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for pure skivering," there is nothing like your "skrimidge;" next come the manœuvres of a regiment, a brigade, a division, a wing: now, of all these, the value is as well studied in a small battle as in a great battle, because the power of acquiring such knowledge depends on the eye, and, consequently, the small battle may give most instruction, the number and value of the movements being supposed equal, which is a fair supposition, as a small battle may produce more manoeuvring than a large one; all this is accidental. So far then, Colonel Napier has seen enough for instruction, admitting, (which I only do for the sake of argument,) that Talavera, Busaco, Salamanca, and the battles in the Pyrenees, were small battles, for so the writer of the article in question seems to think them: small, however, as they were, they form the glorious pedestal of Wellington's immortality! But all this won't do; we must come to the "grandest scale." "Don't talk to me," says the reviewer, "of your muskets, and pistols, and popguns; I refer to carronades, cannon, mortars, bombs, combined movements, and simultaneous attacks, on a line of a hundred miles long by a two-foot rule!!" Very proper, Sir; you are a man of capacious ideas, and very strongly remind me of Mrs. Sneed. There was a soldier called Sneed, and Mrs. Sneed was his wife, and his wife had a donkey, and this donkey fell down; Mrs. Sneed was amiable, but muscular, and carried a heavy cudgel, but neither arm nor cudgel could make the donkey get up-all failed-even her sweet patience; and she exclaimed to Gen. Craufurd, who was near, "Well, General, when I gets to the town, d-n my eyes if I'll be bothered by a donkey any longer; I'll get the biggest mule in Almaida." Well, she got a big mule, a mule on the "grandest scale," and the reviewer shall have war on the "grandest scale," as big as Mother Sneed's mule.

To begin then. I presume he will allow the great Russian campaign to be on the grandest scale? Very well. He will also allow that the Emperor Napoleon saw and knew as much, not more, but as much, as any of the "distinguished continental writers." Yes; I suppose he will grant me so far. Now for a few questions.

1. Did Napoleon receive reports from his Generals of their various operations?-Admitted.

2. Were not these reports either written or spoken ?—Yes.

3. Was the object of these reports to make the Emperor understand what had taken place out of his sight ?—Yes.

4. Then is it not past all dispute, that the Emperor's knowledge of the transactions which took place in his own campaigns, beyond the small space which his sight embraced, arose from reports?-Certainly.

5. Are not these reports all printed and embodied in the shape of " bulletins" and "histories" of those various transactions?—Yes.

6. Have not the "distinguished foreigners" drawn their knowledge of what passed from these histories, or must they not have been "in two places at wonce't?" many of these operations having taken place simultaneously, at hundreds of miles distance, and nearly all out of reach and sight of each other, in consequence of smoke, distance, intervening objects, and also (though in sight) out of the contemplation of individuals present, owing to the intense occupation of their minds and bodies with the dangerous work before them at particular moments? To all this the reviewer must agree. The only difference then between Napoleon and those who have since told the story of his wars, is in his genius, and that he had knowledge of passing events at the moment, whereas their knowledge has been acquired since; therefore, the whole of the military writers depend for fame on their diligence in collecting, and their talent in using information, and not upon the numbers of men which composed the armies in which they respectively served. Napier's account of the various positions, operations, and force, moral and physical, of the French and Spanish armies at the commencement of the war in the Peninsula, is, perhaps, one of the most veracious and able expositions that ever was written. The accounts of the same transactions

