Correspondence.

Colonist, Issue 9, 20 November 1857, Page 3

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir, —Circumstances called me to visit the Cemetery of Nelson", and I was very much, surprised to see how the Graves of our friends have been neglected. On making enquiry, I was told that twelve head of cattle were frequently grazing within the burial place simply for the want aof gate. How unlike the feeling of respect which, ought to exist in our bosoms to those .with whom we lived and loved. Let each minister preach a sermon for the benefit of funds to enable the trustees to keep the ground in order—free from intrusion and to beautify the spot where our departed friends are laid. Yours, & re, A SETTLER.

A Crimean Soldivr's Experience.--A private, who some years ago ran away from his friends and enlisted, through his passion for military habits, lately returned from the Crimea, after having been in the battles ef Alma and Inkermann, and in Scutari hospital, has paid a visit to his friends, and among other details he gives the following account of a very narrow escape he met with at the battle of Inkermann. "He says: " A big surly-looking Russian, to whom I had to look up (the narrator being a good-sized fellow), ran towards me with the intention to bayonet me, when I made a movement sideways, so that the bayonet passed under my arm, or between my arm and body, and the Russian came up with such violence that he knocked me down and fell upon me: the bayonet pierced the ground. I then, fearing he would produce a knife to despatch me, clasped my arms round him, and held him with such a grasp thatp never shall forget, while my comrade despatched him with the point of the bayonet. The Russian's blood ran down me before I relinquished my hold." Another time1, speaking of the horrible situation he was in one cold night, when he was on picket duty, he says :—" We packed the dead bodies of the Russians four abreast, to form a wall to keep the wind off." The narrator was wounded by a splinter, or piece of iron from a shell, which lay hissing some time near him, and which burst whilst he was in the act of levelling his rifle at one of the enemy, whom he shot, who was taking deliberate aim at him from the parapet, about 150 yards distant. He was wounded again in a sortie of the enemy, while he was on duty in the trenches; his opponent then endeavoured to bayonet him, when he struck his weapon so that it pierced his thigh, in which it remained till his comrade, whose attention, was attracted, gave the finishing shot,'and he was thus providentially preserved.—Cambridge Independent Press.

How Nelson might have been saver at Trafalgar.—Lord Nelson's well known valet, Tom Allen, lived for some time close to me, he being' then retained in the service of Sir William Bolton. I met Tom almost every day in my walks, and often got into chat with him about his brave and noble master, Lord Nelson. Among otber things, I spoke of his weaving his decorations at Trafalgar. Now Tom, who had been with him in so many other engagements, was by mere accident prevented from arriving in time on that last memorable occasion, having left London after his lordship, and not arriving till the battle was over, andhiaroaster's career of glory brought to a brilliant close. But it may be amusing to record Tom's opinion and observations. He said, "I never told anybody that if I had been there Lord Nelson wouid not have been killed ; but this I have said, and say again, that if I had been there he should not have put on that coat. He would mind me like a child ;. and when I found him bent on wearing his finery before a battle I always prevented him." " Tomj" he would say," I'll fight the battle in my best coat." " No, my lord, you shan't," " Why not, Tom ?" " Why, my lord, you fight the battle first, and then I'll dress you in all your stars and garters, and you'll look something like." Thus poor faithful Tom Allen gave himself credit for having saved his master's life by his rigid discipline in attire on former occasions; and it was evident that he should have saved it once more at Trafalgar. Tom's account of other memorable events of Nelson's life were given with equal naivete. His old age was rendered comfortable in Greenwich Hospital, where he held the office of pewterer till his death.r«Notes and.Qtcories^