ardent zeal with which the incipient army was attached to their sovereign, when they beheld him in their own ranks, at the same table, partaking of the common fare; when they saw his face covered with the Same sweat and dust; when they saw that he differed in nothing, except that in exercise he was the most afsiduous, the most expert. By such extraordinary example, keeping pace with his subjects in promotion, this wise sovereign demonstrated, that monarchs can in no way so much advance their own majesty, the glory, and height of their own dignity, as by similar condescension.* The Russian army grew strong by this encouragement, and in a twelve years war with the crown of Sweden, as well as afterwards in many other expeditions, filled the ends of the universe w th the victorious thunder of its arms. True the first engagement at Narva was unsuccessful; but the superiority of the enemy, and retreat of the Rufsians, have, from malice and pride, to increase their glory, and magnify our defeat, been much exaggerated beyond the truth. The Russian troops were only of two years standing

*

the enemy disciplined and in

* In every transaction of Peter's life, when nearly examined, we discover the amazing stretch of that man's mind. Before his time it was reckoned an indelible disgrace for any man in Rufsia to serve in the. army under a man whose father had occupied a lower military rank than the father of the person whom he was to command. This was an insuperable bar to military discipline and a regular army. Peter saw at once that the only effectual way to de away all this, was to go into the army himself in the lowest station, and to obey with due submifsion every officer who was placed above him; as, what he did, no other person could think was dishonourable. Thus did he at once, by a noble self command, abolish a custom that no law however severe could have abrogated without the most violent struggles.

nured to war Although difsension took place among our commanders, and a cunning spy communicated to the enemy all the circumstances of our camp; and although Charles xii. by an unexpected attack, prevented our army from being put in order of battle; however on retreating, the boldness of the enemy was so far checked as to disable them to continue the action and pursue the victory. The Russian guards and no small part of the other troops remained in good order; and it was only for want of their leaders, whom Charles having called to treat of peace, had detained prisoners, that they were withheld from falling on the enemy. The guards therefore and the rest of the army with their arms and baggage, colours flying and drums beating, returned into Russia. That this defeat proceeded more from these unfortunate circumstances, than from want of skill in the troops of Russia; and that the army of Peter even in its infancy was able to beat the veteran troops of his enemies, was fully proved the following summer, by many signal victories*, To be continued.

The Orator goes here farther than Peter himself is known to have done, for it is well known that great man used to console himself after a defeat by observing that there was no reason to be discouraged, for that by every defeat they acquired additional military skill, so that by perseverance their enemies in time would teach the Russians to beat themselves; and this in fact he effected.

ON THE DELAYS INCIDENT TO THE COURT

OF SESSION.

Continued fron p. 283.

To the Lord President of the Court of Session.

MY LORD,

LETTER VI.

MANY people imagine it is in the power of the judge, if he chuses, to give a speedy decision; and many more think the practitioners could procure an immediate judgement, if it were not their interest to protract the suit, and keep it long depending in court. This, however, is like the notion of the negroes, that monkeys could speak if they inclined, and that they only observe silence in order to avoid being obliged to work.

To finish a law-suit soon, would contribute much to the ease and comfort of the judge; and, contrary to the received opinion, it would also tend to the profit of the practitioners, as giving life and spirit to business, and much encouraging the number of suits: But upon the present footing of things, all the efforts of a party, joined with the concurrence of an attentive and discerning judge, cannot prevent delays. Nay, farther, the ripe and proper decision of a cause 15 in its nature a matter that requires a good deal of time; and of course a law suit mus be redious after all the change that can well be ventured on, or ought to be

made, of the present forins of procedure. But much valuable time and money may surely be saved by such alterations as shall be previously examined by your Lordship, and sanctioned by your knowledge and penetration.

In a state of interests and order of ranking, there may perhaps be objections made against 6, 8, 10, 12, or more of the interests produced for the creditors; for the common agent thinks it his duty to notice every defect that he can discover. It is in vain to think that all these objections can be answered thro' the medium of as many different agents, in the course of a fortnight.

But if each objection were separately stated, they could all be answered in that space; and by the simple operation of printing the state and order, the matter would be accomplished at once, at the additional expence of a few pounds; as by that means each creditor, or his doer, could have full accefs to the state for the whole of the time. And it would only farther be necefsary, that the common agent fhould keep each reply separate, so as each creditor might take up to the cné relating to his own case, when he had occasion to represent to the Lord Ordinary, or to reclaim to the court.

The very same means would empower such of the other creditors as chose to object against the state and order, to do so within the same space of time. And by this simple regulation of making each objection a separate question, much time and interference would be saved. The clerks and their afsistants would naturally fall into the practice of not lending up any

1

more of the process to each agent than the interest of his own employer. Or, if necefsary, a regulation would be made, that the rest of the procefs thould remain in the clerk's hands, to be inspected there, during the time of making answers and duplies.

After all the objections are adjusted, there is often time lost in preparing the scheme of division. Such is the tedious nature of a procefs of ranking and sale, that the common agent does not always continue equally anxious to push it on to a conclusion. Weeks, or even months, may sometimes pafs before a remit is obtained to an accountant to prepare the scheme; and when it is obtained, it does not limit a time within which the scheme must be made up and produced.

A new fee to the clerks of court, of so much per cent. is rather an extraordinary remedy, and not to be often resorted to; yet I must own that no other effectual regulation presents itself in the present instance, for compelling the common agent to apply for and obtain the necefsary remit, and the accountant employed by him to make up and produce the scheme, within such precise time as may be deemed reasonable; and one space of time (suppose a month or six weeks), may safely be fixed, in all such cases; for a few days more will serve for framing and calculating a long scheme, than would serve for a a fhort one. I am, &c.

LENTULUS.