VI
DEDICATION.
follow until the old system be restored, or a better one substitutedin its room : so that whether we have recourse to Alfred’s antiquatedplan of national defence, to a militia as it now exists, or to a regulararmy, the consequences must be the same. The whole reasoning, infact, is neither more nor less than a distinction without a difference.The same may indeed be said of Party, which has been truly called,the madness of many for the gain of a few.
These are truths as unquestionable, as that the necessity for criminaljurisprudence is rendered indispensible by the depravity of humannature. In the hands of a wicked despot, an army becomes a devour-ing locust, and a creature of ruin and desolation ; in those of aman whose highest object is the welfare of his country, it is thepalladium of the best rights and interests of a nation; and it is notflattery to say, that you have studiously endeavoured to render it so.Even the honour and honesty of its component parts have been keptin sight; and every species of fraud on the industrious tradesman hasbeen discountenanced by the restrictive vigilance of your rules.*Under circumstances by no means encouraging to any writer, Ihave attempted to add my mite to the general stock of military know-ledge. That I have, in some degree, succeeded, is shewn by the widecirculation of the work, and most especially by the gratifying man-lier in which you have done me the honour to receive it.f The pathI have been doomed to tread has been lowly, but not wholly destituteof merit, or unfruitful to the service; and although thousands mayhave eclipsed me by the brilliancy of their career in arms, I havethe hardihood to assert, that few have done more, in zeal and assi-duity, to second those views which have reflected so much honour uponyourself.j;
* In order to secure the profession of arms from the contaminating touch offraud, and to convince officers of every rank and description, that the slightest de-viation from honesty will be noticed at Head-Quarters,'it is an admitted prin-ciple with His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, the Right Honourablethe Secretary at War, and the Right Honourable the Master-General of the Ord nance , to receive remonstrances from the lowest tradesman, and to put'defaultersunder suspension and stoppage of pay until the debt be discharged. In verygross cases dismissal from the service may take place. This is as it ought tobe; for why should a man, with honour on his lips, indulge dishonest views in hisheart, under the cloak of professional impunity ?
f Extract from an Official Letter sent to the Author on his presenting the
second edition :
Horse-Guards, 21 st January, 1804.
‘ I am also directed to inform you, that His Royal Highness very much applaudsyour zeal, which has induced you to allot so much of your time to the study ofmilitary subjects; and he considers the several treatises which you have presentedto the public, to have been very beneficial to the service.’
Addressed, (Signed) W. H. CLINTON.
Charles James, Esq.
Albany, Piccadilly.
X See Hints to Lord Rawdon, now the Earl of Moira , published by Faulder, in1790 ; Comprehensive View, in 1796; and the 7th edition of the RegimentalCompanion; and Military Dictionary, originally published in 1802, by T. Egerton,Whitehall.