native courage, and the intereft which even the common men take in all their country's quarrels, are at least equal to any o ther troops. I hope, faid he, the experiment will not be made foon, for I efteem your na tion, and fhould be forry to see your troops opposed to ours in the field: but till they are, you cannot he fure of the juftnefs of your affertion. The advantages you gained over the French in the late war rather makes for my argument, because the French army is more remifs in the article of difcipline than yours. I then returned to my old ground, the cruelty of harraffing and tormenting men without intermiffion; and afferted, that the advantages arifing from fuch exceffive feverity, even though they should be as great as he reprefented. could not form a fufficient reafon for rendering the lives of fo many men miferable. I do not know that they are miferable, replied he. When men are but indifferently fed, forced to perform very hard duty, certain of being feverely punished for the smallest faults, and fometimes even for their misfortunes, can you doubt, faid I, that these men are miferable?They do not feem miferable, replied he, they bear it very well.-And would you, added I, have the lefs remorfe in tormenting men because they have the ftrength of mind to bear it well? I then told him a story I had heard of an English failor, who was tried for a robbery he had committed on the highway. While his doom was pronouncing, he raifed a piece of rolled tobacco to his mouth, and held it between his teeth till he heard the fentence of death paffed on him. He then bit off a piece of the tobacco, and began to chew it with great unconcern. Sirrah, faid the Judge, piqued at the man's indifference, do you know that you are to be hanged in a very short time?So I hear, faid the failor, fquirting a little tobacco juice from his mouth. Do you know, rejoined the Judge, where you shall go when you die?-I cannot tell indeed, an't please your honour, faid the failor. Why, then, cried the Judge, with a tremendous voice, I will tell you: You will go to Hell. If I should, replied the failor, with perfect tranquillity, I hope, my Lord, I shall be able to bear it. - MILITARY CHARACTER of the Duke of BERWICK; from his Memoirs lately tranflated from the French Original. THE HE Marthal of Berwick poffeffed all the requisites for a warrior. Every military man, who will ftudy his campaigns, will admire, in the plans of them, the juitnefs of view, the extent of combination, and the character of genius throughout: he will not difcover the leat fault in the execution of them; he will fee, that the measures were fo fkilfully taken, that the fuccefs was almost always infured before-hand: no General had the coup d'œil quicker or more accurate, whether in action to difcover the means of advantage, and make thofe decifive movements which carry victory with them, or in a campaign to obferve and take advantageous pofitions, upon which the fuccefs of the whole depends. He was more than any man mafter of the art of fubfitting an army; we have seen the care and pains his activity enabled him to employ, and the refources he found out to fupply his own with provifions in 1709, when they were in want of every thing; but he was most remarkable for his extraordinary skill in the arranges ment of his provifions, and the judicious choice of depôts, by which, and the confequences refulting from it, the event of campaigns is often determined. Those, in which he commanded, were not without that brilliancy which attracts the admiration of mankind in general; but to diftinguish ard feel the whole merit of them requires profeffional knowledge and a nice examination : they bear the characteriftic mark which is always found in the works of great masters; the more one dwells on them, the more one separates and examines the minuter parts, the more perfection is difcovered; they have in them, for the mott part, peculiarities, which diftinguish them from the campaigns of other Generals; one can scarcely caft an eye over them without observing, almolt in every inftance, a particular (troke of genius which marks them for his own. How many ftriking examples in proof of what we have advanced might we produce from thefe Memoirs? It would be fufficient to call to mind the four campaigns he made in Dauphiny. In the protection of that frontier be carried the art of defence further perhaps than any General had ever done. Marthal Catinat had been employed in 1692 to conduct the fame kind of war in the fame country; but but he did not fupport the reputation he had before acquired in Piedmont in the offenfive war he had carried on against the Duke of Savoy. We cannot even but remark a wide difference between the method he took of defending the frontier at that time, and the plan upon which the Marthal of Berwick defended it feveral years after. Befides this, Marshal Catinat was fuperior in force to his enemy; the Marshal of Berwick always inferior. We may therefore confider that which the Marshal of Berwick fent to Lewis XIV, in 1709, as a certain plan of defence for our Italian frontier. In fact, it was by pursuing uniformly the fame plan through four fucceffive campaigns, that he checked the advances of the Duke of Savoy during that whole period, and kept him from penetrating into the kingdom in any part, notwithstanding the projects he had formed, and in fpite of the fuperiority of his forces at that time, in infantry as well as cavalry. Accordingly