of honourable and advantageous capitulation. But where discretionary capture is the besieger's object, a storm will rarely answer the purpose; he tries either sap or surprize. The first of these two modes depends on the skill of the besieger; requires time for his arts to operate, and may be resisted by equal skill supported by firmness. As he mines, you may countermine, and, perhaps, finding that you will not surrender at discretion, in his eagerness to have possession, he will grant such terms as even the bravest garrison may with honour receive. In a siege of this kind the chief danger is from mutiny; there may be a strong party well affected to the enemy, let reason, the governor, (not crush these, for that would often be impracticable, but) win them over by demonstrating, that firm and vigorous resistance is the only way to insure to them
Page:Modern literature (1804 Volume 1).djvu/173
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Modern_literature_%281804_Volume_1%29.djvu/page173-1024px-Modern_literature_%281804_Volume_1%29.djvu.jpg)