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direction of affairs。
There is indeed a remarkable coincidence between the progress of the
art of war； and that of the art of oratory； among the Greeks。 They both
advanced to perfection by contemporaneous steps； and from similar causes。
The early speakers； like the early warriors of Greece； were merely a militia。
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It was found that in both employments practice and discipline gave
superiority。 （It has often occurred to me； that to the circumstances
mentioned in the text is to be referred one of the most remarkable events
in Grecian history； I mean the silent but rapid downfall of the
Lacedaemonian power。 Soon after the termination of the Peloponnesian
war； the strength of Lacedaemon began to decline。 Its military discipline；
its social institutions； were the same。 Agesilaus； during whose reign the
change took place； was the ablest of its kings。 Yet the Spartan armies
were frequently defeated in pitched battles；an occurrence considered
impossible in the earlier ages of Greece。 They are allowed to have
fought most bravely； yet they were no longer attended by the success to
which they had formerly been accustomed。 No solution of these
circumstances is offered； as far as I know； by any ancient author。 The
real cause； I conceive； was this。 The Lacedaemonians； alone among the
Greeks； formed a permanent standing army。 While the citizens of other
commonwealths were engaged in agriculture and trade； they had no
employment whatever but the study of military discipline。 Hence； during
the Persian and Peloponnesian wars； they had that advantage over their
neighbours which regular troops always possess over militia。 This
advantage they lost； when other states began； at a later period； to employ
mercenary forces； who were probably as superior to them in the art of war
as they had hitherto been to their antagonists。） Each pursuit therefore
became first an art； and then a trade。 In proportion as the professors of
each became more expert in their particular craft； they became less
respectable in their general character。 Their skill had been obtained at
too great expense to be employed only from disinterested views。 Thus；
the soldiers forgot that they were citizens； and the orators that they were
statesmen。 I know not to what Demosthenes and his famous
contemporaries can be so justly compared as to those mercenary troops
who； in their time； overran Greece； or those who； from similar causes；
were some centuries ago the scourge of the Italian republics；perfectly
acquainted with every part of their profession； irresistible in the field；
powerful to defend or to destroy； but defending without love； and
destroying without hatred。 We may despise the characters of these
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political Condottieri； but is impossible to examine the system of their
tactics without being amazed at its perfection。
I had intended to proceed to this examination； and to consider
separately the remains of Lysias； of Aeschines； of Demosthenes； and of
Isocrates； who； though strictly speaking he was rather a pamphleteer than
an orator； deserves； on many accounts； a place in such a disquisition。
The length of my prolegomena and digressions compels me to postpone
this part of the subject to another occasion。 A Magazine is certainly a
delightful invention for a very idle or a very busy man。 He is not
compelled to complete his plan or to adhere to his subject。 He may
ramble as far as he is inclined； and stop as soon as he is tired。 No one
takes the trouble to recollect his contradictory opinions or his unredeemed
pledges。 He may be as superficial； as inconsistent； and as careless as he
chooses。 Magazines resemble those little angels； who； according to the
pretty Rabbinical tradition； are generated every morning by the brook
which rolls over the flowers of Paradise；whose life is a song；who
warble till sunset； and then sink back without regret into nothingness。
Such spirits have nothing to do with the detecting spear of Ithuriel or the
victorious sword of Michael。 It is enough for them to please and be
forgotten。
。。。
A PROPHETIC ACCOUNT OF A GRAND NATIONAL EPIC
POEM； TO BE ENTITLED 〃THE WELLINGTONIAD；〃 AND TO BE
PUBLISHED A。D。 2824。
（November 1824。）
How I became a prophet it is not very important to the reader to know。
Nevertheless I feel all the anxiety which； under similar circumstances；
troubled the sensitive mind of Sidrophel； and； like him； am eager to
vindicate myself from the suspicion of having practised forbidden arts； or
held intercourse with beings of another world。 I solemnly declare；
therefore； that I never saw a ghost； like Lord Lyttleton； consulted a gipsy；
like Josephine； or heard my name pronounced by an absent person； like Dr
Johnson。 Though it is now almost as usual for gentlemen to appear at the
moment of their death to their friends as to call on them during their life；
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none of my acquaintance have been so polite as to pay me that customary
attention。 I have derived my knowledge neither from the dead nor from
the living； neither from the lines of a hand； nor from the grounds of a tea…
cup； neither from the stars of the firmament； nor from the fiends of the
abyss。 I have never； like the Wesley family； heard 〃that mighty leading
angel；〃 who 〃drew after him the third part of heaven's sons；〃 scratching in
my cupboard。 I have never been enticed to sign any of those delusive
bonds which have been the ruin of so many poor creatures； and； having
always been an indifferent horse man； I have been careful not to venture
myself on a broomstick。
My insight into futurity； like that of George Fox the quaker； and that of
our great and philosophic poet； Lord Byron； is derived from simple
presentiment。 This is a far less artificial process than those which are
employed by some others。 Yet my predictions will； I believe； be found
more correct than theirs； or； at all events； as Sir Benjamin Back bite says
in the play； 〃more circumstantial。〃
I prophesy then； that； in the year 2824； according to our present
reckoning； a grand national Epic Poem； worthy to be compared with the
Iliad； the Aeneid； or the Jerusalem； will be published in London。
Men naturally take an interest in the adventures of every eminent
writer。 I will； therefore； gratify the laudable curiosity； which； on this
occasion； will doubtless be universal； by pre fixing to my account of the
poem a concise memoir of the poet。
Richard Quongti will be born at Westminster on the 1st of July； 2786。
He will be the younger son of the younger branch of one of the most
respectable families in England。 He will be linearly descended from
Quongti； the famous Chinese liberal； who； after the failure of the heroic
attempt of his party to obtain a constitution from the Emperor Fim Fam；
will take refuge in England； in the twenty…third century。 Here his
descendants will obtain considerable note； and one branch of the family
will be raised to the peerage。
Richard； however； though destined to exalt his family to distinction far
nobler than any which wealth or titles can bestow； will b