given by the English officers sent on purpose to report thereon, are admitted not to merit commendation. Here then we show the reviewer, how very unimportant it is that men should have been present at the scenes they describe, when we make comparisons of the value of their writings. Again, does Napier describe Albuera the worse for not having been on the spot? or Busaco the better because he was there? No; a good history of war can only be produced by a powerful-minded professional man, diligently collecting and studying the records of what took place; tracing results to their causes, and giving a clear and eloquent account of the whole transactions. Frederick the Great said, "Read of war, and you will know war." Napoleon said, "If you want to be a general, study the campaigns of Turenne and Frederick the Great." Both these great Generals knew war only from books, when, as mere boys, they defeated the Austrian armies. Again then I say, it is genius and diligent reading that makes both great generals and great historians, and not the size of the army in which they served. Then Colonel Napier having drawn his information from the same source as the distinguished strangers, they have not "enjoyed" any "advantage" over him, and the assertion is nonsense. Colonel Napier and the distinguished continentals stand on the same level, but the Englishman towers above them like a mighty giant, strong and fearless, while they are seen shrinking and lowering before political feelings, warped by antipathies, and swayed by nationalities. That there are able men among them I willingly admit, but is not Napier, also, an able man? I refer to the words of the reviewer himself; such a description, (and I think it a just one,) cannot suit many men, even in the continental galaxy! if it does, the march of intellect is, indeed, " prodigious!" Thus far I have supposed the war in the Peninsula not to have been like Mrs. Sneed's mule, but like her poor little donkey. This I merely granted to show the folly of what was said, and that the scale of the war is not essential to the knowledge of war. (Alexander passed the Granicus with only 38,000 men; Napoleon conquered Italy with the same number; and Turenne said he never wished for more than 50,000. What had Cæsar at Pharsalia, or Hannibal at Zama? yet these men knew war, and these battles decided the fate of empires!) But now I will assert that the Peninsular war was a gigantic war, and afforded Napier full scope for his genius to study the art in all its huge dimensions, and all the dreadful energy of its grandest convulsions. In proof of what I assert, let me ask the reviewer the following questions:

1. Is not war on the grandest scale, when two of the greatest empires in the world struggle against each other for existence?

2. Did not England and France do this in Spain?

3. Did not two minor nations, Spain and Portugal, join in this contest? 4. Did not Germany, Italy, and other nations, pour their auxiliary forces into the arena?

5. Did not one of the contending armies consist at periods of 300,000 warriors, and the other of nearly equal numbers?

6. Were not battles fought wherein above 100,000 soldiers were engaged? 7. Did not the sanguinary contest last six years?

8. Did not war present itself in all its dreadful forms? Regular war, irregular war, civil war, exterminating war, war with the knife, and from the knife up to marches, sieges, battles? in short, what shape did war omit to take in Spain and Portugal?

9. Were not whole nations combatants?

10. Was not all the military service existing there collected?

11. Was not the cost in money beyond that of any war recorded in history?

12. Were not Napoleon and Wellington there?

13. Were greater commanders in one war ever heard of than these? 11. If all these questions are answered affirmatively, was not the war in the Peninsula made upon the "grandest scale," and its "maxims sanc

tioned by the most enlarged experience?" If not, I confess that I am wholly incapable of understanding what the writer means (unless he refers to the wars of the Titans against Jupiter). It is true that we had no Kaisers and Hausens, Stroganoffs and Phittakoffs, no Davidavitches and Risabrietches, all the iches and brietches were absent,-boots, cocked-hats, goldheaded canes, long queues and all; but we had war between stern Britons and impetuous Gauls, and the contest was long and terrible!

To conclude. I do hope that we shall see the present and future volumes of this great work reviewed by some really able man who understands the subject, and that we shall not be again disgusted by such stuff about "systematic knowledge," "grandest scale," and so forth. Let us have no more sweeping general criticisms without any meaning, which like that deceptive appearance of land, called by sailors "Cape fly-away," will not bear the slightest examination.

As to the reviewer's criticism on Napier's style, which he calls "cumbrous" and "heavy," it is a matter of taste, and every reader must judge for himself; for my part, I am astonished at the lightness and interest that the author has contrived to throw into his description of those dull matters called "military details." Colonel Napier cannot describe the march of a corporal's guard as he would the great events of his history: one might as well expect to see Taglioni dance on a quagmire, as she does on the spring boards of the Opera; but when opportunity presents a fair occasion, his imagination flashes forth in all the fire of genius; the monotonous labours of deep historic investigation are relieved by the brilliance of poetic imagery, and the passing scene bursts upon our view, glowing with the warmest colouring of the painter!

