THE FIELD- 
849 
TREBIZONDE. 
its premonitory symptoms appear, we advise au instant appli- 
cation for medical succour. As Sliakspearo has it : — 
Hrutus is wise, ami were he not in health 
He would embrace the means to come by it. 
The new Board of Health is doing its duty, and the mere 
presence of its officers in the afflicted districts is doing good 
in the way of encouraging and comforting the terrified 
population. Let a good word be said for the parish of 
St. Pancras, which sets an example of vigilance .and energy. 
At the some time, it excites one's indignation to read that 
parochial authorities decline to interfere with sundiy pesti- 
lential nuisances, because “ legal difficulties " are in the way. 
Is it a time, when our fellow-citizens are dying like rotten 
sheep, to cringe before legal quibbles ? If a putrescent mass 
cannot be removed legally, let it be removed illegally, and 
by the strong hand ; and let the injured innocent — the 
miscreant who, for gain or for obstinacy, insists on poisoning 
his neighbours — be left to such redress as an English jury 
will give to such a man. There are times when the great 
Roman maxim, “ the highest law is the safety of the public," 
Bhould come into operation ; aud if this be not such a time, 
with 4,000 deaths a week in London, we know not when it 
can come. 
The sentence of Lieutenant Periy has been promulgated. 
He is, virtually, dismissed the army, but is permitted to sell 
his commission. Lieutenant Greer is ordered to sell, and so, 
for the present, the matter ends. We have abstained, during 
the enquiry, from commenting upon the case, nor do we care 
now to say much upon it. The affair has given rise to a 
great deal of cant, much conventional morality has been 
talked, and much public-house indignation has been vented 
in illogical epistles to the journals. The case is simple. 
There was a great deal of bullying, horse-play, vice, and 
vulgarity among the 4Gth Bashi-bazouks, as there is in a great 
many other assemblies of young men, military and civil. If 
the system of annoyance practised upon Perry was put into 
play because he was of humble birth, and a poor man, whom 
it was, therefore, sought to expel from the regiment, no 
decorous words are strong enough to convey our contempt 
and disgust for the officers who took such a course. If, 
however, the assaults were merely part of the system which 
we know, and everybody knows, is common among young 
men of a certain class, when a new associate joins them, we 
simply think that the 46th are a parcel of vulgar fellows 
but that the blasting indignation which has been poured 
forth upon them, as if they were the inventors of harlots 
and horse-play, has scarcely been merited. Far more impor- 
tant is the question of courts-martial ; and, inasmuch as the 
helpless and repeated blundering of the tribunals which 
have taken cognizance of the Perry case has given the coup 
de grace to the system, which must be dealt with by legis- 
lation in the very next session, great benefit to the army 
will ultimately be found at the bottom of Lieutenant 
Perry's too celebrated washing-tub. 
THE ROYAL VISITORS AT BOULOGNE— AND 
CORPORAL SUTTON. 
When, on Tuesday morning, the look-out man on the 
heights announced that the Victoria and Albert was in sight, 
the whole town turned out at once as if the rappel had 
sounded, and speedily every avenue that led towards the 
entrance of the harbour was crowded with men, women, and 
children, of high aud low degree, on horseback, in carriages, 
and on foot, all anxious to get the first look at the husband 
of the Queen of England. Telescopes were as numerous on 
the jetty as are bayonets at Honvault, aud itinerant astrono- 
mers offered peeps at the royal yacht at the modest charge of 
one franc a look. Street musicians twanged forth “ God 
save the Queen” and “ The Emperor’s Hymn," and every- 
thing indicated the presence of some extraordinary cause of 
excitement. King Leopold, and his young nephew of 
Portugal, had brought out only the English visitors; but 
on this occasion the crowd was principally French, and the 
interest and curiosity exhibited by the spectators were quite 
amusing in their intensity. Everyone talked of “ Prince 
Albert, and greedily bought up a brief biography offered 
at the small charge of one sous by a peripatetic book- 
seller, but which turned out, on examination, to contain the 
memoir of the Emperor of the French, and not of his 
illustrious visitor. Every window which at all commanded 
a view of the water was crowded with ladies clad in all tlio 
elegauce of the French ; there was of course every variety 
of colour present, aud the brightness of the sun gave to the 
tints unwonted brilliancy. As the Imperial carriages came 
down, escorted by a squadron of the Cent Gardes, the cyo 
positively ached while looking at the glisteuing cuirasses of 
