Remarks on the History of Inventions. 241 



wounded were admitted into a noble hospital in the town, and placed under 

 tlic care of M. Seutin, one of the most humane and accomplished surgeons 

 that the Continent can boast of. After the capitulation, the Dutch wounded 

 were removed to the same place j these men had suffered much from the 

 weakness of their hospital, and the rude knowledge of their surgeons. 



On one occasion we went round tlie hospital with King Leopold and his 

 suite. The monarch spoke a few words to each soldier, and to the most 

 deserving gave crosses and pensions. This attention on his Majesty's part 

 had a wonderfully beneficial effect upon many of the cases. The French 

 soldiery are, taken as a body, we are confident, far superior in informa- 

 tion and good breeding, to any similar class in any other country in the 

 world. 



And now, lest our readers should be wearied, we shall conclude. The 

 picture which we have attempted faithfully to pourtray, is, we are well 

 aware, imperfect j it must have been so, beneath even an abler pencil than 

 ours. To those who have passed their lives on the smiling plains of 

 England, whom the clang of the tocsin has never summoned as conscripts 

 to the war, nor the roar of artillery frighted as fugitives from their homes, 

 words can convey but an inadequate impression of the horrors of war. 



P. S. It may be mentioned that the citadel conveniently held a garrison 

 of 4470 men, with 144 pieces of ordnance, ammunition, and military stores. 

 The army of Gerard consisted of 54,000 infaiitry, 6000 cavalry, 6450 en- 

 gineers, artillery-men, and poutoniers ; in all 60,450 men, 14,300 horses, 

 and 144 pieces of battering train, and 78 of field artillery. 



REMARKS ON THE HISTORY OF INVENTIONS. 



TnE object of the series of papers of which the first is now submitted to 

 the reader, was intended to be an attempt to trace the history of the most 

 remarkable inventions on which the arts essential to human society depend; 

 — a subject so miscellaneous seems well adapted to meet the views which ge- 

 nerally lead men to turn over the pages of a miscellany : and it is interesting 

 to pursue the progress of the reason given to man, as far more than a com- 

 pensation for his destitution of natural instruments, like those possessed 

 by other animals, in triumphantly vanquishing all the difficulties of his 

 situation, and extending liis empire over surrounding nature ; — to note his 

 first rude efforts, the infancy of his arts in tlie savage state, and follow 

 them on to tiiat full develo])ment which constitutes civilization. 



Although we find the several particulars which would enter into such a 

 survey, scattered in very many and sufficiently common volumes ; I know 

 not where wc shall find any attempt to present such a continued view of 

 them, as seems desirable in order to illustrate the subject in its general 

 bearings and relations. We have indeed a very entertaining volume, en- 

 titled, " History of Inventions," by Professor Beckman (which has been 



No. 5.— Vol. i. 2 K* 



