The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-04 00:00:00

7O

.a •
lion woutd convince evn-ica—superticial observer, that it is
not soil, nor climate, but good institutions, which give rise
and encouragement to talents. After wishing to expose
tl:e sophistry, and detect the shameful source of the fore-
going opinion, we are strongly inclined to believe that
Prov►dence has conferred on every age and generation an
coal portion of abilities, and that incitement and oppor-
tunity are only wanting to call them into action. If this
llst observation be just, of which we entertain very little
doubt, every government must impute, solely and exclu-
s•.vely, to its ow u incapacity, negligence, want of virtue and
discrimination, any disasters which may occur from the in-
cletacy of the military force, or the misemployment of the
national resources. This is a most important observation,
aid deserves to be carefully weighed and invariably attend-

ti to.
No political institutions, perhaps, ever existed, which of-
f( red a greater incitement to national emulation, or the
&splay of individual exertions ; and no country a greater
proportion of active, intellectual power, perseverance,
and enterprise, than our own. It would, therefore, be-
tray-a most unpardonable remissneass and apathy, on our
part, and be a sore symptom of the declension and irre-
trievable state of our affairs, if we thought further im-
provement impracticable, and progression impossible.
There is not a branch of our internal economy that is not
susceptible of amelioration ; and if we have courage and
virtue enough to set our hands to the work of reform, we
may be certain of rising far beyord our present level. The
consideration, that States have either a progressive or re-
trograde movement, and that repose is as unnatural in
the politica!, as the physical, world, should encourage us
to commence, wthout del'.y, the important operation.
The most striking cl,fects in our military establishment,
are the inefficacy, or incompetency of what may be called
the Ministerial Department of the Army ; the sale of com-
miasious (a most revolting and pernicious abuse) the want
()fat sufficient number of military academies fur the educa-
tion of cadets, and, of a military order of knighthood,
open fo the private as well as the officer : lastly, the want
of a sufficient provis:on for the families of such, as die a
distinguished death in the service of their country.
That par!, w!l;ch rills mos. immediately and imperiously
for refoi in, is. beyond :di doubt, the ministerial depart-
ment ; for were it to take place there, a change would be
soon etii.rted in every other. Whits that is defective, we
may look in vain for the re-appearance of a Marlborough,
an Argyle, a Peterborough, and a Wolfe; nor expect the
return of such days, when, in the same campaign, Mir
11•.4ions were Niclorions on the Banks of the Ebro, the
Selield, and the Danube. Dere the reformation must first
'begin ; and when that derartment is entrusted to a corn-
ni.ttee of officers of profcasicairil skill rnd experience.
under the direction of a man of tried abilities, activity,
:Ind integrity, our army Nvill reeo vcr IS an :ieat splen-
dour and superiority ; and the Scheid and the Seine
become again the theatre of its achievements. We
&all then no more blush at the ignorance of our coin-
maikrs ; nor sce our brave soldiers fly ignentiniouslv
from the scene of action ; nor our generals sign dishonour•
%tile Conventions ; nor a Whitelocke entrusted with an im-
portant service; nor behold a renewal of the disgraceful
transactiows at Ferrol, Dunkirk, mad the Helder ; nor
would a Sir Harry llorrard, nor a Sir Hew Hain n l,lr he
ent to aupi.lant an officer of distinguished merit, and ren-

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

nr,e. 4.

der useless one of the most splendid victories w our
annals. When we reflect on our ancient reputation;
when we consider that our army is incomparably the
bravest upon earth ; when we we cons niced theN is
no greater deficiency in this country than in any other
those rare attributes which constitute the distinguished
commander, we shall not certainly he accused of en, ar-
rentable motives, in recommending measures, %illicit iniot
prevent the recurrence of the events of the last fifteen
years.
The next change we would most ardently desire is ia the
nomination of Officers. The present mode of selling and pur-
chasing commissions, frequently excludes humble merit and
virtue from this honourable career, and may open it to the
worthless and profligate. The Commander in Chief, who
has, it is said, struck at the root of sn.eral abuses, could
he contribute to effect a salutary innovation in this respect,
would render a service to his country, which would infal-
libly secure him the gratitude and applause of the good
and. enlightened. This reformation, and the introduc-
tion of a simpler and less costly uniform, would open
a wider field to emulation and genius ; and our army
become once more, as it has formerly been, the admiration
and umpire of Europe. The foundation of new military
academies, in which the sons of officers, who had been
killed in fighting the battles of their country. might find a
secure asylum and education, would serve as a uursery
of heroes, and afford the soldier of misfortune the plea-
ing conviction, that his sons would be secured against
the pressure of poverty, should he have the fortune to
fall in performing the duties of his profession. Were these
advantages combined with the establishment of a military
order, equally open to the private soldier as the General,
under the name of the Military Order of St. Georgc, we
might then see an enthusiasm kindle in our armies, and a
splendid period open in our annals, which would not only
secure us against the alarming perils of the present moment
and leave a bright and solid inheritance to the future ge-
neration, but place our beloved country above the region
of storms, and at the summit of earthly grandeur. It
is peculiarly adapted for the exercise of great virtuN,
and the performance of splendid exploits ; it woold
therefore be unpardonable degeneracy nail pusillanimity
in her sons, were they, in consequence of some difficulties
and sacrifices, to renounce what policy and honour equally
recommend.

We tc;11 make in our next Number some ohcerratenns on th•
k:nrsnE, Run II t:rlErr, and hope to prove the fallacy of its ,r-
-culalions on the issue of the Spanish contest.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FROM THE SPA-NISH PAPERS.

-...N1P1N....".
The following is the official accoont nr the operation, Pr Cr-
neral flake's artn, , as comamnicuted by himself to the Supreme
Junta :
SUPPLEMENT TO IThE NADI:in G.IZETTE or To:
13 r II N ov 1:m it FA: .
An i vi t• r.z, Nov.
z, No I.l.—The Lieutenant-C.eneral Don .1
ilh.
101-
(111 in) Blake has adilres,ed the follow in:t di-pPtehu", '1"1"
ith aril Sth instant, to the Secretary of Statelor the War l)
1 partment :
1 " 4110'r Everr.r.nrcr SIR, or-
" In oritf.r to etrect the coin cot rat ion of my Forces, imp
t t:tot 141 all ori•n%iim,:, :Hid rii-iirtilaily i.o tinder the ci( um-
btzuwes of my being attacked by i, (ince so decishcly ?operi"ri