have been if I had not a reasonable excuse for having

done badly.

What was termed the "Public" in those days was very dissimilar to the "Duke's" day at present. Formerly the "Public" was an examination, though it was a sort of sham affair. As, however, it was a great day, I will give a full description of the proceedings. The " Public was the day on which the MasterGeneral of the Ordnance, his staff, and all the principal heads of departments came to the Academy to see the cadets. The order of proceeding was as follows:

The cadets were drawn up on parade and received the Master-General with a salute. They were then put through certain manœuvres by the senior cadets, and afterwards marched into the dining-hall.

In the centre of the dining-hall a table was placed, large enough to enable the batch about to obtain their commissions to be seated at. Near this was a long table, at which the Master-General and officers were seated. An elevated platform, with stair-like seats, was erected at each end and side of the hall. On this the cadets were seated who were not yet qualified for commissions; a portion was also set aside for visitors belonging to the cadets.

On all being assembled in the hall, the professors at the Academy, beginning with the head cadet of the batch, asked questions, which each cadet answered in turn. Sometimes these questions required demonstrations on the board, and the cadet used his chalk to draw figures and give demonstrations.

After the professors had put questions, any of the officers present might do so, and there was often much amusement at the questions and answers— for very often the inquiries made had no reference whatever to any subject a cadet had learnt at the Academy.

One story that used to be told about these questions was, that a cadet was once asked what was sometimes used to wash out the bore of a gun. The cadet did not know what to say, so another cadet beside him whispered, " Tan ash and water."

The cadet, standing up, got nervous when he did not know what to say, and only heard imperfectly what his prompter said.

"Tan ash and water," again whispered the cadet.

"A ten-inch mortar!" blurted out the puzzled cadet.

The batch who heard this answer were ready to

burst out laughing, especially when the officer who had asked the question, and who was rather deaf, said, "Tan ash and water-very good!"

An old officer, who was fond of a joke, was reported to have once asked the head cadet of the batch, "What would be the result, supposing an irresistible body came in contact with an immovable post on a plane?"

The cadet answered that the body would come

to rest.

"No," replied the officer; "you forget the body is irresistible, and therefore cannot come to rest." "It would carry away the post," said the cadet. "No," again said the officer; "the post is immovable."

After a little hesitation the cadet said he didn't know what would happen.

Quite right, sir," said the officer, "neither do I, nor any one else, for the conditions are impossible. I only wanted you to say, 'I don't know.' Some men would have attempted long explanations."

When the cadets had been publicly examined, the various prizes were given, and, after one or two speeches by the senior officers, the Academy broke up.

I started for London that afternoon by ccach, which was one of about forty four-horse coaches