these redoubted warriors, the gorgeous gold lace of the 
Guides, and the white facings of the Grenadiers. The 
Emperor drove clown to the Quai, accompanied by the indis- 
pensable Colonel Fleury, aud alighting from his carriage, 
awaited his royal visitor on foot. The yacht came slowly 
alongside, the bund of the Guides struck up “God save the 
Queen," aud the peoplo gave a cheer which showed the rapid 
improvement a more intimate acquaintance with their English 
allies is effecting in their vocal demonstrations. Prince 
Albert stood on the deck in field-marshal's uniform, and sur- 
rounded by Lords Cowley aud Ilurdinge, tlio Duke of New- 
castle, Colonel Phipps, aud the remainder of his suite. Since 
the famous meeting on the “field of the cloth of gold," 
there has hardly been so interesting au interview between 
the representatives of the two mighty nations. A splendid 
“gangway,” carpeted with scarlet cloth, and ornamented 
with velvet and gold, had been prepared, and as the sailors 
ran it into its place, the Prince followed one end and the 
Emperor the other, evidently with the intention of rushing 
up or down, as the case might be, the moment it was properly 
placed. The Prince, however, showed the greater activity, 
and running briskly down the plank, was received at the 
termination by the Emperor, who, with one hand on 
the rail, held out the other for a frank Eugliidi 
shake hands, which was given on both sides with 
the greatest fervour and cordiality. At the carriage 
door the Prince gave way to the Emperor, but the 
latter was not to be outdone in politeness, and insisted on 
his visitor's entering first. The Prince then sat down on 
the left-hand side, but the Emperor again intimated that lie 
shahid take the right, and all theso little struggles of cour- 
tesy having been arranged, the party drove off. 
At the Hotel Brighton the gates were of course closed to 
all but the Priuce and his suite, but it is satisfactory to be 
enabled to state, on excellent authority, that a splendid 
breakfast was in readiness for the visitors, which no doubt 
the recent sea voyage made peculiarly acceptable. The 
Garde Imperials protected every entrance, and the Cent 
Garde (dismounted) lined tlio vestibule. Some of our 
Life Guards were amongst the crowd, and Corporal Sutton, 
the “ Commander-in-Chief of tlio British army iu France," 
was more than once mistaken for “ Un General Anglais." 
It appears that on the preceding evening this now distin- 
guished warrior had been giviug his French friends of the 
Cent Garde a specimau of that dexterity with the sword 
which had often enabled him to cut a sheep iu two, at the 
Gladiatorial exhibitions of Saville-house. The British cavalry 
were on this occasion dining with their friends, the Cent 
Gardes, at their magnificent quartern, “ The Chateau," aud 
his Majesty the Emperor hearing of the party sent thirty 
bottles of champagne to give the necessary vivacity to the 
entertuiumeut. After dinner, and “ the usual loyal toasts,” 
feats of arms and of martial prowess became naturally the 
topic of conversation, and the British Commander-in-Chief 
volunteered to cut a bar of lead iu two with his sword. The 
Frenchmen were astonished at the proposal, but much more 
so when they Raw the deed actually done, and the strongest 
and most powerful of their own body was selected to try a 
similar cut. But, alas ! though strong and valorous withal, 
be had not cut sheep in two at Saville-housc, and so, after 
about a dozen desperate cuts, lie was obliged to give up the 
task iu tears and perspiration. Theu the bar was examined and 
a fracture was hiuted, but Corporal Sutton repeated the 
stroke, suggesting at the same time the possibility 
of cutting a email waistod man in two iu a 
similar manner. “ Truth is stranger than fiction." 
Here was the celebrated trial of skill between Richard 
Coeur de Lion and Salmlin in the “ Talisman,” 
enacted over again by a corporal in the Life Guards and a 
French heavy dragoon, and excited quite as much interest in 
the spectators. Tlio Frenchmen, although behaving with all 
their usual politeness and good humour, would evidently 
have been better pleased that their comrade hud cut 
the bar, and a little English midshipman who was present 
implored his countryman, with tears iu his eyes, not to make 
the second attempt, if he was not quite sure of his hand, lest 
the national character should he imperilled by the failure of 
Corporal Suttou, of her Britannic Majesty's Life Guards. It 
is pleusing to have to add that this little episode did not 
interrupt friendly communications, hut that Corporal Sutton, 
having good uaturedly attributed his success more to sleight 
of hand and practice, than strength, the Emperor's excellent 
champagne was finished in the most amicable manner 
imaginable. 
SHOOTING. 
