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we have been beaten by enemies whom we did not fee; and at another, have avoided the fight of enemies left we fhould be beaten.

Whether our troops are defective in difcipline or in courage, is not very useful to inquire; they evidently want fomething neceffary to fuccefs; and he that shall supply that want will deferve well of his

country.

To learn of an enemy has always been accounted politick and honourable, and therefore I hope it will raise no prejudices against my project, to confefs that I borrowed it from a Frenchman.

When the Isle of Rhodes was, many centuries ago, in the hands of that military order now called the Knights of Malta, it was ravaged by a dragon, who inhabited a den under a rock, from which he issued forth when he was hungry or wanton, and without fear or mercy devoured men and beafts as they came in his way. Many councils were held, and many devices offered, for his destruction; but as his back was armed with impenetrable fcales, none would venture to attack him. At laft Dudon, a French knight, undertook the deliverance of the island. From fome place of fecurity he took a view of the dragon, or, as a modern foldier would fay, reconnoitred him, and obferved that his belly was naked and vulnerable. He then returned home to take his arrangements; and, by a very exact imitation of nature, made a dragon of pafteboard, in the belly of which he put beef and mutton, and accustomed two fturdy maftiffs to feed themselves, by tearing their way to the concealed fiefh. When his dogs. were well practised in this method of plunder, he

marched

marched out with them at his heels, and fhewed them the dragon; they rushed upon him in queft of their dinner; Dudon battered his fcull, while they lacerated his belly; and neither his fting nor claws were able to defend him.

Something like this might be practised in our prefent ftate. Let a fortification be raised on SalisburyPlain, refembling Breft, or Toulon, or Paris itself, with all the ufual preparations for defence: let the inclosure be filled with beef and ale: let the foldiers, from fome proper eminence, fee fhirts waving upon lines, and here and there a plump landlady hurrying about with pots in her hands. When they are fufficiently animated to advance, lead them in exact order, with fife and drum, to that fide whence the wind blows, till they come within the fcent of roast meat and tobacco. Contrive that they may approach the place fafting about an hour after dinner-time, affure them that there is no danger, and command an attack.

If nobody within either moves or speaks, it is not unlikely that they may carry the place by ftorm; but if a panick fhould feize them, it will be proper to defer the enterprize to a more hungry hour. When they have entered, let them fill their bellies and return to the camp.

On the next day let the fame place be fhewn them again, but with fome additions of ftrength or terror. I cannot pretend to inform our generals. through what gradations of danger they fhall train their men to fortitude. They best know what the foldiers and what themselves can bear. It will be proper that the war fhould every day vary its appearance,

pearance. Sometimes, as they mount the rampart, a cook may throw fat upon the fire, to accustom them to a fudden blaze; and fometimes, by the clatter of empty pots, they may be inured to formidable noifes. But let it never be forgotten, that victory muft repofe with a full belly.

In time it will be proper to bring our French prifoners from the coaft, and place them upon the walls in martial order. At their first appearance their hands must be tied, but they may be allowed to grin. In a month they may guard the place with their hands loofed, provided that on pain of death they be forbidden to strike.

By this method our army will foon be brought to look an enemy in the face. But it has been lately obferved, that fear is received by the ear as well as the eyes, and the Indian war-cry is reprefented as too dreadful to be endured; as a found that will force the braveft veteran to drop his weapon, and defert his rank; that will deafen his ear, and chill his breaft; that will neither fuffer him to hear orders or to feel shame, or retain any fenfibility but the dread of death.

That the favage clamours of naked barbarians should thus terrify troops difciplined to war, and ranged in array with arms in their hands, is furely ftrange. But this is no time to reafon. I am of opinion, that, by a proper mixture of affes, bulls, turkeys, geefe, and tragedians, a noife might be procured equally horrid with the war-cry. When our men have been encouraged by frequent victories, nothing will remain but to qualify them for extreme danger, by a fudden concert of terrifick vocifera

tion. When they have endured this last trial, let them be led to action, as men who are no longer to be frightened; as men who can bear at once the grimaces of the Gauls, and the howl of the Ameri

cans.

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NUMB. 9. SATURDAY, June 10, 1758.

SIR,

To the IDLER.

HAVE read you; that is a favour few authors can boast of having received from me befides yourself. My intention in telling you of it is to inform you, that you have both pleased and angered me. Never did writer appear fo delightful to me as you did when you adopted the name of the Idler. But what a falling-off was there when your first production was brought to light! A natural irresistible attachment to that favourable paffion, idling, had led me to hope for indulgence from the Idler, but I find him a stranger to the title.

What rules has he propofed totally to unbrace the slackened nerve; to fhade the heavy eye of inattention; to give the finooth feature and the uncontracted mufcle; or procure infenfibility to the whole animal compofition?

These were fome of the placid bleffings I promised myself the enjoyment of, when I committed violence upon myself, by mustering up all my ftrength to fet VOL. VIII.

D

about

about reading you; but I am difappointed in them' all, and the ftroke of eleven in the morning is still as terrible to me as before, and I find putting on my clothes ftill as painful and laborious. Oh that our climate would permit that original nakednefs which the thrice happy Indians to this day enjoy! How many unfolicitous hours fhould I bafk away, warmed in bed by the fun's glorious beams, could I, like them, tumble from thence in a moment, when neceffity obliges me to endure the torment of getting upon my legs.

But wherefore do I talk to you upon fubjects of this delicate nature; you who feem ignorant of the inexpreffible charms of the elbow-chair, attended with a foft ftool for the elevation of the feet! Thus, vacant of thought, do I indulge the live-long day.

You may define happinefs as you pleafe; I embrace that opinion which makes it confift in the abfence of pain. To reflect is pain; to ftir is pain; therefore I never reflect or ftir but when I cannot help it. Perhaps you will call my fcheme of life indolence, and therefore think the Idler excufed from taking any notice of me: but I have always looked. upon indolence and idlenefs as the fame; and fo defire will now and then, while you profefs yourfelf of our fraternity, take fome notice of me, and others in my fituation, who think they have a right to your affiftance; or relinquifh the name.

you

You may publifh, burn, or deftroy this, just as you are in the humour; it is ten to one but I forget that I wrote it, before it reaches you. I believe you may find a motto for it in Horace, but I cannot reach

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