each party into the waggons.

"After the com

bat is over," said he," there are no longer enemies upon the field of battle."

A NOBLE individual instance of humanity is. that of the admirable sir Philip Sidney, at the battle near Zutphen, where he displayed the most undaunted courage. He had two horses killed under him; and while mounting a third, was wounded by a musket-shot from the trenches, which broke his thigh. He returned about a mile and a half on horseback, to the camp; and being faint with the loss of blood, and with thirst through the heat of the weather, he called for drink. It was brought him; but, as he was putting the vessel to his mouth, a poor wounded soldier, who happened to be carried by him at that instant, looked up to it with wishful eyes. The gallant and generous Sidney took the bottle from his mouth, and gave it to the soldier; saying, "His necessity is greater than mine.”

NEVER forget the following maxim; which, though invariably true, is too little regarded: that for us to be completely happy, those about us must be happy also. Be cautious of unnecessarily making one individual wretched: the remorse that will follow upon such a crime, may embitter all your future days

To reflect justly is a function of the mind. To feel sensibly the impulse of these reflections, is the pleasure of the heart. But to find our own happiness in that of others, is surely the most exquisite and refined delight of which human nature is susceptible.

LETTER IX.

ON MODESTY AND PRIDE.

IT is common for even men of sense and understanding to entertain too high an opinion of themselves and of their endowments. This selfconceit almost always deceives those who indulge it, and often leads to the greatest mortifications. Disappointments and defeat in war, are indeed excellent correctors of this error; but the lesson we learn by these must be at the expence of the prince whom we serve. Let us suppose, says a certain writer, a man possessed of every talent and endowment that could be desired; if he remains ignorant of himself, of his own defects and weaknesses, all his other qualities will be to him only occasions of disgrace and of ruin: he will not know how to regulate his enterprises by his power; he will enter into rash engagements; and presumption, which seldom knows any bounds when it is not restrained by self-knowledge, will hurry him to the most dangerous excesses.

SELF-KNOWLEDGE, adds the same author,

may sometimes supply the deficiency of all other acquirements; and the want of this quality may render every other not only useless, but dangerous and pernicious to him who possesses them. A defect in memory, intelligence, prudence, science, industry, or activity, is considerably relieved if we are sensible of our deficiency, and urged to borrow from others what we cannot ourselves supply; and if this consciousness prevents our undertaking any task requiring qualities with which we are not endowed. This is unquestionably true; but all men apply to every one except themselves.

"If

you

THE count of Soissons, who was killed at the battle of Sedan, would without doubt, if he had lived, have been a great general. Mistrusting his self-love, which might render him blind to his own defects, this prince said one day to a veteran officer, with whose great abilities he was well acquainted: see me pursuing an error, either in the orders I issue, in the planning or execution of my enterprises, in settling any differences that may arise among the troops, or in any part of my behaviour to my brother officers, I intreat you to tell me of it freely; for the most minute fault in war, is a stain upon him who commits it." Such are the

sentiments upon which all military men ought to form themselves.

THE prince of Orange having laid siege to Maestricht, the commandant of the town no sooner saw it invested, than he assembled the principal officers of the garrison: "Gentlemen," said he, "I have served all my life in the cavalry, and have no knowledge of the mode of defending towns; all I know is, that I will never surrender the place: consult among yourselves the best measures for an obstinate and effectual resistance, and I will take care to superintend their execution with as much celerity and vigour as possible." This noble ingenuousness of the commandant won the esteem of every body present: the confidence that he testified in his inferior officers, animated them to the greatest deeds; and established in the garrison, by his own brilliant example, an harmony of action that saved the town.

WHENEVER we commit a fault, the only way of repairing it is by confessing it. The greater are our sense and our virtue, the more lively will be our distress should it be proclaimed from any other quarter; in which case an honest man must condemn himself. Turenne acknowledged his errors with that frankness and can