NEW THEATRE.
THIS EVENING, Febuuaki- S,
WILL HE PSESEKTEO,
By particular desire,
(for (be third time here,)
A celebrated COMEDY, called,
Setrets Worth Knowing:
Written by Mr. Morton, author of Co
lumbus, Way to get Married, Cure for the
Heart-Ache, &c. Bcc. and performed at the
Theatre Roval, Covent Garden, London,
and the Theatres of Boston, New-York and
Baltimore, with unbounded applaufei
To which will be added, a favorite Cgmic
Opera, in two a£ls, ("tilled,
Children in the Wood.
BOX, One Dollar—Pit, Three-quarters
of a Dollar—and Gal-IKHT, Half a Dollar.
%* Future days of pertorfnance will be
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, until
further notice.
|C7° The Doors of the Theatre will open
at 1 quarter pad 5, and the Curtain rife at a
quarter past 6 o'clock precisely.
PROPOSALS,
FOR CARRYING
Mails of the United States,
On tlie follotving roads, will be received at the
General Pnjl-Q&ce, until the 13th day
of February next, incluftve.
ifl.Tj'RG'M Philadelphia by Bristol, Trenton,
•T Princeton, New-Brunfwick, Wood
bridge, Raway, Elizabethtown and Newark to
New York fix times a week. >
From May 1 to November I.
Leave Philadelphia every day (Sunday ex
cepted) it I P. M. and arrive at NewrYork in
nineteen hours, the next day (Sunday excepted)
by 8 o'clock, A. M.— Returning ; leave New-
York every day (Sunday excepted) at 1 P. M.
and arrive at Philadelphia in eighteen hours the
next day (Sunday excepted) by 7 A. M.
From Mil-ember 1 to Mav t,
The mail is to be takes from Philadelphia at
the fame ho'ir and delivered at New-York by
I) A. M. in 30 hours ; and is to be taken from
New-York at 1 P. M. and delivered at Philidel
phfc at 8 A. M. in nineteen hour«.
id. From Philadelphiaby Chester, Wilming
ton, Newport, Christiana, Elkton, Charleston,
Havre-de-Grace and Harford to Baltimore, fix
times a week. Leave Philadelphia every day
(sunday excepted) at 9 A. M. and arrive at Bal
tinmre in 17 hours, the next day (sunday ex
cepted) at noon Returning; leave Balti
more every day (sunday excepted) at 4 A. M.
and arrive at Philadelphia the next day by 9
A. M. in 17 hours.
;d. From Baltimore by Blades (burgh,
Wafhingt..n and Georgetown, to Alexandria
fix liines a week.
From April j to November 1.
f.eave Baltimore every day (sunday except
' 4) at 4 A. M. ami arrive at Alexandria the
. 1 line Hays by 6 P M. Returning—Leave Al
• yni'drii every day (sunday excepttd) at 4
A. M and arrive at Baltimore the fame day by
* o'clock P M.
From November 1 to April 1.
1 eave Baltimore erery day (fiinday except
ed) jt 4 A- M. and arrive at Alexandria the
nrxi day (Riftday excepted) at BA. M. Re
turning— Leave Alexandria every day (sunday
.i. epted) at 5 P. M. and arrive at Baltimore
;he next day (sunday excepted) at P. M.
4th. From Philadelphia by Downingtown,
T.ancjfter, Columbia, York, Carlisle, Ship
perifh-irg, Stralbnrgh, Bedford, Somerfft and
G-reenfbm gji to Pittsburgh once a week. Leave
Philadelphia every Saturday at 4 A. M. arrive
at Lincafter in the evening, arrive at York on
Sunday noon, at Shippeniburg on Monday, at
6P. M. Leave Shippeniburg on Xsefday at
4 A. M. and arrive at Pittfburg tWe next Fri
day at 10 A. M. Returning—Leave Pitts
burgh every Friday at 3 P. M. and arrive at
Uipptnfjurg the next Monday by 6 P. M.