that Prince, fince King of Sardinia, who was, no doubt, well qualified to decide upon the merit of Generals and campaigns, was used to fay, in speaking of those which the Marshal of Berwick had made against him, that he had never feen fo good manœuvres, nor fo fkilful and noble a method of making war.' As it is our intention to point out whatever may beft contribute to a thorough knowledge of the Marshal of Berwick's military talents, we ought not to omit two circumftances. This defenfive plan, the greatest perhaps and most difficult to be devised, on account of the extent and nature of the country to be covered by it, and, when discovered, the safeft and moft eafy to be executed, was the refult of a fingle journey the Marfhal took from one end to the other of the frontier, before the opening of the firft campaign. The fecond circumftance, which is not lefs remarkable, is, that this plan, which, from the immenfity of its combinations, feems to be a prodigy of cal. culation, was fo complete from the inftant it was conceived, that he had not occafion to make the fmalleft change in it afterwards; he ventured conftantly to affure Lewis XIV. of the goodnefs and fafety of his defenfive plan; the fuccefs of which, repeated each campaign against an able General, was the best proof that could be given of it. The experience he acquired in thefe four campaigns we are speaking of, furnished him with the knowledge, that upon his plan an army of forty five bat talions and twenty fquadrons were fufficient to defend the whole frontier against an army of fixty or seventy battalions and fifty fquadrons. The difference we find, upon a comparifon between the defenfive plan of the Marshal of Berwick and those of the other Generals, with refpect to the number of troops each of them required, in proportion to what he fuppofed the enemy to have for the offenfive, may reasonably furprize us: Marshal Catinat had always demanded one third more infantry than the enemy had; the Marshal of Berwick limited himself to one-third lefs at the end of the four campaigns he made. This great difference can proceed only from the new and fuperior manner of defence which the Marthal of Berwick invented, and which had efcaped the penetration of the greatest Generals. M. de Feuquieres was well apprized of the advantage of a central pofition for moving to any point of the circumference, and preventing the attack of an enemy: but he did not, like the Marfhal of Berwick, conceive the application of it to the defence of that frontier by means of fuch a line as the latter formed an idea of, and the extent of which is aftonishing. His campaigns in Spain may equally ferve as models for military men to copy after; he was there alternately upon the offenfive and defenfive. It would be more than ufelefs to recite his manoeuvres; he has done it himself in his Memoirs much better than it could be done here; we shall only observe, that he fhewed in that fituation that he was never greater than in misfortunes, and when matters were thought defperate: in unforeseen and critical events he was, as it were, the man of the moment, the refource of the Court, and even of the Generals. He was fent from Spain in the middle of the campaign of 1707, to the Duke of Burgundy, in Provence, who was marching to the relief of Toulon, then befieged by the Duke of Savoy. After the battle of Malplaquet in 1709, he received orders to repair from Brianzon, where he had just finished the campaign, to the army in Flanders, which was commanded by Marfhal Boufflers fince the wound of Marthal Villars. Lewis XIV, at the inftance of Marthal Villars, dispatched him into Flanders to fuccour Douay. At the end of the year 1712, he was but juft arrived at Court from Dauphiny, when they fent him ftrait into Catalonia to preferve Gironne, * More than 60 leagues in length across the Alps. which was blockaded by Count Staremberg, and reduced to the last extremity. In the hurry of the most difficult operations, and the heat of the warmest actions, the Marthal of Berwick preferved that tranquillity and coolness which is the effect of natural intrepidity, and a perfect knowledge of that art, which in fhewing us all we have to fear from an enemy points out at the fame time what we have to oppose to him. This tranquillity of mind was likewife the confequence of that firmnefs and refolution which places the wife man fo far above the reach of accidents, because he never has any thing to reproach himself with. In all his enterprizes he had likewife that fuccefs which, for the moft part, attends a great man, becaufe his enlarged understanding enables him to comprehend the whole of his object; nothing escapes him; the accuracy of his judgment forms true combinations, and never fails to point out the proper path in a word, because the diligence he ufes in the execution of his defigns, and which is the guarantee of fuccefs, is always under the direction of prudence. Few men had feen so much service as the Marshal of Berwick; he had made twenty-nine campaigns; in fifteen of which he had commanded in chief; he had however been prefent at but fix battles, of which there was only one, that of Almanza, where he commanded. It may perhaps be matter of furprise, that in the great number of campaigns, where he was at the head of armies, and efpecially with that diftinguished bravery he had always fhewn, there should be but one battle fought under his command; he explains this himself. He faid, in order to