accustomed Frenchmen to every species of degradation, the national [JAN. character is so completely altered by it, that, what would formerly have been considered as a violent outrage, is now deemed something approaching to a compliment.

The Austrians,-who are only half humanized,-automata machines-experience the most rigorous treatinent;-when ordered by a Corporal, for instance, to prepare for punishment, you will see the degraded individual prostrate himself, receive 100 or 200 strokes of a cudgel, not a priori, and then, standing up, cap-in-hand, return many thanks to the Corporal for the trouble he has taken in teaching him his duty!

The Russian Officer, and non-commissioned, beat their men in the face with their fist, but for great offences, the offenders receive the knout, or strokes of a stick on the soles of the feet, and they expire not unfrequently under the punishment. Their officers are often reduced to the ranks, and then promoted again, if they happen to deserve it.

The Prussian Soldiers are treated nearly in the same manner as the Austrians, that is to say, like dogs; but there is nothing so common as to see a Prussian Officer in irons, and lodged in the same prison-room as the privates.

Now, with respect to our own British Soldiers, it that they are more civilized than any others, and that punishment may be said, should be less frequent among them; nor, perhaps, would it be proceeding too far to say, that, if the English and Irish were as abstemious as the Britons of the North, punishments might be wholly unnecessary; but, until such a desideratum be attained, we must contend that it would be unsafe to explode flogging in the army.

J. N.

ADDRESS

To the Officers and Men composing the Regular Militia, on the supposed intention of their being called to extend their Services.

AT this momentous crisis, when the efforts of all independent nations and legitimate sovereigns are called into action to support those rights, which have been, by them, for centuries inherited ;-to check the lawless encroachments of a Vile Usurper, whose ambition knowing no bounds, aims alone to wrest the sceptre and the crown, which have so long graced the brows and decked the thrones of

monarchs, determined to extinguish the flames with which the Corsican has too rapidly consumed the charters of some of the most powerful, and once the bravest nations of Europe, and to retard, as much as possible, the progress of those conflagrations which have spread destruction, disease, and all other concomitant evils among the loyal, peaceable, and industrious inhabitants of the greatest parts of the Continent. Then, when we, as Britons, draw the retrospect, and behold on one side of the canvas, our own internal felicity, and on the other, view the great and glorious struggle in which we are engaged, for the liberties of a brave and loyal people,-how proud and thankful should we feel in the blessings we enjoy under a constitution which can enable us to participate in so just and so noble a cause; in our Councils, from whose profound wisdom and deep discernments we are provided with those means which not only ameliorate the sufferings of hardship, but gratuitously aid the wants of those nations whose coffers have been pillaged by the sanguinary hordes of Buonaparte's Bandittis: when the possession of all these blessings is maturely considered, how truly grateful should we be to that Power from whom alone" all blessings flow!" who gives energy to our minds and strength to our nerves, to meet and combat in so magnanimous a cause.

The nation, impressed with sentiments so characteristic, my brave companions, may shortly invite you to partake in the honors and dangers of that field, wherein, perhaps, your fathers, your brothers, are now engaged; the brightness and unsullied reputation of your arms, taken up in defence of your country's weal, will ever shine conspicuous in the annals of history;-yet, hesitate not, if hesitation there can exist,-should your country call for your further aid, to step nobly forward, and face that foe, who, with his myrmidons, are already collected, with the vain hope of striking a tremendous blow, by which they as vaguely imagine the pride of England will be conquered, and the bright diadems of Spain and Portugal will again be within their grasp; but, remember, my friends, it is a Wellington who protects them! let that thought discard every other from your breasts,-so bravely on! your powers combined, with the true Son of Valour at your head, will dauntless lead you to victory: the vauntings of the leaders of the Corsican's legions will at once, when aided with your steels, be hurled into that abyss where dark oblivion will for ever obscure them to rise no

more; and, as on the famed plains of Salamanca, the genius of Wellesley, running from rank to rank, will soon scatter terror and dismay amidst the phalanxes of imperious France: while defeat will be on their train, triumphant victory will follow you in every step, to bind your foreheads with her gayest chaplets. The fervent prayers of thousands will ever be yours,-a nation's gratitude will await your return;-beauty's tears will profusely flow to the memory of her fallen heroes,--but beauty's eyes will, with anxious solicitude, hover around the southern horizon to welcome and embrace, on their native shores, those fathers, brothers, husbands, the brave deliverers of an injured people; the most celestial sensations will be awakened and predominate in your own breasts for having obeyed the voice of your country, and been the protectors of millions of your fellow creatures: posterity will with grateful acknowledgments, read of your heroic exploits, and of those god-like dictates of the heart, which urged you on to join your brethren in so dreadful, yet so just a conflict. You are soldiers, and many of you have been matured in the school of arms for these twenty years past, and have as honorably and gallantly wielded them in the defence of your country; ever grateful, she now may offer you an accumulation of those honors you have already earned, by calling on you to share in common with the rest of our countrymen; honors which alone are to be reap'd in the camps of real glory. The endearing ties of nature may, for a moment, damp the ardor of that martial spirit which glows in the veins of every true-born Briton; let the momentary pang be endured,—but when reason regains her wonted sway the native effusions of the heart will burst forth, and pourtray in colors most refulgent, the more sacred ties by which we are united to our dear country; these just, but sombre reflections, will in part be dissipated when we look round and behold the numbers of our fellow soldiers, equally bound by every social and domestic tie, and blessed with the tender pledges of connubial joys, gallantly stalking forth and treading the paths of honor and renown,-having subdued this, the most delicate feeling of the human heart, what else on earth will restrain the Independent Sons of Albion from clashing their arms with those of the Intrepid Arthur? surely the thought is almost impious! the ideas emanating from the pampered luxuries which have crowned your festive boards; the balls, the routes, the gaieties of the metropolis, which have been by you so oft enjoyed;

