usually send up in the evening on speculation, in the hopes of catching our working parties, as they leave the trenches.

In passing through the works, along parallel batteries, covered ways, &c., one goes over more ground than people who have never been there, would imagine; and the distance of even the first parallels from the camp is considerable as those, who value their safety, would naturally follow the windings of the ravines, in the day time. I have often heard people, in England, talk as if they thought it an easy thing to leave the camp, walk through the trenches, and be back again in an houras well as they could visit their gardens, or their stables. In hot weather, or when the ground is muddy, a trip through the trenches is most toilsome, and fatiguing work-to say nothing of the danger incurred.

In the evening I went to dine with a friend belonging to the artillery. After dinner, a French officer walked in-I forget his name; but he was a captain of the 6me Dragons. He was very sore at the way the English always spoke of the chasseurs d'Afrique, and

A FRENCH OFFICER'S OPINION.

269

the Zouaves; and the estimation in which we hold them - preferring them to the other French troops. He said, that our newspapers always spoke of them, as if they, alone, had anything to do with the fighting; and, that our "bonne reine, Victoria," from reading them, must form the same opinion; but it was not the case. There were only about four thousand Zouaves, and two regiments of chasseurs d'Afrique, in the Crimea; while there were fifty thousand infantry of the line. Consequently, the Zouaves, being so few, could not have played a principal part in what has been done. In his idea, they were not any better, if as good, as the others. According to what he said, it was not the Zouaves who rendered us such timely aid at Inkerman, but some battalions of the linewho, as he averred, did far more good service than the Zouaves. He was most vehement in his words and gesticulations, and his volubility was so great, that it was most difficult to follow him in what he said.

Great jealousy exists between the different branches of the French army, and of the

270

told us.

THE ZOUAVES.

Zouaves in particular. The reason of this is, I conclude, what the French officer has just Still, there is no doubt but that the Zouaves are their best men, and naturally so; because, if I undertand right, they are principally from Paris, and other large towns, and are consequently more intelligent; and having always been more or less on active service in Africa, they have acquired the habits and experience of old campaigners, which gives them a decided superiority over those regiments who have only lately left France.

CHAPTER XIX.

NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.

April 22nd.-THE ground is now so thickly covered with tents, that, on a dark night, it is a most difficult thing to find one's way. Lights, numerous as the stars, are gleaming in all directions; and, without a good knowledge of the ground, one is very likely to lose the right course, and be brought up short, by tumbling over unseen tent-pegs, or into some hole or heap of rubbish which has not yet been covered up. 23rd. The Third Division races came off to-day, just in rear of their camp. While they were going on, a French battalion-the 16th of the line, who are encamped in rear of

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FRENCH REGIMENT AT DRILL.

the Second Division-were at drill, in heavy marching order with camp kettles, tentes d'abri, and all complete; so I went off to see what I take far more interest in than bad horse-racing. They deployed from column into line-formed column again by file marching-formed square from open column-prepared to receive cavalry-and finally marched past in quick time. Their drill very much resembled ours, differing only in a few immaterial details. Like us, they now work in two ranks only. It was a good performance, but all the movements I saw were in column. I should like to have seen a smart English regiment, well-handled, brought on the ground advance in line, form square on the two centre sub-divisions, and perform a few select manœuvres. I think the French would say and justly, too-"C'est magnifique."

There is a certain party in this camp, but not a very large one, whose constant theme of conversation is the harm, which they allege, the presence of newspaper correspondents causes; and they bray out their opinions at