rity is by no means part of their character: they neither are thought by others, nor by themselves, more active or exact than their enemies; and therefore derive none of their courage from such imaginary superiority. The manner in which they are dispersed in quarters over the country during times of peace, naturally produces laxity of discipline: they are very little in sight of their officers; and when they are not engaged in the slight duty of the guard, are suffered to live every man his own way.

"The equality of English privileges, the impartiality of our laws, the freedom of our tenures, and the prosperity of our trade, dispose us very little to reverence of superiors. It is not to any great esteem of the officers, that the English soldier is indebted for his spirit in the hour of battle: for perhaps it does not often happen that he thinks much better of his leader than of himself. A French author remarks, how much soldiers are animated when they see all their dangers shared by those who were born to be their masters, and whom they consider as beings of a different rank. The Englishman despises such motives of courage; he was born without a master; and looks not on any man,

however dignified by lace or titles, as deriving from nature any claims to his respect, or inheriting any qualities superior to his own.

"There are some perhaps who would imagine that every Englishman fights better than the subjects of absolute governments, because he has more to defend. But what has the English more than the French soldier? Property they are both commonly without. Liberty is, to the lowest rank. of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving; and this choice is, I suppose, equally allowed in every country. The English soldier seldom has his head very full of the constitution; nor has there been, for more than a century, any war that put the property or liberty of a single Englishman in danger*.

"Whence then is the courage of the English vulgar? It proceeds, in my opinion, from that dissolution of dependance which obliges every man to regard his own character. While every man is fed by his own hands, he has no need of any servile arts: he may always have wages for his labour; and is no less necessary to his employer, than his employer is to him. While he looks for no protection from others, he is natu

This was written before the American war.

rally roused to be his own protector; and having nothing to abate his esteem of himself, he consequently aspires to the esteem of others. Thus every man that crowds our streets is a man of honour, disdainful of obligation, impatient of reproach, and desirous of extending his reputation among those of his own rank; and as courage is in most frequent use, the fame of courage is most eagerly pursued. From this neglect of subordination, I do not deny that some inconveniences may from time to time proceed; the power of the law does not always sufficiently supply the want of reverence, or mamtain the proper distinction between different ranks: but good and evil will grow up in this world together; and they who complain, in peace, of the insolence of the populace, must remember that their insolence in peace is bravery in war."

LETTER IV.

ON INTREPIDITY.

INTREPIDITY has been defined a boldHess, an assurance, an extraordinary strength of mind, that raises the possessor above the disorder and emotion which the sight of extreme danger is apt to produce. It appears to me that this definition does not convey an idea sufficiently distinct of this quality, but confounds it too much with brutal insensibility. Rashness, says another writer, is as forward to meet danger as intrepidity; but one advances with enlightened assurance, while the other rushes on with blind and ferocious ardour.

INTREPIDITY has been more accurately characterized as the quality which faces, and beholds with coolness, the most palpable dangers, and is not alarmed at the view of immediate dissolution; which displays itself only in those circumstances, and on those occasions, where duty and necessity call for its exercise. Horace has given it a most sublime attribute, in speaking of

a wise and good man, whom integrity of conscience places above the influence of all events:

cr

Even," says he, "should the universe be dissolved, its ruins would not shake the firmness and intrepidity of his mind".

THE example of intrepid resolution in a commander, will never fail of having its due influence on the officers under him.-The siege of Belgrade, in the year 1789, was conducted by the celebrated field-marshal Laudon, in a manner worthy of that great general. He ordered the first parallel to be opened at the distance of fifty toises from the glacist, and all the generals under his orders to meet him there. On their being assembled, he addressed them to the following effect: "My friends, here is the spot where we must either conquer or die. From this spot I shall not retreat. I shall exert my utmost ef

* Si fractus illabatur orbis,

Impavidum ferient ruina.

† PARALLELS are the trenches or lines made parallel to the defence of the place besieged; or rather, perhaps, so named from being parallel to each other. In this latter sense, the first line that is drawn cannot be called a parallel till a second is made. The first line is generally run at the distance of about 300 toises (600 yards) from the place.