RECOLLECTIONS OF A NAVAL LIFE.

CA PT Al N JAMES SCOTT served in what may be termed the second American War. He was actively engaged in the predatory cam- paigns on the banks of the Chesapeake and its tributary rivers; was present at the taking of Washington and at the attack on Balthnore; and acquired his present rank for the services he ren- dered during that pericil. The gasconading and lies of the Ame- rican gentlemen if the press excited his ire at the time; the plausihle, and therefore the more dangerous misrepresentations of less fugitive writers since that period, have roused the tire that was not extiact but only slumbering.. To justify the Navy, and his patron Admiral Cocwitense was the original cause of his taking up the pen ; the arguments of his friends, and probably the more persuasive reasons of Mr. BENTLEY, ifaltlea hint LO ex- tend his plan ; and instead of Memoirs to serve for the History of the Naval Operations carried on in the Chesapeake, we have the History of Captain SCOTT himself.

The Recollections of the gallant Captain exhibit an average

number of such circumstances as every man-of-war's-man must have met with during a long service in various climates. But, in themselves, they were scarcely worthy of narration. Captain SCOTT has been present in some gallant actions, but at no great events. Excepting Madagascar, he has visited no spot which lies out of the common track of every-day voyages. A much more serious drawback on the interest of the story is, that he pos- sesses no eye for nature, no nice perception of character, and ap- parently no discriminating capacity, which might have enabled him to seize the social peculiarities of the people amongst whom the chances of service threw him. His powers of writing, too, are deficient in vigour and graphic effect. The book leaves an im- pression a reality. But this merit is somewhat lessened by the fre- quent disquisitians which the author has mingled with his narta- live ; and much of the truth is of an evenday character,—con- fined to accounts cf sailors' pranks and good dinners.

A life of adventure, faithfully written, must, however, present something to the mind, though it may not bestrongly brought out. In Captain Scorr's autobiography, we indirectly perceive the great advantage of regular over irregular warriors; the indifference to danger which long habit produces : the eagerness with which the men whose business is war rush into battle, and the decision with which their course is taken, compared with the vacillation of ama- teur commanders, and the lukewarm ness of inexperienced citizens, fighting for their " hearths and their altars." The esprit de coips, too, pretty clearly peeps out. It is evident that the military of all classes look with a much more friendly eve upon their opponents, who are ready and williag to cut their throats in a regular way, than they do upon the citizen who arms himself to defend his home from plunder or his family from violence, or who is even merely guilty of the unpardonable sin (it implies such a doubt!) of removing his property. Like lawsuits, wars, let them end how they may, are more advantageous to the professional gentlemen employed, than to the people for whose rights or honour they are professedly carried on. The main object of this work—the defence of' the conduct of Ad- miral COCKBURN and his followers, in their descent upon America —is not skilfully managed : the author should have confined himself to refuting the charges, instead of presenting a long and detailed narrative of the war. It might have been as well, perhaps, to have said nothing. The excesses, or rather the monstrous crimes, of which the "Britishers" were accused by the American journalists, scarcely needed a refutation; and the charge of irregularities seems to us to be unconsciously made out. It is, we alieve, a rule in civilized warfare, that no wanton mischief shall be perpetrated—no- thing shall be done which does not at least appear likely to accom- plish some final result : private property, works of art, works of uti- lity, are always respected, unless the necessity for their destruction is clear and immediate, in order to secure some countervailing ad- vantage : even buildings appropriated to the uses of war are not ,if he gave me the trouble of searching for them, not a cent should he receive, destroyed merely because they have been or may be occupied by : and that I would take him off as a prisoner for his contumacy. He was ready troops, and turned into fortresses, or used as points of attack or de- stritdige ofrnp:-Iediestationsi, which I cut short by calling for his decision. fence.- maxims do not seem to have been generally ob. 711■In iguyirilne tearndi tinli,orannidedtlnaint tilneTcomsdneno tame:hi - slier ik served n him for last war with America. The authorities ran away mistaken for his brother, who lived not half a mile distant. Ile swore by from Washington. Some persons occupied some houses, and fired on 1ii ataber that he himself was a poor man but that his brother Zechariah was the British troops as they were ad va tieing ; the Capitol, according to : mighty well to do in the world, and had at least eighty head of cattle, and from