come to an engagement both the Commanders must be of a mind, and that no General ought to fight but when he could not do otherwife, becaufe the iffue was always uncertain; and that it was not right to endanger the fuccefs of a campaign, or a war, perhaps even the fate of a nation, when one might by good difpofitions and able manoeuvres, equally accomplish the object without riiquing a battle. He did not however avoid battles in fech a manner as to draw upon himself the imputation of timidity, because the honour of an army requires that there should be no figns of fear, becaufe he held honour above every thing; because he was not afraid of engaging (which he fully fhewed in the field of Almanza); and finally, becaufe an ap pearance of timidity in the General would have been realized in the foldier. This grand principle of humanity No man exercised command with greater dignity. He was, indeed, taxed with feverity; but those who knew him well, faid that he was rather exact than severe. Being entirely free from pedantry, he was, in fact, fevere only from a fenfe of duty, fo far as refpected others, and was more rigid to himself than to them. This exactness was likewife, in fome degree, the refult of a love of order and difcipline, which he poffeffed in the highest degree; knowing all the importance and neceffity of keeping up both the one and the other, particularly in armies. History, which will fhew that he knew how to command, can likewife attelt, that he knew how to obey; two qualities very rarely to be found in the fame perfon. Educated in the principle of paffive obedience, he was the moft fubmiffive of subjets to his Prince, and the most zealous for his fervice. This fubmiffion, however, which was the invariable rule of his conduct, was neither mean nor blind; he would oppofe the Ministers of the greatest Princes with a firmnefs not to be haken, and even bordering upon obftinacy, when the points in question related merely to war; because he thought the advantage muft evidently be on his fide in the difcuffion of matters, with which he was much better acquainted than those who endeavoured to over-rule his judgment. The Marshal of Berwick might have enriched himself in fifteen campaigns by the the command of armies, but he lived in a conftant contempt, or rather forgetfulnefs of wealth. Kind and tender as he was to his children, it will perhaps be thought that his neglect of money was too great for the father of a family; but his heart was engroffed by true glory and virtue. In his expences, particularly thofe which related to his perfon, he was moderate, as much by tafte as principle; yet he lived conformable to his rank, and fometimes even magnificently when occafion required it. In finishing our sketch of the Marshal of Berwick, we cannot avoid observing, that he united in himself an affemblage of circumstances not only remarkable, but perhaps peculiar to his own perfon. He had commanded the armes of three of the greatest Monarchs in Europe, those of France, Spain, and England: he was poffeffed of the highest rank in each of thofe realms, being a Peer of France as well as England, and Grandee of Spain; and each of thefe Kings had invested him with their respective Orders. OCCASIONAL LETTERS: LETTER XCVII. AN ADDRESS TO YOUTH. YOUTH is the feason of activity either of which are liable to precipitate a young perfon into dangeroue indifcretions before reafon is matured into circumfpection. Moderation, vigilance, and felfgovernment, are duties incumbent on all; but especially on fuch as are beginning the journey of life. St. Paul advifes Titus to exhort young men to be fober-minded; but the whole courfe of youthful views and paffions is adverfe to fobriety of mind. The scenes which prefent them felves to our view on entering the world, are commonly flattering; the lively spirits of the young gild every profpect, and pleasure feems to put forth bloffoms on every fide. Impelled by defire, they ruth forward with inconfiderate ardor: prompt to decide, averfe to inquiry or hesitation; credulous, becaufe untaught by experience; rafh, becaufe unacquainted with danger; headstrong, because unfubdued by difappointment; hence arife the perils against which the defign of the prefent addrefs is to warn them. Having then advanced beyond childhood, fo as to lock forward to fuch a plan of life as your circumftances have fuggefted, and your friends propofed, you cannot hesitate to acknowledge, that, in order to adopt it with any profpect of fuccefs, fome previous difcipline is neceffary. Be affured that whatever is to be your profeffion, no education is more neceffary to infure fuccefs, than the acquirement of virtuous difpofitions and habits. Bad as the world is, refpect is always paid to virtue. Whether fcience, business, or public life be your aim, virtue ftill enters for a principal ingredient into all thofe departments of fociety. It is connected with eminence in every liberal art; with reputation in every branch of fair and every public ftation. The vigour which it imparts to the mind, the weight which it adds to the character, the generous fentiments which it breathes, the fortitude which it infpires, the diligence which it quickens, are the fure foundations of all that is great and valuable in life. Having thus fhewn the importance of beginning early to give serious attention to conduct; the next step is to point out thofe virtues moft neceffary to be cultivated in youth, and the first of these is