your practice, when you have resolved on war to apprise your enemy of it, therefore complain not of unfair treatment, if against the Spartans I have practised a Spartan stratagem.' This was one of the richest treats that I had enjoyed for some time. I still fancy I see the great Pyrrhus in the attitude of the conqueror, with his fiery eye riveted on the Spartan ambassadors, as if his object was to pin them to the spot on which they stood, pronouncing the above cutting reply. I imagine yet at times that I see the self-convicted Spartans with faces ashy pale, bent to the earth, with the weight of their own shame, supplicating the clemency of the invader; and I shall never forget the look of contempt which the latter cast towards the humbled beings before him, as they rose from their crawling posture to depart. Altogether it was a scene worthy of all price, a scene worthy of being kept constantly before your eyes, tending, as it does, to show, in colours not to be mistaken, the degrading, most humiliating position to which those individuals reduce themselves, who, in their intercourse with their fellowmen, practise hypocrisy, cunning, and deceit.

"Were men to adopt the golden rule as that of their conduct on all occasions, much of the misery now caused by man's agency would never be heard of. But unfortunately when ascending the slippery ladder of ambition, the temptations of wealth, power, and pleasure, are often so powerful, and exercise such a decided influence over the human mind, as to induce men to call every description of dissimulation and treachery to their aid, rather than not arrive at the destined goal at an accelerated pace, and I regret that my experience enables me to tell you, that ambition has hitherto found it a much easier matter to effect a lodgment in the breasts of the military, than any other class of men whatever. And to what does the criminal ambition of officers, &c., lead, but to tyranny, and tyranny to rebellion? For men, when trampled upon by the tyrannical conduct of their rulers, or insulted either in their own person or that of any member of their families, by a dissipated or licentious soldiery, have almost invariably thrown off the yoke of thraldom, turned round upon their oppressors at the first favourable opportunity, and with their strength and their courage, increased by despair, rushed against the enemy like a torrent, and either emancipated themselves from their degrading situation, or perished in the attempt. Proofs innumerable I would cite to you, but at present let the following suffice.

"After a war which desolated Sparta and Messenia for twenty years, the latter were reduced to a most pitiable state of depend

ence on the former. It is quite true that the Spartans imposed no tribute on the conquered, and that the only terms demanded were, that one half of the corn raised by the Messenians should be carried to the Spartan market, and, by way of homage, the Messenians, men and women, were bound to attend in mourning the funerals of Spartan kings, or chief citizens. It is likewise true, that for some time after the conclusion of peace the Spartans treated the conquered with lenity, but as soon as they fancied that the whole of the population had bent their necks to the degrading yoke, and become incapable of resenting an insult, the Spartans, with the overbearing insolence characteristic of their nation, imposed heavy taxes on them, gave them over to the avarice of the collectors, shut their ears against all complaints proceeding from the Messenians, denied them every thing like justice, and at length committed every where enormous outrages. In my daily perambulations I frequently witnessed exactions and cruelties, that would have wrung a tear of sympathy from the hardest heart that ever lay encased in the breast of man. The father's petition, the widow's tear, and the cries of the orphan were alike disregarded. Not only were the rights, the liberties, and the property of individuals invaded, but the privacy of home, sweet home, was but too often polluted with the invader's presence, and all the sweets and comforts of the domestic hearth sent into perpetual banishment. The smile of female innocence was not always sufficient to arrest the assassin's blow.

"Crime at length stalked over the land in open day. Murmurs were at length heard -faintly at first, but these being responded to from quarters not always expected, they became louder, until throughout the whole length and breadth of the land nothing was heard but execrations loud and deep from every Messenian lip.

"The moment was an interesting one. I watched with more than usual interest the workings of the people's passions—the first outlines of their schemes chalked out by Aristomenes, the second of that name, an officer of great experience and science in war -at first communicated to one or two, then a third, a fourth, and so on, until the full extent of the disaffection to the Spartan government was discovered; when the standard of rebellion was unfurled, and defiance hurled in the face of the oppressor. There is not an officer in this room, I am confident, who would not cheerfully deposit in this withered hand the sum which he has lodged for the purchase of an additional step of rank, if I could place before him the Messenian commander as he appeared on the plains of his native land on that eventful day.

