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216 
This thade,fun-proof,is yet no proof for thee; 
Thy body, {moother than this wavelefs fpring, 
And purer than the fubftance of the fame, 
Can creep thro’ that his lances cannot pierce. 
‘Thou and thy fitter, foft and facred 4ir, 
Keeps ev’ry mountain freth, and arbour fweet: 
No brazen gate thy pafiage can repulfe, 
Nor bufhy thicket bar thy fubtle breath : 
Then deck thee with thy loofe delightfome 
robes, 
And on thy wings bring delicate perfumes, 
‘To play the wanton with us thro’ the leaves.” 
If fuum cuique dare be ftri& poetical 
juftice,furely Shakefpeare,Cartwright, and 
Peele, have a claimto a fhare of the com- 
mendation beftowed on Milton. I remain, 
Lambeth, Sir, your’s, &c. 
ait. 21, 1804. T.. W. 
ee 
To the Editor of the Monibly Magazine. 
; SIR, 
HE French Revolution has operated 
on the continent of Europe, in a 
degree unprecedented in the annals of hif- 
tory. During thelaft twelve years, every 
thing has undergone a great and impor- 
tant change, whether in politics or reli- 
gion ; old ftates have been diflolved and 
new ones eftablifhed. France, like Aaron’s 
rod,has fwallowed up whatever came with- 
gn her reach. ; 
._ Among other changes, the military 
*feience has affumed a new afpect in all 
countries, during the above period ; and 
the tactics of a Turenne, a Marlborough, 
or a Frederick, have been obliged to give 
way to French republican enthufiafm, ant- 
mating their armies, ex mafe. ‘Their 
columns have forced the almoft impenetra- 
ble cordons of the Auftrians in the plains of 
Germany and Italy, and outrivalled the 
pafiage of Hannibal over the Alps. 
Other nations have been under the necef- 
fity of new-modelling their armies, and 
changing the eftablifhed fyftem of tac- 
tics, in hopes of being able to counteract 
that of the enemy. 
A-work entitled Caraéére Militaire des 
Armées Europtennesdans la Guerre adiuelle, 
avec une Parallele de la poittique, de la 
puiffance, et des moyens des Romains et des 
Francois, has lately made its appearance 
in this country, faid to be written by an 
intelligent foreigner. This very inge- 
nious and interefting publication has 
been ably tranflated into Englifh, by a 
gentleman to whom the public is indebted 
tor many ufeful publications, military or 
otherwile. To the tranflation he has an- 
nexed notes, to illufirate paflages, where 
the author was mifinformed refpecting the 
Britifh army, &c. Some of thefe notes 
Notice on the French Armye 
[April 15 
are taken from a pamphlet: now out of 
print, written by a celebrated Jaw-charac> 
ter, in 1775, at that time an officerin the 
Britith army. It is-entitled Obferwations on 
the prevailing Abufes in the Britifb Army, ari- 
Jing from the Corruption of Civil Govern- 
ment, with a Propofal to the Officers, to- 
wards obtaining an Addition to their Paye 
By the Honcurable ~ +, anopicer. 
A few extraéts from the CaraGéreMilis 
taire may not be unintereftmg to the 
readers of the Monthly Magazine. In 
giving which, we-fhall follow the auther’s 
arrangement of the different European ar- 
mies. ' ) 
In the introduétion, he fays, ¢* The col- 
le&tive matter may not only be curious, 
but inftructive ; and may ferve to ftamp 
the merit, charaéter, and canduét of the 
late war, inthe fame manner-that medal¢ 
fix the epochs of events.” 
OF THE FRENCH ARMY. 
TheRevolution diforganized the military $ 
and the ancient officers, whodid not embrace 
thenew principles, either retired, emigrat- 
ed,or were affaffinated. Tothem fucceeded 
men ratfed from the ranks, or thofe who 
gave proofs of attachment to the new order 
of things. ‘The army was compofed of 
troops of the line without order, and of 
raw and unexperienced volunteers. They 
experienced defeats in the beginning, but 
the war in the mean time was forming 
both officers and foldiers. The fyftem of 
terror introduced by Robefpierre, alfo 
concurred in forming the army,and leading 
it to victory. 
The French generals early difcovered 
the advantages refulting from  dif- 
patch; it is befides wonderfully adapted 
to a people impatient and greedy of no- 
velties. .Thealertnefs of the foldiers, the 
lightnefs of their baggage, and their 
inattention to regularity,enable the French 
armies to execute their movements with 
celerity. 
In an open country their armies were 
formed in columns, inftead of lines, 
which could not be preferved without dif- 
ficulty. They reduced their battles to 
attacks en certain points. Brigade fuc- 
ceeded brigade, and frefh troops fupplied 
the place of thofe who were driven back, 
which enabled them to force the poft, 
and make the enemy retreat before them + 
keeping themfelves en maffe, the cavalry 
could not break them, Turenne, Condé, 
and their é/ewes had carried on a war of 
movements: next came that of fieges. 
Frederick the Great had introduced a 
fyftem of taétics and manoeuvres, which 
he had brought ta perfection. The 
French 
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