Military Correspondence. REGIMENTAL RECORDS. SIR,-The officers of the army of the united kingdoms are as much indebted to you for the liberal and elegant vehicle which you have afforded them for the communication of their sentiments, as for the useful and interesting information, by which you have rendered the Royal Military Chronicle highly worthy of their sup port and cordial co-operation. Under this impression I shall occasionally address you, although I think it probable that my communications may not have much of utility or novelty to recommend them. In your history of the British army, you will, I fear, often have to regret the dearth of recorded facts in your endeavour to do that justice to the splendid achievements of each regiment, which, there can be no doubt, has distinguished some portion of its history. In the history of a regiment, it would be desirable to see an ample and detailed account of its position and behaviour in every action in which it has been engaged since its first formation; its former names, and subsequent number; together with a description of the individual acts of heroism of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates. Honourable mention should also be made of the fidelity and fortitude it has displayed under great privations, and sufferings, from climate, or unfortunate warfare. The manner in which it obtained any particular badge, or distinguishing appellation, which it may have the honour to possess, should also be related, &c. &c. It is not, I believe, the practice of our army to preserve a record of such interesting events, and consequently many beautiful examples of British heroism must have been lost, and those that are preserved, we must receive from tradition, or the scanty gleanings of newspapers, for the historian does not enter into those particulars. To remedy this defect in future, I beg leave to suggest, that a journal of the transactions of the regiment should be kept by the junior subaltern of each troop and company, under the inspection of t of the captain. The conduct of the non-commissioned officers and privates should be particularly noticed, and the name, age, and place of birth, of those individuals who may have distinguished themselves in battle, or by any other meritorious conduct, should be inscribed in such journal. It may be objected, that the daily Military Correspondence. incidents might not furnish materials for such a journal. To obviate this, and for the purpose of teaching the young officer method and regularity, a certain plan, containing heads of intelligence, should be prescribed,--for instance, a morning statement of the troop or company; change of position, if any; state of the weather, roads, &c. &c. &c. including every thing under the immediate observation of such an officer. But what I would more particularly recommend is, that a regi mental journal should be kept by the adjutant, under the superintendence of the major. This would be, of course, upon a morè extensive scale, and ought to form a faithful and well digested chronicle of every occurrence connected with the regiment, and that of every individual composing it. The regimental journal (a copy being kept with the regiment) should be transmitted, signed by the commanding officer, through the proper channel, to the commander-in-chief, at the end of every campaign. From these regimental journals, the general in command of the army might form a general order, to be read to each regiment, at such periods as he should think proper. Some such plan as what I have proposed would tend to increase that spirit of emulation and martial pride, to which our army is already indebted for so many victories, and might possibly facilitate the introduction of a superior description of men into the ranks, and thereby, adding to the respectability of that class of the profession, render the recruiting service in general more productive. But on this head it would be presumption in me to expatiate, after the able manner in which it has been treated by that lamented enlightened statesman, and friend to his country, Mr. Windham, and also in General Stewart's excellent phamphlet, The regimental journals, official dispatches, and general orders, would form an authentic record, in the hands of the commanderin-chief, capable of furnishing materials for a national military history. The hints which I have offered to your consideration have no claim to being original, as such journals as I recommend are kept in some foreign services,-the German, Russian, and Swedish, I believe; and 1 have been informed, that in our navy every commissioned officer, midshipman, and master's-mate, is obliged to Military Correspondence. keep a journal, which not only includes the state of the weather, ship's way, and other heads of information peculiar to that profession, but also a statement of every occurrence worthy of notice, and more particularly a circumstantial account of the actions in which the ship may have been engaged during her cruise. I also learn that without producing this journal the officers cannot receive their pay; nor the midshipman, who has served his time, a lieutenant's commission, although in other respects able to pass an examination. I am apprehensive that your correspondent, S. D. will find more difficulty in finding readers, than a fund for purchasing books. I have something to say on this subject, but I have already trespassed too much on your time, and shall therefore conclude. Your most obedient service, INCORPORATION OF THE MILITIA. T. G. SIR,-You will oblige me by the insertion of the following hints apon a subject of some importance. The embodying many of the small county militia regiments, in Scotland, into one battalion, so as to form an effective corps, amounting to eight hundred, or even to one thousand men strong, has been attended with infinite advantage, both in point of economy to the country, and in the excellent state of discipline which such regiments are in. Employment is found for each individual officer to exert his abilities for the good of the service, and for the reputation of his regiment. Why, therefore, has not the same salutary mode been adopted respecting the militia regiments of England and Wales? Is it because a few more of them are at the service and disposal of those in power; the commands and benefits arising from which may be given to such of their friends as they deem proper, for I see no good results accruing to the country in their present establishment. I beg here to suggest what, by my own personal knowledge, I am enabled to do. I am near a garrison, part of which consists of one militia regiment of 100 men, and another of 200; each has its regular staff of paymaster, adjutant, and surgeon; and who receive very nearly the same pay and other al lowances (viz. for forage for horse, &c. &c.), as those of a regiment of 1000 strong. For doing what? Their paymaster does no more, Military Correspondence. and I am sure has less trouble than an officer paying one or two companies in a regiment of the last mentioned establishment. Their adjutant does still less; for the serjeant-major generally takes the superintendence of the drill, &c. on himself. The surgeon sometimes, and who very often has not a sick man to attend; for it cannot be supposed, in so few numbers, and in England, his patients are ever numerous; yet how many paymasters, adjutants, and surgeons are there in the same situation, that are paid by government for the performance of a mere nominal duty. Now, Sir, the consolidation of four, five, or six of these diminutive corps into one would find employment for the gentry alluded to; much expense would necessarily be saved, and as I have mentioned, with reference to the Scotch militias, each officer would find suitable employment. The results are too clear to detain me any longer. MILES. ROYAL AFRICAN CORPS. We are happy to insert this letter from the mention made of Major Chisholm :— Island Guernsey, Vate Castle, 20th March. SIR,-By desire of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the detachment of royal African corps stationed on this island, I am induced to request you will have the goodness to insert, in your Monthly Chronicle, the annexed extract of a letter received from a private of this corps, dated Goree, December 18, 1810. MY OLD FRIEND,—I take the earliest opportunity of stating to you, that all the detachment came safe, and in good health, to this place, excepting Quail, who was drowned in endeavouring to swim on shore at Madeira. I request you will inform me if my wife came to Castle Cornet, and be pleased to desire her to come when the next transport goes out to Africa. This is the best place for a soldier on the coast of Africa; there is abundance of meat and every thing else for the men, so that they are not served with salt ration. The ration to each man is one pound of fresh beef per day, one pint of wine, one pound of bread, and one half pint of peas, besides rice, coffee, sugar, and pumpkins, and all for sixpeuce a day. We are masters of our own time till five o'clock in |