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situation, rendered, as it were, impreg-nable, by an innate courage, and unri-valled aptitude at sea. Time alone, andthe experience ot' facts, must hereafterdetermine how far either nation will bebenefited by a deviation from the pri-mary advantages which nature furnishesto each, for the adoption of artificialmeans. For it must be acknowledged,that the true element, in which aFrench-man seems calculated to act, is on shore,or within the guardian range of his ar-tillery and fire-arms; and that an Eng-lishman, though far from being whollyout of his element on land service, isthoroughly himself at sea. From theincrease of our foreign possessions, butmost especially from the extent of ourterritories in India , and the armed stateof Europe , it has been found expedienttoenlarge the scale of cur military esta-blishments, in proportion to the exigen-cies ot a very desultory service abroad,and a possible necessity at home formilitary operations. Without, there-fore, entering into the policy of eithercountry, we shall content ourselves withobserving, that as we have an army, itbehoves every efficient character be-biging to that army, to obtain a tho-tcegh knowledge of his profession, andto study the nice shades of an artwhich, of all others, has principles thatare ®tted and immutable, under circum-stances of the greatest apparent casuul-|. Vi It has been wisely observed by aFrench writer, under the article ofMntagancs de guerre, that a chief,™o is defeated in a general action,*“* sometimes attribute his failure to“rtune, although it be universally ac-nowledged, that chance or fortune has

very trifling share in pitched battle!f lle art and science regulate the die rent movements, and finally deterininieir issue. Whoever, therefore, suffeirnselt to be surprised by his enem;‘'not be said to stand wholly excuP M from ignorance or neglect, sinen .j lst fi ;ive been in his power to hav^wded thesnares laid for him, by meatspies, and unremitting attei- IP' s remark appears to us, nc? o be generally correct, but it seeirtera! Ul |’ lnec ^ ate b r applicable to all g<com S a * 1Ilve secret service-money t®odit^r ^' e ‘ a fi ueiice of that conh (upon which no embargo ca

be laid) will be felt in every garrisontown, or sea-port; and those who havethe management of the public purse,must be dull indeed, if they do notfeel their wav into the secret prepara-tions of an enemy, before they hazardan attack against him.

Besides the different stratagems, whichmay be used by an able general, to bringabout the overthrow of the whole or partof an army, by leading it into an am-buscade, there are various ones whichmay be practised against a fortifiedplace. To effect the latter purpose,you may contrive to get soldiers, in dis-guise, through the gates at unguardedhours; to introduce them through sub-terraneous passages, or by any othermeans that may offer. Before any at-tempt of this sort is made, every partof the fortifications should be narrowlyreconnoitred, and as much knowledgebe obtained of the interior situation ofthe place as can be procured by meansof good spies, or from deserters. Yonmust, above all things, he well assured.,that the garrison is relaxed in duty;timt the different guards are negligentlyattended to; that the soldiers whocompose them are in the habits ofdrinking or gaming; that their officersmiss their rounds, or go them withoutsystem or regularity; that the gates areill guarded, and the avenues to themill watched; and that there are certain,places, or entrances, which are notwatched at all; for it is almost impos-sible to surprize any place, that has beenregularly fortified, while the garrisondocs its duty.

If it should appear practicable to sur-prise a town, by taking advantage of thenegligence of the sentries, &c. at someparticular gate, previous means must beadopted to introduce some soldiers dress-ed like market women, or in the garbof some religious order. You may thencontrive to get a wagon or cart, (seem-ingly loaded with hay or straw, but withsoldiers concealed beneath it,) so placedin the entrance of the gate that it willserve as an obstacle when, it may hefound necessary to shut it. In order todo this effectually, let a pin be takenout, so that the wheel comes oft) or theaxle-tree gets broken. The instant thisis done, the soldiers, who had enteredthe town in disguise, must join thedrivers,