The Edinburgh Review Volume 140 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ...and models of all sorts needed for the pupils. A section devoted to the artillery and engineering studies, which were then in comparative infancy, was watched over by the Count with especial care. He himself undertook the mathematical lectures necessary; and no branch of study that the best taught officers of scientific corps follow at the present day was omitted in the instruction of the cadets of Wilhelmstein under this ardent military reformer of a hundred years ago. If Germany was the first of great nations to direct the use of military history for scientific ends; to insist on the military engineer being thoroughly acquainted with civil architecture, the artilleryman with the higher laws of projectiles, and the staff officer with topography and modern languages; she owes it, as she owes the early development of her system of national armament, to Count William of Lippe and the school of thoughtful soldiers he reared in days of profound peace on the remote Steinhuder Lake. And of these the most distinguished, the subject of this memoir, who more than any other of his pupils profited by the teaching of the Count, bore special testimony, long after, that his devotion to military science was never suffered to interfere with his duties as ruler. 'Seldom have there been united, ' wrote Scharnhorst of his old preceptor soon after his death, ' such entire goodness of heart with so many great qualities of spirit. He never left the distressed without succour, nor the widow and orphan without care for their condition. Every expense of his small court was cut down that he might enjoy the one happiness of making others happy. Towards those about him he was ever pleasant and courteous. In his Bchool he was at once organiser, inspector, benefactor, and friend. He made...