1807.] 
bled our battalions; and that nations, 
moit renowned for war, had timilar infti- 
tutions: fo that the prefent fyitem ema- 
nates, as it were, from that of the an- 
cients, His parallel of Czfar’s wars in 
Spain, and of Turenne’s with the Duke 
ot Lorraine, is the production of a {ci- 
entific general. His reflections on re- 
mote military hiftories ; his comparative 
view of the French army in its original, 
and in its prefent, ftate; his details, 
comprehending the whole movement of 
an army, atteit equal judgment and ex- 
perience. Ina fuppofed campaign be- 
tween La Seine and La Leire, he calls 
ail his principles into action. 
Turprn and Gursertr were cotem- 
porary, and are celebrated, although 
they confiantly differ from each other. 
‘The one is a zealous defender of un- 
wieldy battalions, heavy fquadrons, re- 
cloubts, &c. and recommends the ufe of 
pikes ‘and other two-edged weapons, 
Guibert, on the ether hand, rejects this 
praétice. Each of them appreciates the 
achievements of the King of Pruffia, but 
differently. Their works, however, prove 
them to be experienced officers. Tur- 
pin, like Folard, is deticient in elegance, 
precifion, and method. Guibert is ner- 
vous, methodical, and accurate; his 
Effay on Tactics, in a general feale, is 
univerfally admired, and proves him to 
be a: found patriot. 
boldnefs, of his preface, which he dared 
to print at a time when every man’s 
public opinions were regulated by cau- 
tion, are teltimonials of “his independent 
Spirit, which proclaimed the truth at the 
expence of his advancement ; 
guage is very beautiful. He fupports 
his {yftem by a very clear and well drawn- 
up analyfis of Turenne’s, de Luxem- 
bourg’s, and the King of Prutfiia’s moft 
memorable actions. Nor has he been 
tefs fuccefsful in determining the import- 
ance-of a ftanding army in a great em- 
pire like France, co-equal with her 
neighbours. His work, entitled a De- 
fence of Modern Warfare, in refutation 
of Menil Durand, contains many excel- 
lent criticifins, and confirms the unfhaken 
independence of his principles. 
Marzeray difplays a perfect know- 
ledge of ancient languages, as well as 
tatiics. His works are much eiteemed 
by foreigners. 
The Memoirs of the Count pe Sr. Ger- 
fArN are written with all the fimplicity 
of the ancients; he recounts many of 
the Projetiss he had sored during his 
The freedom, nay 
the lan-- 
Writers of all Ages and Countries. 123 
miniftry, and, with great candour, 
points at the errors he committed. His 
plan of reform, which he unfolds with 
becoming modefty, originated im moral 
as well as political views; it compre- 
hends all the details of government, and 
extends from the enliltment of a private 
foldicr to the retreat of an army. His 
Opinions, founded on thoie of many ge- 
neral officers, by exciting curiolity, give 
additional intereft to the work. His 
Memoirs have been reviewed at large by 
an anonymous writer, whom Mirabeay 
in his Pruflian Mhlitar y Sytem, acknow= 
ledges to be a very able commentator. 
Mortin DE ta BaLMe was the man 
who firft difpelled our falfe notions on 
cavalry operations: his elementary trea+ 
tite thereon is highly applauded both at 
homme and abroad. His opinions are 
preferred to thofe of Folard, de Puyfévur, 
and even M. de Saint Gerinain. He 
thinks we fhould have a very fuperior 
ftud, if we paid more attention to our 
breed of hortes. 
Przay 1s author of Maillebois’ Cam- 
paigns in Italy. The plates, although 
very mcorrect, have hitherto been very 
ufeful in developing the military operae 
tions in a country fo frequently. the 
theatre of our arms. The firft volume 
contains the Italian wars, as tranilated 
from the Latin of Buonamici, whom 
Pezay calls a mercenary and bombattic 
fcribbler ; although he is generally ef 
teemed an elegant, learned, and even 
impartial writer. The latter’s iguorance 
in Latin is fo great, that he gives inter- 
pretations diametrically. oppofite to the 
meaning of his author, and then cafts 
an odium on his unoffending original. 
Bourvr’s Hittorical Memoirs of the 
Seven Years’ War, defcribe accurately 
the caufes of our humiliating ill fortune 
during that memorable period ; ; and we 
receive the expofition with the more 
confidence, as the author was in the 
fecrets of the cabinet, and privy to all 
the difpatches and plans fent to the 
army; many of which had been digefied 
by himfelf An eafy comprehentive fiyle, 
and admirable precifion, diftineuilh this 
work, which coinprifes a faithtul narra- 
tive of the war, and a true defcription of 
the country. 
Miraseav’s Military Proffian Syitem 
ranks him among military hiftorians. 
He developes, very circumftantially, the 
organization, the conftitution, and tac- 
tical privciples of the Prufian army. It 
is a complete work, and more defcrip- 
tive 
