O'SHEEVO.--That's just it. In old times, if a man was killed there was an end; but now, to show the value of human life, the law hangs the survivor. The fact is, they find it necessary to thin the population, and so they take two for one, as we do with the glasses. OLDHAM.--I'm afraid, Pipeclay, you and I will never agree in these matters. It's a pity you never had the advantage of seeing a little active service, which would have enlightened you far more than all my preaching. We'll hope better things for these youngsters before they become irretrievably bigoted to these milk-and-water prejudices. Well now, Lovell, d'ye think you understand all I said about the French invasion? If you don't, ask, and I'll give you any explanation my experience supplies, with pleasure. LOVELL.--I don't exactly understand how you would proceed after guarding your coast, and the enemy being off and on the shore. OLDHAM.--Why, man, you never will understand if you don't attend. Here have I been talking this hour and a half exactly on that point, and you know no more about it than if I had not said a word. You must see, Lovell, that if you are thinking about horses, and women, and all sorts of nonsense, while I'm talking to you, you never can make a soldier. You should have seen our boys in the 107th. They would sit for hours and hold their breaths, while some old fire-eater told 'em his adventures and gave 'em advice. O'SHEEVO.--Then they must have been as long-winded as he was. OLDHAM.--Pshaw! Nothing of that sort ever seemed long-winded: the interest was thrilling, and every body was unhappy when a story was ended. O'SHEEVO.--Except the man that was going to tell the next. OLDHAM.--But really I wish we could get these youngsters to think a little more on professional subjects. I'm sure I'm always willing to give 'em any instruction in my power; and I think, Major, you'd not be behindhand in teaching the young idea how to shoot. O'SHEEVO.--No, no, Oldham; every one to his trade,--that's the adjutant's business. OLDHAM.--I don't mean literally that you'd show them how to let off a musket, but that you'd mould their dispositions, and guide their ardour to the best advantage. O'SHEEVO.--My maxims are all summed up in a short sentence which I learnt from old Mullins himself, who found it carry him and his pupils through with honour--"Fear God and keep your powder dry." It's pithy, you see, and doesn't burden the memory. PIPECLAY.--A liberal education for ingenuous youth. O'SHEEVO.--I gave it for nothing, and so did old Mullins; so it's liberal enough, and the youth will be devilish ingenious if they find out any thing better.