Leave Shippenfburg on Tuefdayat 4 A.M. and
•irrive it Philadelphia the next Thursday by 8
Note T. The Gontrafls for the above routes
a-e to lie in operation on the firft day of April
next. The contrails for the routes Noi 1, i,
1, are so continue in operation until the firft
day "f October in the year 1800 ; and the con
ti'tSt for the route No. 4 is so continue lint il the
firft lay of Oclober is the year 1801.
Note 2. Fifteen minutes (hall be allowed for
opening and clofipg the mail at all offices on the
rc liti s where no particular time is fpecified.
Note .3. For every fifteen minutes delay (the
!npa(fibdity of rivers excepted) in arriving af
ter the times prescribed, in any contrail, the
lontradlor (hall forfeit one dollar; and if the
delay c ontinue till ihedeparture of any depend
v/ii'ii, whereby the mai4« (teftined for such
'• penning mail fofe a trip, an additional for- :
.citure ot five dollars (hall be incurred.
Note 4. If aijy persons making proposals de-
S! 1 "s an alteration of the times fpecified he mull
ilatr in his proposals the alteration desired and
the difference it will make in the terms of his
cjmtratfl.
iNofe j The tifiial psnalties for mikondufl
in the carriers will be (lipulatad in the contrail.
Note 6. The mail on the route No. 1, (hall
he carried in a Sulkey during three months of
lie wiHter season, having a box or chest to fe
eii.-e the mail frnm rain. The mails on Nut
• Ite during the rell of the year and tfie routes
Vo. 2 and 3 fhill be always carried in a light
b r,i(fK.ietrt to defend it from the rain, or a box
■. ithin the body of the stage.
JOS. HABERSHAM, P. M. Geaeral.
' Jcnrral Poft-Office, }
f'hilad. Tan. 1, r 7qq. ( tc ,4 v
A Farmer Wanted.
yTTINTED a irarried Man capable of man
v V aging a Farm (of 60 acres within 10 miles
of rhe ci'y) having some knowledge of gardening,
if- ' wh»ft wife would undertake the charge of a
Dairy; Sec.—Such persons. on producing fafficient
.-commendations of their honelly, industry and so
hricty, will meet with liberal encouragement ; for
tv.rticul irs apply to the printer.
leb. 6. jaw t f
Y Pasture Lot.
j 'O be rented for one or more years, 1 Paflure
l.ot is Fourth ftrect, continued, about half a
Olile above the city—lr'is in a good state of eu'ti.
vj'ion. well fenced, contains Tniies acris, and
"'astlie of a run of water pafling through
i'—apply to the printer.
•ch 6 aaw tf
Country Seats fir Sale.
' PWO Sents at convenient distances froni Phi
i bdeljihia, each comprising perfcdl accsm
■ odation and conveniences of every kind for a
genteel family—For pjiticulars enquire of
EDWARD BONSALL & Co.
No. 64, Dock-street,
1 a trio. 31. «g
Xljc (Bajctte.
PHILADELPHIA,
FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2.
7fa following interesting Report was laid
before Congress early in the present ses
sion, and several Bills have been since
brought in, pursuant to it.
MESSAGE,
Frobi the President of the United States, ac
companying a Report to bim, from the Se
cretary of War, of the iefb inst. relative
to tbe Military Establishment.
Gentlemen of tbe Senate, &
Gentlemen of tbe House of Representatives
A Report of the Secretary of War,
made to me on the 24th of this month, re
lative to the Military Eftabliftiment, I think
it my duty to tranfniit to Congress, and re
commend to confideration.
JOHN ADAMS.
December 31, 1798.
REPORT.
Tbe Secretary of War, respectfully Reports,
to tbe President of tbe United States,
THAT there are i'everat fubjetts, which,
in his opinion, will defrrve the attention of
Congress to '.ler the Military Establishment
more ma- and systematic ; and pro
cure to it the means of further improvement.
