A VOICE ' ROM THE TOMB.
[To THE. EDITOR OP THE "SPECT4TOR:] sm—The following extract seems peculiarly d propos to the present moment in regard to the South African War and the "evil prophets" Advertisement to Thanksgiving Ode, January 18th, 1816.
"There will doubtless be no few ready to indulge in regrets and repinings : and to feel a morbid satisfaction, by aggravating those burdens in imagination : in order that calamity so con- fidently prople sied, as it has not taken the shape which their sagacity allotted to it, may appear as grievous as possible under another. But the body of the nation will not quarrel with the gain, because it might have been purchased at a less price : and acknowledging in these sufferings, which they feel to have been in a great degree unavoidable, a consecration of their noble efforts, they will vigorously apply themselves to remedy the evil. Nor is it at the expense of redone patriotism, or in . . . . .
disregard of sound philosophy that I have given vent to feelings tending to encourage a martial spirit in the bosom of my country. men at a time when there is a general outcry against the prevalence of these dispoaitions. . . . . Every man deserving the name of Briton adds his voice to the chorus which extols the exp'olts of his countrymen, with a consciousness, at times, over-
,wing the efforts that they transcend all praise Let use ht.pe that the martial qualities which I venerate will be fostered by adhering to those good old usages which experience has sanctioned that all classes of the community may love, admire, and be prepared and accomplished to defend, that country under whose protection its faculties have been unfolded and its
riches acquired by encouraging athletic exerciae4 and manly sports among the peasantry of the country, and by special care to provide and support institutions in which, during a time of peace, a reasonable proportion of the youth of the country may be instructed in military science."—WILLIAM WORDS- WORTII, Eydal Mount, March 13th, 1816.
It is interesting to note that between the reigns of Henry III. and Queen Elizabeth no less than eighteeen Acts of Parliament were passed having for their object the teach- ing of the science of archery. Moreover, a parish in the South of England contains the records of a Court Leet held early in the sixteenth century which runs as follows :—" At a Court Lest, held in the parish, it is this day ordered that the constable in each township shall see that every boy (in ac- cordance with the Acts of Parliament therein provided) who has reached the age of twelve years shall be supplied with a bow and arrows, and shall attend at the butts "—I am, Sir, &o.
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