It should not be lost sight of that we advocate the formation of such a
force as a _corps d'élite_, as one elevated above the militia, and even
above the regular army, in the _morale_ of the men composing it, if
not in their _physique_; and therefore it may be very fairly inferred
that the members of it, feeling the _prestige_ attached to their name,
would act up to the dignity and honour of their station; that they
would not only behave as valiant soldiers in the field, but that they
would act as gentlemen in quarters. Drinking and gambling would be the
two main offences to provide against; but these, if discouraged, and
not practised by the officers, might be checked among the men. For all
quarrels and disputes likely to end in personal encounter, a special
tribunal of arbiters should be constituted among men and officers of
corresponding rank in the corps; and all duelling should be totally
prevented. The mere fact of sending or accepting a challenge should
involve, _ipso facto_, expulsion from the corps. The running into debt,
too, on the part of the members, should be most rigorously prevented,
and should incur the penalty of expulsion. By these and similar
regulations, combined with the judicious management of the superior
officers, we have no doubt that the discipline of such a body, (which
should be strict rather than lenient,) might be effectually maintained.
7thly, The arming and equipping of such a corps of men is a point of
importance, but by no means of difficulty. We may here disappoint
some of our pseudo-military readers; but we anticipate that the real
soldiers will agree with us, when we declare our conviction that a
military costume--we do not say a _uniform_ costume--but a _military_
one, would be altogether out of character and needless in such a case.
No: we would not have any of the smart shakos, and tight little green
jackets of the rifle brigade; no plumes nor feathers; no trailing
sabres for the officers, no cartouche boxes for the men--nothing at all
of the kind. We would put them all in uniform, but not in a uniform of
that nature--it should be one suited to the wearers, and to the nature
of their service.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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