ence, as to the injurious treatment of having delivered the island from of the republic; and appeared firin in the hopes of victory. The Genoese minister at London, made strong interest against the Corsicans; and, on the, 24th of July, 1736, her Majesty, the Queen-regent of Great Britain, issued out her royal proclamation, prohibiting any of his Majesty's subjects from furnishing provisions or assistance to the malcontents of Corsica. After having been about eight months in Corsica, Theodore per ceived, that the people began to cool in their affections towards him, and did not act with the same resolution as before. He therefore wisely determined to leave them for a little, and try his fortune again upon the continent. So, after having laid down a plan of administration, to be observed in his absence, he quitted the island, in the month of November. He went to Holland, and there he was successful enough to get credit to a great extent from several rich merchants, particularly Jews, who trusted him with cannon, and other warlike stores, to a great value, under the charge of a supercargo. With these, he returned to Corsica, in 1739; and, on his arrival, he put to death the supercargo, that he might not have any trouble from demands being made upon him. By this time, as shall be afterwards shewn, the French had become so powerful in the island, that, although Theodore threw in his supply of warlike stores, he did not incline to venture his person, the Genoese having set a high price upon his head. He therefore chose to relinquish his throne, and give up his views of ambition for safety, furnishing a remarkable example, how far a daring and desperate spirit may go; for, had Theodore had a little more prudence, and some better fortune, he and his posterity might have worn the crown of Corsica, upon the generous title oppression. The Corsicans now talk differently of King Theodore. Some of them, who had most faith in his fine speeches, still extol him to the skies, to sup port their own judgment; others, who looked upon him as an impostor, and never joined heartily in his measures, represent him as a kind of Wat Tyler, a King of a rabble; but the most knowing and judicious, and the general himself, consider him in the moderate light in which he has now been represented; and own, that he was of great service in reviving the spirit of the nation, which, after a good many years of constant war, was beginning to droop, but which Theodore restored, while he rekindled the sacred fire of liberty. The Genoese, eager to repress the rise in 1734, hired some Swiss and Grisons, who, from being accustomed to such a country at home might scour the mountain of Corsica. But these soldiers found it no easy matter to scour mountains, where the natives were continually firing upon them, and had numberless ways of escaping. They soon saw that they had made a bad bargain, and that they gave the Genoese too much blood for their money. But France, who has ever had an eye to this island, now began to be apprehensive, that the Corsicans might intirely throw off the yoke of Genoa; in which case they would either become a free state, which the powers of Europe would, from a mutual jealously, protect; or, perhaps, would put themselves under the sovereignty of some great nation. She resolved then to force them back under the dominion of Genoa, which she has since, from time to time, endeavoured to do; for, by constant negociations with that republic, France has such an ascendancy, that she may command, when she pleases, whatever belongs to it; as fully appears from the last treaty for taking possession of Corsica. bers would enlist who are now restrained by the apprehension of being fixed for life to a particular service, which at one period might be desirable, but at the expiration of REMARKS ON THE METHODS OF six or seven years may, from a va RECRUITING, AND ON THE SYSTEM OF FLOGGING, AS PRACTISED IN THE BRITISH ARMY. [By Colonel Sir Rob. Wilson.] In order to appreciate the proposed plan duly, the checks to recruiting must be first ascertained, and I have no doubt that they are comprised in the present system of ENLISTING FOR LIFE, AND THE FREQUENCY OF CORPORAL PUNISH MENT. It is strange, that in a free country a custom so repugnant to free dom-as enlisting for life-and the particular character of the British constitution, should ever have been introduced, but more singular that the practice should have been continued after every other nation in Europe had abandoned it as impolitic, and as too severe an imposition upon the subject. If in those countries, where the inferior order of society are born in vassalage, and where the will of the Sovereign is immediate law, this power has been relinquished in order to incline men voluntarily to enlist; surely there is strong presumptive evidence that the general interests of the service are improved instead of being injured by this more liberal consideration. For however requisite such an amendment is upon the principle of due attention to the rights of men, still, unless the effects were not more directly beneficial to the government, there is no ground to suppose that in many states the experiment of reformation would have been hazarded. The advantages which would accrue to the British army are obvious; num riety of causes, cease to possess the same inducements. The chief alarm of parents would subside, and curiosity, pride, and an aversion to servile labour would almost supersede the necessity of any bounty. A better class of men would embrace the profession: and those who quitted at the expiration of their capitulation would not only be ready and capable to assist in the home defence, but virtually act as so many recruiting serjeants for the army. The independence of an Englishman naturally recoils at the pros pect of bondage, which gradually produces discontent against the bent even of inclination. How many men are there who have now not the faintest