Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-30

TaENCu AND ENGLISH CoUnAGE. The
between English and French bravery, is cop
led from nazlelt's L'fe Of Napolean. We
have read il with much satisfaction, but could
wish that tho writer, had brought American
bravery in contrast with that Of old England
II ho had rene embered some Of tho incidents of
the iato war, ne might have done SO, with
great propricty, and lcf, the English character
in the back ground.
"The French are undoHbtcdly brave, bu.
their bravery seems to bo an affair Of impulse
they do not stop to calculate consequences,
but Weld to their national ardor and inpeuos-
iiv, and rush at once on d,ngcr and tho foe
Had Vilcncuve to lead battalion of Cavalry
to the field, ! have little doabt he would have
been withheld by no considerations of prudence
or punctilio from oboying the instinct Of per-
sonal courage; and, charging at their head
have exposed himself in TIE ihickest Of the
ranks with the greatest gallaniry and boldness
But in tho ether case, he had to manruvre
four or five unwieldy ships, TO guide compli-
Gated mechanical operation, to prevent their
running ashore, to come up to the point of ac-
cess of abstraction threw u damp upol. his
natural a,dor and held his Judgment in sus-
pense Now the Englishman's head is esscn-
TALLY mechanical, and his will acts upon the
decision ofthe understanding. When French
man on the contrary, has to act from foresight
and combinations he forgets the end in the
means, and is either rash and lish,y or forrual
and pcdantic. So nue.! for the Naval Com
mandcr. Again, with respect to those under
his command, the courage Of the French is in
attack, or in vcnturing upon danger; the cour-
ago of the sailor is wholly or chiefly in defence,
or in holding out against it, except IN the case
Of boarding a vessel, he cannot get at his en-
o,ny or m,mdate him, either by gallant bear
ing or personal proves, he merely mans his
own guns, and stands the fire Of the encmy's
battery with resolution and presence Of mind
and certainly in this, which may be called the
passive part Of courage, the English sailor bears
the bell alone 1t is bred in his blood and in
his bone. Stupid he may be, brutal he may
be, low and vulgar; but he endurcs pain and
wounds without ilinching, and he will be soon
er cut in pieces than he will give in. A bullet
whjzzng by, makes him recollect himsolf; a
sp!;ntsr that stuns him, brings him to his senses
the smart of his wounds sharpcns his courage,
! and all that damps and star,les others, rivets
him to his post. The British tar feels con-
scious Of his existence in suffering and anguish,
! and woos danger as bride. There is some-
| thing in this Saxon breed Of men, like the
courage and resolution OF the masiff, that only
! comes out on such occasions. Coarse, dull,
vicious, obstinate, bowed down by ignorance
and bonumbing want, there is something in
| his soul that struggles with his fate, aad seeks
to throw Off the load that oppresses it, and
stakes its all on one hour Of heroic daring OF
mistaken fortilude and shut out from cflcmin
ate delights, takes a pride in the extreme ol
pain, stands by his country, tho only thing on
which he values HIMSELF to his latest breath,
and wipes out lifo Of shame and ignominy
by a glorious end. The wooden walls Of Old
England arc nothing but this hard, obdurate
character, that mel,s and expands in the heat
of battle as in summers day, that welcome,
a cannon ball as an even match feels The iirs
flush Of triumph with the last gush Of life, ant
TO quit the world by The shout Of victory ant
death! The difference then Of the French ant
English navy depends on the character Of ih,
two nations. and this will change when III,
bull dog changes nature with tho greyhound
II has been said that the great error Of tn
French Tin which they persist in spite Of OK
perisnee,) is in firing at the rigging, instead