l68 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



he has been enabled to accomplifh, by conferring 

 on them moft of the civil employments in his 

 kingdom, as the recompenfe of military fervices. 

 Such are the political ties by which he attaches 

 them to their country. The Ruffians eii^ploy only 

 one, but it is ftill more powerful ; 1 mean Reli- 

 gion. A Ruffian foldier believes, that to ferve his 

 Sovereign is to ferve God. He marches into the 

 fi-eld of battle, like a neophyte to martyrdom, in 

 the full perfuafion, thar, if he falls in it, he goes di^ 

 redly to Paradife, 



I have heard M. de Filkhois, Grand Mafler of 

 the Ruffian artillery, relate, that the foldiets of 

 his corps who ferved a battery, in the afîair of 

 Zornedorfï\ having been moftly cut off, the few 

 who remained feeing; the Piuffians advance, with 

 bayonets fixed, unable to make any farther refift- 

 ance, but determined not to fly, embraced their 

 guns, and fulTered themfelves to be all maflacred, 

 in order to preferve inviolate the oath which they 

 are called upon to take, when received into the 

 artillery, namely, never to abandon their cannon. 

 A refiftance fo pertinacious ftripped the Pruffians 

 of the vidory which they had gained, and made 

 the King of Pruffia acknowledge, that it was eafiec 

 to kill the Ruffians than to conquer them. This 

 heroic intrepidity is the fruit of Religion. 



