The usual pay of the French engineers was, from vingt ecus or two pounds ten shillings up to one hundred ecus or 4l. 10s. English, per month, according to each individual’s length of service, peculiar talents, or appointment. Persons were received as engineers by the superintendant of the board of ordnance, after having passed a mathematical examination; and the situation was the more eagerly sought after, inasmuch as it led to the highest military post; as that of marshal of France, to which the celebrated Vauban was promoted.
In 1755, the French engineers were formed into one corps, under the name of the royal corps of artillery and engineers; the principal officers of which communicated with the secretary of war, and received through him the king’s orders.
No country has ever paid so much attention to the art of engineering, as France has under all her vicissitudes; and this has arisen not so much from a natural predilection to that peculiar study, as from a conviction of its utility in all warlike operations, but most especially in sieges. This class of military men was, however, extremely neglected, until the reign of Louis the XIVth. Few ever saw, or were present at above five or six sieges; being either wounded at the beginning, or during the operations of a siege. They seldom indeed, witnessed the termination of it; and from the want of engineers, the investment of a town or fortified place became tedious, and many lives were unnecessarily lost. Louis the XIVth, by his personal appearance and attention gave fresh life to his army, and instilled into every part of it a spirit of subordination, which had been hitherto unknown. He was actuated by a thorough conviction, that in every species of offensive and defensive operation the use of artillery, under the guidance of scientific men, was essentially requisite. In no instance however, does the skill of an able engineer appear so much to advantage as in the attack of a fortified place. This the king witnessed himself, and on that account he considerably increased the number of engineers. Persons of the first distinction became candidates for situations in that honorable body.
Whenever there was a deficiency during a siege of subordinate engineers or ingénieurs en second, it was usual among the French to select lieutenants or sub-lieutenants from the different infantry corps to superintend the works, and to see that the workmen did their duty. They received an additional pay of ten ecus, or one pound five shillings per month, in consideration of this extra service, and their being selected in this manner was a sure step to the rank and emoluments of an engineer. It has been very justly observed by a French writer, that every infantry officer should be acquainted with field fortification at least; for a thousand instances occur, in which the immediate assistance of an engineer is required, and to which in actual service, it is impossible for the regularly bred officer of that establishment to pay personal attention. We allude among other cases, to the temporary defence of out-posts, to the laying and springing of fougasses, &c.
Before the revolution, the frontier towns and other fortified places belonging to France were under the direction of 350 engineers, called ingénieurs du roi, who were subordinate to one director general.
All instructions relative to the fortifications passed through the latter officer to the king.
All engineers were subject to the orders that the commissary general thought proper to issue, with respect to the attack or defence of places, the construction of works, &c. and they were further directed to see, that all the necessary implements for a siege were duly provided. They gave in a weekly report to the director general of the progress and state of the works, and had authority to draw upon the treasury for whatever sums were wanted to pay the contractors. Every engineer was particularly enjoined to see that the contractors furnished good materials.
INGLEZ, Ind. The English are so called by the natives of Bengal: they are frequently called Feringhees, that is strangers, Wullaget, which signifies to the country. Americans are called Nia-Feringhees, or new strangers, or foreigners.
INHIBITION. See [Embargo].
INN-HOLDERS. In England, persons who have a licence to enable them to sell spirituous liquors, beer, &c. and who are obliged by the conditions specified in that license, to provide victuals and beer for military men, under certain restrictions. See 39th and 40th Geo. III. Cap. 27. Art. XLI. XLII. XLIII.