conspicuous object. While we cannot praise the whole of its form, which is indeed a despicable production, we must give due merit to the fitness of the ornaments introduced in the decorative parts of the canopy, which are skilfully conceived, and well adapted to the occasion. They are taken from the tops of Cenotaphs that enshrined the bodies of the dead at Pagan Rome; of which examples many fragmented parts still remain; and these ornaments were specifically applied to those particular purposes, never mistakenly introduced for or naments called grotesque, or the fantastic. The propriety of their usage among the antients is decidedly illustrated by the fitness of the emblems, and the happy variety in their forms. Their angular, and sometimes elliptic external contours denote the instability of our lives, with the incidental changes in all mundane affairs; and these cenotaphics on the fascias are generally sunken into a panel, containing a flower, most commonly the honey-suckle, as emblematical of transitory vanity. When, however, we view such ornaments placed indiscriminately on the façades of a Bank, or in any other inap plicable situation, they no longer please; while they evince the distortion of all judgment in the composer, who, lost to every sense of fitness, looks for variety only in the delirium of distempered dream. "Non qui Sidonio contendere callidus ostro HOR. The last plate delineates the Ceremony of Interment.' This representation of the splendid and mournful finale, considered as a performance of art, has little merit: but it possesses interest, as commemorating the last honours bestowed by a grateful country on the remains of one of her most illustrious heroes. For the advancement of the arts above the usual productions, in which only mediocrity seems to have been attained, we must look to the establishment of a National Museum, on a liberal and extensive scale: into which it is essential that not only students and professors, but the public at large, should enter without lett, hindrance, or molestation," and without any expence; not for the student to make servile copies,-which pernicious practice is an abuse of time, and produces those insufficient professors called mannerists, but to contemplate the best exemplars; to compare and to trace the mind and principles of those who raised the standard of excellence; and to embody the whole of the important instruction thus gained in an ori X 4 ginal ginal performance. Through the want of this essential aid and stimulus, the public loses the opportunity of forming correct judgments, the artist wanders in darkness, though little is expected yet less is produced, dulness and mediocrity supersede the higher attainments, the shadow is embraced for the substance, and all is deemed right that gives currency to commercial advantages, We say nothing of the outline plates at the end of this volume, which are merely keys to paintings and engravings that we have not seen; and of the biographical part, it may suffice to observe that it is a neat and concise compilation, sufficient for the purpose of illustration which it was here designed to fulfil. Art. XIII. An Enquiry into the Principles of Civil and Military Subordination. By John Macdiarmid, Esq. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Boards. C. and R. Baldwin. 18c6. IT. T is the purport of this work to submit our administrative systems to the test of original principles; and to compare them with those laws by which the human mind is governed, and human actions are determined. If this be here done less profoundly than it might have been effected in the present advanced state of our knowlege in this department, we doubt much whether the work suffers materially from this circumstance on the score of practical utility. The inquiry is pursued in four parts; the first treating of natural subordination, or that subordination which prevails among mankind in their more rude state, previously to the introduction of positive institutions in the second are considered the effects of this species of subordination : in the third, a view is taken of the subordination which is created by positive institutions; and in the fourth, a detached branch of this artificial subordination, namely the military, is investigated. As this latter division refers to a subject whieh derives peculiar interest from the circumstances of the moment, we shall borrow from it a few extracts, which we shall submit to our readers as specimens of the author's sentiments and manner. One great defect in our military system, it is here contended, respects the appointment of officers of our army: This election (Mr. M. observes) is nominally vested in the King, but virtually in the Commander in Chief, who must be supposed to be well conversant with military affairs. But unfortunately other circumstances render this provision of no avail. Although the Commander in Chief may be very well qualified to appreciate the qualifications of candidates for commissions, yet he cannot possibly tura turn his discriminating talents to any good account, if he can com mand no leisure to examine into the qualifications of the candidates. The British Commander in Chief, however, is necessarily immersed in a mass of business which has no connection with the election of officers: but had he no other duty but this to perform, the talents and activity of no one man upon earth are capable of executing it to that perfection which the good of the public service requires. No one individual could possibly undertake to examine into the qualifications of the number of officers, which the present state of the British force requires to be continually appointed. But the Commander in Chief is subjected to none of these uneasinesses. Neither law nor usage calls upon him to examine into the qualifications of those on whom he bestows commissions; and consequently no such examination ever takes place. Although the laws direct no enquiry to be made into the qualifications of the candidates, were it the practice to cast lots among them, the public might sometimes have an equal chance of having properly qualified officers appointed. But by means of the tests usually employed to guide the choice of the electors, even this chance is removed; and while there are many public offices which men murmur to see filled by ill qualified persons, no one expects a military officer, on first receiving his commission, to be competent to the duties of his station. The Commander in Chief, as any other man would do in his situation, gives away the commissions to those, or the friends of those who have formed some claim on his favour. At other times he allows the commissions to be sold to such as are desirous and able to purchase them. That the possession of money or interest affords no probability that the owner also possesses either one description of skill and dexerity or another, we have already seen: but from the consequences of this mode of election there are many chances against the military officers thus chosen being properly qualified. Those who have neither interest nor money, and who have to make their way in the world by their own exertions, qualify themselves for other professions in which their talents may give them some chance of succeeding while those who have interest or money save themselves the labour of acquiring qualifications, which they know to be altogether unnecessary to their success. A selection of properly qualified persons cannot therefore be made from among the candidates who present themselves.' Among other marvellous statements made respecting the extraordinary person who at this time controuls the destinies of Europe, we have heard it said that not a subaltern is employed in his immense armed force, with whose abilities and character he is not accurately acquainted.