traders'? What does this prove?—that the military class is better than the mercantile ? By no means; but that the latter has its own peculiar and terrible temptations, which should restrain its uncharitable censures of the former.

Morality of Military Discipline.

The position of a military class, when considered upon any large view, contains in it much that is favourable to a high morality. The subjection of individual impulses to an inflexible law, is the foundation of all greatness of character. But this subjection runs through the whole course of a military life. In no other class is there a more prompt and resolute answer to the call of duty. Personal comfort, personal safety, the dearest affections of family, everything gives way; and this takes place so habitually and universally, that a military or naval officer would feel degraded if he found in himself a moment's balancing or hesitation. Add to this the hardship of service and the frequent presence of danger, and the result is as complete a surrender of self as is exhibited by any other class of men whatever. It is doubtful, indeed, whether the same amount of practical every-day heroism is to be found on so large a scale anywhere, except amongst members of the medical profession. They, like soldiers, are habitually ex

1 The maintenance of this squadron is grievously endangered by the spirit of retrenchment; but it will hereafter be the most honourable trait in the historical character of Lord Palmerston. The principle of keeping up the force is of course the same, whether the best place for it be the coast of Africa or that of South America, but its continuance alone saves the honour of Great Britain in the matter of the slave trade.

2 See, on the subject of military morality, "Lectures on Class Morality," by W. J. Fox, which are full of eloquence and thought. Mr. Fox's leaning is strong against the military profession; but his mind is too just and comprehensive not to perceive many of the high moral qualities displayed by military men. Upon the moral effects of a restraining discipline generally, there is a chapter of great value in Mr. Mill's "Logic of the Moral Sciences."

posing their lives, and they have the peculiar distinction of being always in active service.

Examples: Lord Collingwood.

General reasoning, however, upon the morality of fighting men is less impressive than exemplification by living instances. Those who doubt whether the highest and purest morality is possible where the hand is for ever on the sword, should study the life of Lord Collingwood'. No heart was ever more full of soft affections, or more exquisitely fitted for the enjoyment of domestic happiness. He had a wife and daughters, to whom he was devotedly attached; but only a few short months out of many years were all that were allowed him for personal intercourse with those objects of his love. He lived upon the sea, constantly intent upon his work, and upon the welfare of all who aided him in doing it, from the captain of his flag-ship down to the meanest cabin-boy. He sought no personal honour or promotion. He did not know the feeling of jealousy. He rejoiced in the triumphs of Nelson as if they were his own. His life was governed by the idea of duty. It was spent and sacrificed in the defence of England. Nothing can be more touching than the image presented of him during his long monotonous watches of the French ports; often walking the quarterdeck night after night, while he sent his over-wearied lieutenant to take some rest-sometimes himself snatching a brief and hurried sleep upon a gun, then starting up and sweeping the horizon with his night-glass, lest the enemy should escape in the dark; then suffering the thoughts to wander off for a moment to that distant Northumbrian home, where the chair had been so long vacant, and where hope, sickened with disappointment and waiting, had almost become

"Memoirs and Correspondence of Lord Collingwood," by G. L. N. Collingwood, Esq. Of this publication Southey said most truly, that it was "a national good," and that "it ought to be in every officer's cabin and in every stateman's cabinet."

order and obedience of the troops up to the very moment at which the ship went to pieces? That wild impulse to selfpreservation which so often breaks through the strongest restraints, was there completely subdued. The law of discipline was sacredly observed to the last; and when the duties which were commanded could no longer be performed, those brave and faithful men went down, in calmness and silence, to inevitable death.