Characteristic Mark of a skilful General--Importance anciently attached to military Stratagems--The Stratagem of Joshua at Ai, the first which is recorded--Stratagem of Julius Cæsar in Gaul--Favourable Omen derived from Sneezing--Artifice of Bias at Priene--Telegraphic Communication--Mode adopted by Hystiæus to convey Intelligence--Relief of Casilinum by Gracchus--Stratagem of the Chevalier de Luxembourg to convey Ammunition into Lisle--Importance of concealing the Death of a General--The manner in which the Death of Sultan Solyman was kept secret--Stratagem of John Visconti--Stratagem of Lord Norwich at Angoulème--Capture of Amiens by the Spaniards--Manner in which the Natives of Sonia threw off the Yoke 109 CHAPTER VIII. Former Prevalence of Malingering in the Army; and the Motives for it--Decline of the Practice--Where most Prevalent--The means of Simulation reduced to a System--Cases of simulated Ophthalmia in the 50th Regiment--The Deception wonderfully kept up by many Malingerers--Means of Detection--Simulated Paralysis--Impudent Triumph manifested by Malingerers--Curious case of Hollidge--Gutta Serena, and Nyctalopia counterfeited--Blind Soldiers employed in Egypt--Cure, by actual cautery, of a Malingerer--Simulation of Consumption and other Diseases--Feigned Deafness--Detection of a Man who simulated Deafness--Instances of Self-mutilation committed by Soldiers--Simulation of Death 118 CHAPTER IX. The Bottle Conjuror--Advertisements on this Occasion--Riot produced by the Fraud--Squibs and Epigrams to which it gave rise--Case of Elizabeth Canning--Violent Controversy which arose out of it--She is found guilty of Perjury and transported--The Cock Lane Ghost--Public Excitement occasioned by it--Detection of the Fraud--Motive for the Imposture--The Stockwell Ghost--The Sampford Ghost--Mystery in which the Affair was involved--Astonishing Instance of Credulity in Perigo and his Wife--Diabolical Conduct of Mary Bateman--She is hanged for Murder--Metamorphosis of the Chevalier d’Eon--Multifarious Disguises of Price, the Forger--Miss Robertson--The fortunate Youth--The Princess--Olive--Caraboo--Pretended Fasting--Margaret Senfrit--Catherine Binder--The Girl of Unna--The Osnaburg Girl--Anne Moore 126 CHAPTER X.