from the manner in which it was received by the whole of the officers present, I was more than amply rewarded for my acknowledgment of error. No slavish fear should dictate this acknowledgment, but the honourable and Christian principle of "doing unto others what you would they should do unto you." When you are insulted, do not instantly break out into warm and fiery language. Your opponent may be labouring under the effect of intoxication-to attempt to bring him to reason at the moment would be useless, and threats will but increase his excitement: some remark of yours may have struck a chord of painful recollections, which he imagines you have intentionally touched-or he may be labouring under a mistake as to something you have said or done in his absence. Whatever be his motive, it is your duty, as well as your interest, to keep cool, and if you find he is dead to all reasoning, silence is your only remedy for the time. In a few hours after the occurrence, if he has been a friend, call upon him yourself, with another, a brother officer of acknowledged worth and some standing, if you can get such to accompany you, and if he has a spark of good feeling, he will fully appreciate your kindness, and at once see the course he ought to pursue; if he still persists in his error, you have done your duty; but, notwithstanding, you are certainly placed in a very trying situation. Johnson justifies duelling in the re

ceiver of an affront; he says, such an one does not fight from passion against his antagonist, but out of self-defence, to avert the stigma of the world, and to prevent himself from being driven out of society-thus placing the opinion of the world in opposition to the law of God. He also defends it upon the principle that, if public war be allowed to be consistent with morality, private war must be equally so. I cannot agree with him. No person who professes Christianity, or who believes in the words of its divine Author, can for an instant argue in justification of so revolting and so barbarous a practice. No man commits a more palpable absurdity than the duellist. He fights not, in one case out of a hundred, because he wishes to punish the man who has wronged him; no-for he is well aware the provocation would not justify the risk of his own life-his motive is to make the world believe he is not a coward, and yet proves himself one in wanting that moral courage which bids the noble mind dare do that which conscience approves, despite the opinion of the world. The duellist not only risks his own life, -he may be the cause of plunging his own and his antagonist's family into the deepest distresshe probably reduces them to absolute povertytheir only support is gone-they cannot work-to beg they are ashamed. Let the duellist for an instant dwell upon the probable miseries his crime

entails on a beloved wife and helpless children; and, if he has the spirit of a man, he will rather bear the opprobrium of the world himself, than allow a helpless woman and her children to be steeped in utter misery. You may be placed in just such a position-the path lies before youGod or the world. If your conduct through life has not evinced a certain degree of consistency on matters of religion, your refusal to accept a challenge will of course be very naturally attributed, not to the fear of offending your Maker, but to a dread of facing death, in which case, you must leave the Army-even though your motive be a good one -your life will be rendered wretched, and you will be looked upon as a disgrace to the service. Whoever hopes, therefore, to escape universal censure for not fighting a duel, when circumstances require, must put such a guard upon his words and actions, as shall warrant the belief that his refusal is based on religious principles. Such a man will be careful not to give offence-his daily life will exhibit proofs of his moral courage, and, when necessary, he will never be slow to evince the bearing of a brave man,-not because he prides himself on that courage which he holds in common with the brute creation, but because he has so disciplined himself, that when duty calls, he is ready to endure every privation, face every danger, and, if needs be, will march up to the cannon's mouth with a firmer and a calmer step

than he who has nothing but mere animal courage to support him.

"The brave man is not he who feels no fear,

For that were stupid and irrational;

But he, whose noble soul its fear subdues,

And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from."

There is no necessity for you publicly to announce your determination not to fight a duel until you are put to the test; your doing so may subject you to the annoyances of some bully or coward, who, knowing your opinion, may take advantage of it. No doubt more than threefourths of the duels which have been fought might have been prevented if the seconds had done their duty. Even by the strictest code of "honour," so called, a blow and "the lie" are the only insults which do not admit of an apology; and gentlemen must very far forget themselves, indeed, who are guilty of either of these; therefore, it is the duty of the seconds to investigate, as far as possible, the causes of the quarrel, find out which of the two is in fault, and then they should insist upon the guilty making an apology; but, unfortunately, the seconds too often conceive they have nothing further to do than to load the pistols, and see that one or other of the party murders his opponent in a gentlemanly way. As it is generally acknowledged that the seconds hold the honour of their respective principals in their keeping, and that these are

bound to act according to their advice, they should in all cases be tried as principals, instead of accessories, and punished accordingly. By joining in party squabbles you may be led into more serious quarrels than you anticipate, ending, perhaps, in that which on every consideration you should avoid.

There are not many of the stations in India where you will find barracks. Officers generally reside in bungalows; small houses, with one floor, consisting of two or three rooms, with a verandah all round, the rents of these vary from 25 to 100rs. per month. If you can meet with an officer who will share one with you, it will be advantageous to you; but be careful to know something of your intended chum's temper, disposition, and habits, before you make your arrangements; of course you will have your own private rooms, and a separate establishment of servants. There is one thing I would most particularly advise you to avoid, which is, the too common practice in Europeans, of keeping a native female as mistress of their establishment; the innumerable evils such a connection will entail upon you, few would credit. In the first place, such a woman will soon gain such an ascendancy, that, one by one, you will lose your old servants, and others in her interest, and perhaps related to her, will take their place. But I will not commence the long catalogue of vexations and annoyances which ever