understanding of the agony endured, and obstinacy exhibited, by these hardy rebels against tactical science.

Neither is the interest of a parade day confined to those, who" fardels bear;" but fiddlers, innkeepers, bakers, cake-women, herb-women, (not Miss Fellowes,) dancers and mountebanks, all groan and sweat under the heat and burthen of the day. I do, as a republican, and in the simplicity of my heart, believe, that the coronation of the king of England, the entry of the same into his loyal city of Dublin, together with the presentation of the keys of the city on a silver salver, are, as objects of curiosity, contemptible, compared to the real "double reel," and "single jig," of our own swains and lasses on a training day.

Though, in the judgement of the fastidious, they may occasionally overstep the modesty of nature, in their "lavoltas high, and swift courantos;" yet they, good souls, never dream of saying, singing, or dancing, only the most orthodox words, songs, and figures in the world.

To all constitutional hypochondriacs, all ennuied and wo-begone valetudinarians, I would recommend, not the Saratoga springs, nor the tour of Europe, but the tour of our fall reviews; where they shall obtain enjoyment and good humour sufficient to keep off, for some time, "the winter of their discontent," besides saving the doctor's fees. DALGETTY.

THE MILITIA.

[Rhode-Island American. Providence.]

Ir is a popular doctrine that the militia are the bulwark of the country. Though I do not assent to this notion, it is not my present intention to question it.. But I would ask whether any benefits adequate to the expense and trouble are derived from the present militia system of the United States? Every able-bodied free white male, (with few exceptions,) from the age of eighteen to forty-five is compelled to do military duty, as it is called, for several days in every year. I say nothing of the enormous aggregate of time, which is thus consumed; of the subtraction thus made from the country; or of the expense incurred by those, who are

enrolled as soldiers. I simply inquire, in this place, what preparations are made, by all this training, which promise useful results in the event of war? With the exception of a few independent companies in each state, what discipline is taught, or learned, that can give efficiency in the hour of battle? What courage is imparted by sham fights and blank cartridges? What practical skill is gained by all the evolutions of a parade day? Are those, who belong to the militia, any better fitted than others for the defence of our coasis, or the protection of our towns? They themselves could scarcely pretend it. I do not mean that the militia in NewEngland are inferior to other militia; on the contrary, I believe them far superior. Nor do I mean that they make poor proficiency in proportion to their opportunities. But I do mean, that the system, under which they are trained, does not prepare them, and never can prepare any men, for the active and perilous duties of warfare. The business of a soldier must be learned like other business. A sailor would be but a bungling architect, though he were compelled to handle the saw, the mallet, and the chisel, without reward, for three days in every year of his life. The farmer would but lose his time, were he to attempt to learn the smith's art, by blowing his bellows, and swinging his sledge, three afternoons in a year for twenty-seven years together. He would hardly be competent to forge the thunderbolts of war, at the end of his novitiate.

I inquire again, Do not the militia, under the existing system, learn some things, which they must unlearn, before they can become efficient defenders of our country against the invasion of enemies? Will any military force be very powerful, if the commander must halt his men, and put a vote to them on the expediency of engaging in battle? Will any martial discipline ever be found in troops that elect their officers? Would our navy ever succeed under an elective government ?

Again, What does experience teach us? Did the militia in the war of our Revolution ever fight any regular battle? Did Washington place any reliance upon them? Read his letters to Congress, and learn for what,

and what alone, the militia are useful in flagrante bello. The single, simple truth about it, is merely this-men cannot, usefully, do any business until they have first learned how to do it, and the business of a soldier in actual service is not taught by our militia system.

Besides, the burden of the system is a heavy one, and it falls on those, who, generally speaking, are the least able to endure it-upon young labourers, and that class of elder men, whose exertions in their own behalf are most needed by themselves and their families. Most of the exempts are such as might well be called on to contribute to the expense of the system, if the system must exist. At forty-five, if ever, men have usually gained property. But at this age they are exempted from the charges attending military duty. Magistrates are exempt, not only from personal service, but from contribution. Why should these things be so in a country boasting of equal laws?

