412 
conforming to general regulations, follow 
their own particular ideas and plans, ac- 
cording to their feveral geniufes, acquire- 
ments, and prejudices. No minifter 1s 
fufliciently enlighted, nor perhaps poffef- 
fed of that authority which is neceffary to 
give uviformity to the different depart- 
ments of the Britifh army, to conftitute 
a regular and correfponding whole, and 
to furmount thofe obftacles which are 
thrown in the way of all uniformity of 
military fyftem, by the diltance and dif- 
tribution of the troops, feparated as they 
are, one from the other, by the whole 
diameter of the earth. 
It is a great difadvantage not to be able 
to a&t together, but to be perpetually re- 
duced to the neceffity of fighting by de- 
tachments. ‘The lofs of Toulon was at- 
tributed to their troops, when in faét 
there were not 3000 fighting men; and, 
though the Englifh formed bur a part of 
the army: on the fame falle ground of 
affumption they were made = ref{ponitble 
for the lofs of Holland, Serving in fmall 
numbers, or in fubordinate flations, their 
Generals can neither form themielves or 
infpire their troops with confidence, in- 
afmuch as they are obliged to conform to 
the views of others tor the fuccefs of their 
operations; and,’ indeed for their own 
fafety. A ftate of dependence deadens 
courage, extinguifhes all fpirit of enter- 
prize, and expoles the troops to certain 
defeat, whenever they have the raflinefs 
to free themfelves from it. This it was 
that occafioned the rating ihe fiege of 
Dunkirk. 
The employment of mercenaries, and 
acting with troops of other nations, have 
alfo been of the greateft difadvantage to 
the Britifh. 
If we except the campaigns of Flanders 
and Holland, they have been employed in 
nothing but difembarkations. This, of 
all the operations in war, is the moft difh- 
cult and perilous, and been attended with 
very indifferent fuccefs, Witnefs Noth 
Holland, Ferrol, &c. 
Ina military life, good faith, honour, 
and courage, are the principal qualifica- 
tions; and thefe are eminently conf{pi- 
cuous in the Britifh troops. Their mi- 
itary ardour is’greater than what is feen 
in any other fervice: but imtereft with mi- 
niflers, and the neceffiry of raifing money 
to detray the expences of the different de- 
partments of the ftate, are thefirfl means 
of promotion; they are not, however, 
always the molt equitable.* 
Na ee 
* ‘Lo the credit of the prefent Commander 
Britifo Army. 
[ June l, 
The foldiers of the Britifh army are 
poffeffed of elements to enable them, under 
a Chief of abilities, to be the firft troops 
in the world, They neither require bran- 
dy nor felf-conceit to be brave; their cou- 
rage is innate; it is a national inftinét. 
The officers are men of greater inferma- 
tion than all other European officers, be- 
caufe in general education is more attend- 
ed to in England than elfewhere; they 
are attached to their profeflion, and fol- 
low it rather from generous motives and 
military fpirit, than like mercenaries, 
from intereft, but we muft at the fame 
time confefs, that they want experience. 
The Enelifh foldiers being,’ on moft 
occafions, difperfed in quarters, their fu- 
periors cannot have that ftri€ét watch over 
theapas if they were united in barracks, * 
In order that difcipline may be geod, it 
mutt become habitual, without the imallett 
relaxation, even at times when the foldier 
is not in fear of being feen by his fupe- 
rior. ~The Englith troops want a centre 
of unity, a pattern of uniformity, and a 
chief, who will admit of no reforms er 
amelicrations but what are approved of, 
and common to all the army. ‘The regi- 
ment of guards might be the pattern; but 
a privileged corps, better paid, and al- | 
ways in garrifon in London, ought to be 
fuperior to ordinary regiments.> 
in Chief, be it faid, that however unavoid- 
ably promotions of the kind here mentioned 
nay fometimes take place, military merit 
is more attended to in our days than it for- 
merly was, The earneftnefs with which his 
Royal Highnefs devotes his time and atten 
tion to the amelioration of cur military fy{- 
tem, bids fair to have it gradually placed 
upon the beft and. moit honourable footing. 
Neverthelefs, we have ftill our fears as to 
the confummaticn of his endeavours, as long 
as the purchafe and fale of commiffions exift. 
Tranflatore 
* This inconvenience feems Itkely to be. 
removed. How far the alteration may be 
confonant to the fpirit of the Britifh confti- 
tution, we fhall not prefume to fay. Certain 
itis, that, in a military view, the erection 
_of barracks muft be beneficial. Tranflator. 
+ Here we differ moft eflentially from our 
author. However meritorious the conduct of 
the foot-guards may be on fervice (and no 
man can call their gallantry in queftion} 
their behaviour at home is certainly far from. 
being worthy of imitation. We have no ob- 
je4tion to a privileged corps about the King’s 
perfor 5 but at the fame time it fhould be 
recollected, that the line, confifting of march- 
ing regiments, could be jin garrifon in and 
about the capital without encroaching upon 
fuch a corps, and (what is ftill more impor- 
tant 
