Impressed with these ideas, I thought it right to transmit my thoughts upon the subject to the Directors of the India Company; and I have no doubt of their taking up the plan, with that zeal which becomes the rulers of so vast an empire, when a measure of such immense importance is brought under their review.

CONCLUSION OF THIS WORK.

From the perusal of these volumes it will be seen, that the individual, who now presents them to the public, has been engaged, during upwards of half a century, in laborious exertions to promote the welfare of his fellow creatures, not only in his own country, but in every part of the world to which his influence could be extended.

Whether his labours have been followed by success, proportioned, either to the length of time they have occupied, or to the zeal with which they have been carried on, must be decided, not by his own sanguine wishes, nor by the partial estimate of correspondents or friends, but by the candid judgment of the public. At the same time, as an encouragement to others in pursuing the same path of public utility, the Author begs to direct the attention of his younger readers, to the kind and favourable regard, with which, as appears from the preceding volumes, persons the most distinguished for learning, ability and virtue, both at home and abroad, have considered every effort to be useful to his fellow men.

The Author still proposes to employ the remainder of his days, in the same pursuits in which his previous life has been engaged, and, (if his health will enable him), to complete his works on Agriculture,-Longevity,-Political Economy,and Religion.

The nature of this design is explained in the concluding paper of the Appendix, to which he begs to solicit the reader's favourable consideration.

ADDENDA.

I have often wished, that the British Ministers would make a point of ascertaining the real character and talents, not only of those who were likely to be opposed to them, either in military, or in political concerns, but of those who were to assist them. As an example of the nature of the information I wished them to acquire, I was induced to draw up the following account of the Archduke Charles, and of that rising meteor, Napoleon Bonaparte, immediately previous to the contest that was to take place between these two great Generals. If so much information could be collected by a private individual, what might not have been done by a British Minister, with all the resources of government at his command?

It is singular, that this paper should contain the first printed account of Napoleon's great talents, and predictions of his future successful career.

I have annexed to the paper, a singular anecdote of Napoleon, the authenticity of which may be relied on.

COPY OF A PAPER PRINTED IN LONDON, in april 1797, ENTITLED, "THOUGHTS RESPECTING THE ENSUING CAMPAIGN ON THE BORDERS OF ITALY, AND ITS PROBABLE ISSUE."

Introduction. Before the commencement of the present campaign on the borders of Italy, some pains had been taken, by the President of the Board of Agriculture, to ascertain its probable issue, with a view of enabling him to form an opinion, how far that campaign was likely to produce consequences, so favourable to the cause of Austria, and of England,

as to compensate for the waste of blood and treasure it must necessarily occasion. The information he collected, was originally drawn up for his own consideration merely; but it was afterwards printed, to gratify the curiosity of some of his friends who were desirous of perusing it, and, in particular, were anxious to know the history and character, of so distinguished an officer, as the conqueror of Italy.

The fate of Italy, will probably be determined, in the course of the ensuing campaign. The result may depend on a variety of unforeseen and incidental circumstances. The merest accident, as the stumbling of a horse,—a shower of rain,—or the fortuitous swelling of a river, may decide it. At the same time, it may be guessed at, with some degree of probability, from a consideration of the state of the two armies, and from an examination of the characters of the two Generals by whom they are commanded.

1. The Austrian Army.—It is impossible to ascertain, with any degree of precision, the amount of the Austrian army destined for the borders of Italy. It is well known, that exaggerated accounts have always been circulated of the strength of the Imperial forces, at the commencement of each campaign, and hence they have seldom at first succeeded, equal to the hopes entertained of them. They have afterwards, it is true, been reinforced; but had these reinforcements joined them at the beginning, more success might have been expected. It is said, in some accounts, that the Archduke Charles will have under his command, from 100,000 to 120,000 men, but if he has 70,000, it is probably as much as the Emperor can devote to the service of Italy. That army will consist of three different descriptions of men, namely, first, of 20,000 men brought from the Rhine, whose valour requires no eulogium; secondly, Of about 25,000, the wreck of the army of Alvinzi, whose spirit may be revived by their new commander, but who,

otherwise, from the nature of things, after having been so frequently defeated, cannot be much depended on; and, thirdly, Of 25,000 fresh troops, who have not had an opportunity of seeing service, but who will probably fight with as much zeal and steadiness as can be expected from raw soldiers. It is to be considered, however, that the Austrian army have these disadvantages to contend with, that they fight in a barren country; that their provisions must be brought from a distance of about 200 miles; that their pay, in some measure, depends on the votes of the British Parliament; and that they do not feel any cordial interest in the cause they fight for.

2. The French Army.-The army of France in Italy, with the late reinforcements, (exclusive of the garrisons), will also probably amount to about 70,000 men; one-third of which, (27,000 men), are French, including a numerous cavalry, (from 8 to 10,000 men), equal to any in Europe; the other two-thirds, (about 40,000 men), are Italians. The French consist of men already accustomed to conquest, or who have been regularly trained to arms. The Italians are not forced into the service, as some have confidently asserted, but are young men, who have voluntarily placed themselves under the command of their gallant countryman, are enthusiasts for the ancient glory of Italy, and determined sooner to die, than to re-admit their former masters, from whom they entertain no hopes of mercy. There is also great emulation between the two nations, which of them will fight best, of which their able commander will naturally avail himself. every advantage that an army can desire. fertile country, whence they can have abundance of provisions: the contributions of Italy furnish them with pay, ammunition, and every necessary article for carrying on the war: and to a man they burn with impatience, not only to preserve their former character and glory, but to acquire fresh laurels.

His troops have
Behind them a

3. The Austrian General.-The Archduke Charles, from

his infancy, was considered as the hope of the Imperial family. Whilst his brother, the present Emperor, was supposed to have the elevated mind, and the unconquered spirit of the House of Austria, it was foretold, from his earliest years, that the Archduke was possessed of the military talents of the family of Lorraine. It is the less necessary to dwell long upon this part of the subject, as his character, and in particular the conduct he pursued during the siege of Kehl, is so ably described in a letter from one of the most distinguished statesmen on the Continent, (Mallet du Pan), that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of giving a translation of it in this place, in justice to the merits of so gallant an officer.

"The Archduke Charles has excited an enthusiasm in his army beyond expression, and even the French give him daily proofs of their admiration and respect. Every day, during the siege of Kehl, be the weather what it would, he set out from Offenburgh, (where his head-quarters were), at five in the morning, went to the trenches, visited the camp, gave audience in a hut, wrapt up in his pelisse; returned to Offenburgh at five in the evening, and continued occupied in business till nine. His application and activity are beyond bounds. He is the soul of every thing, and has given an impulse of zeal to the whole mass. Severe, but just; popular to excess, and yet rigorous with respect to duty; he makes no exceptions but to merit, for which he searches with such assiduity, that he has already promoted above 100 officers, forgotten for these ten years, without regard to titles, ribbands of knighthood, or great names. He is full of talents, penetration, and good sense. His intrepidity is too well known to require any particular notice."

The character of the celebrated Buonaparte I shall next endeavour to delineate, and at more length, as it is not so generally known.

4. The French General.-Napoleon Buonaparte was born in Corsica, but his family is of Tuscan extraction, originally