Your obedient servant,

A SOLDIER.

A Yarn touching the noble Ship-British Constitution.

By One of her Crew.

MR. EDITOR,-All your readers, whose minds are unbiassed by popular clamour, and whose imaginations are not deceived by the flaring gas of the wonderfully-illumined nineteenth century, must be pleased at finding you an uncompromising advocate for the preservation of the noble shipBRITISH CONSTITUTION, that has performed such wonderful service for the British Isles. When we look at her history, and see what she has achieved in war and in peace, ought it not to raise anxious desires, that no unskilful hands touch that fabric, to repair, that has made the name of Britain sound to the extremities of the globe; that has made her power as widely known and respected?

But, Sir, in this age of speculation and change-in this age that fancies itself wiser than all preceding generations-there are those who imagine they can take the sacred and well-tried structure, the work of ages, to pieces, and build out of the same materials a better structure in a few months. They talk of a time when the ship was differently rigged, but cannot tell us when they say that because her crew has been increased, the Johnny Newcomes must be listened to, and this advice followed, because proceeding from the wonderfully-illumined nineteenth century, before the experience that has braved and overcome all the storms and tempests that have assailed her in her mighty course through the ocean of time.

To enter into remarks on the scheme of every meddler, would be endless, as well as useless; I shall only notice a few. There are the Westminster talkers, who confound the crew, in their different capacities and stations, under the general denomination of people, because it is a word which attracts notice, opens the ear to give entrance to mutinous suggestions, that beget fancied grievances and discontent. Though they have never been more

than waisters, they imagine they are equal, if not superior, to those who go aloft in all weather, reef, hand, and strike, when they could not haul out an earing for the life of them, or tie a reef knot, yet are continually telling long yarns to their brother waisters, that if it were not for them, the ship Constitution could not swim, and therefore they ought to be made main and fore-top men. There is in this part of the crew, another like themselves the Middlesex clipper; who is always staring about, and peeping from the gangway ladders at the quarterdeck, to spy fardles, that he may have cause for murmuring and complaint. In the midst of a storm, he crouches under the quarterdeck, but when it is over, he looks with an evil eye on those who have braved its fury, who had made all snug aloft while exposed to dangers and death; and because for this service they had an extra allowance of grog, now that it is fine weather, he would for that put them on half-allowance. He is continually harping about reducing the effective part of the ship's company, who manage and secure her in storms and tempests, and carry her victorious through the thunder of war, in order that the waisters may have more grub, as he says: when, if he had his way, the first storm or battle might, nay would, reduce them to less than halfallowance. Then there is the purblind Preston blacker, who, as Jack says, "is all jaw like a sheep's head," often mixed with great thumpers. He is always entertaining his mates with long stories about the bread-room; that it ought not to be supplied from John Bull's granaries, unless he will do it at a losing game, as foreigners would do it at a cheap rate, and take slops in return. If ever there were one error more egregious than another, this is amongst the latter. The agriculturists on the Continent want not John Bull's slops, but his hard cash. Let this haranguer the next time he opens his potato-trap on such a subject, tell his hearers, that, during three years of the French revolutionary war, upwards of forty millions of John Bull's hard cash went out of the country for the purchase of corn. Alas, poor John! How often is thy good nature imposed upon by the ignorance and duplicity of thy pretended friends? Let thy fair and wide-spread fields be turned into waste, where then would be the arm of thy power and the sinews of thy strength? The sound of thy hammers would cease, and thy shuttles drop down powerless.

Other speculators there are on board of the renowned ship Constitution, who would open her seams, rip up her decks, unbolt her beams and knees, unsling her lower-yards, unstop her masts, to supply their own inventions, so that she would be metamorphosed into a lump that would not sail, tack, or wear, and the first time she went to sea might founder in a storm.

