mendacious as some of his brethren are apt to be on the like themes. In this little cottage I was treated with as much distinction as possible for four-and-sixpence a day. It was nearly the same on the island I think the view of the islands from the St. Martin's downs is even more interesting than that from Tresco. Here we are not in the middle of the group. It is all spread out beneath us upon one side; while upon the other side is the Atlantic and the grey outline of the Cornish coast beyond. Seen by moonlight, the interlacing of the reefs in the silvery water is a remarkable sight. At such a time, too, there will be the witness of half-a-dozen lighthouses to suggest that not always are the Scillies so sweet and idyllic a picture. For not only are the local lights visible from these downs of St. Martin's, but those of Cornwall also. of St. Martin's. Here I was the guest | no doubt been made, and thus the numof a farmer in the Middle Town; and it ber of its parts is ever on the increase. was settled (not without apology from the farmer's wife about the extravagauce of the charge) that I should pay four shillings daily for my board and lodging. The chief article in the bill of fare was clotted cream. At low tide my host collected cockles from the sandy shore looking towards St. Mary's, three miles distant. These, with excellent plum cake and a tin of Australian meat, may be described as the table dainties of St. Martin's. My bedroom window opened into the greenhouse, in which heliotrope and hundreds of cut narcissi ready for the market made a perfume that was almost too sweet for sufferance. There was no end to the amiability of the household. One day St. Martin's ought to be a moral little the farmer had the butcher over from land. Its inhabitants neither smoke St. Mary's, and a two-year-old ox was tobacco nor drink strong drink. There slain in the presence of the people. is no licensed house in its three miles That evening, when I went to bed, the of length. In case of need, a certain gory head of the slaughtered beast hung householder will provide a little brandy; at the foot of my staircase, to remind but one may conjecture that the need me of a nursery picture of the decapita- will have to be extreme before it is tion of Goliath. And on the following administered. The perfume of my day part of the "offal" enriched the principal meal. But it was more especially outside the farmhouse and its narcissus beds that I took my pleasure on St. Martin's. The island is only about five hundred acres in extent, but it is an enchanting combination of rocky coast, white sandy bays, and grassy downs with gorse and heather and crimson stonecrop on them. The hills pervade it; and from the balmy ridge Cornwall seems quite near. Fortunately the weather was exquisite while I was here. At low tide I walked to White Island, and inspected the deep fissure which some think a relic of ancient tin-prospecting Romans. There is no present trace of tin in the cutting; but if man's handiwork is not in the quarry, nature is a subtler imitatrix of it than one would expect to find her. This island, like most of the others, is destined in no long time to be divided into two parts. The Atlantic pinches the waists of the isles until, after a series of spring tides, channels form in their midst. Thus the archipelago has cigar seemed to certain members of my "St.o resolved there and then that when I return to St. Martin's, it shall be with a portmanteau half full of pattern-books. But I fear, long ere that time comes, one of the young men of St. Martin's will have taken her to a certain little white house, with its appanage of narcissus beds and new-potato patches. From Blackwood's Magazine. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MILITARY COLLEGE. kept prominently in view, whilst efficiency was not neglected. So there was much searching for suitable quarters and much negotiation before the acquisition in 1809 of Addiscombe Place, near Croydon, formerly the residence of the first Earl of Liverpool, which comprised a mansion and about fiftyseven acres of land. Its late owner, Charles Jenkinson, was the chief political adviser of George III., and enjoyed that monarch's complete confidence. He commenced Parliamentary life in 1761 under Lord Bute, had rapid promotion, was created IN these days, when companies for Lord Liverpool in 1796, and died in the development of vast tracts of Africa 1808. The house was a fine old red are being established, both interest and brick mansion, and the grounds were advantage may result from an investi- well timbered and very beautiful. It gation of the methods followed by their was no doubt unavoidable that most of great predecessor, the Honorable East the trees should be cut down to make India Company. If much may be room for the hideous barracks and class found that is now out of date, still more rooms, for whose design we believe the is to be learnt of unquestionable value company's architect and a senior officer from the extended experience and of royal engineers were responsible; wise blending of liberality with econ- but who would credit that the mansion omy which characterized the manage- itself was whitewashed! Possibly on ment of the great company. In its the authority of the "Rolliad,” purifigeneral aspect the subject is manifestly cation after the departure of its late too extensive for more than mere men-owner and his friends Pitt and Dundas tion here; but a short consideration of was considered necessary before the one branch of it—the supply of officers | house was fit for the reception of the for the company's military service may prove useful, and is