1807.] 
NoarLirs, we are introduced to all the 
great perfonages of Europe. ‘Thefe 
characters are well drawn, and are 
followed by a curious infight to the 
war of 1741. The ftyle is pure and cor- 
rect. 
Marfhal pr Saxe, whom the King of 
Pruffia furnamed the Profe(jor, or head 
of all the generals in Europe, has writ- 
ten, under the modeft title of Contem- 
plations, a confummate treatife on the 
art. of war. This work difcovers en- 
tirely new ideas on the fubject, refulting 
from a vigorous mind, and profound 
obfervation. Itis his opinion, that every 
Citizen, of whatever rank, fhould ferve 
for five years; that their clothing fhould 
be regulated by the feafons; and that 
the infantry fhould be drawn by means 
of numerical tables. His maxims for 
the formationof a line of battle have been 
adopted ; and the whole of his difcuilion 
on cavalry movements are judicious and 
improving. He compofes his legions of 
battalion, light infantry, and = cavalry 
troops; arms part of Ins infantry with 
pikes ; and contends, that fire-arms, as 
the mott detiructive, fhould only be re- 
forted to when not in motion. His chap- 
ter on difcipline deferves every poffible 
attention; he reprobates a continued 
line of defence, as being difficult to pro- 
tect, and recommends out-works ; aflerts 
that regular battle fhould never be given, 
unlefs under evident advantages ; that 
fkirmifhing is more haraffing to the ene- 
my, and lefs fatal to the party ; but when 
a general engagement takes place, he is 
decidedly for purfuing the enemy to the 
lait extremity, inftead of being fupinely 
atisfied with gaining the field. 
The Memoirs of our Civil Wars are 
completely deferiptive; but they fhould 
be read with caution. The leaders of 
popular factions, however illuftrious, can- 
not efcape the cenfure of adding fuel to 
the flames of difcord. 
Surty’s Memoirs of Henry IV. illu 
trate the character of thofe difidtrous 
times, and difplay the native vigour of 
that great prince, who, in the conquett 
of his kingdom, difplayed all the talents 
of an experienced warrior. 
Cardinal pE Rerz’s works are an un- 
rivalled production of hiftorical talent 
and a knowledge of mankind. 
The gemal warmth of Louis, XIVth’s 
court, which foftered every rifing genius, 
extended its influence to the miiitary, 
who zealoutly laboured for the improve- 
ment of that feience. Men. were no 
longer fatistied with an ingenuoas detail 
Monrtuty Mac., No. 154, 
Writers of all Ages ind Countries. JQ) 
of events fimply fet forth; an intimate 
acquaintance with antiquity now became 
effential to their hiftorical records. 
At the moment of dawning inprove- 
ment, the Prince of Nassau reftored 
to light models of ancient warfare, which 
indolence had buried in oblivion. 
Gusravus Apo.tenus did the like; 
and the fucceffes of thofe two great men 
became an additional motive, with other 
nations, to ftudy and compare ancient 
with modern tactics. 
Towards the feventeenth century, the 
works of Fotarp contributed materially 
to affiit this mveftigation. He contend- 
ed, againtt violent oppofition, for the 
excellence of an extended and weil- 
formed line of battle, fupported by ftea- 
dinefs in the troops. Thele difputes, by 
aroufing a general enquiry mto the me- 
rits of the quettion, naturally gave birth 
to many theoretical difquilitions ; whence . 
may be faid to have fprung that multt- 
tude of volumes on the art of war, 
which were written at a time when the 
practice was leaft underitood. 
It was the principle of Folard, that an 
army drawn up in line of battle, on an 
open plain, fhould be protected in the 
centre, and on the flanks, by columns ; 
or that fuch part of the line as led to 
the attack fhould be fo fupported; and, 
that this do¢trine might have the air of 
being founded on the practice of the 
ancients, he made many coniments on 
thofe paflages of Polybius, where he 
maintains his fyftem, partly by phyfical 
arguments founded on the natural con- 
nection between caufes and effects, and 
partly by experience. He traces the 
formation of columns to the Greek and 
Roman ichools; he details their manceu- 
vres ; explains that fuperiority of tactics 
which had fo long given them the reputa- 
tion of being our matters; he affimilates 
our practice with their victories; and en- 
forces thefe long digreflions by very able 
and ufeful obfervations. He was the 
founder of a new military fchool, and 
foon had numberlefs fcholars. 
A {ceptic, however, from a remote part 
of Holland, and then a fubaltern officer, 
whofe name is CuaRLes GuriscHarp, un- 
dertook to fubvert the fchoo! of Volard, 
by contending that his fyitem was aila ro- 
mance; that he aifected to drefs up chi- 
merical objeétis in the garb of antiquity, 
without even underftanding the language 
of the authorities he cited ; that fach. ig- 
norance led him to mifreprefent the 
actions defcribed by Polybius; that his 
Manzuvres were fallely tranilated; and 
that, 
