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>ther native or acquired, which the most relaxing forms of life cannot destroy, or yet prevent from acting with wonderful elafticity on particular occafions. To whatever caufe it be owing, Cowardice in battle is probably a species of dishonour that will feldom be incurred by our British youth, under leaders in whom they place a confidence.

With how much pleafure could we tell of the laurels they have often reaped, in contending against the enemies of their country! With what peculiar fatisfaction, I had almoft faid Pride, could we expatiate on the daring enterprifes, and aftonishing exertions, both of our fleets and armies in the last ever-memorable war! Above all the reft, how would imagination glow at the remembrance of that Young Man, "Who" (in the nobly emphatic words made ufe of by an admiring and grateful Nation, when fhe voted a Monument to his Memory) "furmounting, by ability

VOL. II.

"and valour, all obftacles of Art and Na"ture, was flain in the moment of victory, "at the head of his conquering troops, "in the arduous and decifive battle against "the French army near Quebec, fighting "for their capital of Canada !"-Glorious and ineftimable fuffrage! inspired by sentiment, and bestowed with fervour, as well as expreffed with force and dignity! A fuffrage re-echoed by every voice, and felt by every heart to this day! A fuffrage which the future fons of Britain will read with tender veneration, and which fo well became an occafion that will fhed luftre on her annals to the lateft pofterity! Happy land, that gave birth and education to the Youth, who thus died in the arms of Victory, as he had lived in the bofom of Virtue! -General Wolfe was not lefs virtuous than brave. His fobriety, his gravity, his ftrict attention to military difcipline, his ardent thirst after knowledge, after thofe branches of it more efpecially that were connected with his

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profeffion, had marked him out an object of public esteem and reliance, before that laft and most diftinguished opportunity of proving to the world, how completely he deferved them. With what emulation ought his example to inflame our young men of the army! Or will they chufe rather to forget him like Voltaire, who, in recording the very engagement now mentioned, is pleafed to fupprefs the name of Wolfe?

But we have not the fmallest doubt, that many of them are perfons of honour and capacity, no lefs than of spirit and refolution. We could point to one of this clafs, who is known, by his very numerous acquaintance, to unite in his fingle character the best qualities of the foldier, of the gentleman, of the fcholar, of the friend, of the man of hospitality without fhow, of the man of piety without pretence, who is bigoted to no fect, but not afhamed before any company to wor

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fhip the Almighty at home after having worshipped him in his temple. Where is the man who can withold his respect from fuch a character? Were there a wretch fo worthlefs as to deride it-the amiable Oughton would be the first to do him good.

Of the greater part in the fame profeffion, what shall we fay? How debauched, profane, and frivolous! We have been told, that no other army in Europe is difhonoured by fo many profligates, and triflers, as the British. If this be true, what a reproach to our country! Were it the fashion for the troops of other nations to neglect the forms of piety and decency, we fhould lefs wonder at the behaviour of many among our own. But that is by no means the cafe. We should wonder at it yet lefs, did not their Sovereign fet them fo different a pattern. At leaft it might be expected, that our officers of rank would fhow a little more difpo

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fition to imitate his fobriety, his regularity, and his many private virtues. Or do they imagine, they may be equally acceptable to him, though they pursue a conduct the reverfe of his own? Could they once be made fenfible, that it would give him pleasure, if they copied, for inftance, the punctuality with which he at tends on the public offices of religion, one would hope that, instead of treating these with open and habitual contempt, they might be willing from good policy, if not from purer motives at firft, to wait, as often as their fituation allowed them, on the Lord of Hofts, and the God of battles, in his fanctuary. Purer motives might influence them afterwards. Mean while, there is no doubt but those next under them would think it prudent to adopt their practice, and that the effects would foon extend to the lowest man in the army. Would the army fuffer in its difcipline, in its character, or in its valour, from fuch an alteration?

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