elevating the mind above the storm, lifts it into an atmosphere that is tranquil and serene ;these are qualities that practice and experience in subordinate stations cannot give, but may impair.

There is a medium in every thing; a man may act too long in a subordinate capacity. Long habituated to direct himself by the judgment of others, he loses the independent strength of his mind; he falls into habits both of acting and thinking; he prefers things as they are, to the most evident improvements; he consults precedents on all occasions, common sense never; he becomes an old-fashioned fellow.

In the acquaintance which I have had with military men, I have seen such characters abound. I apprehend that there is something in both branches of the service, that leads to such habits of mind, and I caution you against it. The commanding officer of a regiment here is a countryman of ours, an old soldier - honest and brave, doubtless; but not a Xenophon. We talk these matters over I am obliged to express myself modestly. Sometimes I ask questions; sometimes I express my wonder. "Is it not strange, Colonel, that so many great officers should have appeared among men not regularly bred to the profession ?" "I doubt the fact, Sir." I quote

instances in our own service.

The Colonel de

I mention Washington,

nies them every one. a mere land-surveyor;-he abuses him; Arnold, a mere farrier; he gets warm. "Then there was Cromwell beat every one of the King's officers, Prince Rupert and all." The Colonel gets into a passion. "And this confounded Demurrer, as they call him, a man never more than a captain, or at best a colonel, of engineers; there's the King of Prussia, the Duke of Brunswick, and Prince Hohenlohe, every man of them retreats before him, and when they do stand, you see he thrashes them." The Colonel can bear this no longer; he mutters oaths, fills up a bumper, spills one half of it, and wishes he had the rascal hand to fist. I testify my regret and surprise that such things should be, and turn the matter off the best that I am able. In my own mind, I console myself with thinking that the trade of a soldier is soon learnt, as far as it is a trade, and that in six months' service I should not be afraid to encounter this veteran myself, on equal terms. The elements of your service are more difficult to acquire; but they tell me that there is less room for genius and talents in command. How is this?

You are going to fight these Sans Culottes. I

none.

fear the war will be a fierce one. The issue of it, however, as far as it is naval, cannot be doubted. The French will soon be driven out of the seas. Individuals may acquire glory in this war, and I hope my gallant friend will reap it largely; but, unfortunately, the nation at large can acquire We attack a people already exhausted, or at least weakened, by a thousand internal difficulties, and by a resistance to a league of monarchs more formidable than the world ever saw. We come upon them in our full force to fill up the measure of their calamities. My notion is, that we shall succeed completely. Famine, I apprehend, will do the business; and we shall have the credit of reducing those by hunger, on whom the German bayonets could make no impression. We must be contented to look for a recompense for the present evils of this war, in the advantages which it is likely to procure to our future interest. Doubtless, these are striking. The German dominion will again be extended over Brabant; the Austrian and Prussian armies again invade France, but under happier auspices. Famine and pestilence will wither the nerves that danger could not appal. The Prussian eagles will wave on the ramparts of Paris, and the pretended philosophers, the enemies of priests and kings, expiate their impiety and presumption

with their lives. Poland divided, and France subdued, how glorious will be the triumph! From Archangel to Gibraltar, there will be one compact league of sovereign power, before which the earth shall tremble. Happy England, how great will then be thy prosperity! how secure thy blessings!

In the mean, time, I do not feel as if the soil would suit me. I do not think I shall find the air easily breathed in. These trophies of our "Heaven-born" minister will keep me from rest. What part may become me I know not. Perhaps I may try to find a shelter in the woods of America. Perhaps there is no end to conjecture..

On the other hand, I am aware (however unlikely) that even with the aid of England, the confederate arms may not succeed against France; and such is the nature of the contest, that if France be not subdued, she triumphs.

What will the Emperor and the King of Prussia say when they return home (if such should be the issue) baffled and defeated? What will the Duke of York say? What account will our ministry and our House of Commons give of the sums expended, the manufactures ruined, and the commerce destroyed? I protest I cannot say. The world is full of strange events, and

while I see plainly that a most awful drama is performing, I will not presume to anticipate the winding up.

In the changes of human affairs, I hope our friendship will survive, and that we shall play whatever parts may be assigned us with fidelity and honour.

I am always yours most affectionately,
J. CURRIE.

P. S. I have some doubts whether it is friendly in me to write to you in the manner I have done. I would not have you to think we differ more than we do.

There are prodigious difficulties in forming a decision, even to a by-stander like me: because, from the very nature of man, the subjects at issue carry the parties more and more into extremes; and the scales of fate are balanced by general despotism on the one hand, and universal anarchy on the other. I believe the balance was in our hands. It is so no longer,

You see I hold the present principles of the French, if indeed they can be said to have any, in abhorrence equal to yours. I abhor the Prussian, Austrian, and Russian principles equally : and I cannot but reflect that anarchy is the child of a day, but despotism lasts for ages.