wish to leave their own estates, even for a journey into another country, but who, if restrained by any edict from quitting England, would find this island too narrow to contain them, would draw their breath convulsively as if they craved free air, and feel all the mental anguish of the prisoner in a dungeon. What is the inference to be now fairly drawn from the perseverance in the system of enlisting for life! Is it not that the British service is so obnoxious and little conciliating, that if the permission to retire were accorded, the ranks would be altogether abandoned, and the skeleton only remain as an eternal and mournful monument of the wretchedness of a soldier's condition? Is it not a declaration to the world that the service is so ungrateful to the feelings of the soldiery, that when once the unfortunate victim is entrap ped it is necessary to secure his allegiance by a perpetual state of confine ment? Such must be the conclu It is however to be hoped, that the day is not remote when our colonies shall cease to be such a claim upon the active population of this country: That charnel house must be closed for ever against British sion which the present system would sanction, if the desire of enlisting even under the present discouraging circumstances did not offer positive counter evidence.* I feel confident in the assertion, that nine-tenths of the chief officers of the army would-troops !--The soldier who dies in the recommend the limitation of service as to time, and equally so, that in this case the want of men would never embarrass the government, whose sole attention would then be required to provide the means of pay ment. field is wrapped in the mantle of honour, and the pall of glory is extended over his relatives; but in a warfare against, climates, the energy of the man is destroyed before life is extinguished; he wastes into an inglorious grave, and the calamitous termination of his existence offers no cheering recollections to relieve the affliction of his loss. The only objection which is ever advanced against the alteration, is founded upon the difficulty of arranging the army in our colonies. But even if this destructive serBut in time of war this inconveni- vice should be prolonged, there is ence would cease; and in peace the greater necessity for adopting surely there is no difficulty to make that system which may be a counperpetual changes if necessary, since terpoise to the havock. If hope, the our large fleets are continually pas- most durable and fascinating passing and repassing. But if the in- sion of the mind be but restored to convenience should be still greater, the soldier, the youth of the counit never can be of sufficient magni- try will flock in crowds to their tude to counteract the benefits of standards.-It is not that a soldier the measure. The officers of govern- expects a long duration of life, but ment may have additional trouble human nature is not so servile as to and business, but the redundant bear with resignation the thought of supply to the army, its tribute to being for ever deprived of the rights justice, and the brave efficient ser- of civil liberty; and the idea of pervants of the public, will ensure re-petual servitude should be intolera turns more than equivalent to any ble to Englishmen. expence or augmented employment. The second and equally strong check to the recruiting of the army, is THE FREQUENCY OF CORPORAL PUNISH *The enlisting of the militia last war, the disposition of the army of reserve, all of whom would have entered into MENT: This is truly a most delithe army, if the same allowances for cate subject, but when the new ortheir families could have been conti-ganization of the whole military sysnued, and the present desire of the mi- tem is under consideration, and has litia, are proofs that innate spirit counso much excited the public attenteracts in a strong degree the resistance which the system opposes. tion, a fair investigation of all the The experiment of limiting the time of service impediments, and an enquiry into would by no means lessen the supply the abuses which operate to the which the present mode furnished to prejudice of the service, becomes the army, because men who are dis- no longer an unwarrantable interposed to enlist for life would gladly en- ference. list for a shorter period. The chances are therefore in favour of the alteration; nor would the prospect of soon quitting the service cause an indifference to character, but, on the contrary, increase the value of a good name. I feel convinced that I have no object but the good of the service, and consequently to promote the commander in chief's views, and that my feelings are solely influenced by a love of humanity, a grateful sense of duty to brave men, and not by a false ambition of acquiring popularity. If I did not think the subject of the most essential importance, no motive should induce me to bring it forwards; if I was not aware, that however eager the commander in chief was to interpose his authority, that the correction of the abuse does not altogether depend upon his veto, and cannot, with due regard to the peculiar circumstances of his situation, be required to emanate abruptly from him. My appeal is made to the officers of the army and militia, for there must be no marked discrimination between these two services, notwithstanding there may be a great difference, in their different modes of treating the soldiery. -I shall sedulously avoid all personal allusions.-The object in view is of greater magnitude than the accusation of individual malefactors. I shall not enter into particulars of that excess of punishment which has in many instances been attended with the most fatal consequences !