Fond of war, his eye beamed with the fire of the warrior, and from his lips flowed the language of the patriot. The motto he adopted was 'No surrender.' The sight altogether was a heart-stirring one. The sun, unobscured by a single cloud, spread his fostering rays over fields yet undisturbed by the strife of man, to cheer the sons of freedom on their course towards the field of honour, on which thousands were doomed to bleed in defence of all that was dear to them as men -in defence of their country, in defence of their homes, in defence of their wives, in defence of their children.

In every quarter the greatest enthusiasm prevailed; and as each detachment of liberty's sons arrived at the rendezvous, the cheers of those companies already at their post, re-echoed from the surrounding rocks and mountains, had an effect on all who witnessed the imposing spectacle which words cannot describe, but which will most readily be conceived by you, the sons of the far-famed land of liberty, whose ships cover the face of the ocean, extending the blessings of peace, of commerce, of liberty, and religion from pole to pole.

"The die having been cast, to recede was impossible; consequently the Argins, the Arcadians, Eleans, and Sicyonians, who had entered into an alliance with the Messenians, proposed to march their several quotas of troops to the scene of danger. But before this could be effected, the Spartans forced Aristomenes to an engagement, in which, through his extraordinary gallantry, the Messenians were victorious.

"As a reward for the consummate skill and bravery displayed by Aristomenes on this occasion, his heroic and patriotic band saluted him king. A title which with unfeigned modesty the usual concommitant of merit -he declined, but accepted that of general; telling them at the same time, that he had girded on the sword, not to aggrandize himself, but to set them free.

"For such a signal proof of disinterestedness I confess I was not prepared. And why? Because in all former ages, and in every country, military men had almost invariably exhibited an ardent desire to arrive at rank and honours-the virtuous I allow by honourable, but the criminally ambitious by every means in their power; viewing nothing as base that could promote their designs. Keeping in view, therefore, the conduct of those military chiefs who had gone before him, the conduct of Aristomenes is of the very highest importance to all military men. You ask why? I will tell you. It shows you in the clearest possible manner, that although you may be exposed to the most powerful temptations-even that of a throne-you have only to call a little honourable and patriotic feeling, a little firmness

and resolution to your aid, to enable you to repel with success the most furious assaults of ambition, avarice, and their train of followers, that can be brought to bear against the virtue of frail man, and to maintain untarnished your fidelity and honour.

"To lower the courage of the Lacedæmonians, and to give the latter a higher opinion of his own, Aristomenes, with a daring peculiar to himself, entered Sparta by night, and upon the gate of the temple of Minerva hung a shield, on which there was an inscription, signifying that it was a present offered by him to the goddess, taken from the spoils of the Lacedæmonians; an act of daring heroism which not only alarmed and astonished, but claimed and obtained the admiration of the Spartans as well as the humble individual who now addresses you-an eye-witness of the gallantry displayed on the occasion.

"This daring act, and the powerful confederacy formed against them, so intimidated the Spartans, that they applied to the Delphic oracle for advice: which was, to send to Athens for a commander.' It was most amusing to witness the workings of the various passions in the breasts of the Spartan kings and people on the return of their messenger from the oracle. Hatred to everything bearing the name Athenian, and envy of the rising power of that little state, were strongly marked in the countenances of the whole population. Pride seemed to be portentously active on the occasion, and would have succeeded in preventing an application to Athens for a general, had not fear, from a dread of incurring the displeasure of the god, proved too powerful an antagonist.

"An embassy being agreed upon, the members, on taking leave of Sparta, had more the appearance of men going to the scaffold than proceeding on an honourable mission to an independent state. And in this melancholy mood they jogged on their way, save when the overflowing of a little bile induced them to pour abuse on the heads of the Athenians, and pray that the gods might visit with their highest displeasure all those who had been in any way the cause of their being despatched on so unpleasant a duty. Having accompanied them on their journey, I could not refrain from indulging in a little good-natured mirth on their account. At the close of one of their outbreaks, I took the liberty to tell them that they were imploring vengeance on the heads of their kings and fellow-countrymen. For to what but Spartan tyranny, Spartan injustice, Spartan cruelty, Spartan avarice, and Spartan bad faith was to be ascribed the humiliating position in which Sparta was placed? And I am pretty certain that you will agree with me on this point; that my language was not stronger than the occasion warrant

ed; for a treaty, when executed in strict accordance with established usage, should on no account be infringed by the contracting parties, but on the most open and palpable necessity; as, should a contrary principle be once introduced, and acted upon, all confidence between nations would be destroyed, and a door opened to every thing base and dishonourable in diplomacy.

