essays-1-第2章
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。 When they did their duty in their regiments； by mounting guard regularly according to their tour （which commonly was every fourth day；） and only worked those days they happened to be off guard； in that case； they received their full pay； but when they were excused from regimental duty； and permitted to work every day for their own emolument； their pay （at five creutzers per day；） was stopped； but they were still permitted to receive their bread； and to lodge in the barracks。
In all public works； such as making and repairing highways； draining marshes；repairing the banks of rivers； etc。 soldiers were employed as labourers； and in all such cases； the greatest care was taken to provide for their comfortable subsistence； and even for their amusement。 Good lodgings were prepared for them； and good and wholesome food； at a reasonable price； and the greatest care was taken of them when they happened to fall sick。
Frequently； when considerable numbers of them were at work together； a band of music was ordered to play to them while at work； and on holidays they were permitted； and even encouraged； to make merry； with dancing and other innocent sports and amusements。
To preserve good order and harmony among those who were detached upon these working parties； a certain proportion of officers and non…commissioned officers were always sent with them； and those commonly served as overseers of the works； and as such were paid。
Besides this permission to work for hire in the garrison towns； and upon detached working parties； which was readily granted to all those who desired it； or at least to as many as could possibly be spared from the necessary service of the garrison； every facility and encouragement was given to the soldier who was a native of the country； and who had a family of friends to go to； or private concerns to take care of； to go home on furlough； and to remain absent from his regiment from one annual exercise to the other； that is to say； ten months and a half each year。 This arrangement was very advantageous to the agriculture and manufactures； and even to the population of the country； （for the soldiers were allowed to marry；） and served not a little to the establishment of harmony and a friendly intercourse between the soldiers and the peasantry； and to facilitate recruiting。
Another measure which tended much to render the situation of the soldier pleasant and agreeable； and to facilitate the recruiting service； was the rendering the garrisons of the regiments permanent。 This measure might not be advisable in a despotic； or odious government； for where the authority of the Sovereign must be supported by the terror of arms； all habits of social intercourse and friendship between the soldiers and the subjects must be dangerous； but in all well…regulated governments； such friendly intercourse is attended with many advantages。
A peasant would more readily consent to his son's engaging himself to serve as a soldier in a regiment permanently stationed in his neighbourhood； than in one at a great distance； or whose destination was uncertain； and when the station of a regiment is permanent； and it receives its recruits from the district of country immediately surrounding its head…quarters； the men who go home on furlough have but a short journey to make； and are easily assembled in case of any emergency； and it was the more necessary to give every facility to the soldiers to go home on furlough in Bavaria； as labourers are so very scarce in that country that the husbandman would not be able without them to cultivate his ground。
The habits of industry and of order which the soldier acquired when in garrison； rendered him so much the more useful as a labourer when on furlough； but not contented with merely furnishing labours for the assistance of the husbandman； I was desirous of making use of the army； as a means of introducing useful improvements into the country。
Though agriculture is carried to the highest perfection in some parts of the Elector's dominions； yet in others； and particularly in Bavaria； it is still much behind…hand。 Very few of the new improvements in that art； such as the introduction of new and useful plantsthe cultivation of clover and of turnipsthe regular succession of crops； etc。 have yet found their way into general practice in that country； and even the potatoe； that most useful of all the products of the ground； is scarcely known there。
It was principally with a view to introduce the culture of potatoes in that country that the military gardens were formed。 These gardens （of which there is one in every garrison belonging to the Elector's dominion； Dusseldorf and Amberg only excepted＇3＇） are pieces of ground； in； or adjoining to the garrison towns； which are regularly laid out； and exclusively appropriated to the use of the non…commissioned officers and private soldiers belonging to the regiments in garrison。 The ground is regularly divided into districts of regiments； battalions； companies； and corporalities （corporalschafts；） of which last divisions there are four to each company； and the quantity of ground allotted to each corporality is such that each man belonging to it； whether non…commissioned officer or private； has a bed 365 square feet in superficies。
This piece of ground remains his sole property as long as he continues to serve in the regiment； and he is at full liberty to cultivate it in any way； and to dispose of the produce of it in any manner he may think proper。 He must however cultivate it； and plant it； and keep it neat and free from weeds； otherwise； if he should be idle； and neglect it； it would be taken from him and given to one of his more industrious comrades。
