harass men about trifles, but to be inflexible in matters of essential consequence, he should know to be the best means of securing the obedience of his soldiers. He will also find it highly useful to be able to give military orders in a clear and concise manner. It is said, that this was one of the excellencies of the illustrious Nelson. Laconic eloquence has great power over the minds of soldiers in moments of imminent peril; and this, joined to the art of exciting enthusiasm and attachment to their commander, sometimes produces effects, which are almost incredible.

Chevert, an officer, who commanded under marshal Saxe, when the walls of Prague were to be scaled, gave these instructions to a serjeant: "You will scale the wall yonder; "when you have gained the rampart, the sentinel will challenge you; you will not answer a word. He will challenge you again. Not a word. He will challenge you a third, time. "Not a word. He will fire; will miss you. You will cut "him down, and I shall be there to support you"."

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The sergeant punctually obeyed these instructions. Probably many officers in our army could produce examples of a similar kind, which have occurred within their own memory. Long before officers attain to the highest ranks of their pro

b"Tu monteras par là; en approchant du haut du rampart on criera, Qui "vive? Tu ne repondras rien. On criera la meme chose une seconde fois. Tu ne repondras rien, non plus qu'au troisieme cri. On tirera sur toi. "On te manquera. Tu egorgeras la sentinelle; et j'arrive là pour te soutenir."

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fession, they may find occasion for the display of such powers as were possessed by Chevert. At sieges, or in the unexpected turn of a battle, young officers of inferior rank, if they have the power of leading even a few men with decision and spirit, may distinguish themselves, and do essential service to their country. The duke of Marlborough had the art of inspiring his men with so much confidence, that in apparently inextricable difficulties, they used to make themselves easy, and say, Well, it is no matter to us; corporal John will find some way to bring us off, and do for the enemy." Frederick the Great, despotic as he was, endeavoured to make himself popular among his soldiers, by allowing them to call him by the familiar appellation of our Fritz. Soldiers who are well treated, are capable of a degree of attachment and fidelity, which renders them absolutely insensible to personal danger, and ready at any moment to hazard, to sacrifice their own lives, to save those of their officers. It is said, that the soldier, of whom there is a portrait in the foreground of West's famous picture of the Death of General Wolfe, never recovered the loss of that general, but actually pined away, and died of grief.

Though attachment to his own country is an essential part of the character of every military man, yet his predilection must not render him blind to the merits of other nations. In the course of his profession, he must often be sent to foreign countries: his education should therefore prepare him to see them with advantage. He should know the history of the first military characters of the countries which he visits; and

he should have read all the works of celebrity, which have been written by foreigners on military affairs: he should be able to compare all he sees of the discipline and tactics of foreign nations, with what is practised in his own country. He will not then wonder with a foolish face of praise; but to his well-regulated mind objects will appear in their proper proportion. He will not, like the weak Czar Peter the Third, fall in love with a foreign uniform, and fancy that when he imitates the gestures or manœuvres, he is inspired with the spirit and genius, of a great monarch. That unfortunate Czar would probably never have been dethroned, if he had not disgusted his Russian troops by wearing a Prussian jacket, and by forcing them to learn the Prussian exercise. The importance attached to certain manoeuvres, and to certain minutiæ in dress, is often carried among military men to a ridiculous and dangerous excess. When we see an empire hazarded for the sake of a turban and the cut of a whisker, it is time to reflect, and to reduce these things to their real value. If young officers travel with minds previously cultivated, they will return to their own country with enlarged ideas; and when they rise to situations, where they can introduce new regulations, they will propose only what is useful, not what is merely foreign.

If a young officer should not be able to enjoy the advantages of travelling, even when he is confined to the duties of a country garrison, and to all the inconveniences of country quarters in time of peace, he will feel the advantages of his education; he will not be driven by ennui into profligacy; he

will have literary amusement; he will at all events be able to occupy his time with reading or drawing; and when he is quartered in the neighbourhood of well-informed families, he will be able to enjoy their society, and will find himself a welcome guest, instead of being excluded, as ignorant officers usually are, by prudent parents.

With respect to the moral duties of military men, these have been so fully stated in a late excellent work, that it would be unnecessary and impertinent to add any thing upon the subject. After quitting his academy, it is scarcely possible, that a young man, who has acquired all the knowledge, and caught all the enthusiasm necessary for his profession, should not ardently wish for war, that he may have opportunities of distinguishing himself. Martial enthusiasm and a philosophic humane love of peace are incompatible, therefore military pupils should not be made philosophers, or they cease to be soldiers; and then how can we expect to be defended? An officer can no more be certain of never being called upon to fight in an unjust cause, than a lawyer can be certain that he shall never be obliged to plead on the wrong side of a question. We know instances, in which officers of high character have refused to be employed during a war, of which their consciences could not approve. Such cases may occur, and such conduct must always command esteem. But in general it is

"An Inquiry into the Duties of Men in the higher and middle Ranks of "Society in Great Britain, resulting from their respective Stations, Professions, "and Employments. By Thomas Gisborne, M. A."

not the business of a soldier, to scrutinize the political justice of nations; he has not always the species of information, which is necessary to form correct judgments on these affairs. He is to fight in the defence of his country, and to cherish the belief, that he is doing his duty as long as he obeys his superior officer, and commands properly those who are under his orders. If he should rise to those higher stations in the army, where his judgment may be appealed to, and in which he may influence the councils of his country, then it becomes his duty to reflect with the utmost care upon the justice of the cause on which peace or war depends. Here he acts as a legislator, not merely as a soldier. Principles therefore should be early implanted in his mind by his preceptors, to which he can recur at the moment when they are wanted. A few noble examples of great characters early impressed upon the minds of young people will never be forgotten, and will occur when they will be of real use. For instance, who that has ever read it can forget the speech of Henry the Fourth :-" Great men are always the last to advise war, and the first to execute it."

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Fatal experience has of late pointed out to these countries the disastrous effects produced by the mean spirit of jealousy among commanders of armies; a jealousy which has rendered talents, courage, and military enthusiasm useless to their country, and which, wherever it exists or prevails, must in all the future, as in the past, produce the most disastrous consequences. As far as education can prevent this evil, let it be attempted. Let preceptors, and parents, and all the friends of youth destined for our armies and navies, combine to impress on their minds early contempt for such unworthy