Star.
London, England, 1831-03-07 00:00:00

The United Service Journal.

This valuable national miscellany, as usual, contains a great store of
truly instructive and practically useful matter. Every one possessing a
spark of amor patio must feel himself interested in the many heroic
acts of his countrymen, which unostentatiously, and, as if by accident,
come forth to notice, in the pages of this Magazine. What can be
MOM vital to the national glory and security, than the subjects we here
see treated ? The first paper, "On the condition and prospects of the
Navy," deserves well the attention of our Statesmen. The " Fragments
from a Portfolio of a Field Officer," arc too much en militaire in senti-
ment to please our citizen taste—which prompts us to view war, and
particularly civil war, with horror. " Rough Weather" contains some
fine traits of our brave seamen. The " Defence of Captain Cook," Is
occasioned by a charge of severity brought against him in a report made
to the Geographical Society of Paris. The " Memoir on the military
events in Paris, of July, 1830," is the most minute detail of that lin-
portant passage in recent history which we have seen. The "Memoir
of 31. Mannont" must be read with interest ; but falls in removing :he
stigma which must always remain attached to that able General. Thc
paper on the " National Emblems of the French" surprises us a little,
by informing us that the tri-eoloured banner is not new to the French;
but, on the contrary, derived from the early period of French history,
and that it had an ecclesiastical or religious origin. It seems the most
ancient French banner was called the Mantle of St. Martin, which saint
was the first apostle in Gaul—it was Llue. Some Ulna after St. Moly-
sius or Denys became the national patron, and the banner of Cie Abbey
of_St. Denys, the celebrated ortilannue, which was red, becam: the na.
tional colour. It appears that white was the English colour, when
red was the French; but in course of time the English relinquished the
while, and the French, from attachment to the Virgin Mary, took the
while, the emblem of purity, as the national colour. It appears doubtful
at what time these three colours (the blue, rA, and white) were united:
they arc well ascertained to have been united in the national banner of
France, hundreds of years before the Finch IL7volution. At the first
revolution, it was'adopted by a kind of accident ; the first cockade was
the colours of the city of Paris, the old &bre and red, to which was added
the white, CA the colour which had been used by the National Guard.
The " Gallic Cock" is said in this paper to have been entirely a mo-
dern revolutionary emblem. Before we dismiss this number, we must
notice a paper on the "Application of Steam Vessels in IVar." It is
well known that N. Illauoulx, in the French Chamber of Deputies,
threw out some threats of the danger which En,4l.ied had to thread from
the application of steatn-vessels for the invasion of Ireland. We think
it is justly remarked here, that with a little precaution. England may
not only secure her own shores from attack ; but completely close up the
ports of France by an application of the very invention which the French
politician trusts to for her humiliation. We certainly have more steam.
vessels, and may build more than any other nation in Europe.