This behaviour entirely obliterated the harshness of the refusal in the morning; the colonel now viewed his visitor in the agreeable light of a sincere friend, and for ever after esteemed and found him such. In short, he set off with his recruits for the regiment; where he gained great applause for his success, which, as well as his commission, he had almost lost by one morning's folly he immediately solicited for, and purchased the adjutancy; and from that day forward never touched cards or dice, but, as they ought to be used, merely for diversion, or to unbend his mind after too close an attention to serious affairs. : Henry IV. of France, once lost at play a sum of money, so considerable, that it was said to have been sufficient to have retaken Amiens from the Spaniards. Sully, his minister, suffered Henry to send to him three or four times for it: at last he brought it to the king, and spread it all out upon the table before him in his apartment. Henry fixed his eyes upon it for some time with great attention; and then, turning to Sully, said: "I am corrected: I will never lose any money at gaming again while I live." EVERY species of chance play, however, was strictly forbidden in the French camps and gar risons, and throughout their armies. The prohibitions on this head are very ancient. On the 24th of July, 1534, Francis I. issued an order, which was again confirmed by Henry II. on the 22d of May, 1557, that no soldier should, under any pretext whatever, obtain money from a comrade by play. It was further ordered, that in case of foul play, the persons who should be discovered were, for the first offence, to be publicly flogged: and for the second, to be punished in the same manner, to have their ears cut off, and to be banished for ten years. The delinquents were committed to the custody of the provost, who was authorized to confiscate all the money that was played for. Dice and cards were rigorously forbidden under the same penalties, as well as all sorts of games which might create animosities and dissentions among individuals. On the 15th of January, 1691, Louis XIV. issued an order from his privy council, by which he expressly forbade not only the officers belonging to his army, but likewise all other persons, of whatever sex or denomination, to play at Faro, Basset, and several other games, by name. The penalties for every infraction or breach of this order were as follows. Those persons who played were fined 1000 livres (or 407. sterling); and the master or mistress of the house where the games were allowed, were fined 6000 livres (2407.) for each offence. It was further ordained, that in case the persons so discovered were unable to pay these fines, they should be taken into custody. Those subjected to the penalty of 1000 livres, were to be imprisoned for four months; and those who incurred the fine of 6000 livres without having the means to pay it, for a year. The intendants of the provinces and armies, the police magistrates, and the military provosts, were all and severally directed to see this edict put in execution; and by a circular letter, written in the king's name to the different governors of provinces, the prohibitions were extended even to the private soldier. On the 25th of August, 1698, Louis XIV. issued an order, by which he rigorously forbade, under pain of death, every individual belonging to the French cavalry or infantry, (sutler and private soldier included), to keep any gaming table in camp or quarters.-In consequence of these regulations, and with the view of introducing the strictest principles of honour and regularity in a profession, which is tarnished even by the breath of suspicion, on the 1st of July, 1727, Louis XV. ordained by an article of was, that whatever soldier, of horse or foot, was convicted of cheating at play, should be punished with death. He further directed, that in case any hazard-table should be set up in a camp or garrison, the commanding officer or governor was to order the same to be broken forthwith, and to commit all persons concerned therein to prison. LETTER XVI. ON ANGER. ANGER is a most disgraceful passion. There is nothing which so much enfeebles our judgment. At the same time, it is to be lamented that persons are found, of the most honourable, humane, and otherwise excellent characters, who tarnish, by this defect, all these estimable qualities. They are irritated by the slightest contradictions; and in this rage, which is equally fatal to themselves and to those about them, they are totally regardless both of what they say and of what they do. A man of a reflecting mind, when he is sensible of this great blemish, will exert the utmost care to correct it. And he will not find it difficult to succeed in his endeavours, if, when he feels the emotion rising in his breast, he can pause for a moment, to ask himself what is the object of his anger, and whether it is worth the vexation it occasions him. MANY persons attempt to excuse their anger, by the shortness of its duration, and by the |