templated the paintings of the great masters with real admiration, I began to imagine that I was somewhat of a judge of that charming art; but after my return to England, having imprudently avowed a considerable degree of admiration for the works of certain artists of that country also, and what was still more provoking, of some who are still alive, I found that my judgment was held in contempt by connoisseurs: this was increased, no doubt, by my having been seized with my old habit of yawning, on one or two occasions, when some of those gentlemen were expatiating on the subject of painting,

The inimitable specimens of sculpture, of which Italy could at that time boast, afforded me very great delight; though I could not declare as I have heard some do, that • I never could tire of contemplating them; and that the oftener I visited them, the more pleasure I received.' Such people have greatly the advantage of me: unfortunately, the repetition of my visits diminished my enjoyment very sensibly; and had I continued them much longer, there is reason to fear that I should have betrayed the same symptom of ennui in the presence of the Apollo of Belvidere which I had unfortunately exhibited in that of his Sardinian majesty.

I hardly think it possible for any mortal to contemplate the sublime objects of nature, or the beauties of variegated landscape, with more admiration and delight than I have done yet the Alps, and the Vale of Arno, became, before I left them, Highgate-hill and Turnham-green to me.

:

I have also received much pleasure from reading masterly and elegant descriptions of picturesque countries; but when repeated too often in the same book, the frowning mountain, the terrific rock, the deep shade of the woods, the bright verdure of the meads, the headlong torrent, the meandering river, the blush of morn, glow of noon, and purple tint of evening, the bright stars, twinkling through luxuriant branches, the pale face of the moon, and all the glory of the great sun itself, become tiresome,

The pleasing enthusiasm inspired by a sight of the remains of antiquity, and that most interesting part of the

scenery of Italy which recals to the memory the works and actions of those poets, philosophers, and heroes, we have always admired, was what lasted the longest: but so unhappily fleeting is every source of enjoyment with me, that even this failed at last; and, before we left Rome, I ascended from the old Forum to the Capitol with as little emotion as I ever walked up Ludgate-hill.

The post is just going to set out from Vevay. I close this packet, therefore, and send it to you; directly after which I shall commence another; for (prepare yourself for a great compliment) what else can I do? Yours,

JO. MORDAUNT.

LETTER III.

From the Same to the Same.

DEAR SOMMERS,

Vevay.

I CONCLUDED my last with an honest confession, that I wrote because, in my present circumstances, it is my only resource against ennui. I will not be honest by halves. My reason for addressing my letters to you is just as selfish. To whom else could I write with that freedom, which alone can make writing agreeable? To what other person could I pour out my thoughts as they occur, with, out selecting words or arranging phrases? For were I obliged to take that trouble, I well know

That in the midst of hums and haws,

And fatal intervening pause, ·

the foul fiend above mentioned would be ready to take hold of me, and put an end to my scribbling at once. I was preparing to leave Italy with as much impatience as I had entered it, when the arrival of the comtessina from Madrid presented to my eyes a new object of admir

ation.

Urit grata protervitas,

Et vultus nimium lubricus aspici

In me tota ruens Venus

Cyprum deseruit.

• Congreve.

Dazzled by her beauty, I mistook affectation for elegance, coquetry for naïveté, and assumed passion for real love. So completely was I intoxicated, that I was on the point of binding myself to her for life. To you, my dear Sommers, I owe, and I shall never forget the obligation, that I escaped the snares of that woman, the atrocity of whose mind became afterwards more manifest at Vienna. There I formed the resolution, to which I shall adhere most firmly, never to marry. I have been what is called in love twenty times since, and am now sure of myself.

Germany was a new scene--the German armies a fresh object of contemplation. I was eager to be a witness of the wonderful precision to which military manoeuvres have been brought in that country,

Soon after I had the misfortune to lose you, the duties of your profession calling you home; I regretted this the more, because, had you remained, I should have profited by your opinion on a subject which you have studied with peculiar attention.

Having formed an acquaintance, however, with officers in the service of most of the sovereign princes in Germany, I had opportunities of examining, pretty minutely, the grand military machine, supposed to be brought to such perfection in that country.

The great end and object of every government ought to be the happiness of the governed. We conceive the diffusion of happiness to be the grand purpose even of creation. When the avowed object is the promotion of general happiness in every government and institution, individual happiness ought to have a proper weight. I question much if this is the case in the system of military discipline, particularly in Germany,

The exhibition at a review is brilliant to the eye; but an investigation of the springs on which its movements depend is most afflicting to the heart. The number of blows to which a recruit in the German service is subjected is not to be counted; and the various severities he must endure, before he can be brought to hold himself as erect as a pike, to wheel to the right and left with the a

gility of a harlequin, to bear restraint with the patience of a bramin, and to toss his firelock with the dexterity of a juggler, are inconceivable.

'Poor fellows,' said I one day to an officer with whom I conversed, how unhappy is their condition.'

'No,' said the officer, you are mistaken; it is not un-. happy.'..

"No!' exclaimed I.

'Not at all,' answered he; by no manner of means. • Why, how many blows of a cane may an officer order the corporal to give a soldier for a fault in the exercise ?" 'Six,' said he; he must not exceed six for one blun der.'

• But a man may make several blunders in one fieldday,' said I.

If he were to make twenty,' replied the officer, he would receive only six blows for each.'

"How often are the soldiers upon duty?' said I. They are very seldom off duty,' answered he; but they mount guard only twice or thrice a week in the time of peace.'

How do they employ the rest of their time ?'

O, they are never at a loss for the employment of their time; they have their firelock to furbish, their accoutrements to clean, and they must appear at the rollcalling night and morning. These different employments fill up most of their spare time, and prevent them from spending their pay in gluttony and debauchery.'

They must repine sadly at so much constraint?"

Quite the contrary,' replied he; they must never repine they would be punished if they.attempted to repine-besides, they know that their condition is never to be altered, which saves them from repining.'

Why this is as great a slavery as that of the negroes in our colonies, in my opinion!' exclaimed I.

6

So it is in mine,' said the officer,

I thought you had denied that the soldiers were in slavery?' resumed I,

Never,' answered he; I never could deny what is

manifest. I denied that they were unhappy, indeed, which is a very different thing.'

Notwithstanding the distinction made by this officer between slavery and unhappiness, I hope our country-. men, my dear Sommers, will always consider them as synonymous.

When we consider the object obtained by all this caning and revolting severity, it seems most surprising that it should be continued: all that it produces is a greater degree of quickness in the manual exercise than would take place without it. Soldiers are punished an hundred times on account of some involuntary slip of their fingers for once, on account of disobedience to officers, or neglect of any essential article of duty. That soldiers should be taught to handle their arms with dexterity, to wheel, to march, and preserve order in their ranks; and, above all, that they should be obedient and attentive, is absolutely necessary; but that they should perform certain motions half a second sooner or later is of no importance. That all the essential parts of military discipline are to be obtained without German severity is proved by the armies of other nations; by the respectable appearance at present made by the militia and fencible regiments of Great Britain; and would, I am persuaded, be rendered still more manifest, if volunteer corps were permitted to arm, which probably will be thought necessary, in case the French reject every fair offer of peace, and continue to threaten invasion. The permission of such corps would, in my opinion, have the very best effects; it would quiet every apprehension respecting public liberty; for what government would put arms in the hands. of those it meant to enslave? It would put an end to all dread of invasion; for, on the almost incredible supposition that 50,000 French' should elude the vigilance of the British navy, and land in England, what could they do against three or four hundred thousand armed Britons? -If it can be supposed that the French could be victorious over such a force, it must at the same time be acknowledged that they deserve the island...