foundation of both; the object only is varied. This obfervation is fadly verified in Britain: our young men of rank, loathing an irksome and fatiguing course of education, abandon themselves to pleasure. Trace these very men through the more fettled part of life, and they will be found grafping at power and profit, by means of court-favour; with no regard to their country, and with very little to their friends. The education propofed, holding up a tempting prize to virtuous ambition, is an excellent fence against a life of indolent pleasure. A youth of fortune, engaged with many rivals in a train of public fervice, acquires a habit of business; and as he is conftantly employ'd for the public, patriotifm becomes his ruling paffion *.

A

The following portrait is fketched by a good hand, (Madame Pompadour); and if it have any resemblance, it fets our plan in a confpicuous light. The French nobleffe, fays that lady, fpending their lives in diffipation and idleness, know as little of po-. litics as of economy. A gentleman hunts all his life in the country, or perhaps comes to Paris to ruin. himself with an opera-girl. Thofe who are ambitious to be of the ministry, have feldom any merit,

A number of noblemen and gentlemen, led by ambition, did lately join in parliament to oppofe the King's measures; and with true antipatriotic zeal stood up as champions for the American rebels. Charity leads me to think, that they would have acted very differently had they been trained in the military line, and confequently been employed during a course of years in the fervice of their country.

The advantages of a military education, fuch as that propofed, are not yet exhausted. Under regular government promoting the arts of peace, focial intercourse refines, and fondnefs for company increases in proportion. And hence it is, that the capital is crowded with every perfon who can afford to live there. A man of fortune, who has no taste but for a city life, happens to be forc'd into the country

if it be not in caballing and intrigue. The French nobleffe have courage, but without any genius for war, the fatigue of a foldier's life being to them unfupportable. The King has been reduced to the neceffity of employing two strangers for the fafety of his crown: had it not been for the Counts Saxe and Louendahl, the enemies of France might have laid Siege to Paris.

by bufinefs: finding bufinefs and the country equally infipid, he turns impatient, and flies to town, with a difguft at every rural amusement. In France, the country has been long deferted: in Britain the fame fondnefs for a town-life is gaining ground. A ftranger confidering the immenfe fums expended in England upon country-feats, would conclude, in appearance with great certainty, that the English spend most of their time in the country. But how would it furprise him to be told, not only that people of fashion in England pafs little of their time there, but that the immenfe fums laid out upon gardening and pleasure-grounds, are the effect of vanity more than of taste! In fact, fuch embellishments are beginning to wear out of fashion; appetite for fociety leaving neither time nor inclination for rural pleafures. If the progrefs of that disease can be stayed, the only means is military education. In youth lafting impreffions are made; and men of fortune who take to the army, being confined mostly to the country in prime of life, contract a liking for country occupations and amufements: which withdraw them from

the

the capital, and contribute to the health of the mind, no less than of the body. ·

A military life is the only cure for a dif ease much more dangerous. Most men of rank are ambitious of fhining in public. They may affume the patriot at the beginning; but it is a falfe appearance, for their patriotism is only a difguife to favour their ambition. A court life becomes habitual and engroffes their whole foul? the minifter's nod is a law to them: they dare not disobey; for to be reduced to a private station, would to them be a cruel misfortune. This impotence of mind is in France fo exceffive, that to banish a courtier to his country feat, is held an adequate punishment for the highest mifdemeanor. This fort of flavery is gaining ground in Britain; and it ought to be dreaded, for fcarce another circumftance will more readily pave the way to abfolute power, if adverfe fate fhall afflict us with an ambitious King. There is no effectual remedy to the fervility of a court life, but the military education here recommended.

A military education would contribute equally to moderation in focial enjoyThe pomp, ceremony, and expence,

ments.

pence, neceffary to those who adhere to a court and live always in public, are not a little fatiguing and oppreffive. Man is naturally moderate in his defire of enjoyment; and it requires much practice to make him bear excefs without fatiety and disgust. The pain of excess, prompts men of opulence to pass fome part of their time in a fnug retirement, where they live at eafe, free from pomp and ceremony. Here is a retirement, which can be reached without any painful circuit; a port of fafety and of peace, to which we are piloted by military education, avoiding every dangerous rock, and every fatiguing agi

tation.

Reflecting on the advantages of military education above difplay'd, is it foolish to think, that our plan might produce a total alteration of manners in our youth of birth and fortune? the idler, the gamefter, the profligate, compared with our military men, would make a defpicable figure; shame, not to talk of pride, would compel them to reform.

How conducive to good government might the propofed plan be, in the hands of a virtuous king, fupported by a publicfpirited