1st. Directions to both officers and men to attend public worship, accompanied by penalties prescribed for any improper behavior on such occasions.

4. They prohibit the use of profane oaths and execrations, of contemptuous and disrespectful language against their superiors, the raising of a mutiny among the troops; and the striking, raising any weapon, or offering any violence to a superior officer. They prescribe the oath or affirmation which every officer and private must take upon his entrance into the army, and the penalties for the violation of any of the articles of war, or the omission of any duties incumbent upon them. They contain rules for the enlistment, dismissal, and discharging of men, and for granting them furloughs and leave of absence, with penalties for desertion, or absence without leave.

5. They prohibit duelling or challenging to a duel; make rules for sutlers in the army; prohibit embezzlement of public property, or public money; sleeping while on guard; drunkenness; absence from parade; raising false alarms; cowardice; disclosing watchwords; aiding or corresponding with the enemy. They prescribe the rank and grade of officers; direct how courts martial shall be constituted; how proceedings shall be conducted in them; and how deceased officers' and soldiers' money, effects and arms, shall be disposed of.

6. These are the most important among the provisions of the articles of war, and, with others of less note must be read and published once in every six months to every regiment or troop in the service. In

many instances they prescribe specifically what punishment shall be inflicted for any violation of these rules and regulations; but in other cases they leave the mode and amount of punishment to the discretion of the court martial before which the accused is tried. Penalties for military offences rise in severity, corresponding with the turpitude of the crime, from a small fine or imprisonment, up to death. The sentence of any court martial may, however, always be modified, commuted, or set aside by the President of the United States, who is, as is well known, commander-in-chief both of the army and navy. A general court martial is composed of commissioned officers, not less than five, nor more than thirteen in number.

CHAPTER LXII.

Chaplains.

1. IF chaplains are not officers of the government, they are at least employees of it, for they are appointed by its authority, and paid from its treasury. Those in the army receive the same pay and emoluments as a major of infantry; or this was the compensation allowed by act of Congress in 1812. But by an act of 1862, it was fixed at $100 per month, and two rations per day, for those in the army or hospitals. By the act of 1812, one chaplain was allowed to every brigade; but by an act of 1861, (during the civil war,) one for every regiment was allowed.

Navy chaplains, in 1835, received $1,200 per year. But in 1860 this was raised to a lieutenant's pay; and this in 1862 was $1,800 per annum.

Chaplains in Congress receive $750 per annum.

2. The United States also employ a chaplain in the military academy at West Point.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in time of war, with one chaplain for every regiment, and one for every ship of war, and others in hospitals and military posts, quite a large number of clergymen are employed by the government.

This provision for the religious instruction of those who cannot, from their peculiar position, attend the preaching of the Gospel, or other religious services, is certainly an indication that our government respects

religion, and looks after the spiritual as well as the temporal interests of its army and navy.

3. In the appointment of chaplains, the government pursues a liberal course. No particular preference is given to any denomination, but they are appointed from almost every religious sect, and allowed to conduct religious services after the forms of the church to which they respectively belong.

Every body knows what the duties of a chaplain are. So we need not explain them here, and will only add that a faithful chaplain in the army in time of war has much to do besides preaching and holding regular services. The wounded, the sick, and the dying, should be the particular objects of his attention. He should not only minister religious instruction and consolation to them, but look after their physical comforts. Many of these clergymen, during the late most unfortunate civil war, distinguished themselves by their exertions to promote the bodily comforts of those unfortunate men, as well as to give them religious instruction, not refusing to nurse the sick and wounded whenever they could relieve their pains or mitigate their sufferings.

CHAPTER LXIII.

The Naval Observatory.

1. THIS institution is located in Washington, and was established by act of Congress in 1842, and put into operation in 1844. Its name indicates the particular object or purpose of its establishment. The "naval observatory" suggests the idea that it has some connexion with the navy, and so it has; for the immediate object in founding it was to determine such astronomical problems as would be of great service to the navy. It is well known that astronomy lies at the foundation of nautical science, and that without the knowledge of the former, but little skill in the latter could ever be acquired.

2. The observatory was built and furnished with various astronomical and philosophical instruments, and a corps of professors were appointed to watch the movements of the heavenly bodies, and to make such observations and experiments as would enable them to determine many unsettled questions which relate to the science of navigation; and incidentally to another great government work, having especial reference to the same subject; that is, the coast survey.

The coast survey has already been of great service to the interests of navigation-whether national or commercial vessels are regarded-and, when finished, much greater benefits are to be expected. When a sufficient number of observations and experiments