-On the qualifica tions of privates, the author thus remarks: The peculiar skill and dexterity requisite in the privates of an army is in some respects different from that of the superior officers, and perhaps of less difficult acquisition. Some prejudices, however, of a very pernicious tendency, have caused the degree of skill and dexterity dexterity which is requisite in the private to be accounted much less than in reality it ought. The private must, in truth, know every part of military duty which the officer does, and must not only know it but be able to carry it into execution, otherwise the knowledge of the officer is in vain. Unless the private is as perfectly skilled in any evolution as the officer who commands it to be done, and is besides able to carry this skill into practice, the evolution cannot be skilfully performed whatever may be the abilities of the officer. The same holds good of every duty which the private may be called upon to execute. The private has also occasion for coolness, intrepidity, presence of mind, and sagacity to enable him to execute the commands of his officer with precision and effect. It is in yain that the officer is intelligent, active, and brave, if the private be stupid, tardy, and cowardly.. But there are other circumstances which render it peculiarly expedient that the privates should be assimilated as much as possible in professional skill and dexterity to the officers. The business of warfare is, in many respects, widely different from any other business. In any private business, such for instance as particular manufactories, where a number of men must co-operate, and where consequently some must be appointed to direct, the co-operation is seldom in danger of being disorganised by the death of any of the directors. A director is seldom carried off so suddenly as that there is not sufficient time to fill up his place before the business receives any material detriment. In such cases it is not necessary that those who are directed should be acquainted with the business of direction. But in warfare, circumstances are extremely different. In the field of battle, when the exertions of the officer are peculiarly necessary, he is every moment in danger of being killed; and if, on such an event, the privates are incapable of directing themselves, all who were under the command of the slain officer must be thrown into utter confusion, and scattered before the enemy as sheep without a shepherd are before the wolf. The childish helplessness, to which privates are habituated by the usual course of military discipline, is the great cause of those terrible headlong routs, in which so many more men perish than while the action is most warmly maintained.' Mr. Macdiarmid next exposes, in very forcible terms, the old methods of recruiting. Some of the absurd and mischiev ous practices here censured have been corrected, while others still continue to disgrace our internal policy. With regard ta Military Instruction, it is here very justly and truly stated that Unfortunately the laws and usages of Great Britain are not less defective in regard to the instruction than the elcation of our land forces. The officers, on whose instruction the efficacy of military subordination requires particular care to be bestowed, are left to pick up a little professional knowledge in the best way they can. The adjutant is, indeed, commissioned to teach them how to carry their swords, when to step out, how to station and deport themselves in the wheelings, with some other things of the same sort which are necessary to prevent them from cxciting the risibility of the bye standers standers. Yet so negligently is their instruction in even these trifles managed, that after twelvemonths spent in the army, an officer is often no great proficient in them. As to the mechanism and use of the various manœuvres, with the other mechanical parts of military discipline, it is accounted praise-worthy if an officer has acquired a considerable proficiency in them after several years spent in the army. With regard to the higher parts of military duty, those on which the warlike success of nations more particularly depends, there is absolutely not even an attempt at instruction. Are there any steps taken to render our officers conversant with the means of practising or counteracting the stratagems of war, or even with the topography of the countries in which they may be employed; Yet if the officers are ignorant of these circumstances, how is it possible that an army can act with proper effect against the enemy? From this unaccountable negligence in the professional instruction of British officers, it is not until after a long course of personal observation, usually termed experience, that an officer at length acquires a considerable share of that professional skill and dexterity, which he ought to have possessed when he received his commission. So very scanty, and at the same time so very incorrect, is the information which he picks up in this manner, that unless he has been in several battles, he is not supposed to have any idea of the business of actual warfare; and even general officers, who have made an excellent figure in the business of the parade, are proverbially inefficient when sent to encounter the enemy. Nothing can be a more cutting satire on the course of military instruction, than that an officer should still be ignorant of the most essential duties of his station, after having been actually placed in it for the better part of a life time. This may excite the ridicule of our enemies; but it ought to excite in us the sincerest affliction, and the most gloomy apprehen sion, since the State must always calculate upon losing many battles, until these great children are beat into some knowledge of their duty." Were our enemies equally careless of the instruction of their officers, this might afford us at least some negative consolation. But, although in general far behind us in civil policy, yet in military affairs, to which they have eagerly applied their attention, they have for the most part greatly surpassed us in improvements. The instruction of their officers is an object on which the French bestow the most unremitting attention. Besides assiduously attending to the business of the public parade, the officers have a private drill of their own, in which they not only perfect themselves in the mechanical part of their duties, but also discuss the various stratagems and chances of war. To render them masters of the topography of the countries. in which they may be employed, a circumstance so essentially neces sary to success, no pains are spared. Topographical maps, with local surveys and descriptions of all the French frontiers and the adjacent countries, are provided; and the Depôt de la Guerre at Paris furnishes a ready supply of every species of military information. By such arts do our enemies overthrow antient empires, while the bravest nation in the universe is made to tremble on its own shores from the miserable inefficiency of its army.' On |