ABSTRACT

One is not insensible, brother Shandy, that when a man whose profession is arms, wishes, as one have done, for war, it has an ill aspect to the world and that, how and right so ever his motives and intentions may be, he stands in an uneasy posture in vindicating himself from private views in doing it. For this cause, if a soldier is a prudent man, who he may be without being a jot the less brave, he will be sure not to utter his wish in the hearing of an enemy; for, say what he will, an enemy will not believe him. He will be cautious of doing it even to a friend, lest he may suffer in his esteem; but if his heart is overcharged, and a secret sigh for arms must have its vent, he will reserve it for the ear of a brother, who knows his character to the bottom, and what his true notions.