to be told, not only that people of fashion in England pass 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 tafte! In fact, fuch embellishments are beginning to wear out of fashion; appetite for fociety leaving neither time nor inclination for rural pleasures. If the progress of that disease can be ftay'd, the only means is military education. In youth lafting im-: preffions 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 capital, and contribute to the health of the mind, no less than of the body. A military life is the only cure for a difeafe much more dangerous. Moft 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 patriotifm is only a difguife to fayour their ambition. A court life becomes habitual and engroffes their whole foul: the minister's nod is a law to them: they dare not disobey; for to be reduced to a VOL. III. H private meanor. 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 misdeThis fort of flavery is gaining ground in Britain; and it ought to be dreaded, for fcarce another circumstance 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 enjoyments. The pomp, ceremony, and expence, 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 difguft. The pain of excefs, prompts men of opulence to pafs 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 fafety and of peace, to which we are piloted by military education, avoiding every dangerous rock, and every fatiguing agitation. Reflecting on the advantages of military education above display'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 proposed plan be, in the hands of a virtuous king, fupported by a publicfpirited ministry! In the prefent course of advancement, a youth of quality who aspires to serve his country in a civil employment, has nothing to rely on but parliamentary intereft. The military education propofed, would afford him opportunity to improve his talents, and to convince the world of his merit. Honour and applause thus acquired, would intitle him to demand preferment; and he ought to be employ'd, not only as deferving, but as an encouragement to others. Frequent H 2 inftances inftances of neglecting men who are patronized by the public, might perhaps. prove dangerous to a British minister. If I have not all this while been dreaming, here are difplay'd illuftrious advantages of the military education propofed. Fondness for the fubject excites me to prolong the entertainment; and I add the following reflection on the education of fuch men as are difpofed to ferve in a public ftation. The sciences are mutually connected: a man cannot be perfect in any one, without being in fome degree acquainted with every one. The science of politics in particular, being not a little intricate, cannot be acquired in perfection by any one whose studies have been confined to a single branch, whether relative to peace or to war. The Duke of Marlborough made an eminent figure in the cabinet, as well as in the field; and fo did equally the illustrious Sully, who may ferve as a model to all minifters. The great aim in modern politics is, to fplit government into the greatest number poffible of departments, trusting nothing to genius. China affords fuch a government in perfection. National affairs are there fo fimplified by di vifion, vifion, as to require fcarce any capacity in the mandarines. Thefe officers, having little occafion for activity either of mind or of body, fink down into floth and senfuality motives of ambition or of fame : make no impreffion: they have not even the delicacy to blush when they err: and as no punishment is regarded but what touches the perfon or the purse, it is not unufual to see a mandarine beaten with many stripes, fometimes for a very flight tranfgreffion. Let arts be fubdivided into many parts: the more fubdivifions the better. But I venture to pronounce, that no man ever did, nor ever will, make a capital figure in the government of a state, whether as a judge, a general, or a minifter, whose education is rigidly confined to one science * Senfible I am that the foregoing plan is in feveral respects imperfect; but if it be found at bottom, polish and improvement are eafy operations. My capital aim has * Phocion is praised by ancient writers, for ftruggling against an abuse that had crept into his country of Attica, that of making war and politics different profeffions. In imitation of Ariftides and of Pericles, he ftudied both equally. been, |