"On the arrival of the embassy at Athens, the members were received very courteously, though the errand on which they had come was likely to cause them no little perplexity, some attributing the request made by Sparta to one cause, and some to another, scarcely a dozen of them at first agreeing in opinion on the subject.

"When it came to be debated whether the request should or should not be granted, all the various passions were roused into the utmost activity. Pride, after magnifying the honour that had been conferred on the Athenian people, proposed that the request should be granted on the ground-that as the request made by their neighbours, amounted to a confession of inferiority, and as that confession had been imposed upon them by the god, to refuse the request, would be to insult it, and oe an ungracious act to those performing it.

"To this Prudence could not give her assent; a much longer time for deliberation being in her opinion absolutely necessary. Hatred could see nothing in the request but a lurking desire to raise the fame, the wealth, and power of Sparta at the expense of Athens, and therefore could not consent to the request. Hypocrisy proposed that the embassy should be dismissed with an assurance that their request should be taken into early consideration, and then think no more of the matter. Fear proposed that the request be granted, that the displeasure of the god might not be drawn down on the Athenian people. Envy agreed with Pride and Fear, but instead of a general of talent, he proposed that Tyrtæus, the lame schoolmaster and poet, should be offered for the acceptance of the embassy; that by giving them a person totally unfitted for command, her spleen might be gratified by witnessing the defeat of the armies of Sparta, and the ultimate ruin of the country. Avarice brought up the rear, and voted with Envy, on the grounds that by encouraging the Peloponnesian powers to go to war with each other, a good opportunity would be afforded Athens to obtain a few slices of her neighbours' territory, when, weakened by their contests with each other, they would be too feeble to resist. Much disapprobation was manifested when Pride and Fear proposed to grant the Spartan request; but when Envy pronounced the name of Tyrtæus, the build

ing shook with the acclamations of the multitude; the whole no doubt conceiving that by the appointment they had secured the downfal of their rival, and their own aggrandizement.

"Such, my friends, were the men of Athens in the days of Tyrtæus; and such I fear the men of Athens of the present day would prove to be if tried by a similar test. Man has ever been the same-always professing friendship for his fellow man, but always concealing the motives from which his friendship springs, and but too often veiling his worst actions with the cloak of religion. This is strong language, but it is the language of truth; and be assured that, long before you arrive at that rank to which I presume you all aspire, you will have been furnished with proofs innumerable of its correctness, in the shape of envy, avarice, &c., which, go where you will, will meet you at every turn of your path, until you take your departure to that bourne from whence none

return.

"Every thing being ready for the field, and both armies being alike anxious for battle, they were not long in finding a place on which to decide their quarrel. The kings Anaxander and Anaxedamus commanded the Spartans, and Aristomenes the Messenians. The battle was long and obstinately contested. The fury of the combatants was beyond description; each man considering that in his individual arm lay the issue of the deadly fray. Revenge sat on every browDespair alternately on the countenances of the Spartans and Messenians, as the tide of battle rolled to or receded from their respective lines. Numerous feats of personal prowess were performed by combatants; at length, however, victory declared for the Messenians, who drove their opponents from the blood-dyed field with great slaughter; and which would have been greatly increased but for the following incident;-Theocles, the soothsayer, being in the action, and either seeing or pretending to see Castor and Pollux in a tree, ordered Aristomenes to halt. The latter, however, regardless of the order, pressed forward, until on passing the identical tree he lost his shield, when he gave over the pursuit, and permitted the well beaten foe to retire without further molestation.

