BAYONETS AND BELTS.
SOLDIERS are no longer to walk the streets armed. When drunk Or passionate, they must fall to fistycuffs, like true John Bulls, and give and take thumps upon equal terms with "civilians." An order prohibiting the men from wearing their side-arms when off duty, was issued from the Horse Guards on the 15th instant— no doubt to give Milt to the opening of Parliament. The circular of the Adjutant-General is worth notice.
" Horse Guards, November 15.
" Sir—Lord Hill has observed. wish great concern, that, notwithstanding the strong admonitions contained in the General Order or the Ibth Jour 8:Ei, some eases have Occurred in which a soldier has, w hen quarrelling in a state of intoxiention, used his
bayonet against his an and that in a ease of very recent occurrence twit the lessor lire has been produced tt% a bay onet.wountl.
" In order to afford the public, for the future, effectual protection against simile,. out. rages. lord Ilill desires that the practice or wearing sidearms may be discontinued, except when on duty, and Nam such special occasions as you shall consider the ba■onet absolutely essential for the de5mee anal protection or the soldier. It is, however, Io Lye distinetl:, understood, that the soldier is to wear his bayonet-bat when dressed in regi. meetals. 1 have the honour to be, Sir, ; our obedient servant,
"(Signed) Juntc 111•Dox.o.n, AdjutautsGeneral." " Officer Commanding the — Re„iment,"
The general order of the 18th of June bad just as much effect as any sane person could have anticipated from it. The soldiers were addressed as if the shilling a day and the red coat rendered them a superior class of persons to those who encase the corporal man in black and blue; the fact being, that a larger proportion of the soldiery are guilty of disgraceful offences than of any other class of society. Compared with the military, shoemakers are saints and coalwhippers courteous. The " general order' was of course disregarded; the " bayonet nuisance" was not in the slightest degree abated. Hence the necessity for an absolute pro- hibition of the use of side-arms.
But there is a salve for the soldier's wounded honour. Though he must not wear his bayonet, he is still to display his belt. " It is, however, to be distinctly understood, that the soldier is to wear his bayonet belt when dressed in regimentals,"—such is the order from the Horse Guards. We sympathize with the delicate feeling for our heroes, displayed its this " regulation." Everybody knows that the privilege of wearing regimentals is the great in- ducement to enter the army—the arms are a secondary consider- ation : be who takes the " bayonet," takes " trash "—hut he who filches the soldier of the pretty " belt.- leaves him " poor indeed." In accordance with the disposition to render this neces- sary regulation as little offensive as possible, it is humbly sug- gested to Lord Hut., that in place of the bayonet, the soldier be allowed to sport a turkey's feather of the gayest colour, or one of those harmless little wocden swords which attract the gaze of lunging urchins to the windows of toyshops.
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