454 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



AMATEUR HANGMEN. While we are endeavouring to abolish the 

 lash in every other country, how much longer is it to disgrace our 

 own ? How long are our ears to be insulted with the sound of the 

 cat-o' -nine-tails, and the groan of its victims ? A great disgrace is it 

 to the late administration, that, while they took the case of all classes 

 under their consideration, the dreadful sufferings of the soldier were 

 entirely overlooked. They were left to the mercies of petty tyrants, 

 who cling to torture as the only remains of despotism left them. We 

 do not hesitate to say that the punishment of the cat is the most atro- 

 cious specious of torture ever invented. No man who has ever seen 

 the mangled bleeding body of a man cut to the bone by that bloody 

 instrument but must loathe the perpetuators of such a murderous 

 punishment. It is worse than all others, because it is both barbarous 

 and humiliating. No man having undergone that ordeal can look 

 upon his fellow with equality he carries the brand of infamy upon 

 him, and will carry it with him to the grave. 



We understand that the prevalence of this diabolical system is 

 mainly to be attributed to the opinion of a Colonel Bowater, com- 

 manding one of the battalions of the Fusileer Guards, that no man 

 can act honourably without the fear of punishment. Doubtless this 

 gentleman's opinions of human nature are matured by a continued 

 and close communion with himself; but does it follow, because this 

 unhappy gentleman has ffhosen one of the very worst specimens, that 

 human nature is to be judged by such a standard? His majesty, one 

 of the most humane and kind-hearted men breathing, surely can 

 know nothing of the savage propensities of this gallant gentle- 

 man, or he never could make him so intimate a companion. We 

 should be glad to know what has been done with those two men con- 

 fined so many weeks in the guard-house previous to the battalion 

 leaving town ; surely they were not reserved for a bonnebouche to the 

 military appetite in the country for a carnivorous meal, safe from 

 the vulgar inquisitiveness of the press. 



MAGNANIMITY OF WARRIORS. Some years since the British 

 government granted honorary rank in the army to the Prince of 

 Orange, intended, no doubt, by the pliant individuals of power in 

 those days as a compliment to the heir-apparent of the throne of Hol- 

 land ; but Mynheer no sooner got his brevet than he, with the thrifty 

 spirit of his illustrious father, inquired into the proceeds, and not un- 

 derstanding empty compliments, regularly from that moment touched 

 his " compensation" with the precision of a gazetted and garretted 

 half-pay. Nothing like royal example ; witness the following : 



"The Courier Beige, of the 17th inst., states that the illustrious hero, 

 the Duke of Wellington, has made a claim of the Belgian government to 

 the amount of 270,000 florins, being three years' pay as Field-marshal of 

 Belgium and Inspector-general of fortifications." 



These appointments were made in the good times of Dutch rule, 

 and if the Duke wants his money he had better apply to his old 

 friend the Dutch king; but he is aware that at the Dutch 

 treasury pickled herrings are more plentiful than piastres, so 

 he is trying to " come the old soldier" over the " brave Beiges." It 

 happens, however, most unluckily, that the Duke's appointment has 