-I will not by quoting examples, represent a picture in too frightful a colouring for patient examination; but, nevertheless, having passed the Rubicon, I cannot recede from the enterprize, and the cause must be advocated with resolution tempered by discretion. The present age is a remarkable epoch in the history of the world. Civilization is daily making the most rapid progress, and humanity is triumphing hourly over the last enemies of mankind, the slave merchants. But whilst the African excites the compassion of the nation, and engages the attention of the British legislature, the British soldier, their fellow countryman, the gallant faithful protector of their liberties and champion of their honour, is daily exposed to suffer under the abuse of that power with which ignorance or a bad disposition may be armed. There is no mode of punishment so disgraceful as flogging, and none more inconsistent with the military character, which should be esteemed as the essence of honour and the pride of manhood; but when what should be used but in very extreme cases as the ultimum supplicium, producing the moral death of the criminal, becomes the common penalty for offences in which there is no moral turpitude, or but a petty violation of martial law, the evil requires serious attention. How many soldiers, whose prime of life has been passed in the service, and who have behaved with unexceptionable conduct, have been whipt eventually for an accidental indiscretion; an absence from tattoo-beating, or even a dirty shirt. Intoxication is an odious vice, and since the Duke of York has been at the head of the army, officers have ceased to pride themselves upon the insensate capability of drinking; but, nevertheless, flogging is too severe as a general punishment, for what has been the practice of officers, and also most decidedly fails in correcting the disposition to drink. Cleanliness is a virtue, and highly essential for the health of the sol dier; but surely there are a thousand ways of enforcing attention to dress, and producing a love of decent appearance, without having recourse to such rigor as corporal punishment. Absence from quarters is a great fault, and must be checked; but is there no allowance to be made for young men, and the temptations which may occur to seduce such an occasional neglect of duty: would not confinement for an evening or two afterwards be a sufficient mortification? Officers are too familiarized to consider soldiers as mere machines who are insensible to kind treatment, and on whose minds no reasoning can operate; but if they would remember that man is an intellectual being, susceptible of reflection and endowed with faculties, they should at least try the experiment fairly, and endeavour to ascertain whether those vicious habits to which the lower classes are often addicted, may not be corrected by lenient measures, and a frequent appeal to their character as soldiers. I am positive that the amour propre of man, except in very bad subjects indeed, is always to be excited; that the esprit du corps of regiments may always be formed, and that every soldier may be rendered proud of his profession, interested in the preservation of its honour, and be sensibly affected by its disgrace. Educated in the 15th light dragoons, I was early instructed to respect the soldier; that was a corps before which the triagles were never planted, where each man felt an individual spirit of independence, walked erect as if conscious of his value as a man and a soldier; where affection for his officer and pride in his corps were so blended, that duty became a satisfactory employment, and to acquire for each new distinction the chief object of their wishes. With such men every enterprize was to be attempted which could be executed by courage and devotion, and there was a satisfaction in commanding them, which could never have been derived from a system of severity. The sense of shame is the feeling which should be worked upon unless the subject is incorrigibly depraved, and then he is unfit to enjoy the advantages of a soldier's situation, but should be sent to some station where he could do no mischief by the influence of his evil communication, and where he might be employed in constant laborious duties. Corporal punishment ought to be so rare in the British service, that whenever inflicted, such an event should be considered as remarkable, VOL. IX, and then the impression would be advantageous; but the eye is now so familiarized to such spectacles, that the sight is no longer sickening or disgusting, and consequently, as indifference gains ground, hope of improvement by example must recede. There is no maxim more true than that cruelty is generated in cowardice, and that humanity is inseparable from courage. The ingenuity of officers should be exercised to devise modes of mitigating the punishment and yet maintaining discipline. If the heart be well disposed, a thousand different methods of treating offences will suggest themselves, but to prescribe positive penalties for breaches of duty is impossible, since no two cases are ever exactly similar. Qui fruitur pœna ferus est, legumque [videtur Vindictam præstare sibi. Diis proxi Emus ille est Quem ratio non ira movet; qui facta [rependens Consilio punire potest. Unfortunately many officers will not give themselves the trouble to consider how they can be merciful; and if a return was published of all regimental punishments within the last two years, the number would be as much a subject of astonishment as regret. I knew a colonel of Irish militia, happily now dead, who flogged in me day seventy of his men, and, I believe, punished several more the next morning; but notwithstanding this extensive correction, the regi ment was by no means improved. Corporal punishments never yet reformed a corps, but they have totally ruined many a man who would have proved, under milder treatment, a meritorious soldier. They break the spirit without amending the disposition. Whilst the lash strips the back, despair writhes round the heart, and the miserable culprit, viewing himself as fallen below the rank of his fellow species, can no longer attempt the recovery 2 $ |