SEC
SEC
SECOUltABLE, Fr. that may be re-lieved, or have succours thrown in. TheFrench say of a fortified place, which isinvested at all points; or so blockaded)that there is neither egress nor ingress,qFelle n’est pas secourablc, that it can-not be relieved, or have succours thrownin.
SECOURIIl une place, Fr. to throwSuccours into a besieged town or place.It sometimes signifies to force an in-vesting or attacking army to raise thesiege.
SECOURS, Fr. See Succour.
SECRECY, a quality of the mind, bywhich men are enabled to keep to them-selves anything reposed in trust, or de-signs intended for execution. In thesecond volume of Polybius, page 134,the following sensible observations oc-cur on this head:
“ Among the many precautions towhich a commander should attend, thefirst is that of observing secrecy. Thatneither the joy which springs from anunexpected prospect of success, nor yetthe dread of a miscarriage, that neitherfriendship nor affection may prevail up-on him, to communicate his design toany persons, except to those alone with-out whose assistance it cannot be car-ried into execution: and not even tothese, till the time in which their ser-vices are severally required, obliges himto disclose it. Nor is it necessary only,that the tongue be silent, but muchmore, that the mind also make not anydiscovery. For it has often happened,that men who have carefully restrainedthemselves from speaking, have some-times, by their countenance alone, andsometimes by their actions, very clearlymanifested their designs.”
In military ceconomy, this qualityis peculiarly requisite, It signifies fide-lity to a secret; taciturnity inviolate;close silence. Officers, in particular,should be well aware of the importanceof it, as the divulging of what has beenconfidentially entrusted to them, espe-cially on expeditions, might render thewhole project abortive. The slightestdeviation from it is very justly consi-dered as a breach of honour, as scanda-lous conduct, unbecoming an officer anda gentleman. In official matters, theperson, so offending, is liable to the se-verest punishment and penalty,
The following authentic anecdotecannot be uninteresting to a militaryreader:
A lieutenant in the Prussian servicehaving ingratiated himself into the con-fidence of the late king of Prussia, (whenhe was crowned prince of Prussia,) Fre derick the Great sent for him, and ac-costed him in the following manner:
“ Sir, I am very happy that myDepheivhas made so discreet a choice, as that ofselecting you for his friend; but there isa matter in which you may oblige me es-sentially; and that is, to make me ac-quainted with the particulars of his con-duct. This will gratify me much, and1 will take care of your promotion.”
The lieutenant bowed very respect-fully, and nobly replied, “ I am sensi-ble to your majesty's mark of approba-tion ; but it would be dishonourable,and, of course, it is impossible, for meto betray the prince’s secrets.” He wasthen retiring, when old Frederick , in analtered tone of voice, exclaimed,
“ Mr. Lieutenant! as you do notknow how to oblige me, f will nowteach you to obey me. To Spandau,The young officer was immediatelysecured, and confined in a prison otthat name, which is in the neighbour-hood of Berlin .
We lament, that so great a manshould have tarnished the splendour othis character, by descending into thelow temper of a prying courtier.
SECRET, (Secret, Fr.) Under tinsword may be considered the caution andcircumspection which every good gene-ral should observe during a campaign,the feints he may think proper to makefor the purpose of covering a projecteattack; and the various stratagems towhich he may resort to keep his own in-tentions concealed, and to get at thoseof others. , ,
Secret, kept hidden, not revealeHence secret expedition, secret'enterprize, &c. Secret articles of a treat),being the correlative words to pate