It is an unquestionable fact, that raw recruits learn more, in a very few days, under the pupilage of a drillsergeant, than our militia learn from eighteen to fortyfive. And I verily believe that, in three weeks, a regis ment of hardy men, who never saw a musket, might be rendered more useful in the defence of their country, than nine-tenths of the regiments of militia now enrolled in New-England. Nor is this any reproach. Men cannot be expected to have an intuitive knowledge of military science. The militia know as much, and are competent to do as much, as any reasonable being could expect from them. The constant change of their officers retards proficiency. As soon as an officer has learned his duty, (often times sooner,) he obtains his discharge, and a successor, who is rather a learner, than a teacher, is elected to improve the discipline, and augment the force, of the national defence. We have, in New-England, generals, and colonels, and majors, and captains enough, who are out of commission, to marshal the army of Xerxes. I should, notwithstanding, be more afraid of the little band of Leonidas.

I would not speak in derogation of the New-England cavalry, but I ask any athletic man, of common stature,

if he should fear any battalion of it that he has ever seen, if they were denied the use of pistols, and he could be allowed a stiff hickory bean-pole eight feet long for his own defence? If he answers negatively, it must be because he has feeble nerves, or has seen what never has come under my eye. "A horse that is gentle for a woman to drive, and that will draw a plough among corn with a boy eight years old on his back, may be caparisoned for an afternoon; and by the help of spurs and cutlass may be made to gallop at the rate of five miles an hour, and keep small boys out of the road; but he will not leap a four rail fence, nor save a nation if he did.

I say nothing of a hundred other fooleries, which even military men confess and ridicule. I say nothing of the spirit, which the militia system fosters among those, who are raised to the dignity of a cocked hat and long boots. I leave to others the task of attempting to correct the public sentiment in regard to war; but I inquire earnestly, whether there is not a vast expense for very trifling objects-a heavy burden on those least able to bear it, and all to no good purpose of national defence? Let no man accuse me of indifference to my country's safety, or of an attempt to reproach the defenders of the soil. No man more highly values the blessings of freedom, or would more readily perish in defence of them, than myself. But I should esteem it a sorry death, to be trodden down by a militia company in their retreat from the charge of an enemy. And of such a death I should sensibly feel the danger, were I attached to any corps of raw militia, and drawn up to meet a disciplined foe in the open field. L. O.

THANKSGIVING.
[Charleston Courier.}

Ir is a wise and venerable custom, in New-England, to set apart one day in the year for the voluntary commemoration of the divine favour, and goodness, and it is pleasing to see so correct a custom gaining ground in our country. Not that in New-England, or any where else, it requires a year to roll over our heads to con

vince us of the everlasting mercies of Heaven. The sublime structure of the universe; this beautiful landscape, the earth; the magnificent ocean, now assailing the clouds with its foam, and then nestling the .ttle birds on its billows; the glorious sun, and those sweet sentinels of light, the stars; the voice of the thunder, and the song of the linnet; who knows any thing of these, and can, for a moment, doubt the supreme benevolence of the Almighty! Yet, although every instant be fruitful in blessings, we are inattentive, and do not regard; we are ignorant, and do not appreciate; we are ungrateful, and do not consider; we are selfish, and will not understand them. The best require to be reminded of their duty, and the thoughtless must be told of it always. It is wise, therefore, to select the season of gladness, and point to the source of good. When the husbandman rejoices for the harvest is ripe, and the poor go into the field to glean

The sheafs, which God ordains to bless

The widow, and the fatherless,

it becomes man to acknowledge the reward of his labours, the blessing of his hopes, and the goodness of the giver of all things. Then, especially, should he pour forth the grateful incense of his praise, and his devotion.

The Almighty deserves the praise of his creatures. The flower pays its worship in fragrant exhalation, and the lark when he carols at the gate of heaven, in praise of their glorious Maker. The sun burns incense daily, and the virgin stars keep nightly vigils; the mysterious anthem of the forest proclaims its devotion, and the sea declares its obedience as it murmurs into repose. Every moment of time bears an errand of mercy, and should not be allowed to pass without an acknowledgment of gratitude.

"Ye chiefs, for whom the whole creation smiles,
Crown the great hymn."

CHEERFULNESS.
[From the same.]

CHEERFULNESS is of much more easy attainment than is generally imagined. It merely implies mental con