quare, the general and his staff
in the centre. The prisoners were marched from the guard room under a
strong escort, and when everything was in readiness the brigade-major,
who had charge of the proceedings, commenced to read. Calling one of
the prisoners by name, he stepped to the front, took off his cap and
listened to the reading of the proceedings of the court that tried him
and which found him guilty. Then followed the sentence in this form:
"The court, having found the prisoner guilty of all the charges
preferred against him, and in consequence of his previous very bad
character, do now sentence the prisoner to be shot to death by
musketry." Here the officer paused; the prisoner was very pale and
trembling. Continuing, the brigade-major read: "But in consideration of
the prisoner's youth Her Majesty has been pleased to commute the
sentence to penal servitude for life." The other prisoner for the same
offences received the same sentence and commutation. The other two
prisoners were sentenced to fifty lashes, which they received that cold
morning on the spot, and to be imprisoned with hard labor for ten
years.

Our social intercourse with our comrades in the camp was all that could
be desired. Entertainments of various kinds were given and a pleasant
winter spent. During our stay at Shorncliffe I was sent to musketry
school.

CHAPTER III.

In the spring we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to
embark for Dublin. This pleased us very much, for we were anxious to
see old Ireland. We were conveyed to Bristol by train and then embarked
for Dublin. Arriving without incident, we disembarked. Eight companies
marched to and took up quarters at Richmond barracks. The other two
companies, which included my own, occupied Linen Hall barracks.

We found quite a difference in the general routine of a soldier's life
in Dublin. There were 5,000 troops in garrison, including a battalion
of Grenadier Guards, and ceremonial parades were in evidence. The
trooping of the colors at guard mounting on the esplanade was one of
the most spectacular. The marching past in slow time to the music of
massed bands, together with the other beautiful movements attached to
this grand old practice, drew thousands of citizens to witness it.
Those grand displays were no doubt the means of establishing a
friendship between soldiers and citizens. This was a very proud
garrison, and the men vied with each other in dress and genera