It is not presumed that Congress will think
it prudent to relinquish any of the ineifures
of security which have been so wifely adopt
ed ; nor need it be obfervedthat any relaxa
tion in these, may fruftrate their object, by
affording argument of weakness or irrefoiu
tion. It may be true, that some late occur
rences have rendered the profpeft of inva
sion by France less probable, or more re
mote ; yet duly considering the rapid vicifli
tudes, at all times of political and military
events : the extraordinary fiuttuations which
have been peculiarly chara&eriftic of the still
subsisting contest in Europe ; 'and the more
■xtraordinary position of rnoft of the prin- j
cipal nations of that quarter of the globe ;
it can never be wife to vary our measures of
lecurity, with the continually varying afpeft
of European affairs. On the contrary, a
very obvious policy diftates to us, a ft re mi -
ous endeavor, as far as may b<? practicable, to
place our.fafety out of the reach of casualties
which way befal the contending parties, and
the parties more immediately within their
vortices. Paying due refpett to this state of
things : regarding the overthrow of a large
portion of Europe as not entirrfy chimerical,
and (landing as it were in the midst of fall
ing empires, it will be our prudence to culti- '
vate a spirit of felf-dependence, and to en
deavor, by unremitting vigilance and exer
tion, under the blcfling of providence, to
hold the scales of our destiny in our own
hands. In offering these preliminary obler
vations, the Secretary presents nothing new
to the President, mod, if not all of them,:
having received, dire&ly or his -
:ommunications to Congress, his deliberate
function and authority.
Circumflanced as the United States now
are, the progrefsof public danger may render
an extension of military preparations indis
pensable, and a proper organization for the
:roops of the United States extremely bene
ficial.
In proportion as the policy of the country
s adverse to extensive military eftablilh- -
mente, it ought to be our care, to render
the principles of our military system as per- !
fe<ft as possible, our endeavors to turn to the
best account, such force as we at any time
may have on foot, and to provide an eligible
flandard for the augmentations to which par
ticular emergencies may eompel a resort.
In these views it is conceived the organi
sation of our military force would be much
mproved, by modelling it according to the
"ollowing plan :
ill. That a regiment of infantry, composed i
is at present of two battalions, and each bat- 1
:alion of five companies, consist of, one colo
lel, two majors, a Ift and 2d ; one adjutant, i
)ne quartei'-mafler, and one pay-inafter, each ;
jf whom (hall be a lieutenant ; one surgeon, <
ind two surgeon's mates ; ten Captains, ten •
irft-lieutenants, and ten second lieutenants, '
'elides the three lieutenants above "mention- <
d- two cadets, with the pay and emoluments
3f ferjeants, two ferjeant-majors, two quar
ter-mailer ferjeants, two chief musicians, ill
ind 2d, twenty other musicians, forty fer
jeants, forty corporals, and nine hundred
ind twenty privates. ,
2d. I hat a regiment of dragoons consist :
:>f ten troops, making five squadronS, and
the following officers and men, viz : one
■ olonel, two majors, a ift and 2d, one adju
tant, one quarter-master, and one pay-master,
;ach of whom (hall be a lieutenant; one fur
jeon, and two surgeon's mates ; ten captains,
ten firfl and ten second lieutenants, besides
the three lieutenants above mentioned ; five
cadets, with the pay and emoluments of fer
jeants; two ferjeant-majors, two quarter
master ferjeants, two chief mufie'rans, ift and
id, ten other musicians, forty ferjeants, for
ty corporals, and nine hundred and twenty
privates ; the privates including to each
troop, one saddler, one b&ckfmith, and one
Joot-maker.
3d. That a regiment of artillery consist
t)f four battalions ; each battalion of foui
companies, and of the following officers and
men, viz. one colonel, four majors ; one
adjutant, one quarteriuafter, and one pay
master, each of whom (hall be a lieutenant;
one aad two surgeon's mates ; six
teen captains, iixtecn firft, and sixteen se
cond lieutenants, besides the three lieute
nants above mentioned, thirty-two cadets,
with the pay and emoluments as at present
established, four ferjeant-majors, four qi«r
- ter-mafter ferjeantss fiirty-four ferjear.ts, :'ix
ty-four o.it cuivf mui'iewii and ten
other jnuikians, and. eight .In .id red and 1
ninety-fix privates, ipcliidLqg each com
pany eight artificers; '
The principal reasons for this organization 1
will be briefly fuggelled and explained.
