i 
* 
120 
been married to one wife nearly feventy 
years, and has leit her behind him; John 
Shortal has left a widow in her one hun- 
dred and fecond year; John Hunter has 
lett a widow aged ninety-two; and Wil- 
liam Marchant, a widow, in her ninety- 
ninth year. This certainly fhews that 
the fituation and mode of living of the 
parties mutt have materially contributed 
to their long life. 
It is not probable that long life can be 
attained by any other means than fuch 
as promote health and vigour, and con- 
fequently qualify the individual the bet- 
ter to enjoy exiftence, nor would it be at 
_all defirable under other cireumftances ; 
but it is almoft invariably found, that per- 
fons who do attain to very great age, 
potiefs their powers of body and mind, 
during the latter‘years of their life, in a 
greater degree of vigour than mo(t who 
die at the more common periods of du- 
ration. Thus in the above lift, defective 
as the accounts are .from which it is 
formed, there are ten perfons mentioned 
as having retamed the enjoyment of all 
their faculties to the laft. | Your’s, &c. 
January 12th, 1807. S20. G; 
N.B. Permit me to take this opportunity 
of thanking Mr. W. Singleten jor the parti- 
culars refpecting W. Welth, inferted in vol. 
31. p. 296. 
ee 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
OBSERVATIONS on the WRITINGS of HIS- 
roRrans of all aGEs and COUNTRIES, 
chiefly with a view to the accuRACcY 
of their MILITARY DESCRIPTIONS, and 
their KNOWLEDGE of the ant of WAR. 
By GENERAL ANDREOSSI. 
HE Memoirs of Bussy Rasutrn 
have every appearance of fincerity 
and candour. He makes us very fully 
acquainted with the Belgic wars carried 
on by Henry II. and Charles V. 
Brantonr is very intelligent in his 
opmions on the exifiing war-fyftem of 
his day, and the ftate of our armies. 
Boiviy appears to be an excellent 
record of the French expeditions 1 in Italy, 
from 1550 to 1561. 
Rowan, author of the Finifhed Cap- 
tain, fliews us, that the tactics of the 
ancients are capable of unfolding much 
ufeful inftruction to: modern profeftors. 
His memoi on La Valteline may be fet 
down as a very perfect topography of 
that mountainous country. 
Of foreiguers, the celebrated Montr- 
CUCULLI ranks high as the author of a 
Retrospective View of Historical 
[March 1, 
very fenfible Memoir, defcriptive of the 
general principles of the art of war, 
which he exemplifies very fuccefsfully 1 in 
the narrative ot his four campaigns. ‘His 
fentiments on the war between the Em- 
peror and the Turks, from 1661 to 1664, 
are truly edifying; as well on account 
of the h igh authority he quotes, as from 
the fearcity of information on Turkith 
tactics. At that time two-thirds of their 
infantry were armed with pikes, and the 
remainder loaded with mufkets fo un- 
wieldy that they were obliged to reft the 
barrels on pronged fupporters. His war- 
like manceuvres are as unrefined as his 
inftruments of war; and, confequently, 
ufeleis fince the difcovery of fire-arms 
and bayonets. Still, with’ all thefe de- 
fecis, his manner is admirable ;-he leaves 
nothing undefined, but gives us notes” 
on every paragraph, drawn up with great 
judgment, and containing maxims highly 
ufeful in their ‘application, ever. to the 
preient day. 
FEUQUIERES unites precept with ex- 
ample. His is the work of a man well 
veried in the myfteries of war, as well 
theoretically as experimentally ; he efta- 
blifhes maxims on various military ope- 
rations ; examines into the duties of all 
ranks of officers refpectively ; defcribes 
marches and the neceffaries indifpenfable 
for the occafion ; the manner of fubfift- 
ing troops ; purfues the track of an army 
through every poffible fituation; and 
patiing from this theory to a¢tual fervice, 
he prefents us with a critical review of 
battles, at that time modern. THe fe- 
verity of his cenfures, fometimes ariiing 
from a difpofition naturally morofe, and 
fometimes without even that pretext, 
bas procured him the name of The Ari- 
tarchus and Zotlus of generals. He has 
even been accufed of intentional mif- 
reprefentation, folely to indulge his-ill- 
natured propenfity. Still, generally fpeak- 
ing, the profound reafoning with which 
he expounds the art of war, entitle him 
to rauk among the foremoft ‘of thofe who 
have undertaken this arduous tafk. 
~ We can only exprefs “our regret that 
Marfhal pe Turnenne’s Memos are fo 
fhort. 
Berwick’s Memoirs are written with 
judgment and correétnefs; and are, on 
the whole, very inftructive, particularly 
fo, indeed, during the period of his com- 
mand. He is the firft writer who has 
given us any perfect ideas on the defen- 
five fyftem of the Alps du Dauphiné.. 
In the Memoirs of the Marfhal pr 
NOArLLes, 
