STUDY XIII. 223 



tbefe very feamen would be much better difpofed 

 of in the bofom of their feveral families. This, 

 however, need not prevent the raifing, at Paris, a 

 majeftic and commodious monument, to ferve as a 

 retreat for thofe brave veterans. The capital fets 

 little value upon them, becaufe it knows them 

 not ; but there are fomc among them who, by go- 

 ing over to the enemy, are capable of conduding 

 a defcent on our Colonies, and even upon our own 

 coafts. Defertion is as common amongj our ma- 

 liners as among our foldiers, and their defertion is 

 a much greater lofs to the State, becaufe it requires 

 more time to form them, and becaufe their local 

 knowledge is of much higher importance to an 

 enemy than that of our cavaliers, or of our foot- 

 ibldiers. 



What I have now taken the liberty to fugged, 

 on the fubjed: of our feamen, might be extended 

 to all the other eftates of the kingdom, without 

 exception. I could wifli that there were not a 

 fmgle one but what had it's centre at Paris, and 

 which might not find there a place of refuge, a 

 retreat, a little chapel. All thefe monuments of the 

 different claffes of citizens, which communicate 

 life to the body politic, decorated with the attri- 

 butes peculiar to each particular craft and profef- 

 fion, would there figure with perfecfl propriety, and 

 with moft powerful effedt. 



After 