1 ft. It will be observed that the piopofed (
proportion of men to officers in the infantry 1
and cavalry is considerably greaterythaii by <
.j the present establishment. This in t
the firft place, the advantage of (economy,
f- By the proportional decrease of the officers, t
savings will result in their pay, subsistence, s
and the transportation of their baggage ;
and the last circuinftance, bv leflening the c
■ impediments of an array, is also favorable to 1
the celerity of its movement.
2d. The command of each officer will be- j'
come more refpi C\able. This will be an in- 11
auceitien.t to r fpedlable men to accept mili- t
' t.lry appointments, and it will he an incen- 1
tive to exertion among those who fliall be '
engaged, by upholding that juftifiable pride c
which is a necefTary ingredient in the milita- t
■ s ry character, a company will then admit of
an eligible subdivision into platoons, feiElions
r ' and detivi-fedions, each of a peffedt front. j
3d. Each battalion will be of the size judg
ed proper for a manreurring column in the a
field, and it ii that portion of an army, '
which in the mbfl approved l'yftem of tallies I
is destined to fulfill this objedl. A battal- d
ion, according to the best judges, |_fanclion- j f
ed by experience, ought neither to be too a
unwieldy for rapid movements, nor so small
as to multiply too much the sub-divisions,,
' and render each incapable, either of a vigo- e
rous impulse or resistance. a
1 4th. Ihe proportion- of officers to men, t
t ought not to be greater than is adequate to 6
t the due management and command of them, a
- A carefug examination of this point will fa
• tisfy every judge that the number now pro- P
c posed will be adequate to b«th. And it is "
s illuftrattd by the expeftation that our fun- u
orders, in conformity with those t
of the nations of Europe generally ought to *
pTace our infantry in three ranks, to oppose 6
to an e»emy who shall be in the fame order, F
an equal mass for attack or defence. s
But it is not intended to recommend a
present augmentation of the number of rank °
and file, to the proposed flandard. It is on
ly wiihed that it may be adopted provisional- t
| ly, as that of the war eftablilhment. v
1 The regiments which have been authorised t
may continue in this n:fpeft upon the foot- ii
| ing already prescribed ; leaving the aftual *
; augmtntation to depend on events which t
may create a necessity for the increase of our £
foree. g
Ihe other alterations recommended, have e
relation rather to fyflematic propriety, than i'
to very important military effects. ft
1 ft. The term lieutenant-ccloned, in our h
present establishment, has a relative Ggnifi- w
cation, without any thing, in fa£l, to which m
it relates. It was introduced during «our re- a
veluti«nary war, to facilitate exchanges of si
prisoners, as our then enemy united the grade v
of colonel with that of general—But the per- ti
manent forms of our military system, ought g
to be plated by principle, Tiot the _fi
and arbitrary arrangement of a p
particulai nation. The title of colonel, which fl
has gpater refpeftability, is more proper for e
commander ot a regiment, because it does ei
pot, like the other, imply a relation having si
I noexiftence. p
ad. The term ensign, is changed into t;
that of lieutenant, as well because the latter, p
' from usage, has additional refpeilability, of 7
fering an inducement to delirable candidates, 0
as because the former, in its origin, fignified a
a standard bearer, and supposed • that each t;
company had a diftinft flandard. it
This in pradlice tea fed to be the cafe, 0
and for a variety of good reasons, a standard' v
of colors to each battalion of infantry, is 1:
deemed-fufficient. This standard is intended ii
to be confided to a cadet, in whom it may p
be expc£le4 to excite emulation and exertion. t<
The multiplication of grades, inconvenient a
in exchanges, is thus avoided. e:
In the cavalry it is proper to allow a stand- r(
ard to each squadron consisting of two troops,
and hence it is proposed to have five cadets f<
to a regiment. a
3d. The nature of the artillery service be- ti
ing constantly in detachment, renders it pro- p
per to a irncnt of a greater num*
ber of battalions than the other corps. This p
our present eftablilhment has recognized, tj
But there is now a want of uniformity which a
leads to disorderly cflnfequences : one regi- le
ment being composed of four battal ions, the w
other three. The fame organization ought a<
to be common to all. The diminution of ft
the number of musicians, while it will save ft
expence, is also warranted by the peculiar 15
nature of the artillery service. They answer u
in this corps few of the purposes they are apt;
plied to in the infantry. a
Existing laws contemplate, and with good o:
re a fan, that the aids ot general officers (ex- t<
