circumftance of infinite importance to Britain. The falutary influence of the plan, would reach perfons in a higher fphere. A young gentleman, whipt at school, or falling behind at college, contracts an averfion to study; and flies to the army, where he is kept in countenance by numbers, idle and ignorant like himself. How many young men are thus daily ruined, who, but for the temptation of idleness and gaiety in the army, would have become useful fubjects! In the plan under confideration, the officers who ferve for pay would be fo few in number, and their profpect of advancement fo clear, that it would require much intereft to be admitted into the army. None would be admitted but those who have been regularly educated in every branch of military knowledge; and idle boys would be remitted to their studies.

Here is difplay'd an agreeable scene with relation to industry. Suppofing the whole threefcore thousand men to be abfolutely idle; yet, by doubling the indu stry of those who remain, I affirm, that the fum of industry would be much greater than before. And the scene becomes en

chanting,

chanting, when we confider, that these threescore thousand men, would not only be of all the most industrious, but be patterns of industry to others.

Upon conclufion of a foreign war, we fuffer grievously by difbanded foldiers, who must plunder or ftarve. The prefent plan is an effectual remedy: men accuftomed to hard labour under ftrict difcipline, can never be in want of bread: they will be fought for every where, even at higher than ordinary wages; and they will prove excellent mafters for training the peasants to hard labour.

A man indulges emulation more freely in behalf of his friend or his country, than of himself: emulation in the latter cafe is felfifh; in the former, is focial. Doth not that give us reason to hope, that the feparating military officers into different claffes will excite a laudable emulation, prompting individuals to exert themselves on every occafion for the honour of their clafs? Nor will fuch emulation, a virtuous paffion, be any obstruction to private friendship between members of different claffes. May it not be expected, that young officers of birth and fortune, zea

lous

lous to qualify themselves at their own expence for ferving their country, will cling for inftruction to officers of experience, who have no inheritance but perfonal merit? Both find their account in that connection: men of rank become adepts in military affairs, a valuable branch of education for them; and officers who ferve for pay, acquire friends at court, who will embrace every opportunity of testifying their gratitude.

The advantages mentioned are great and extenfive; and yet are not the only advantages. Will it be thought extravagant to hope, that the proposed plan would form a better fyftem of education for young men of fortune, than hitherto has been known in Britain? Before pronouncing fentence against me, let the following confiderations be weigh'd. Our youth go abroad to fee the world in the literal fenfe; for to pierce deeper than eyefight, cannot be expected of boys. They refort to gay courts, where nothing is found for imitation but pomp, luxury, diffembled virtues, and real vices: fuch scenes make an impreffion too deep on young men of a warm imagination. Our plan would

would be an antidote to fuch poisonous education. Suppofing eighteen to be the earliest time for the army; here is an object held up to our youth of fortune, for roufing their ambition: they will endeavour to make a figure, and emulation will animate them to excel: fuppofing a young man to have no ambition, fhame however will pufh him on. To acquire the military art, to difcipline their men, to direct the execution of public works, and to conduct other military operations, would occupy their whole time, and banifh idleness. A young gentleman, thus guarded against the enticing vices and fauntering follies of youth, must be fadly deficient in genius, if, during his feven years service, reading and meditation have been totally neglected. Hoping better things from our youth of fortune, I take for granted, that during their service they have made fome progrefs, not only in military knowledge, but in morals, and in the fine arts, fo as at the age of twentyfive to be qualified for profiting, instead of being undone, by feeing the world *. Further,

* Whether hereditary nobility may not be neceffary in a monarchical government to fupport the

King

Further, young men of birth and fortune, acquire indeed the fmoothness and fuppleness of a court, with refpect to their fuperiors; but the reftraint of fuch manners, makes their temper break out against interiors, where there is no restraint. Infolence of rank, is not fo vifible in Britain as in countries of lefs freedom; but it is fufficiently visible to require correction. To that end, no method promises more fuccefs than military fervice; as command and obedience alternately, are the best difcipline for acquiring temper and moderation. Can pride and infolence be more effectually stemmed, than to be under command of an inferior?

Still upon the important article of edu cation. Where pleasure is the ruling paffion in youth, intereft will be the ruling paffion in age: the felfish principle is the

King against the multitude, I take not on me to pronounce: but this I pronounce with affurance, that fuch a conftitution is unhappy with refpect to education; and appears to admit no remedy, if it be not that above mentioned, or fome fuch. In fact, few of those who received their education while they were the eldest fons of Peers, have been duly qualified to manage public affairs.

VOL. III,

H

foundation