Captain Se "was converted i ate a place of rums ( t hough it does

as to my man, and assured him that if it was so, and he would direct me where to not appear that it was garrisoned by- soldiers): both the houses find his brother's stoek, I would p;omise not to take any of his. TIOIS secure and the Capitol were burned; the Government °laces, peaceful or of my word, he bargained for profound secrecy as to the manner in which I oh- warlike, shared the same fate ; and the National Intelligencer office tamped my information. Satisfied on this head, be gave use a full and true ac- was pulled down. All this was both barbarous and wanton, for the army immediately retreated : no military injury was inflicted on the Americans, no military advantage accrued to us. In the conduct of the two years' adventuring up and down the waters, our impression from the text is, that private property was not rigidly respected : upon a slight show of resistance, towns were plundered and large stores of provisions destroyed : supplies, when forcibly taken, were indeed paid for, if "no annoying resistance was offered ; " but the foraging parties were naturally made the solo judges of annoyance : personal squabbles gave rise to the burning of private property, and to kidnapping expeditions against indivi- duals. In short, the perusal of Captain SCOTT'S informal gazettes reminds us rather of a buccaneering adventure than a military ex- pedition. The advocate indeed hints at a sort of excuse. The in- terception of vessels, the stoppage of trade, the destruction of pro- perty, argues he, by exciting indignation and a general feeling of insecurity, might force the Government into a peace. We can con- ceive a case where a warfare of this kind may, from policy, be adopted ; where circumstances might induce a stern and deter- mined Government not to aim at fighting battles and gaining victories, but to try to obtain their ends by depopulating and de- vastating an influential district. In such a case, however, hesita- tion or mildness would be cruelty ; it would merely ruin its vic- tims, without advancing a step towards its object. To do our Government justice, such do not appear to have been their instruc- tions. If they were, the instructions were not fulfilled : and after all, or we are much mistaken, John Bull had to pay fbr the inju- ries done to private property. The war, in short, was a foolish one ; and both foolishly and weakly conducted by the authorities at home.

This work is not one which readily admits of extracts ; for what impressions it makes are produced by continuous perusal. We have, however, marked a few passages, which will convey an idea of the author's style.

tirIlehao,7 certainly

e

two to three hundred sheep. I began to believe that I might have been deceived

EFFECTS OF WAR.

At the time of my arrival, the Tagus was filled with men-of-war and trans- ports; great numbers of the latter were moored in the large bay above the dockyard. On the approach of Lord Wellington towards Lisbon, the trans- ports in the latter position were ordered down to Belem. This movement created considerable alarm to a great majority of the Portuguese, wbo regarded it as a prelude to the evacuation of the city. The news of the battle of Busaco did not elevate their hopes, as it was known the army still continued its retreat. The account of this brilliant affair invigorated the spirits of every Englishman ; and the successful stand at the lines was predicted with all the confidence which the genius and abilities of the British chief warranted. People were, however, on the qui rice as the artily approached nearer to Lisbon. Every thing that might prove in any way useful to the invaders was swept away before the re- treating force. The crowds of peasantry that made their way to the capital from the country, flying from their foes, accumulated as the enemy closed in upon the environs of the city : the distress of many was pitiable; they had left all behind them, mid were literally without any support but the casual benevolence of a few, who hail so many calls upon theit humanity that their means were speedily exhausted. Many of great respectability were reduced to the extremity of beg- ging- of our countrymen : it was melancholy to witness well dressed Portuguese watching the opportunity of whispering, their tales of distress and petitions for aid in the ears of the English, hoping to escape the observation of the pas..,ers- by anti their own country people. The man who could resist the appeal of in- tetesting females, the withering look of agony and humiliation which marked their countenances, as they implored relief for some cherished object perishing with hunger and misery, Must have been made of sterner stuff thus usually forms the component parts of our nature. The calamities of the inhabitants of a country exposed to war are severe : friends and foes must alike be provided for, and all the means in their posse.sion are relentlessly demanded, out carried of; any hesitation or refusal only sub- jerts them to rougher treatment and exactions. Lisbon was full to overflowing with the unfortunate refugees ; there was not house-room for the poor wretches, and many had to fight with the mongrel curs that swarmed the streets for their lairs on the pays, and wherever the smallest shelter could be obtained : the sight was truly distressing.

EROTIIERLY LOVE OF A YANKEE.

I once landed on the Eastern shore of Virginia, in Pokomoke Bay, for cattle, at a farmer's who, from the information I had previously obtained, I was aware had a large stock to dispose of. The said farmer was perfectly sensible that no assistance of his military friends could avail him in time to prevent us from executing our intention ; but he had observed us front afar, and had ample leisure to cogitate and mature his plans, in which he so cmnpletely succeeded that helairly outwitted himself. I found the farmer quietly seated before his own door, with a face as long as a Methodist parson's, and apparently absorbed in melancholy reverie. I accosted him in a most propitiatory tone. " Good morning to you, farmer." Remaining seated, he returned the salutation in a voice so sepulchral that it might have startled any person less decided upon the, prosecution of Ids errand than I was.

" I am come for some stuck; how many head of cattle have you ?"