cept the commander in chief) shall be taken £
from the regiments ; but they do not pro- o:
vide that when so taken, their places in'the t;
regiment shall be supplied by others. It is f (
conceived that this ought to be the cafe, g
The principles of the establishment supposes 0
for example that three officers to a company p
of a given number, are the just and due pro- r <
portion. If, when an officer is taken from ft
a company to fill one of the stations alluded w
to, his place be not filled by another, so di
that the number of officers to a company 0 :
may feniain the fame, it must follow, that g
the company will be deficient in officer*, ft
Xt is true that the number of a company is n
continually diminishing, but it diminifiies c<
in officers as well as men : and it is not> at
known that the proportion is varied. Prac- ir
tice, in ever)' inftitutiou, ought to conform al
to principle, or there will result more or less fr
of disorder. An army, is in many refpe&s, tl
a machine, of which the difpiacement of any di
of the organs, if permitted to continue, in- tl
jures its fymetry and energy, amfleads to b<
disorder and weakness. The increase of the si'
number of rank and file, while it strengthens v<
the reasons for replacing the officers who tl
may be removed, will more than compensate,
in point of ceconomy, for the addition of fc
officers by the substitution. This may be le
fnbcsittsd to th* "fl of cv or..
tlioujh the place ol an office n ii*. regimeiit
ought to be I'uppKed upo.' -.r., ruth ivuioval,
hi Ought not to laic 'ills iiv-the regi-
but ©ujfht to rank ;;r.d rile, as if he |
h.;d continued to icrve in it.
i Jhould do irjallies to tli;> fubjeft if I
did. not acknowledge this ylan of organiza-'
tion had received full and unequivocal
approbation of the commander in chief, lieu- I
tenant general Waihington.
The annexed Schedule (A) will (hew in
one view the difference between the piefent |
and the proposed eftablilhment.
The provision, that aids-de-camp and the
officers of infped\ion fall be drawn from the
• line of the army, is notreftritled as to grade
—There ought to be such a rHfriftiorl.
] The aids" of major generals ought not to be
; taken from a rank superior to that of a cap
tain, nor those of the brigadiers from a rank
iuperior to that of a firft lieutenant. The
rank from which inspectors may be taken,
ought in like manner to be limited 5 those of
brigades, to the rank of captain ; those of di
vilions to that of major. This will guard
agninft the multiplication of the superior
grades, by removals to fill such Rations.
1 he two companies which it is proposed to
add to the adlual number ef the cavalry, it
is delirable should be railed immediately.
If this is agreed to, -they might receive the
! denomination of hussar companies—a de
scription of cavalry extremely serviceable in
an army.
It is incidentally noticed, that the ail of
last session, augmenting the dragoon corps to
eight companiesand assigning to it a lieuten
ant colonel, and other officers, to confli
tute it a regiment, has not provided a sur
geon or mate. This omiflion will require
attention.
If there shall be occaiion for the adlual em
ploy ment of military force, a corps of rifle
men will be, forfeverul purposes, extremely
ufeful. The eligible proportion of riflemen
to infantry of the line, may be taken at a
twentieth. It is submitted whet hex a fpeci
fic provision to this effcdl, will not be pro
per in arranging the army for a wareftablifh
xnent.
The only provision for the appointment
of a quarter-master-general, is to' be found
in the adl of the 28th of May, authoriz'-'g
the Prelidcnt to raise a provisional army,
which limits his rank and emoluments to
those of lieutenant-colonel. This provision
it conceived to be entirely inadequate for a
war establishment. ( The military duties of
the office are of a nature to render it of the
firft importance in an army ; demanding
great and peculiar abilities, and a character
every way worthy of trufl; —accordingly it
is the general pradlice, founded on veryjub
flantiai reasons to confide it to an officir of
high military rank. The probability is, that
without a similar arrangement on our part,
we shall not be able to command a fit char
adler, and in taking one of inferior preten
tions, we shall fubjedl the service to disad
vantages out of all proportion to any objec
tions which may be fuppoled to militate v
gainst the conferring of such rank. It is
feared . that, a n .aEiwuxunw uni«i <V>li u ■
provilion will only create embarrafTment
should there be real necessity for military
exertions, and that the alternative mufl be
either to leave the army deflitute of so neces
sary an organ, or to give it one likely, in the
progress of things, to prove unequal to the
talk. A new provifien on this fubjedl ap
pears absolutely indispensable.
