country, whether by fea or by land, whether in a higher or in a lower sphere, are expofed to many fimilar temptations, and called to the performance of the fame moral duties. It is of those temptations and duties common to the naval and military profeffion that the prefent chapter is defigned to treat. And fuch of the fubfequent remarks as are not obviously reftrained to particular defcriptions of men, are meant to be applied generally to perfons in either profeffion, whatever their rank and ftation may be.

The obfervations about to be advanced refpecting the moral duties of an Officer will of courfe be free from all reference to professional tactics, and will be confined to the following particulars: uprightness and activity in dif charging the immediate functions of his ftation; his general conduct towards thofe under his command; his proceedings towards enemies, and the fubjects of neutral powers; and his conduct in private life.

I. Whatever be the line of service or the rank in which an Officer is placed, the moft obvious

obvious of all the moral obligations thence incumbent on him is that of faithfully performing the immediate duties of his post. A man of integrity and reflection will blush to receive a falary from the public, without making that return to his country, which, by accepting his commiffion, he has pledged himself to render. He will therefore apply with affiduity and perfeverance to the several branches of military or .naval service, in which his station requires him to bear a part. He will not think it fufficient barely to attain to such a degree of proficiency in the duties of his department, as may fecure him from the reprehenfion of his fuperiors. He will not be contented with acquiring that facility in practice which is the refult of habit; and neglect the study of the theoretical and fcientific principles of his profeffion. He who regards his occupation as a mere mercenary trade, will aim only at doing what is abfolutely neceffary, and at doing that by rote. But he who is ftedfaftly bent on discharging his duty to God and man, and, in due fubordination to that predominant defire, wishes to diftinguifh himself by genuine merit in his profeffion, will be folicitous to be prepared for

the various and fudden contingencies by which an Officer may be overtaken in the viciffitudes of war; and to be able to adapt the fundamental rules of the fervice to unforeseen and critical emergences. He will refolve to confider himself through life as a learner. He will not difregard the advice and fuggeftions of Experience, though they proceed from a perfon of rank inferior to his own. Too wife to contract a fondness for novelties only because they are new; he will fhun the oppofite extreme, more common among profeffional men, of pertinaciously ad hering to antient practices, and refifting rational and feasonable improvements. He will ftudy ftrict method in all branches of employment, as the only means of having business. done well, at the cheapest rate, and in the shorteft poffible time. The latter circumftance is often essential to the fuccefs of warlike operations; and in many cafes, as when troops encumbered with ftores and baggage are to be removed from an approaching fuperiority of force, or a fleet is to be repaired in an infecure. or unhealthy harbour, the delays which result from a confufed and unfettled mode of pro

ceeding

ceeding may occafion the lofs of multitudes by
the fword or by disease. A good Officer will
not trust to the inspection or agency of another
what he ought to examine or conduct in per-
fon. Inftead of declining what is actually
comprehended within his own province, he will
explore its utmost limits for
proper opportuni-
ties of acquiring additional knowledge and skill,
and of improving himself in all the different
functions which he may be called upon to dif-
charge. By accuftoming himself on common
occafions to alertnefs and activity, he will pre-
vent greater exertions in more critical feafons
from being difficult and oppreffive to him.
Habits of careleffness once contracted are.con-
tinually encroaching more and more; and,
though at first extending only to trifles, gradu-
ally draw matters of the highest moment with-
in the sphere of their influence. And when-
ever, by being unwarily indulged, they fettle-
into confirmed indolence; they become the
fources of every fpecies of profeffional demerit,
and of every kind of vice.

In the purchase and expenditure of provifions and ammunition, and in every instance when

T4

The

when public money, or what is procured with public money, is committed to the difpofal of an Officer; he is bound not merely to exhibit an example of the moft fcrupulous integrity, but also of every degree of ceconomy compatible with the public good. Opportunities of fraud will frequently occur, especially on detached expeditions and remote stations, to those who are inclined to make ufe of them. fums which in fome former wars have been purloined from this country by peculation, or loft to it by negligence and mifmanagement, are faid by thofe who have had ocular demonftration of the facts to be far more enormous than is generally imagined. Fraud however, or collufion, practifed to the injury of the public by men in offices of truft, is certainly not lefs finful than fimilar proceedings towards private individuals. And a neglect of due fuperintendence over fubordinate managers of public ftores is highly blamable in any one to whom that fuperintendence is committed (a).

In

(a) By the custom of the Navy, every kind of store is in charge of the particular warrant officer to whofe department it belongs. Ordnance ftores, for example, are under

the