Den I say, Conscience, you reason correck." Compare Lancelot Gobbo's soliloquy in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona"! Still, I maintain that, as a whole, the men were remarkably free from inconvenient vices.

There was no more lying and stealing than in average white regiments.

The surgeon was not much troubled by shamming sickness, and there were not a great many complaints of theft.

There was less quarrelling than among white soldiers, and scarcely ever an instance of drunkenness.

Perhaps the influence of their officers had something to do with this; for not a ration of whiskey was ever issued to the men, nor did I ever touch it, while in the army, nor approve a requisition for any of the officers, without which it could not easily be obtained.