piety to God. Piety is the foundation of good morals, and is a difpofition peculiarly graceful and becoming in youth. To be void of it argues a cold heart, deftitute of fome of the best affections found in early life. Youth is the feafon of warm and generous emotions, it is then we glow with love and affection; and where can any object be found fo proper to kindle love and gratitude, as the Father of univerfe, and the Author of all felicity? But though piety fprings from the heart, the aid of the underftanding is required, to give a proper direction to the devout affections. You must therefore endeavour to acquire just views both of the great principles of natural religion, and of the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. At the same time you are not to apprehend that an exhortation to be religious includes an obligation of becoming more formal and folemn in your manners than others of the fame age, or of erecting yourfelves into fupercilions reprovers of thofe around you. The fpirit of true religion breathes gentlenefs and affability; it is focial, kind, and chearful; far removed from that gloomy illiberal superstition and bigotry which clouds clouds the brow, fours the temper, dejecs the fpirit, and impreffes morofity on the manners. Let your religion on the contrary prepare you for Heaven by a fincere, honourable, open difcharge of the duties of active life of fuch religion discover on every proper occafion that you are not afhamed, without making any unneceffary oftentatious display of it before the world. If you are truly pious, you will from principle become exemplary in the difcharge of every moral duty; you will reverence your parents, be fubmiffive to thofe who are your fuperiors in years, station, and knowledge. Modelty is one of the chief ornaments of youth, and has ever been efteemed a prefage of rifing merit. On entering the career of life commit yourfelves to the guidance of those who are more experienced, and learn wisdom from thofe who have already acquired it. Of all the follies incident to youth, there are none which either deform its prefent appearance, or blaft the prospect of its future profperity, more than felf conceit, prefumption, and, obitinacy. Pofitive as you may now be in your own halty premature opinions, be affured that a few years will confute them; when both men and things will appear to you in a very different light, and you will often be ashamed of your former precipitation and temerity. By patient and gradual progreffion in improvement, you may in due time acquire lafting esteem; but by affuming a tone of confidence and fuperiority to which you can produce no title, you will difguft shose whofe approbation is of the utmost importance to gain. Forward vivacity may be acceptable among the companions of idle hours; but more folid qualities must recommend you to the wife. To modefty fincerity and truth are indifpenfable; for the want of which no other qualification can atone. That darknefs of character where we can fee no. heart; thofe foldings of art, through which no native affection is allowed to penetrate, prefent an object unamiable in any feafon of life, but particularly odious in youth. Diffimulation in youth is the forerunner of perfidy in old age: its firft appearance is the fatal omen of growing depravity, which will degrade every other accomplishment and fink you into deferved contempt. A ferious adherence to veracity in language requires to be supported by a strict obfervance of justice in dealings; which is the foundation of all the focial qualities. In your most early intercoule with the Juftice leads to compaffion, an emotion of which no man ought ever to be afhamed: the tear of fympathy, and the heart that melts at the tale of woe, are grateful in youth. Let not care and indulgence contract your affections, and wrap you up in felfish enjoyment; accuftom yourselves to think of the diftreffes of human life; never sport with poverty, pain, or diftrefs; nor treat even the meanest infect with wanton cruelty. Youth is the feafon when friendships are formed by fimilarity of difpofitions," which not only continue through life, but glow to the last with a tenderness unknown to the connections begun in cooler years. This propenfity therefore is not to be difcouraged, though it requires to be regulated with much circumfpection. Too many of the pretended friendships of youth are mere combinations in pleafure, founded in fudden caprice, and as fuddenly diffolved. Reflect that your own character will probably be stamped by the characters of thofe whom you chufe for your friends. Be cautious therefore in contracting intimacies; but when a virtuous friendship is once eftablished, confider it as a facred engagemen. Reveal none of the fecrets of a friend; be faithful to his interefts; forfake him not in danger; abhor the thought of acquiring any felfif advantage to his prejudice. Finally on this head, let couitely dif tinguifh your demeanor to every one; follow the customs of the world in matters indifferent; but be fure to ftop, whenever they tend to the injury of yourself or others. Temperance in pleasure is a duty peculiarly incumbent on the young, who may thereby efcape a rock that has proved fatal to thousands in every generation. The love of pleasure, natural to man in every period of his life, glows in the early part with exceffive ardor; and novelty as yet adds frefli charms to every gratification. The world appears to offer a con tinual |