"Me ! why, my God Almighty! you'll not deprive Inc of all I've got in this blessed world, I guess?" " No, no, you shall be well paid for all I take." " You'll find they are but poor beasts, and not worth your taking, and you'll ruin tile: I vow to God I've but three," and at the same time he pointed out precisely that number of half .starved looking animals which fully corroborated his assertion. Knowing the character of the class I bad to deal with, and sus- pecting that his evasion was merely to gain time, I at once brought the matter to issue by deelat ing that 1 was apprised of the number of his cattle, and ready to pay him his price, provided they were immediately brought forward ; but, e mat of the whole of his brother's property, With the correct bearings and die- Sauce to the place where they were cencealed, terminating his treachery by stating that his brother Zachartah would call all the saints in heaven to witness that he was not the proprietor of a single horned beast, but that, if I followed his (lit ections, I could not fail in discovering them. Armed with this intelligenre I proceeded to brother Zac.'s mansion, and, as I hail been forewarned by -his affectionate brother, he stoutly maintained his poverty, and swore he had not even one four .footed animal belonging to him. Drawing out my watch told him I allowed him twenty minutes to bring me as many oxen, for which I should pay him; that, if he did not know where to find them, I would direct my men to their hiding-place, indicating the spot with Illy finger; adding that, if they were not forthcoming at the stipulated time, I should take the whole of them without payment. These arguments were conclusive. Zachariah went in search of the cattle; I selected the given mumber, and a few Miceli, desiring that they might be driven down to the boats, avhither I invited the velacious farmer to accompany me for the purpose of pay- anent. The latter part of the business Ike appeared to think equivocal, but, ad- 4hessing use, he exclaimed, " Now I calculate toy tarnatiun brother has told you all about this affair ; he is just about as pretty considerable d—d a rogue as there ;s in the States, I guess."

" Ile is a poor man, is he not ?"

" Now, if you'll believe me, he has more than I have, and by the Lord of "heaven' I'll tell you where you may find them ;" and I received a circumstantial detail of the quantity, quality, mud hiding•place, of my first informer's stock. But I had pledged my word, and was bound not to molest the arch hypocrite, .far which, I confess, I was heartily sorry. At the beach, these loving sons of the same parents met ; never shall I forget the malicious grin that settled upon the countenance of the one, and the con- science-striken physioguomy of the other as I handed over the dollars. The ,former then assumed an air of triumph ; the latter that of astonishment and die- appoilltinent. The sneaking scoundrel, with a face of brass, requested I would tint take so many from poor Zachariah, and he would endeavour to obtain some from his neighbours to replace them ; but poor Zac. required no such amiable interfe- rence, and lawny offered to double the number if I wished it. Having embarked intichase, I bade adieu to this amiable sample of fratel nal love and affection. The antboritieg, it is to be suspected, were duly favoured with the information that brother Zac. had been guilty of the oupatriutic crime of fingering the Bri- • tishers' pelf.

SAILOR. Mit:AKERS-IN.

COCkblIrli laid directed me to land on the left bank of the river, to obtain, if possible, a supply of horses for the officers :Ind the artillery. I came trvon a farm which the pkoprietor had abandoned, letter stocked than usual with these useful quadrupeds, but all young and apparently never bioken in. Thee were as wild as deer ; but having finally succeeded in oh iving them into the ffirm.yard, and thence into a stable, by the assistance of gaskets, converted into halters, we secured them ; but so full of tire and spirit were the animals that they threatened to overcome our endeavours in embarking them. Findiitg

was losing time I adopted a summary mode of rendoring them obedient.

Much to the deliglit of the Jacks, I ordered them to 'ii lit the unruly nags, and, having taken a half-hitch with the gasket nit tin. lower jaws of the animals, they vaulted on their backs to the number of twenty. The fai ni-yard gate was then thrown open, and belter-skcher went the whole troop, kicking and tlingiii7 to get rid of their riders, who balked all their elfin ts by the tenacity with whiel'i

they clung, like so many eats to their naked hicks. Jack cracked on all sail, and round and round the large enclosure they whirled at full gallop in an

e cstasy of delight. In little less than half an limn they were completely tract- able., and without any difficulty I embarked the poor brutes. It is a singular fact, that not one of the riders was unshipped, thought I firmly believe it was the first time they had ever bestrode a horse.

A BOMBARDMENT.

The upper parts of the houses situated at the back of the batteries exposed to our time were literally knocked to pieces. The devastation presented throughout the town was terrible and appalling. Numbers of the inhabitants perished from takiwt' shelter in the cellars of their houses, and several melancholy instances were discovered of the annihilation of whole families; the shells having pene- trated into their retreats, and exploding, buried all those in the ruins who had escaped the effects of the splinters.

There is no scene so deeply distressing to a humane and contemplative mind as that which meets our view innnediately after the bombardment of a town. The mischief done to the garrison is sufficieutly disastrous; but when a fright- ful majority of the sufferers are non-combatants, women, children, we in vain essay to stifle the harrowing images that haunt our imagination.