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rous other actions, apparently below the dignity of tlve mar-tial character, which occur in that exquisite poem, theIliad .
Under these circumstances, it must have been regardedas an indispensable obligation upon the public to make pro-vision for the unfortunate and indigent, when become inca-pable of further service. The necessity to make such pro-vision, is pointed out by natural equity, as w'ell as politicalprudence. The last consideration appears when the go-vernments have occasion for the services of others againstan army, to defend themselves, or conquer otlfter states:how could the men necessary to any enterprise be raised,unless they had some prospect of support after the bustleof war, w'hen they had no more vigour remaining for bodilyexertion?
Besides, also, the real assurance of a future provision forthemselves, and a support for their families, must makethem more courageous in the day of peril; so we shall findon inspecting the laws of the several Grecian states, suchcare w r as taken. And although it is admitted, that the pre-sent mode of fighting by artillery and small fire-arms, mustrequire less personal courage and less address than the an-cient mode of warfare, when “ Greek met Greek,” thencame the glorious tug of w r ar; although this may be as wehave assumed, yet that does not in the least alter our pre-vious position. For artillery and small arms can disable aswell as destroy; therefore the obligation upon governmentis equally imperious, as it was in the most ancient days.
We find that Solon deducted something from the pay ofsoldiers, and employed it for the education of children,whose fathers had fallen in battle, in order that others might, be encouraged to bravery. Pisistrains, also, followed hisexample, and made an order, that those who had lost anyof their limbs in war, should be maintained at the publicexpense. The pensions allowed appear to have variedaccording to circumstances. A similar attention was alsopaid by the Romans to their invalids, mUiies causarii, orsoldiers incapable of service, either from wounds or age.Many instances may be collected from the Justinian andTheodosian codes. Such were exempt not only from publicburdens, but they frequently obtained lands and cattle, andmoney from the public revenues. They were also frequentlyassigned over to opulent families and societies to be takencare of. It is questionable whether the ancient Romansand the first Roman Emperors had the establishment of