1806. J 
would never do: they muft be called out 
by counties, in the immediate vicinity of 
‘the one invaded. 
In regard to the expence of fuch a mea- 
fure, the fyftem fhould be executed in the 
cheapeft manner poffible. Two millions 
of men, exercifed one day ina month, and 
allowed one fhilling per diem each, would 
amount to no more than die eeall per 
annum. The officers fhould receive no 
more pay for fuch days of exercife than 
the men; a circumitance which would 
render the meafure more popular than ma- 
king the common diltinétion. In regard 
to drefs, regimentals, &c., if it can be 
contended that the ufe is equal to the ex- 
pence, it may be indulged ; but this can 
hardly be urged : and when the namber 
of men to be raifed is fo great, and the du- 
ration of the war in every refpect fo 
threatening, which makes every {pecies of 
economy fo neceflary, to reduce the ex- 
pence as low as poffible would be a point 
of effential confequence. It is ftrength of 
body, and vigour of arm, that do execu- 
tion in a ciofe battle, and not the drefs of 
the foldier. 
‘¢ Every occafion that can prefent itfelf 
of ufing the bayonet, will be eagerly and 
{piritediy feized en ; it is the weapon of 
true courage, and moft peculiarly fitted 
for the nervous arm of a Briton. "—Circu- 
lar Paper, figned H. M Gordon, Lieu- 
tenant-Colunel, and Affiftant Adjutant-Ge- 
eral. 
The remark is as applicable to the pike 
as to the bavonet. 
Dreffing 2,000,000 of men, at 30s. each, 
3,;000,000]., belides officers, &c. It 
would be an idle expence. 
But for the firtt month of exercifing it 
might be thought neceflary to have this 
militia trained for one hour every evening, 
or twenty-four times in the month, in 
companies of one hundred men, which 
would be aflembled ina few minutes ; for 
this, if each received 3d., it would amount 
to 25,000]. per diem, and for twenty- 
four days 600,o001.; after that once a 
month might fuffice. 
Two millions of pikes would coft, at 
6s. each, 600,000l. 
The cer aaa of expence between muf- 
kets and pikes is confiderable. 
Mutket, z fh Deore 
Accoutrements, = OT OF 26 
ets G 
‘ Pike, ° a = 8) 6 oO 
Difference, . 
Communicated by Mr. Arthur Young. 411 
Which, for 2,000,000 men, is a diffe- 
rence of 3,650,000l.; befides powder, 
ball, &c. ; and, hae is. fill more, one 
day’s exercife with the pike would equal 
-ten with the mufket. 
In exercifing and difciplining troops 
there feems to be fome rule of conduét 
adopted in various countries, which ma 
be a partial caufe of fuch ill fuccefs as we 
have feen remarkable inftances of. When 
I view a volunteer corps of one hundred 
men on parade going through their exer- 
cife with uncommon: precifion, I cannot 
help wifhing te know how they would be- 
have when formed into battalions or regi- 
ments, and thefe again into numerous bo- 
dies. A day’s exercife of ten thoufand of 
thefe troops, drawn up on rough, broken, 
or ploughed ground, interfeéted with nu- 
merous hedges, would afford a much clear.’ 
er idea of what they are fit for, thana 
month’s regular routine without difficul. 
ties, and uncombined with other troops, 
And with generals and commanders the 
fame remark is applicable: thofe who ne- 
ver wereat the head of five thoufand men, 
how can it be known what they woulddo 
with fifty or one hundred thoufand ? All 
analogy isagainft them. It would be ex- 
tremely beneficial to exercife the pike or 
bayonet-men in large bodies, and once a ~ 
year in ftill larger, that they might have 
an opportunity of learning more than it is 
poflible to learn in fmall mafles only. 
This would be an eafy matter if all fight- 
ing men were enrolled and exercifed: a 
.fhort waik would aflemble three or four 
thoufand of them at one {pot. 
To many perfons of no mean under- 
ftanding nothing in modern warfare ap- 
pears fo aftonifhing as the difufe of the 
pike in favour of the bayonet, through a 
long period of time, in which the ineffica- 
cy ‘of the fire of mufketry feems to have 
been gradually eftablifhed. Of all the 
battles fought through the lat century, 
nine in ten were gained either by artillery, 
by the rapid and fkilful movement of di- 
vifions, by turning or flanking, oer by the 
bayonet : 
neral was indebted for his fuccefs to the 
fire of mufketry. Marfhal Saxe, in his 
Reveries, holds it in utter contempt. 
‘¢ Had the laft sar continued (fays 
Count Saxe,) fome-time longer, the clofe 
fight would certainly have become the 
common method of engaging ; for the in- 
fignificancy of {mall-arms began to be dif- 
covered, which make 
they do execution, and which muit always 
occafion the defeat of thofe who depend 
toomuch uponthem. I have ieen whole 
3G 2 volute 
it hardly appears that any ge- - 
more neife than — 