certainly interesting, as it involves a description of the military school in which many officers were trained whose services were of the highest order, and of whom some have acquired enduring renown. In the early days of the company the territory under their sway was comparatively limited, and consequently their army was sinall. Its officers were irregularly supplied; some from local sources were appointed to the infantry, whilst others from Woolwich or Marlow filled the few vacancies in the artillery and engineers. But as these corps had to be augmented to keep pace with the increase of territory, the Court of Directors decided to establish a seminary, as they delighted to call it, for the education of cadets destined for their service in India. In accordance with the traditions of the company, economy was seminary staff; but if so, the efforts might have been confined to the interior, and the gratuitous advertisement of the vandalism of the new proprietors might have been spared. Suitable quarters having thus been secured, the directors appointed Dr. James Andrew head master, and intrusted him with the selection of professors and with the management of the institution. In 1809 there were sixty cadets, for whose board and education Dr. Andrew received an allowance of £80 each per annum, and there is evidence that the arrangement was to his entire satisfaction. Whether it pleased the cadets equally is another story, concerning which official reports are silent. Dr. Andrew was professor of mathematics and head classical master, the other professors being Mr. Glennie for fortification, with Mr. Bordwine as assistant; Mr. Shakespear for Hindu ?? 1 and "opin stani, with Hasan Ali as assistant; and diligence; and it was arranged that a military-plan drawing-master; and engineers were to be detained in EnColonel Mudge was public examiner. gland without prejudice to their rank, Each cadet paid £30 half-yearly to in order that they might be attached to cover the cost of books, mathematical the ordnance survey then in progress, instruments, stationery, pocket-money, and learn the elements of surveying. washing, etc., "cloaths and medical at- Another regulation is curious as a sign tendance; "1 the further cost of educa- of the times. Cadets whose parents tion was paid by the company to secure resided in Scotland or Ireland had the useful and efficient men for their work privilege of remaining at the seminary in India. The age for admission was during the vacation, travelling being from thirteen and a half to sixteen then so slow and expensive. But this years, a bad arrangement which led to indulgence, if it may be termed one, mischief, for mere boys require a disci- was not an unqualified success, for we pline totally different from that suitable | find two young men thus situated had for young men. In time this error was first boarded with Hasan Ali the assistso far amended that the minimum age ant Hindustani master, and afterwards was raised to fifteen and the maximum lived in private lodgings in Croydon, to eighteen years, but still the consid- where they "conducted themselves in erable difference in the ages of cadets a very exceptionable manner,' thus possible was an element of need- contracted during the holidays less danger to the management. Never- ions and habits of independence which theless, at first the students seem to indisposed them on resuming their have given little trouble; there is noth- studies to submit to the necessary dising recorded against them save inatten- cipline of the seminary." 1 This was tion to the study of Hindustani. The provided for by a code of regulations. first public examination was held in Cadets were not allowed to go into October, 1810, when, in order to give Croydon or beyond the grounds without the occasion "a proper degree of solem- the permission of the head master; nity and consequence," ," the directors they had always to wear uniform even were asked to attend in full strength. when on short leave; they were not Besides them the only other guests liable to what the official records term seem to have been Dr. Hutton, the late "corporeal punishment," but could be professor of mathematics at Woolwich, fined, get extra drill, or be put and Mr. Leyburn, who held a similar the Black Hole, there to be fed ou position at Marlow, both of whom cer- bread and water, provided that such tified that the cadets passed a very confinement shall not extend beyond strict and scientific examination in nine o'clock at night, but it may be remathematics, and that great merit was sum'd the following morning."1 The due to both preceptors and pupils. On fines formed a fund whence prizes were this occasion eight were selected for given to the deserving. engineers and twenty-one for artillery. ፡፡ 'in The respectable monotony of order It is curious and instructive to note seems to have been broken in 1815 the gradual development of the institu- under the following circumstances. On tion from this humble beginning. At a Sunday afternoon some of the young first no prizes were given save the ap-men applied for leave to go beyond the pointments to India; but soon we find grounds; and Dr. Andrew (to quote the seminary committee recommending his version of the affair), thinking that "that a box of colors and other draw- to give no leave would be ungracious ing materials, with a suitable super- and to give unlimited leave dangerous, scription," should be given to the best told the students to muster at five military draftsman. Other prizes fol- o'clock and he would walk with them! lowed, in order to promote emulation | But the worthy gentleman's company 1 MS. records. |