When fickness, cafualties, or wounds, give them a peculiar claim to his tenderness, he will always adopt the moft fpeedy, proper, and effectual method of affifting each individual; whether it be by taking care that he be supplied with every kind of fuccour which his fituation requires, and exifting circumstances admit of being furnished; or by fupporting his claim to be received into fome of the afylums provided by the public for those who are difabled in the defence of their country. He will not permit acts of fortitude and humanity, nor any other inftances, of exemplary conduct by which particular individuals have distinguished themselves, to pafs without his praise, or to escape from his memory; and will ftudiously give to latent merit, even in the lowest station, an opportunity of difplaying itself, and of gaining advancement.

If an Officer's rank and ftation require him to take a part in the impreffing of feamen, or in the raising of recruits for the land fervice; in the former cafe let him conduct himself with every degree of humanity which can be introduced into fo very objectionable a me

thod

thod of manning the Navy; in the latter, let him not abet or connive at the knavish and illegal methods frequently adopted by Serjeants and their confederates, to draw the ignorant and unfufpecting into their fnares. And let him not indulge even for a moment the moft diftant wish to screen any of his agents from juftice, who fhall hereafter endeavour, as fome are faid to have endeavoured heretofore, to procure men for the service by means, which, as far as they extend, may be compared to the villany of the flave trade.

In taking cognizance of faults committed by the people under his control, an Officer ought equally to avoid that fupine careleffnefs which invites future offences; and that unrelenting and tyrannical feverity which confounds overfights with deliberate guilt, and makes no allowance for peculiarity of circumftances and fituation. Never let him grudge the pains of inveftigating a complaint to the bottom; never let him expose himself to the fufpicion of pique, partiality and unfairnefs. In fentencing to punishment, let him maintain difcipline and fubordination, without paffion

paffion or unneceffary rigour. In cafes where his rank gives latitude to his difcretion, let him imitate the examples of thofe Officers, who by their prudence have devised methods of manifesting their displeasure against delinquents, and Yubjecting them to fhame and constraint, which have in a great measure superfeded, except in very flagrant cafes, the neceffity of feverer (g) chastisement. Let him not acquire a habit of correcting with his own hand private men whom he happens to detect in fmall tranfgreffions. On Court-Martials let him remember juftice and his oath.

There are various ftations in the Navy and Army which confer on those who occupy them a right of patronage (b) and promotion. Every fuch right ought to be confidered as a

(g) I allude to the wife and fuccessful methods which have been occafionally practised by Captains of men of

war.

(b) A Captain of a man of war is invefted with the power of appointing Midshipmen, and all who are not warrant officers. An Admiral, if commander in chief of a fleet, may promote even to the command of fhips of the line. Similar privileges in the Army are poffeffed by Military Officers.

public trust, and exercised with a strict regard to defert. He who from interested views of private attachment promotes a favourite, a friend, or a relation, to a post of which he is unworthy, betrays fordid principles or an un→ skilful judgement; discourages meritorious exertion throughout the fervice; and perhaps prepares for his country fome fevere ftroke to be experienced in diftant years. Officers whofe rank does not inveft them with the difpofal of preferment, have yet the power of granting or refusing many little indulgences to their men. These should never be withheld from fuch as deserve them, when they can be allowed confiftently with the public good. In bestowing charity, an Officer ought to regard the merit as well as the distress of the person affifted; and when he confers any fpontaneous act of kindness somewhat out of the common way (i), he ought to regard it almost exclusively.

(i) I was lately informed of a Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment, who has had many of the private men inftructed, at his own expence, in reading; an acquifition not only advantageous to them in a moral light, but effential to their attaining the rank of Serjeant, or other fimilar promotion.

Above all things, let an Officer bear in mind, that one of the highest duties which he owes to his Maker, and one of the moft fubftantial benefits which he can render to his Country, is to train up the men under his authority to fettled principles and habits of religion. Religion is the only folid foundation of true courage; the only certain pledge for confiftent excellence and perfevering fidelity in the path of military or naval duty. Unre flecting rashness, infenfibility to danger, emulation, pride, the dread of punishment, obstinacy, defpair, paffion, the defire of revenge; thefe and other motives, all more or lefs culpable or defective, may lead the combatant through many difficulties and perils, and fupply for a time the place of better principles. But how little to be relied on is the refolution derived from these fources, compared with the genuine fortitude which he feels, who refts with humble and lively confidence on the fu perintending care of an all-wife, all-merciful, and all-powerful Protector, ever prefent with every individual in the crowded tumult of battle; a Being to whofe favour he has habitually studied to recommend himself by faithful obe

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dience