selected by parents or preceptors; the intrepid and noble character of Cyrus will delight a generous and high spirited boy. This is the species of books, that will be most advantageous, and it would be useless to enumerate all that may be read with profit; we shall therefore only point out the general principles, by which a proper choice may be made.

Incenditque animum famæ venientis amore,

Exin' bella viro memorat, quæ deinde gerenda,

Et quo quemque modo fugiatque, feratque laborem.

Poetry, which is more powerful than prose in its effects upon the imagination, should be used to inspire enthusiasm. As specimens of the kind of poetry likely to make an early heroic impression, Hardicanute, Chevy-Chase, and many ballads in Percy's collection of ancient poems, and in particular Spence (or Lowth's) Choice of Hercules, may be selected. The effect which ballads early learned by rote produce on the mind will not be disregarded by those, who recollect, that one of the most sagacious of legislators exclaimed, "Let who “will make the laws of a nation, provided I am allowed to "make their ballads." Among modern Among modern poems the animated "Lay of the Last Minstrel" is calculated to inspire a martial taste, and to make on the youthful fancy some of those deep and strong impressions, which neither time nor accident can efface. The character of the young heir of Buccleugh is drawn with so much spirit, that it must excite the emulation of every youthful hero; in this poem there are all those chivalrous prejudices, which support and animate the military character. The word prejudice docs not always mean what is hurtful or

improper. There are prejudices salutary to every class of society, which are formed perhaps involuntarily in childhood, which are reflected upon with complacency in mature life, and which are found to be preservatives while youth is under the dominion of the passions. The love of our country is a rational and salutary principle, which may, and in military education ought to be infused early as a prejudice. The following poetical anathema in the Lay of the Last Minstrel against the wretch who is devoid of this principle, must produce a strong effect on youthful sensibility.

Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,

This is my own, my native land?

Whose heart has ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he has turn'd,
From wand'ring on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go mark him well:
For him no minstrel raptures swell,
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can frame;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch concentred all in self
Living shall forfeit fair renown,

And doubly dying shall go down

To the vile dust, from which he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

In this poem there are many beautiful strokes in the character of the heroic lady, from which a mother might learn the art of inspiring a boy with martial ardour. Much may be done

the first years of life by maternal influence and eloquence..

To prove this, the mothers of Coriolanus and of the Gracchi, or in modern history the mother of Henry the fourth may be recollected. Not by formal lessons, but by slight strokes in conversation, and anecdotes introduced with happy female address, a mother may do more towards framing her son's military taste, than can be effected by Polybius, and the most profound treatises on the art of war. Give the strong desire to be a soldier or a sailor, give the strong desire to be distinguished in his profession, and all the rest will necessarily follow. To gratify the passion, to obtain the object, which charms the imagination, labour will be easily endured, and difficulties speedily conquered. To excite, therefore, in the boy's mind, admiration for great actions, and a passionate enthusiastic desire to imitate them, should be the grand object of his early education. Show him prints and pictures of heroic actions.

When the author of this essay visited the Hôtel des Invalides at Paris in 1803, a fine boy of thirteen years, accompanied by his preceptor, came into the church. The expression of the boy's youthful countenance, and the admiration and awe with which he seemed to be inspired, induced the author to speak to him, and he pointed out to him the beautiful monument of Turenne. The preceptor said in a whisper,— "This is an excellent preparation for the impression, which "I hope to make." He led the boy to some pictures, which were hung round the church to commemorate heroic actions, showing one of them which represented a crowd sallying from a city, a cannoneer pointing a cannon directly against the gate out of which they were rushing, and an officer throwing himself on the cannon and tearing the match from the can

noneer." There," said he to the boy,

"There is your father!

" 'twas thus that he sacrificed himself for his.country."

If any instance of courage, fortitude, or presence of mind, occur either in books or in real life", let it be related at the

h While this was writing, two illustrations accidentally occurred, one in the newspapers of the day, the other in the life of Bertrand du Guesclin. The newspaper announces the taking of Monte Video, and gives the following account of the assault:

"The command of the assault was given to Brigadier-General Browne. On "the morning of the 3d of February, the troops advanced to the storm; consist"ing of the light battalion of five companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown"rigg; four companies of grenadiers under Major Campbell of the 40th; the "38th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Vassall, and the 40th, under Major Dalrymple. They pushed forward with unloaded pieces, under the most de"structive fire from the citadel, which took them in flank; and from several heavy batteries of the town works in front; the whole being strictly ordered "to be decided by the bayonet.

"It was at this moment that the forlorn hope, commanded by Lieutenant "Matthew Everard of the 2d, or Queen's Regiment, advanced directly to the "breach. This gallant young officer, who is but just eighteen, had volunteered "this arduous duty, and was allowed, from about 100 of his countrymen (na❝tives of Ireland), to select 30. With this little band of heroes, he made his ground good, and gained the defences of Monte Video. As he entered the "breach, his loss from the musketry of the enemy was severe-not less than "fifteen of his companions dropping around him before he got into the town. "With the scanty residue of his men, he however succeeded in driving the

enemy from the first and second batteries on the right of the breach; and "was enabled to proceed, by this almost unparallelled instance of gallantry "and resolution, to the north gate of the town, which he opened for the "British force advancing in that direction, driving the enemy from the "intermediate batteries in his way. During the whole of this desperate "achievement, Lieutenant Everard was totally unsupported by the troops "destined for the assault. The light battalion, who were thirty yards in his

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moment, with the natural expression of esteem and approbation which it inspires. Young people are particularly attentive to the conversation, which they do not suspect to be in

66 rear, but who unfortunately missed the breach, did not enter it and join him, "till his success had been complete. From this small body of thirty, Lieute"nant Everard's loss in killed and wounded was twenty-two! he himself being the first man who entered the town."

The next illustration is from the life of Bertrand du Guesclin; from which a passage is given as an example of the kind of anecdote, which would interest a military youth. (For the French, see the Appendix)

"In the days of du Guesclin, it was the custom of the nobility frequently to "assemble together and give entertainments to the ladies. Several nobles and "knights of Brittany, including Rinaldo du Guesclin, the father of Bertrand, "published a tournament, to which were invited all the brave knights and "champions of France and England. Those of Brittany, unwilling to yield "the palm of magnificence to any, determined to appear in the most sumptu❝ous equipages.

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"Du Guesclin saw the preparations for his father's equipment with anxious pleasure, and looked forward with delight to the accompanying him to this "brilliant exhibition. But Rinaldo, before he set out for Rennes, forbade his son to leave home, saying he was too young to appear in the lists with the "old and experienced warriors, who were to be there. Young Bertrand, dis"satisfied with this order, resolved to evade it, left his father's house, and "went privately to Rennes.

"There he followed the crowd to the spot where the tournament was to be "performed, and he contemplated with envy and vexation the richly capa❝risoned horses, and the knights glittering with gold and jewels. The sound "of the trumpets, which animated the combatants and the acclamations of the "multitude, increased his enthusiasm. He pressed, squeezed, drove, pushed 66 on all sides to make his way towards the barrier. But his mean appearance "excited the contempt of those whom he displaced, and he was still thrust "back without respect or consideration. At last he obtained a place from "whence he could see the whole distinctly.

"After having been a spectator for some time, he perceived a relation of "his, a knight who was returning home fatigued, after having run two or