ey are." On the following morning I moved into my new house, and
published my own appointment. Here all the cares and anxieties of my
past life were forgotten. The very idea of having the whole regiment
under my special command at drill, was to me inexpressibly delightful,
and I looked forward to the day as the consummation of my military
glory.

As a groundwork for proceeding properly in my new office, I established
an inseparable vacuum between my rank and that of the other
non-commissioned officers, treating them with every respect consistent
with theirs, and, in time, making them sensible that such a difference
must be established between their station and that of the privates under
their command. I enforced prompt obedience and attention from them, and
they from those under them. This they at first construed into pride on
my part; but, in time, that prejudice wore off, and they obeyed with
pleasure. Those who proved refractory were removed from their
situations, and those more obedient promoted in their stead. Thus things
went on smoothly and pleasantly; and, in two or three months, I could
trust them in the discharge of their duties with confidence, and they
soon learned how far they could go with me. I had a strict and vigilant
adjutant; he made a strict and vigilant sergeant-major; he made good
non-commissioned officers; and they good private soldiers. Thus,
discipline and good-will towards each other went hand in hand together.
My situation was a respectable one, and, what was equally pleasant, a
lucrative one. I had as many titles as any peer in the kingdom:--

J. Shipp, R.S.M.--Regimental Sergeant-Major.
J. Shipp, G.K.--Gaol-Keeper.
J. Shipp, U.T.--Undertaker.
J. Shipp, L.M.--Log-Maker.

The perquisites of all these situations brought my pay to a handsome
amount; I was respected by the officers, and loved by the men; and I had
scarcely a wish ungratified. The year round I always found the same
people, with but little variation, in the congee-house; and one man, a
fine young fellow, was never off my gaol-book. The moment he was
released he was assuredly in the guard-room again, and from thence to
his old place of abode. I once asked him how he could, month after
month, prefer that solitary and secluded life to that of liberty. He
replied, "Habit is second nature," for there, he said, "he could, alone
and undisturbed, brood over his sad and hitherto melancholy career." He
concluded in a most