TRAVELS IN 
But even old feafonecl troops, after a long fea-voyage, are 
generally found to be difqualified, during a confiderable time, 
for any great exertion. The tone or elafticity of the mind has 
become relaxed as well as the habit of body, Let any one re- 
colledt how he felt after a long fea-voyage, and afk himfelf if 
he were capable of the fame exertion, and of undergoing the 
fame fatigue, immediately after landing as before his embarka- 
tion^ The anfwer, I fancy, will be in the negative. The limbs, 
in fa£t, require to be exercifed in order to regarin their ufual 
motions, and the lungs mufl: have pradlice before they will play 
with their ufual freedom in the cheft. And thefe effects, ad- 
verfe to prompt and energetic adlion, will generally be propor- 
tioned to the length of the voyage, and the privations to which 
men muft neceffarily fubmit. 
The very able and intelligent writers of the Precis des evene- 
7nens militaires^ or Epitome of military events^ feem to afcribe the 
defeat of the Ruffian column, commanded by General Hermann, 
in the affair at Bergen, where it was almoft cut to pieces, to their 
marching againft the enemy immediately after landing from a 
fea-voyage, although it had not been very long. They obferve 
that, " by being crowded on board tranfports, and other incon- 
*' veniences experienced at fea, not only a confiderable number 
*' of individuals are weakened to fuch a degree that they are in- 
capable of any fervice, but whole corps fometimes prefent 
" the fame difadvantages — the extreme inequality of flrength 
" that, in fuch cafes, prevails between the individuals or confti- 
** tuent parts of corps, is, at once, deflrudive of their aggregated 
" and combined impulfe." 
If 
