STUDY XIII. 169 



It would be a very difficult matter to redore this 

 power to it's proper elafticity among the French 

 foldiery, who are formed, in part, of the diffolute 

 youth of our great towns. The Ruffian and Pruf- 

 fian foldiers are draughted from the clafs of the 

 peafantry, and value themfelvesupon their condi- 

 tion. With us, on the contrary, a peafant is terri- 

 fied left his fon fhould be obliged to go for a fol- 

 dier. Adminiftration, on it's part, contributes to- 

 ward ihe increafe of this apprehenfion. If there 

 be a fingle blackguard in a village, the deputy 

 takes care that the black ball fliall fall upon him, 

 as if a regiment were a galley for criminals. 



I once compofed, on this fubjeâ:, a memorial- 

 which fuggefted propofals of a remedy for thefe 

 difordcrs, and for the prevention of defertion 

 among our foldiers ; but, like many other things 

 of the fame fort, it came to nothing. The prin- 

 cipal means of reform which I propofed, were a 

 melioration of the condition of the foldiery, as in 

 Pruffiia, by holding up the profped of civil em- 

 ployments, which, with us, are infinite in number; 

 and, in order to prevent the irregularities into 

 which they are thrown by a life of celibacy, I pro- 

 pofed to grant them permiffion to marry, as moft 

 of the Ruffian and Pruffian foldiers do *. This 



* I could likewife wifli that the wives of failors might be per- 

 lanitted tp go to fea with their huibands ; they would prevent, on 



fhip- 



