XXU OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 



sian war, when old friends and comrades used to meet nightly in each other's 

 tents, or round the camp fire, and everyone was expected to sing when his 

 turn came round. It would be manifestly unfair, therefore, to view these 

 fragments by any high poetical standard. The poem of " Inkermann," 

 written whilst the author was confined to his hospital bed from severe 

 wounds received at that battle, is a very fine piece of rough descriptive 

 painting, and its object is to show the incomparable conduct of the British 

 soldier in one of the most sanguinary hand-to-hand fights in which our 

 arms were ever engaged. The poem is accompanied with some very elabo- 

 rate notes concerning the battle, and, setting the poetry altogether aside, 

 these notes by themselves would deserve the very highest commendation. 

 The noble-hearted soldier, the true sportsman, the perfect gentleman, 

 are depicted in every sentence. Whilst the subject of how we are to 

 recruit our army is occupying the attention of some of the wisest and most 

 practical men of the day, the following verses, the last that appear in 

 this welcome volume, should not be lost sight of. The " Old Shekarry," 

 no doubt, desires to serve those comrades of the camp fire occupying 

 a lower social position than himself. He thus concludes his book : — 



' Fame is but a fleeting shadow, 



Glory but an empty name ; 

 Spite of aU that I have gone through 

 'Tis, I find, a losing game. 



' Without interest, without money, 



Nothing can a soldier gain ; 



Through he be the sole survivor 



Of a host of comrades slain. 



' What avail these glitt'riag honours, 

 Which a Queen laid on my breast ? 

 Though I've sought them from my childhood ; 

 Would I'd fallen with the rest. 



■' Then my heart had not been broken, 

 Life had fled without a sigh ; 

 Hunger presses — I am fainting — 

 Ought a soldier thus to die ? " 



It only remains to be added that this last work of the " Old Shekarry " 

 is a worthy companion to his former literary labours, and that it is a volume 

 which every soldier, every sportsman, and every Englishman will most 

 cordially welcome. 



