ers might pride themselves
on their longevity--at the best a dodging of the common lot.
We, characteristically, thought first of death and wounds.

As the Major put it, at another public meeting: "There are risks even
in handling the explosives generously supplied to us by Government.
But suppose--and the supposition is surely not extravagant--that
history should repeat itself; that our ancient enemy should once
again, as in 1456, thunder at _this_ gate of England. He will
thunder in vain, gentlemen! (Loud applause.) As a wave from the
cliff he will draw back, hissing, from the iron mouths of our guns.
But, gentlemen"--here the Mayor sank his voice impressively--
"we cannot have omelets without the breaking of eggs, nor victories
without effusion of blood. He may leave prisoners in our hands: he
will assuredly leave us with dead to bury, with wounded to care for.
As masters of the field, we shall discharge these offices of common
humanity, not discriminating between friend and foe. But in what
position are we to fulfil them?"

The fact was (when we came to consider it) our prevision had extended
no farther than the actual combat: for its most ordinary results we
had made no preparation at all.

But in Troy we are nothing if not thorough. The meeting appointed an
Emergency Committee then and there; and the Committee, having retired
to reassemble ten minutes later at the "General Wolfe," within an
hour sketched out the following proposals:

1.--An Ambulance Corps to be formed of youths under sixteen
(not being bandsmen) and adults variously unfit for military
service.

2.--A Corps of Female Nurses. Miss Pescod to be asked to
organise.

3.--The Town lock-up to be enlarged by taking down the partition
between it and a chamber formerly used by the Constable as a
potato store. It was also resolved to strengthen the door
and provide it with two new bolts and padlocks.

4.--The question of enlarging the Churchyard was deferred to the
next (Easter) vestry.

5.--Subscriptions to be invited for providing a War Hospital.
The Mayor, with Lawyer Chinn (Town Clerk) and Alderman
Hansombody, to seek for suitable premises, and report.

Of Dr. Hansombody I shall have more to tell anon. For the present
let it suffice that before entering public life he had earned our
confidence as an apothecary, and especially by his skill and d