stant vigilance, and exemplary conduct of the officers, noncommissioned officers and privates of the Caithness Highlanders, uniformly displayed for upwards of two years, we have been indebted, for the preservation of tranquillity throughout this neighbourhood, and for the fullest degree of protection afforded to our persons and properties, during a period fraught with danger and alarm."

Resolved, "That not only this town, but the surrounding country, has derived the greatest advantage from the prudent and judicious use that has been made of the high discretionary powers with which the officers commanding the Caithness Highlanders were invested."

There was nothing for which the two corps were more distinguished, than the superior excellence of their health. In the second battalion, out of 1000 men, officers included, the number of deaths, in the space of seven years, amounted only to 2 officers, and 37 non-commissioned officers and soldiers, not being 3-4ths per man in every hundred each year; and when the first battalion was disbanded at Edinburgh, there was not a single sick man in it. Every individual came to the field, and delivered up his arms in person.

Being apprehensive that men who entered voluntarily into the service, and were to serve during the continuance of the war alone, would not consider themselves tied down to the same strictness of discipline, as regular soldiers who were enlisted for life, I thought it necessary to devise some method of encouraging merit and good behaviour, and checking misconduct; and for that purpose I tried, with much success, the following plan:

Once a month, the regiment was paraded. The officers were assembled around the Colonel, and a muster-roll was given him by the commanding-officer of each company, with eleven columns, filled up as follows:

Every man in the list was called up in rotation, and in presence of the whole corps, according to the report made in the muster-roll, he was either publicly applauded or rebuked. On these days, promotions were made; for instance, a private promoted to be a lance-corporal, or a corporal appointed a sergeant; and as this was done, in the presence of the whole battalion, it had an astonishing effect in exciting a spirit of emulation, and preserving an anxiety among the men, for obtaining and preserving a good character.

If such muster-rolls were adopted in every corps throughout the army, it would enable the Commander-in-Chief to have a complete view of its state. It would be known how many soldiers each of the three kingdoms produced; how many young, middle-aged, or old soldiers, were in the service; how many were distinguished by their discipline and their good behaviour, or the reverse. In short, a better view of our military defence would thus be obtained, than is at present the case in any army in Europe.

A plan having been adopted in this regiment, which was likewise introduced into other Highland corps with the best effect, it may be proper here briefly to explain it. It is evident that a distinction ought to be made between unintentional or slight breaches of discipline, and those proceeding from depraved habits, or hardened guilt. For the latter, courts-martial are necessary; but for the former, it was the usual practice in this regiment, to empower an experienced soldier in the same company, to bring the offender to account. He was enjoined to award some slight punishment, and to keep a sharp eye over the culprit afterwards. This plan was attended with the happiest effects; but great caution is re

quired in the selection of proper men for this moral superintendence. They must be correct in their own conduct; for punishments or advice from men who require both themselves, and shew an example of the very conduct they reprobate, cannot be expected to be received even with common patience, far less with respect, and a resolution to benefit by them. The manner in which the men exercise their authority, should also be looked after, lest they should punish with that undue severity, which persons intrusted with power over their equals are too apt to indulge in.

I.

LE MARECHAL COMPTE ROMANZOFF SADOUNAISKY.

On the 21st September 1786, I arrived at the ancient town of Carolowitsh in the Ukraine, (about 265 versts* from Kiew), and there received the following polite note from the above distinguished warrior:

Le Marechal Comte Romanzoff Sadounaisky, très sensible à l'attention que Monsieur le Chevalier Baronet Sinclair, Membre de Parlement d'Angleterre, veut bien lui témoigner, sera très charmé d'avoir l'honneur de le recevoir dans sa maison t.

I immediately proceeded to Wischenskie, where the Marshal resided, and was received with the utmost politeness and hospitality. We dined at two o'clock. A Russian General, two aid-de-camps, and six other officers were present, not • Or 198 English miles.

+ Translation.

The Marshal Count Romanzoff Sadounaisky, very sensible of the attention which Sir John Sinclair, Member of the English Parliament, does him the honour to shew him, will be delighted to have the pleasure of receiving him at his house.

VOL. I.

one of whom spoke a single word during the whole time, not even to one another. The subserviency of the Russian inferior officers to their superiors, is hardly credible to an Englishman. After dinner, we went in a droski and six, with two hussars superbly dressed preceding us, to see a new house, delightfully situated on the Desna, which the Marshal was building for a winter habitation. It was to contain 120 rooms, besides a theatre, &c. In the evening there was tea, and afterwards a Russian play was acted in a large hall, fitted up as a theatre, which passed off much better than I expected. I had much conversation with the Marshal on various subjects, and was highly pleased with the sound sense, information, and politeness he displayed. The epithet Sadounaisky is an honourable addition to his name, signifying "The Conqueror beyond the

Danube."

Marshal Romanzow was certainly one of the greatest characters that Russia ever produced. He was a soldier from sixteen, having served very early under Marshal Keith, of whom he spoke in the highest terms, and to whom he attributed the foundation of all his fame and glory. He embraced every opportunity of acquiring military knowledge, and was undoubtedly, when I saw him, one of the first generals in Europe. His only rivals were Marshal Laudohn, and General Moelendorf, Governor of Berlin. His conduct was regulated by principles which did great credit to his understanding. He said, "That one profession was as much as any man could know thoroughly:" and paid little attention, therefore, to any subject, not immediately of a military nature, or connected with it. "Nothing is more imprudent," he observed, "than to despise an enemy, or by any means to excite his indignation, revenge, or any other strong passion, the energy acquired from which may make up for want of skill or courage.' "A general," he farther remarked, " must be easy and affable to his own troops, without descending to meanness, or being too often seen by them, which must render him less respected.” He himself had learned so much affability by practice, and so

rigidly observed his own rules, that he constantly took off his hat to the very children of his own peasants when they bowed to him. His victories over the Turks are well known. They were founded upon the maxim of acting on the defensive, and of conducting himself with the utmost prudence and circumspection, watching the decisive moment of attack. "For if the Turks," he said, " once break in, there is no resisting their impetuosity." His state of health, in 1786, had been for some time very indifferent, ruined, he observed, by two circumstances, the most destructive of any to the constitution, namely," les vieilles de la cour, et les fatigues de guerre ;" of both of which he had ample experience. He spoke of several English officers with great respect. He was always a staunch friend to an intimate connection between England and Russia, as equally useful to both countries. He lived in great state at his chateau of Wischenskie, keeping from eight to ten musicians, a set of Russian comedians, and a number of domestics, his whole establishment affording a very adequate idea of the ancient feudal magnificence.

The following friendly communication from Marshal Romanzow, I consider one of the most valuable in the whole of this collection :

MONSIEUR,

C'est avec bien de la sensibilité, que j'eus l'honneur de recevoir votre billet, Monsieur, et la carte de son voyage septentrional qui l'accompagnoit. Ce souvenir flatteur me pénétre de la plus vive reconnoissance, et me rend d'autant plus empressé à vous assurer pareillement, qu'il me sera bien doux de conserver celui de la visite, dont il vous a plû m'honorer sur ma terre, qui, pour tout merite, jouit de l'avantage d'être insérée dans la carte de ses voyages.

Conformément à la circonstance où je me trouve présentement, ma santé ne peut qu'être bonne. Je désire de tout mon cœur que vous ayez toujours à m'en dire autant de la votre, Monsieur.

J'éspere que de tems en tems vous voudrez bien m'hono