with Bullion: some of his people presented him with (Nuzzers) presents, perhaps a gold mohur each, shortly after the ceremony we departed. In one of the Persian Fables translated by Sir W. Jones there is a passage "Thou art a slave, and makest a claim to royalty:" perhaps it is rather hard of me to say so, but is it not applicable ? The world is now before me. Farewell my dear Polyphilus.

Your's sincerely, YORICK.

Tuesday, January 30, 1841.

POLYPHILUS.

No. 14.

The British Soldier.

"The first qualification of a Soldier is fortitude under fatigue and privation. Courage is only the second; hardship, poverty and want, the best school for a Soldier."-Napoleon Buonaparte,

are,

"Our 'prentice Tom may now refuse,
To wipe his scoundrel master's shoes
For now he's free to sing and play,

Over the hills and far away."

Farquhar's Recruiting Officer,

There is no class of men throughout the British Empire, in the same rank of society, which merits more the favour as well as the blessings of their countrymen, as that of the British Soldiers of the Army; to the Soldier, his country looks for help in the hour of danger, to release it from its troubles, on him is placed reliance by many a child of sorrow, who has retired from the fashion of the world, to spend his days in the sweetness and tranquillity of solitude ; on him depend the fates of empires, and kingdoms, the misery, happiness, adversity and prosperity of his countrymen and mankind in general. The British Soldier, the subject of this paper, is generally like his brethren in point of moral courage; but he varies much in the qua

lity of his mind. What a variety of minds are to be found in a single company of European Soldiers, what an eventful history could many a Soldier tell, if we were to enquire; one might tell us, how he once moved in a higher sphere, but the follies of youth having led him astray, he enlisted to procure an honourable subsistence. I have frequently seen in the Army at Home, as well as in this country, men, privates in a regiment, who had seen better days, well educated and of a gentlemanly demeanour; but such men are in general little known to the world; they become reserved, and quiet, for they feel they were created to move in a different sphere of existence. The genteel air may through time be rubbed off, and through habit, course manners and language may be adopted, but the mind does not change, reflection and hope often spend the evening with the care-worn British Soldier. Kotzebue a celebrated German writer, remarks.

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Happy the child of sorrow who is permitted to travel! Strange mountains and dales, and what is more, strange faces, strange persons, who know nothing of him, who suspect nothing of what is passing within him; these he ought to seek if he wishes to disburden himself of the oppressive recollections of his life. He whose house should

happen to be destroyed by fire would do wrong to remain sitting opposite to its smoking ruins." Faithfulness and fortitude are generally considered the two grand characteristics of the British Soldier, how he sticks to his Officer in the day of trouble, provided that Officer has treated him well while over him he bore the command. The late Duke of York was particularly attached to the Soldiers of the British Army, he provided for them every comfort, and to him a consistent petition was never made in vain, which conduct has gained him the name of the Soldier's friend, or the friend of the Army. Such conduct showed a fine feeling in such a man as the Duke of York; and perhaps there are many officers in the army who ought to follow his example. It is a common thing for young men to imagine, when they enter the service, that the moment the black tailed coat is usurped by a more dazzling uniform, they are to sacrifice every virtue and good principle to a stern military demeanour there cannot be a greater folly than this, and such individuals will seldom orever be esteemed by society, although they may flourish and even rise to the top of their profession through industry and attention; in seniors a vain assumption of military power is bad enough; in juniors, it is absolutely disgusting; the strictest

:

discipline can be maintained in a Corps without the sacrifice of good feeling to authority, which I am afraid is too often the case; at the same time, the soldier ought to pay the strictest attention to the wishes of his Commanding officer, and treat him with the greatest respect: but that is too well known to the British soldier already. Long may he through his bravery and good conduct, preserve the name with which history has honoured him, and continue the brave guardian of our mighty empire, till the world falls into chaos, and time is no more. POLYPHILUS.

Thursday, February 1, 1844.