Martinet

There is no doubt the term *martinet* is derived from the general officer *M. de Martinet* indicated by MR. C. FORBES, and who was, as Voltaire states, celebrated for having restored and improved the discipline and tactics of the French army; whence very strict officers came to be called *martinets*: but is it also from this restorer of discipline that the name of what we call *cat-o'-nine-tails* is in French *martinet*? This is rather an interesting Query, considering how severely our neighbours censure our use of that auxiliary to discipline.