Effects 6f Military Despdtism. 33 



" It appears absolutely impossible that the 

 people of a country so governed, can ever be, 

 properly speaking, a military nation, least of 

 all, if they groan under the yoke of what is 

 called military despotism ; a government the 

 most thoroughly destructive of martial spirit."* 



Military despotism places unlimited power in 

 the hands of a few, whilst it inspires the many 

 with a sordid hope of participating in the plun- 

 derj likely to be obtained by a subservient 

 obedience to every mandate calculated to aug- 

 ment the power of the few over the many. 



* ':); ,tl 



This accounts for the attachment of the 

 French military to Buonaparte, the fall of whose 

 empire, and fall it must, will prove the destruc- 

 tion of their prospects. I am told, that after 

 every discomfiture of his arms, his officers with- 

 drew for a time from public view, and remained 

 quietly in their lodgings. 



On quitting Dumfries for Closeburn, we passed 

 over the Nith: the bridge is much admired. 

 Four miles from the town is Goldielee, the 

 seat of Major Goldie, -who has the reputation 

 of being a good farmer. 



* Pasley on Military Policy. 

 VOL. I. B 



