The Sun.
London, England, 1813-08-05 00:00:00

srxrriNei-TIALVPENNIr.

Tp THE EDITOR OF

Suggestion of •a Grand Military Triumph to
Marshal .thc .Marquis of 'WELLtk\rwroN, and his
Brace Compamons in 4r1119,
,Sig,-,--1-lAving: recently suggested, through the
medium of your Paper, * •in a short Poem under
Ike signature of " Cr.ro,""the plan '-of introduc-
iog- into this ,country that most excellent
tion .Ihe.,Roman Triumph, .if it is'not treipassiag
too much upon your colionns, I shtnild wish to
make a few More observations on this tubject.
Were we. to imitate this ceremony in all its
parts, it must be allowed that reasonable obje:4 o
tion might beinade to the adoption of such a mea-
*bye. That part of the procession in which kings
and prinses were dragged in chains before the
ehari4St of the conqueror, was particularlyexcep-
tionable ; what could be more inhuman than to
insult their
;misfortunes in this manner ? Nothing'
could be more repugnant to thefeelings of a
ge-
nerous people, 'But, if wc except such parts a
are thus olfensive to humanity, few things will be
found sb beneheial in their effects, .as an institu-
tion of this description. A very -celebrated and
discerning- author has remarked, with great truth,
that " those who established the Triuniph aS a
national celebrity; perfectly understood the 'ge,
nius of -a people disposed to catch the flame of
emulation from every incident which gave dignity'
to the character of a soldier. '!'ails bottom. Was,
indeed, rarely granted to' any officer of 'inferior -
rank to -a dictator, consul, or prwtor ; but, as.
each of them shared it in common with every tri,,
hune, centurion, and even legionary, of his arrq;
it failed not to inspire them with ardour for
Lary service. The same distinction, therefore,
which was the reward of one victory, frequentlyr.
proved the source of another."
The Romans certainly surpassed all other na-.
tionsin the arCof war. The promotion of this
science was effected, in'agreat measure, by the
various honours which they 'conferred upon the
skilful and the brave; and the nicety which ways
observable in the different shades of teinuner;tt ion ,
.aliCording to the different dcgiee of• the merit of
those that were entitled todistinetion, is truly re-
markable. Every action had ita appropriate
nour; there were 11w corona triumphalis,
the cirica, the maratis, and hair ~uir.ctlis
Toetrata: Can any thing illustrate the atten-
tion they bestowed upon the art of war, or show
the'perfection to which they bad brotiAlit it, more
clearly than this circumstance ? The coinage cif,
medals, denominated by the Romans ''
to'perpetnate the names and commemorate the
exploits of their heroes, wits another vet y tnhni-
,
, rat& eustent: Wo know, by experieoce, that such
things were 'productive of the most desirable eon,
sequences ; we Cannot, therefore, do better thau,
imitatetherth Excited bya laudable ambition to oh,
twin such honours their warriors carried all things
before them, each endeavouriiig to excel the othe,r.,
Thus, whilst this emulation lasted, they, main,
tained a superiority above all other nations,
and their strength only begat to decay. when this
enthusiasm' no longer existed. Of this iVe are
certain, that the expectation of reward, and the
hope of glory, Will always act more powerfully in
the -Minds of the noble and,generout than the fear
of punishment.
The corona navaliS or rostrata might have b'een
adjudged
.yery •appropriately to the hero of the
Shannon, the valiant Baoxa ; and the honour of
a TRIUMPH Could not be conferred more desery-,
ingly than upon the illustrioos WELLINuroN, the
liberator of Spain.
If any of your correspondents can point out
any reasonable objection to the, adoption of this
plan, under web inotlifications as' are adapted to
the present times, and particularly so far as re.-
Litet to the institution of the Triumph: omitting
such parts of it as are offensive to.humanity, and
contrary to the fundamental principles of the
Christian Religion, it will much oblige,
Sir, your very obedient servant,
Reading,'dtily.2B, 1513.. CLIO.
* See The .Sun of the 30th ult.