"Some of you smile at the mention of Castor and Pollux, the tree, and the loss of the shield. To me it appears a matter of very little consequence whether Theocles really did see Castor and Pollux-whether he was himself deceived-or whether he attempted to deceive others. For I can produce a thousand facts if necessary, to prove that from the earliest ages of the world, superstition has invariably exercised so commanding an influence over the minds of

soldiers, and consequently over the operations of armies, that no prudent general would for a moment treat it in any other light than one of the most powerful auxiliaries which he could carry with him into a field of strife. The age of barbarism having fled from Europe, you may possibly imagine that its offspring, superstition, has also been banished from the ranks of modern European armies. But a reference to the eventful life of the late emperor of France, will satisfy you that such is not the fact. There you could find that on numerous occasions, Napoleon either attacked his antagonist, or commenced some grand military movement on the anniversary of some celebrated victory, or equally important event, to make his followers believe that the goddess of victory would decorate their brows with an additional wreath of laurel, if wooed on the anniversaries of those days on which she had previously smiled upon them with so propitious an eye. That such was his object, there can be but one opinion; and that he obtained his object, the enthusiasm with which his soldiers marched to the battle field, and the splendid success which for so many years attended their operations, bear the amplest testimony.

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Though the Lacedæmonians had escaped with much less punishment than they would have received had Aristomenes not lost his shield, yet their defeat sunk deep into their souls.

All confidence in their own prowess fled. The whole, in fact, appeared so listless and apathetic, that I imagined, when on a visit to their camp, that every spark of Spartan fire had expired. The soldiers having expressed themselves in no very measured terms respecting their sovereigns and the other rulers who had been instrumental in causing the Messenian revolt,—the kings pressed Tyrtæus to return to Sparta, but this was so warmly opposed by the Athenian chief, that all idea of a retreat was abandoned. Hitherto the operations of Tyrtæus had not been attended with success; but having gained experience, even in defeat, he now brought to bear on the interests intrusted to him, so much prudence, science, and bravery, that, from being little better than a body of cowards, he restored them to their former standing amongst the armies of the Peloponnesian states. He pointed out to his followers, how much more glorious it would be for them to die in defence of their country, than fly from an enemy who had so lately been their vassal. And when by repeated appeals to their feelings, he had made a favourable impression in the proper quarter, he repeated poetical pieces of his own composing, which possessing every quality necessary to rouse the courage of man, he in a very short time succeeded in banishing

from their breasts every thing like a dread of death, and to think only of their own glory, and the preservation of their country.

"To restore the reputation, the wealth, and power of his country, Aristomenes carried his army across the Spartan frontier, captured Pharæ, put all to the sword who opposed him in arms, and carried away a large booty. Tyrtæus attempted to intercept the convoy, but got well thrashed for his pains. The Messenian general being wounded through the thigh with a spear, active operations were for a time necessarily suspended.

Soon after his recovery, he attempted with a small party to take prisoners a few women who were celebrating religious rites. The Amazonians, however, were not disposed to bend their necks to the assailants without a fair stand-up fight. So to it they wentnot man to man, but woman to man. Oh, how I enjoyed the sight! Never in my life did I relish any thing half so much. It was worth a kingdom to see the great Aristomenes engaged in mortal combat with a few Spartan women. When first I beheld him and his followers fairly at work, I could not refrain from indulging in a smile at his expense. On perceiving him repulsed, my mirthful notes were more audible; but when I saw him a prisoner in their hands, I roared outright; loud enough, I presume, for him to hear the sweet sounds flowing from my lips, for on the Amazonians carrying him off, he cast a piercing look towards me, and muttered something about revenge another day. It being the act of a poltroon and coward to insult the unfortunate, I turned away and left my gallant acquaintance to ruminate on the issue of his ridiculous adventure. Not long after, however, he effected his escape, and regained his army.

"There are times, you see, my gallant friends, when the greatest men will by some weakness or other, bring themselves to the level of their fellow men, as the result of this little affair but too clearly proves. If, therefore, you would wish to attain an enviable eminence in your profession, avoid the rock on which Aristomenes had so nearly shipwrecked his fame and fortunes, and never engage in any enterprise from which no good can arise to your country; for by doing so, you may be deprived of laurels already gained, but can add none to those with which your brow may have previously been encircled.

