a man of sense and good breeding never will give offence; therefore when fuch a man is attacked by an ill-bred man, he fhould defend himself in the mean time as well as he is able, and look to the law afterwards for redrefs: furely it would be madness and folly for any man to rifque his life with a mad bull. Befides, what a vain miftaken notion of every coxcomb, and every jackanapes, when once he gets the Kings commiffion, to think himself fuperior to thofe in the civil departments of life: it is well known that the Kings commiffions are every day bought and fold for trafh-for money is only trash. It is alfo well known that many gentlemen do through intereft get their illegitimate brats, who have been fathered on them, commiffions, and that there are many of this kind in the army. It is alfo well known that the King does not enquire into the character, family, or merits of every young man who gets his commiffion; therefore, in my opinion, and I am sure I am right, a commiffion can no more entitle fuch to the appellation of a gentleman, than a red coat can make a coward valiant, or a pair of steel fpurs make a dunghill cock true game. I do not know any word fo much abused as that of gentleman; every groveling mechanic, every griping pedlar, every illiterate clown, though they know no more of politeness or good breeding than Hodge in the play, when they get poffeffion poffeffion of a little money or property, are termed Efquires, and Gentlemen. A gentleman fhould have a mind adorned with all the fublimity of fentiment human nature is capable of poffeffing; his understanding fhould be found and clear; he should have an impartial reason, a firm and intrepid heart, free from every species of meannefs, and overflowing with gentleness, benevolence, brotherly love and humanity; he should have an engaging and graceful addrefs, and poffefs every bright accomplishments to render him an ornament to fociety; in fine, he should have an extenfive knowledge, and be a compofition of every thing amiable; a virtuous man who loved God, and kept his commandments. I fhall conclude my criticifm on military gentlemen, with an extract or two from a poem I was induced to write when in Quebec. In ev'ry corps you'll always find, Poffeffing courage, honour, all That we can great or noble call; And men of learning, science, arts, With judicious heads, and found hearts; Strangers to pride and vanity, An honour to fociety. From enfigns low, to gen'rals great, Of diff'rent ftamp in crimson dye; Blustering ~ Bluftering bucks over-bearing, The fecond fet which does compose The third, a worthless class you'll find, By their jilting artful mothers; No doubt to noblemen allied, "The daddy's picture,"-" daddy's pride;" Now, almost every fuch brat, Wears a cockade and epaulet; With fearlet coat, fword and rattan, As dunghills made of dirt and faggots Thofe fervile bufkind-ranters ftink. Never, fo Never, I beg and befeech you, for your own good, though you be ever fo grossly infulted with virulent words, let paffion irritate you fo far as to lift your hand to attempt to give the first blow to any man; always receive the first; and if you are able, let the aggreffor be ever great or mighty, beat him to your own heart's content: if you only lift your hand, and point and shake it in a bullying threatening manner at any person it is an affault. And this you will please to remember, that if you are perfecuted by the moft nefarious fcoundrel, nay, and that he horsewhips and fhoots you dead dead with a murdering infamous tongue, if you give the first blow, or shake your fift at him, you may be affured that you are liable to be taken upon a warrant, and if you don't give two fufficient fecurities, be committed to a loathfom prison, among diftempered negroes, there to remain 'till the Seffions, and then to be indicted and arraigned at the bar, " That not having the fear of God before your eyes, &c." and you will be found guilty of the affault; and though the provocation may mitigate your offence to have fome weight with the Juftices to fine you only fix-pence, you will have all cofts to pay, which will be about 201. Currency. Here I muft obferve, as I have before in page 101, that Juftices are too partial; but if a Juftice fhould ever take too much upon himself, fo as to afflict a punishment too fevere for the offence fence you committed, they have not all the law in their power; twelve good honeft freeholders, at common law, who regard their oaths, if you bring your action, will grant you redress. Attorney-Generals, in fome of the British Inlands, are originally only Attorney's clerks, who with a smattering of Latin, by fome little intereft procure thofe births; and they are as griping as the Bow-ftreet Magiftrates: Shakefpeare fays, "For though I will not practice to deceive, "Yet to avoid deceit I mean to learn.” By a ftrict attention to any business you enter into, you will in time attain a knowledge thereof; which fhould be an ambition to you to arrive at perfection :-but remember that you muft break the fhell before you get at the kernel; and by a modeft, refpectful demeanor towards your fuperiors-an agreeable, good-natured, philantropic or friendly behaviour towards your equals, and a genteel, humane and charitable difpofition towards your inferiors, you will gain their friendship, love and esteem. Yet, avoid extremes in every thing; let your manners and behaviour be adapted as near as you can to the tempers and difpofitions of your fuperiors. and acquaintance, provided their tempers and morals are pure and uncorrupted ;-and though modesty is very amiable in a young man, with all your modefty have a certain degree of manly affurance, without arrogance or infolest pride: too much bashfulness or modefty makes a man appear |