THE GARRISON. 



10? 



most formal man, full of etiquette ; and all the 

 other officers are of the same standing. I was 

 introduced to the chief, and we then proceeded 

 to the chapel. Forgetful of necessary forms, I 

 had placed myself next to the wall on the right 

 hand side of the chapel ; but the commandant 

 would not give up his right, and therefore re- 

 minded me to move, that he might take that 

 place. As soon as the mass was ended, we took 

 our leave. Some idea of the state of the works 

 may be formed from the following anecdote. 

 A former chaplain was dismissed from his situa- 

 tion owing to the non-observance on his part of 

 established regulations. The gate was opened 

 for his admission, and that of any other person 

 who might wish to hear mass on Sundays and 

 holidays ; but on one occasion he unfortunately 

 espied the commandant standing in the area of 

 the fort, through a breach in the walls, upon 

 which, instead of going round to the gate, he 

 rode unceremoniously through the breach in his 

 anxiety to greet the commandant, who was much 

 disconcerted at the occurrence. At the time 

 I was there, the garrison consisted of militia- 

 men ; and an idea of the discipline of these may 

 be formed from the following circumstance, 

 which took place only a short time before my 

 visit to the fort. The adjutant, who was between 

 seventy and eighty years of age, threatened to 

 strike or gently touched with his cane one of the 