Ihe Secretary does not discover, in any
of the adls, the necefTary provisions for the
appointment of hospital officers, or a hospi
tal establishment—As military hospitals are
indispensable to an army, especially in time
of war, it is refpedlfully fuggelled, that pro
vifiohs on the fubjedl ought to be made by
law, and that the regulations to be found
in the resolutions of the old Congress, more
particularly in those under the date of Sep
tember 30, 1780, and 3d of January, 1782,
as containing the faithful results of much
experience, may afford some important lights
refpedling this department.
Ihe certain consequence of disregarding
so eflential a measure in the event of war,
and the encampments of our army, }vill be a
train of diseases which mufl cut off a large
proportion of our troop*.
It is deeply to be lamented, that a very
precious period ol leisure was not improved
towards forming among ourselves, engineers
and artillerists—-and that owing to this.neg
le£l, we are in danger of being overtaken by
war, without a competent number of char
adlers of these descriptions.—To form them
fuddenlv is impradlicable. Much previous
study &nd experiment are eflential. If pof
lible to avoid it, a war ought not to find us
unprovided. What has been done to facili
tate this object, and the perfection of our
artillery, will be seen by the annexed extract
of a letter from the Secretary, marked (B)
to the Chairman of the Committee of the
House of Representatives, for the protection
of commerce and the defence of the country
taking in connection with the act providing
for rai4ng of the corps of artillerists and en
gineers, with the act to augment the army
of the L nited States, and for other purposes,
palled the 16th of July, , 79 5. What has
resulted from the latter act, will make the
subject of a particular report. In the mean
while, it is conceived to be advifeable to en
deavor to introduce from abroad, at leafl
on f d >ft in ff"iffied engineer, and one distin
guished officer of artillery. Thc-v mav be
fought for preferably in the Au'ftrian and
next in the Prussian armies. The grade of
colonels, with adequate compensations, may
attract a rank inferior to that grade
in those armies, wha will, be of distinguished
abilities and merit. But in this as we know
from past experience, nothing is more easy
than to be imposed upon ; nothing more
difficult than to avoid imposition, and that
therefore, should the measure be sanctioned
by law, it will be fequifite to commit the bu
siness of procuring such characters to some
very judicious hand,' under every precaution
that can put him upon his guard.
r ' s u g£ e ft e d, that an infpedlor ot
ortifications is much wanted. In cafe of a
legislative provision on this fubjeft, the offi-
cer mbe f.kfcer drawn fr m the corps of a-.
nlierifw and engineers, or it may be left d f
cretionary with the president to chufc h a
. where he pleaics. If, however, the chou,
. i* t«> be reftrided to that corps, it will he
, proper that withdrawing him from it, (hjii
, not prevent his right to rife in it, and that
. l place111 the cor P s 'honld be filled by
j officer of the fame grade.
i It will be ealily imagined that without f Ticfl
an officer the iervice may essentially f u jf er
I o obviate this, the department of war ha'
j always found it necessary to employ aperfo,
who has been paui out of the contingencies'
xor performing that and some other dutie
oi a military nature.
The importance of a faithful reprefc n t,,-
on of the real lUte of the .T"
lie buildings and barracks, the qualifier,"
of the Commandants of fo«s, the police th
observe, and degree of attention they heft! 7
on the works, magazine;, and the like J
stand in need of no comment. '
It is further fubinitted, whether it win
not be proper, and conduce to the improve
raent of artillery, to enlarge the field fiJ
which to feleft a fit character of ,nfpeft 0r of
artilleries. As the law now is, the infpeft.
or ntuft be chosen from the corps of artilleries
and engineers, and would require one of its
molt experienced officers, all whose fences
are indifpenfablc to the corps itfelf.
