5TUÏ)Y XIII. 221 • 



Court devifed for him, at an enormous expenfe. 

 Befides, what emulation would not the profpeft of 

 fuch preferments have kindled among our failors ? 



I afcribe the perfedion of the Englifh Marine, 

 in part at leafl, fimply to the influence of their Ca- 

 pital, and from it's being inceflantly under the eye 

 of the Court. Were Paris a fea-port, as London 

 is, how many ingenious inventions, thrown away 

 upon modes and operas, would be applied to the 

 improvement of navigation ! Were failors feen 

 there even as currently as foldiers, a paffion for the 

 marine fervice would be more extenfively diffufed. 

 The condition of the feaman, become more inte- 

 refting to the Nation, and to it*s rulers, would be 

 gradually meliorated ; and, at the fame time, this 

 would have a happy tendency to mitigate the bru- 

 tal defpotifm of thofe who frequently maintain 

 their authority over them, merely by dint of 

 fwearing and blows. It is a good, and an eafily 

 pradlicable piece of policy, to enfeeble vice, by 

 bringing men nearer to each other, and by render- 

 ing them more happy. Our country gentlemen 

 did not give over beating their hinds, till they faw 

 that this ufeful part of Mankind had become inte- 

 refting objeds in books, and on the theatre. ' 



Not that I wifli for our feamen, an eftablifhment 

 fimihr to that of the Hotel des Invalides. I am 



charmed 