Even amongst the officers, lately a new set, long complaining of being kept on half-pay, are those, and amongst them the captain, first-lieutenant, and admiral's secretary, who, having got his ear, endeavour to persuade the admiral that all the crew are seamen, and, therefore, ought to be rated and trusted accordingly, even to hand, reef, and steer. Was there ever so dangerous an error? Jack of the Dust and the Loblolly Boy, are very well in their places, but who would trust them to reeve a clewline or buntline? The waisters are useful in their place, but what seaman would send them aloft to do the duty of top-man, even in moderate weather, much less when blowing? More than half of them could not get up the futtock-shrouds, or hardly through lubber's-hole; and if venturing out on a top-sail-yard, the first deep roll would send half of them to Davy Jones's locker, while others held on like a squalling cat, hanging aloft by a rope-yarn. If sent to steer, not one in six would know which way to turn the wheel, to port or starboard: if running by the wind, if a top-sail lifted a little, they would fancy the ship was coming about; and what with nearing and luffing, the good ship Constitution, instead of going steadily by the wind, would be yawing, according to the presumptuous ignorance of the self-confident conner: if scudding in a heavy gale and high sea, the sudden yaws of the ship would confound both conner and steerer; and if not immediately relieved by more

able and experienced hands, would certainly endanger the ship by broaching to.

As the renowned British ship Constitution is now in dock to be examined, let this be carefully done by tried and experienced officers who have before served in her, know her qualities, and how to deal with her in all weathers; to brave the tempest by lying-to; to scud before its fury on her destined course; to spread her lofty sails in chace; turn her majestic side and threatening tiers against hostile array; and to anchor her safely when returned from the toils and perils of war; or from performing essential service to her country. It will require the experience of all these, as well as those newly commissioned, who have never yet been at sea in her, and when going into dock, have mistaken the shouts of landlubbers for the huzzas of the real and tried sons of the ocean. Instead of being puffed up by this, or proud of being in commission, as their own safety, as well as that of others, depends upon impartial examination, and just conclusion derived therefrom; instead of being biassed by the clamour of ignorance; they ought patiently to hear opinions founded on experience, nor tenaciously hold to an error, it may be, hastily and inadvertently adopted.

If barnacles and sea-weed have grown on her counters from having been long out of port, let them be scrubbed off. If her sails be not exactly suited to the breeze and gales of the illumined nineteenth century, let them be altered by the discriminating hand of tried experience, but in no manner entrusted to the rash hand of ignorant and presumptuous innovation. Let the crew be mustered and strictly overhauled by officers of experience, that they may have their proper ratings and stations, and an end be put to all claims of preferring ignorance to stations where it would be worse than useless, being only in the way of others more capable of performing the duty with alertness, and without a murmur,—the usual attendant of presumptuous ignorance.

"There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, Oh, how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up!" If this be not the present generation in the illumined nineteenth century, when did such a generation exist to whom it can be more justly applied?'

I am, Mr. Editor,

A ROPE-YARN IN THE NOBLE SHIP.

Plan for the Organization of a Civil Constabulary Force. MR. EDITOR,-I beg to send you a plan for the formation of a Civil Constabulary force that was submitted to Lord Lansdowne, by that very meritorious and intelligent officer, Lieut.-Colonel J. H. Mair, K.H. Military Secretary to the Governor of Gibraltar, at the time he was sent down with the Special Commission, by order of Government, to report upon the best means of putting a stop to the conflagrations of Swing and his associates. It was highly approved of both by the Judges and Lords Lieutenants of Counties, as too, by the Government; and had it been carried into effect, no Bristol affair would have occurred.

A MAGISTRATE FOR THE COUNTY, AND

A CONSTANT READER OF YOUR MOST VALUABLE MISCELLANY. Reading, Berks, 7th Jan. 1832.

That the county be divided into districts. Each district to be composed of two or more adjoining parishes, bearing the name of the most central. The parishes in the district to be lettered A, B, C, &c.

A general superintendent shall be appointed for each district, also a superintendent for each parish, and a leader, (to act under him,) for every twenty-five special constables.