It has been often observed by officer* of
the army, that the public would save by a
measure, and more Satisfaction be given to
the soldiers generally, if a regulation
adopted to insure his clothing ffiall be fitted
to the soldier. ,It cannot fail to happen that
cloathmg made at a distance from the army
will in numerous instances be ill-fitted to the
person to whom it is issued. This is an in
convenience, as it respects appearance, com
fort and ease, and causes the soldier to be
careless of his dress—it of course ni-nts
confide ration, whether i.t will not be reme
died by making provision by law, fa t ; ie
neceirarv alteration Ut tfie colt ohHc I,Wj
—As there are always to he found tailors m
an army, the alterations may be made there
during seasons of inactivity, & moderate com I
penfations may be eftablilhed, to be deducted
out of the pay of the soldiers. The tailors
who, when l'o employed, will be exempted
from military duty, will be fatisfied with
very fmjill allowances ; and the soldiery will
from the best information I can obtain, pre.
fer this expence to the inconveniences of
wearing cloaths which do not fit them.
Another point no less deserving of parti
cular attention, is the composition ef the ra
tion of provisions. It was in the last fcflion
augmented beyond all former example, It
is not recollected that the ration which wu
allowed during the war with Great-Britain
was found infufficient by troops once
formed to military habits, acquainted with
the best method of managing their provilion»
1 he present ration, estimating by price, is
understood to be greater than the ration in
that war, by above 50 per cent. This is evi
dently a very important augmentation—va
rious disadvantages attend it; a great incrcife
of expence ; additional difficul.y infurnliH
-1 rip-. uiuW all tt-v.ilmd
allowance, consequently, a multiplier,ur.,of
the poiuhle causes of discontent, inurenurs,
and perhaps even mutiny—the necessity of a
greater number of waggons for transporta
tion, and of course the extension 0! this al
ways serious source of embarralfment to mil
itary operations.
The quantity of fpirituov.i liquor, which
is a component part of the ration, is lb large,
as to endanger, where there might not before
exist, habits of intemperance alike fatal to
health and difcipltne. Experience has re
peatedly shewn that many soldiers will ex
change their rum for other articles, wuicliis
productive of the double mifchief of lub
jeCting those with whom the exchange is
made to the loi's of what is far more neces
sary, and to all the confluences of brutal
intoxication.
Thete, and such considerations, have in
duced the Secretary to cause to be inserted in
the contracts made under his orders, a pro
viso, " that if the quantities ef the compo
nent articles of a ration lhall be reduced by
law, the price to be allowed therefor, lliall
be proportionally reduced And in the ar
ticled" aproriftj, tfrat die ibldier
is to accept such ration as is or lhall be eftab
liffied by law."
It is/well understood that the increase hav
ing been once made, a change is delicate ;
but it is believed to be indispensable, and
that the temporary evils of a change can bear
no proportion to the permanent and inunenfe
evils of a continuance of the error.
It may not perhaps be advifeable to bring
back the ration to the ffandard of the late
but to modify it in some respeCts dif
ferently, so as not materially to affeft the ag
gregate expence.
For example, it may consist of eighteen
ounces of bread or flour, or an equivalent in
rice, or indian meal, when flour cannot be
obtained ; one pound and a quarter of irelh
beef, or one pound of salted beef, or three
quarters of a pound of salted pork ; fait,
when freffi nnat is issued, at the rate yi two
quarts, and candles at the rate of a pound
and a half for every 100 rations.
With regard to liquor, it may be best to
exclude it from being a component part of
the ration, allowing a discretion to com
manding officers, to cause it to be issued in
quantities not exceeding half a gill per day*
except.on coyraorcltnary occasions.
Vinegar also ought to be furnifhed, when
to be had at the rate of two quarts, and soap
at the rate of two pounds per hundred ra
tions, but this ought to depend on circum
stances, and ought not to make part of the
eftablifced ration.
There are often difficulties in furnifhing
articles of the latter description, and the equi
valent in money is frequently rather perni.
qious than beneficial. Where there is a con
tract, the promise of such articles is apt to
prove more beneficial to the contractor than
to any other person. He commonly so ma
nages it that the.substitute is not a real equi
valent.
But it need not be remarked, that whate
ver is to be dor.e in this refpeft must he