[449]. In May, 1851, when the tour of service of the detachment had expired, only six men were at the station to be relieved. The remainder comprised one discharged in China, who soon afterwards died, twelve invalided to England, and fifteen deaths.
[450]. Arms of the percussion principle had been on trial in the corps since July, 1840.
[451]. These figures would seem to make the carbine and sword 1½ inches longer than the old musket, but the loss of the supposed additional length was occasioned by the greater depth of the socket required to give strength and stability to the weapon. The comparative weight of the two arms gave a reduction in favour of the carbine of 2 lbs. 3½ ozs.
[452]. The idea for this ornament was taken from the martial custom among the Romans of presenting a mural coronet of gold or silver to the undaunted soldier who should first scale the walls of a city and enter the place. Bailey in his Dictionary of 1727 says, “It was given to the meanest soldier as well as the greatest commander.” As the assault of fortresses in sieges is the chief business of the sappers, the round tower with its mural crown on the sergeant’s appointments, is an appropriate symbol for the corps.
[453]. ‘Professional Papers,’ N. S., i., p. 32.
[454]. ‘Professional Papers,’ N. S., i., p. 32.
[455]. About twelve miles from the sea ice was found three-eighths of an inch thick.
[456]. ‘Professional Papers,’ i., N. S., p. 32.
[457]. Ibid., p. 33.
[458]. These particulars are chiefly collected from a paper by sergeant Hemming in the ‘Royal Engineer Professional Papers,’ i., pp. 31-39. This non-commissioned officer was pensioned at 1s. 8d. a-day, in May, 1845. Of his survey services Colonel Portlock gives an interesting outline in his prefatory remarks to the sergeant’s paper. His duties appear to have been confined chiefly to the mountains of Ireland, where in winter he was exposed to fearful inclemency and subjected to much hardship. “On one occasion,” says the Colonel, “I had to place a young gentleman, who had graduated at Cambridge, under the sergeant for instruction, to whose zeal, intelligence, and respectability the pupil warmly bore testimony. Before receiving his discharge, he was appointed clerk and storekeeper to the road department in Cape Town, and some idea of the responsibility of his office may be inferred from the fact that he expended in four years, 1844-48, upwards of 36,000l.!”