"Aristocrates, king of Arcadia, having arrived in Messenia with a considerable body of troops, to the assistance of the allies, Aristomenes prepared to act on the offensive. But it being the bounden duty of any sovereign, when his country is threatened with an attack from a powerful neighbour, to take

the most prompt and effectual measures, not only to repel an invader, but to roll the tide of invasion back into the invader's territory, if prudence should conceive such a measure necessary, the kings of Sparta acting upon this maxim, threw themselves across the frontier with a large army. This being the third year of the war, and Aristomenes anxious to bring it to a speedy close, offered his opponents battle; which being accepted, the preliminary arrangements were instantly made by both parties for the approaching conflict.

"The Lacedæmonians having resolved to conquer or die on the field of battle, each soldier-that he might be more easily distinguished by his friends after death-had his name engraved on his shield, and the latter made fast to his left arm. On witnessing this interesting display of valour, I could not help exclaiming, 'With soldiers possessed of such courage, and confidence in their own superiority, any enterprise, however desperate, may be attempted.' It is true that in ancient Greece every thing tended to inspire her soldiers with a love of war, to support its fatigues, and confront its dangers. Monuments were erected to those who fell in battle; the maimed were provided for; a soldier's death raised those of junior rank to that of their commander; disgrace and infamy were attached to the violation of the Spartan law to conquer or die; on a young Spartan soldier going on an expedition, the parting salutation of a mother almost invariably was—

"My son, thy flight alone I shall deplore :

Return victorious, or return no more.'

"Now, how very different are the feelings of the British mothers; scarcely one of whom but would rather see her son carried to the grave than become a private soldier in the best regiment in your service. Your government holds out no sort of inducement to the private soldier to excel his companions in good conduct in quarters, or gallantry in the field. Your soldiers have long been famed in every quarter of the world, for their indomitable bravery in battle. Your government is equally famed for its total neglect of the junior ranks of the army; not one of all those who served during the late war, save those engaged at Waterloo, having even a tin or copper medal, or piece of ribbon given them, as a small token of gratitude for the services rendered to the country on memorable battle fields. Under all this discouragement, it may be asked, to what do you attribute the devoted heroism of your men, as exhibited in the dreadful combats in which they were engaged during the late war? Not the hope of a crown, nor of a seat amongst the senators of the land, nor of sharing in

the spoils of conquered countries, nor of having a monument raised to their memories, nor of being deified at their death. No! No hope of reward, of even the most valuable description. Nothing, in fact, but hearts overflowing with loyalty, and love of country, aided by the hope of receiving the thanks of their countrymen, led them to rush into the deadly fray. How much more exalted, therefore, must the courage-how much purer the patriotism of the British soldier appear to succeeding ages than a host of the Grecian and Roman warriors who have preceded them to the land of forgetfulness.

"It has been reported, but what degree of credit may be due to it I know not, that your present amiable sovereign intends, at no distant period, to take the subject of rewards for the army and navy into her early, and it is to be hoped favourable, consideration. But whether true or otherwise, let me entreat you to permit the heroic deeds of your ancestors to become to you perpetual monitors, not to sully the military reputation which you inherit from them, but on all occasions to imitate their virtues, and rival their renown.

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Being the inhabitant of no country, and yet of all, I took no part in the struggle, and consequently was on good terms with the chiefs of both armies. On the evening preceding the battle, I paid a friendly visit to each of the camps, where, as usual, I found the heart of the bachelor beat light, but not so that of his married brother. The former without any tie to bind him to this world, save his own precious person, of course thought only of himself; but the latter, with a weeping wife, and children crying for bread, constantly before his eyes, felt those pangs which the bachelor could not feel, and who, but for hope, which reigns eternal in the human breast, would have rendered their friends but a feeble assistance on that memorable occasion. The scene altogether was most affecting. Towards the close of the evening, parties assembled to recount-many of them for a last time-bygone adventures over a cup of the delicious beverage, and on parting, threw themselves down to catch a little repose before they should be called upon to proceed in search of new dangers. When I gazed on the gay and joyous countenances of the various groups, as each individual rose to retire from the festive scene, and reflected on what an important change they severally might undergo before the close of another day, my feelings had almost overpowered me.

"At daybreak on the day following, both armies were in motion, and soon after, the battle began. The attack was gallantly made, much bravery being displayed on both sides; but treachery soon accomplished the