CAUTION AS TO THE USE OF FIRE-ARMS. 
( To the Editor). 
f?IU, — As the shooting season has commenced, may I beg 
of you t.i insert in your widely circulated columns this 
letter t which I trust may be of great use to tlio sporting 
world, and for which I venture to hope I shall not bo oondenmed, 
when I bear in mind the many unfortunate accidents with 
guns which huvo befallen numerous sportsmen (occasioning 
misery and sorrow iu families otherwise happy) from the 
more want of care aud caution in the simple process of cock- 
ing aud uncocking the locks of their guns, and from the un- 
pardonable fault of many sportsmen iu playing with the 
locks of their guns whon they have but little else to do. 
Suppose tlio Hportsmnu to have fired one barrel of his gun, 
and theu, being desirous of reloading the discharged one, ho 
lots down the cock of the loaded ouo to half cock. Now, 
nothing can be moro imprudent than this, for it frequently 
happens that, instuad of the sear going into its plucc, it 
catches on the edge of the lmlf-bcnt of the tumbler ; with 
his gun iu this state ho reloads, and, should ho be lucky 
enough not to shoot himself from the jar of loading, he is 
sure, wliuu next ho fires the reloaded barrel, to discharge 
both. I have even known this to occur in firing oft' a gun 
with enfeebled locks, when the discharge ef the burrol lias 
caused the sear of the remaining lock to n.ovo from its 
proper position to the edge of the full-bent of the tumbler, 
aud the sportsman, unaware of his danger, has reloaded with 
his gun iu this state, and an accident has been the conse- 
quence. 
Now, let me beg of all sportsmen, iu uncocking tlieir guiiB, 
to let the cock down past the half-bent, and then to draw it 
back to the half-cock ; in so doing the sear must come into 
its proper place and all will bo well, taking care that the 
fingers do not touch tlio triggers, as it may prevent the locks 
acting properly. To carry the gun cooked at any tiuio is 
daugerous and unpardonable, os also with the hammer rest- 
ing on the cap; in fact, the gun is only safe when at half- 
cock. 
Tko use of a thick glove upon tlio right hand is very dan- 
gerous ; for, iu uncocking aud cocking a gun, the glove may, 
with an imperceptible pressure upou the trigger, occasion the 
same disarraugemeut of the lock as above stated. 
Another cause of accidents with guns arises from the 
carelessness with which some sportsmeu nog oct attending 
| to the position of thogun iu loading, having the gun pointing 
1 at their bends, instead of invariably keeping the stock out- 
i sole the loft foot, when the gun, pressing against the leg, 
I will not point in the direction of the head or any part of the 
I person. In loading, turn tlio gun a little to the right to 
| load the left barrel ; your hand will not then ho in danger 
of the right ono ; and accidents have occurred from tlio 
heedless manner in which sportsmen have returned their 
ramrods after loading, by placing their right hand over the 
muzzle of the gun, which would have been entirely avoided 
simply by adjuatiug the rod in the pipe, aud sendiug it 
home with the forulingor of the right ami the thumb of tho 
left hand. Look at the gun, but never let the gun look at 
you, is my golden rule ; and I can assure all sportsmen that 
safety -guards are of but little use when carelessness is pre- 
dominant. 
The recoil of tho guu, ho often complained of, arises, in 
nine cases out of ten, from tho not holding the stock to the 
shoulder, but to the arm ; tho proper holding of w hich will be 
greatly facilitated by keeping the right elbow well dow n, when 
the stock will fit the shoulder with greater firmness. Some 
gentlemen, if told this, would be quite offended ; hut I hops 
these remarks will offend none ; for I am sure few could be 
more capable or more willing to give sound advice upon this 
subject than my sir If, who have had the experience of nearly 
forty years, and tho advantage of many of the best opinions in 
tho sporting world, to form my judgment upon. 
Let me caution every one against bringing a loaded gun 
| into the house. Always discharge it before entering ; and 
I do not content yourself with taking oft’ the caps, and saying 
“ All’s well,” for the danger is almost as great with the caps 
off as w ith them on ; for tho percussion-powder often comes 
I out of the cap and is left Upon the nipple, and tlio greatest 
1 danger may be apprehended from the false security which 
* is presented to the unconscious handler ot the gun. 
Another important point which I would offer to the 
consideration of your readers is, tbat tho locks of their 
guns should always be kept perfectly clean, as also the 
triggers, and should act with perfect freedom. A very small 
, quantity of the beat oil placed on the axletree, or where 