The divisions of these military gardens are marked by broader and smaller alleys； covered with gravel； and neatly kept； and in order that every one who chooses it； may be a spectator of this interesting scene of industry； all the principal alleys； which are made large for that purpose； are always open as a public walk。 The effect which this establishment has already produced in the short time （little more than five years） since it was begun； is very striking； and much greater and more important than I could have expected。
The soldiers； from being the most indolent of mortals； and from having very little knowledge of gardening； or of the produce of a garden； for use； are now becoming industrious and skilful cultivators； and they are grown so fond of vegetables； particularly of potatoes； which they raise in great quantities； that these useful and wholesome productions now constitutes a very essential part of their daily food。 And these improvements are also spreading very fast among the farmers and peasants； throughout the whole country。 There is hardly a soldier that goes on furlough； or that returns home at the expiration of his time of service； that does not carry with him a few potatoes for planting； and a little collection of garden…seeds； and I have no doubt but in a very few years we shall see potatoes as much cultivated in Bavaria as in other countries； and that the use of vegetables for food will be generally introduced among the common people。 I have already had the satisfaction to see little gardens here and there making their appearance； in different parts of the country； and I hope that very soon no farmer's house will be found without one。
To assist the soldiers in the cultivation of their gardens； they are furnished with garden utensils gratis； they are likewise furnished from time to time with a certain quantity of manure； and with an assortment of garden…feeds； but they do not rely solely upon these supplies； those who are industrious collect materials in their barracks； and in the streets； for making manure； and even sometimes purchase it； and they raise in their own gardens most of the garden…seeds they stand in need of。 To enable them to avail themselves of their gardens as early in the spring as possible； in supplying their tables with green vegetables； each company is furnished with a hot…bed for raising early plants。
To attach the soldiers more strongly to these their little possessions； by increasing their comfort and convenience in the cultivation and enjoyment of them； a number of little summer…houses； or rather huts； one to each company； have been erected for the purpose of shelter； where they can retire when it rains； or when they are fatigued。
All the officers of the regiments； from the highest to the lowest； are ordered to give the men every assistance in the cultivation of these their gardens； but they are forbidden； upon pain of the severest punishment； to appropriate to themselves any part of the produce of them； or even to receive any part of it in presents。
CHAPTER。 I。
Of the prevalence of mendicity in Bavaria at the time when the measures for putting an end to it were adopted。
Among the various measures that occurred to me by which the military establishment of the country might be made subservient to the public good in time of peace； none appeared to be of so much importance as that of employing the army in clearing the country of beggers； thieves and other vagabonds； and in watching over the public tranquillity。
But in order to clear the country of beggers； （the number of whom in Bavaria had become quite intolerable；） it was necessary to adopt general and efficacious measures for maintaining and supporting the Poor。 Laws were not wanting to oblige each community in the country to provide for its own Poor； but these laws had been so long neglected； and beggary had become so general； that extraordinary measures； and the most indefatigable exertions； were necessary to put a stop to this evil。 The number of itinerant beggars； of both sexes； and all ages； as well foreigners as natives； who strolled about the country in all directions。 levying contributions from the industrious inhabitants； stealing and robbing； and leading a life of indolence； and the most shameless debauchery； was quite incredible； and so numerous were the swarms of beggars in all the great towns； and particularly in the capital； so great their impudence； and so persevering their importunity； that it was almost impossible to cross the streets without being attacked； and absolutely forced to satisfy their clamorous demands。 And these beggars were in general by no means such as from age or bodily infirmities were unable by their labour to earn their livelihood； but they were for the most part； stout； strong； healthy； sturdy beggars； who； lost to every sense of shame； had embraced the profession from choice； not necessity； and who； not unfrequently； added insolence and threats to their importunity； and extorted that from fear； which they could not procure by their arts of dissimulation。
These beggars not only infested all the streets； public walks； and public places； but they even made a practice of going into private houses； where they never failed to steal whatever fell in their way； if they found the doors open； and nobody at home； and the churches were so full of them that it was quite a nuisance； and a public scandal during the performance of divine service。 People at their devotions were continually interrupted by them； and were frequently obliged to satisfy their de