the easy marches you have experienced, and when over, partaking of the delicacies of a well-stocked larder; these, contrasted to that which is more likely to be your fare, when actively employed, cannot for a second curb the enthusiastic ardor for the attainment of that fame which has been left you as a legacy by your forefathers. No! your valiant souls shrink, I feel, at aught so base, even proud and individual independence herself gives way, and England's cause and honor triumphs,-the sparks of patriotic fire kindles in the bosom of each commander,-the unsoiled banners of the regiments are unfurled,—the noblest sons of Briton's isles lead the example,— and, buckling on their steel-edged swords, mount their well-bred coursers, and speed to the field;-there their brave battalions, with uplifted spears, wait, in anxious battle array, for the signal to advance, it's given, and each imagination now's on fire, for 'tis Britannia's trumpet sounds, calling on her gallant leaders, who, with falchions shining as resplendant as the cause they have espoused, are heard with cheers to exclaim, "hark, brave friends and associates, it is England's voice, we will obey,-for England expects us now to do our duty;"-the words are taken, and, like the electric fluid, it runs from right to left, and nought is heard but "England," Aye, " England and King George, the guardian of his people, and the sole protector of the rights of injured nations. November 27, 1812.

ONE ANXIOUS FOR THE CAUSE.

List of the Army Buonaparte took with him into Russia.

Correspondence from the Theatre of War in the Peninsula.

CAMP BEFORE BURGOS, 12th October.

I HAVE little to write that can amuse, situated as we are. The Marquis appears resolved to take the castle: nolens volens; but it will require time. I was witness to a transaction which must furnish you with a correct idea of the general system of Guerillas, and to what extent dependence can be placed in that description of force, which has been so lavishly commended. Four hundred well mounted Guerillas fell in with sixteen French dragoons, who immediately charged them ;away went the Guerillas, and in their route drove five British light dragoons off the road: but the latter, the 12th dragoons, in their turn charged the enemy, who immediately fled. Don Julian, the Guerilla Chief, in support of this affair stated, "That his forces are not intended for the charge, but merely to harrass the French and cut off their supplies." For both the latter they answer admirably; but I think it rather disgraceful that so strong a force should betray timidity, and be put to flight by a handful of Frenchmen.

Bivouac, Burgos, 12th October, 1812.

I have little of novelty or information to offer since dispatching my last letter,— exposed to wind and rain, our chief object is to keep ourselves warm, which we endeavour to do at the expence of some Spanish landholders. The support of firing for three thousand men and officers, requires no small quantity of oak, which wood grows here, but of a prickly quality, small leaves, and stunted. Another fortnight will set our wits to work; for, by that time, no vestige of a forest will remain; but I hope before that expires, this castle will have surrendered; at all events we shall be moving. We have nothing stirring to enliven us. I assure you, an English newspaper furnishes an amazing treat; not a paragraph unread, not even an advertisement. Conceive, my friend, the dull round of a Bivonac, with the glorious uncertainty of fortune! I freely confess, that the routine of a regimental life is irksome beyond measure in a situation like this. I cannot help smiling to find the same thirst for news, and the same mode of searching after it, practised in a Bivouac as in Bond-street, with this difference only, that the "well, what's the news?" in Bond-street, implies a desire to be told any thing that is new: in a Bivouac it turns on our immediate field of operations,-we step not beyond ourselves! "How goes on the siege? Are any more killed? Will the castle be taken? Are we expected to march soon? Do we go into quarters?" To all which are given a variety of answers, such as are floating about, such as are dictated from different feelings : some encouraging, others despairing. We meet now and then with military politicians, who pretend to know more than their neighbours, and who freely condemn what in their wisdom they disapprove. But when we consider we are fighting the battles for our country on a foreign soil; that the scenes of devastation, destruction, and death, are distant from our native homes, we must be reconciled even to greater ills, admitting their productions and their assertions to be actually the fact. The report of to-day is, that the castle will be stormed in the evening, and a mine sprung under the convent, which is said to be the barracks. There has existed rather a degree of backwardness in some of the troops during the siege; perhaps the little prospect of plunder, damps their energy. We understand that the French army, amounting to 20,000, are about six leagues from us: but having only the high road to march upon, as we are on that, I have no idea they will make