tude), is little anxious whether his actions be well or ill interpreted. He appeals to his own breast, and enjoys the satisfaction to which he aspires. He smiles with disdain on the judgment of the ignorant, the intrigues of the wicked, and the clamours of the envious. A certain portion of self-confidence is essential to an officer; who, without this, would be incessantly exposed undefended to the attacks of persecution and of overbearing domination.

OFFICERS who, from an inferior rank, have been advanced to preferment, solely in consequence of striking instances of their talents or good behaviour, are often apt to fall into this ridiculous failing, which far more than overbalances their former merits.

A CORNET in the king of Prussia's army, having taken the remains of a whole regiment prisoners, the king, by way of rewarding this brilliant exploit, gave him the military cross, and named him captain on the spot. This young man, who afterward displayed considerable talents in his profession,-but who, being at that time very deficient in education and experience, was so intoxicated with his good-fortune as not to know how to enjoy it with moderation,soon exposed himself to the risk of losing every

advantage to be derived from it. Considering it sufficient to be a captain of royal creation,— without announcing himself in such capacity either to his general or to any of the officers of the staff, without waiting to be informed in what corps he was to exercise his new rank, he made choice of the regiment to which he belonged for such purpose; and declared to the lieutenant that he was now at the head of it, and that he (the lieutenant) must give place to him and receive his orders. The lieutenant, who was well acquainted with the service, and rigid on points of subordination, refused to consider him in any other light than that of his cornet. The newcreated captain was much enraged at this opposition; yet put off all further discussion till after the battle, when the business terminated in a duel. Fortune now abandoned her favourite, and he was severely wounded. For the purpose of facilitating his cure, he was charged with a 'dispatch to Berlin; where his irregularities in a short time became the subject of complaint, and forced his general to represent to the king, that it would be proper to suspend his new commission for a while, and to degrade him to his former rank. His majesty, in compliance with the general's advice, gave imme

diate orders that for the present the young officer must content himself with his cross; and to regain his rank, must wait his turn, and the favourable report of his general.

174

LETTER X.

POINTS OF CONVERSATION.

I BLUSH even to name to you the vice of uttering what is false: a vice from which I am sure your nature will recoil, and the most degrading that can attach itself to the human character. He who has been once convicted of lying, loses for ever the confidence and the esteem of those with whom he is connected; they will not credit him even on those occasions where it is of the greatest importance that he should be believed.

TRUTH never dissembles; but is always on our lips, and ready to escape when we are least on our guard. Falsehood is aukward, and ill at ease; and requires the most constant attention to support it. Falsehood ought to be fruitful in resources, and well furnished with masks: truth has no need of disguise or concealment; its progress is free, open, and unconfined, and it is not afraid to exhibit itself to the view of the whole world. The liar, on the contrary, is continually in danger of being discovered; and

when he fancies himself to be shrouded in obscurity, all his steps are fully known: he is the last to perceive that he is detected; and at the moment when he thinks that he has duped every one else, he is himself the only victim of his artifices, and the object of contempt.

NOTHING appears so low and mean as lying and dissimulation. Besides, it is a vice so very infamous, that the greatest liars cannot bear it any other men.

in

EPAMINONDAS, the Theban general, was so great a lover of truth, that he was ever careful lest his tongue should in the least digress from it, even in sport*.

* THE death of this illustrious Grecian was truly heroic. Being mortally wounded at the battle of Mantinæa (in which he headed his countrymen the Thebans against the united force of the Athenians and Lacedemonians, he was carried off the field by his troops, to the camp; where the surgeons declared that, as soon as the iron.head of the javelin, which stuck in the wound, should be withdrawn, he would die. This information overwhelmed his troops with sorrow, but his only anxiety was to learn whether his arms had fallen into the power of the enemy, and to which side the victory belonged. On being shown his shield, and told that the Lacedemonians had been defeated, he with his own hands drew the iron from his body, and instantly expired.