Trading Towns defended by the Burghers themselves; and is not This the Cafe of the Swiss Cantons, as well as of feveral free States in Italy and Germany?

But fuppofing there were no fuch Inftances at prefent, and that mercenary Armies were grown fashionable all over Europe; why muft We follow the Example of other Nations, without the fame Reafon; fince the Sea is our Frontier, and will effectually preferve us from any fudden Infults and Incurfions? In Queen Elizabeth's Reign, the Spaniards maintain'd a large standing Army in Flanders, which is as near us as France; and yet that wife Princess did not think it neceffary to secure Herfelf, or to curb her People, with the fame mercenary Forces, though Philip was her implacable Enemy, and there was a powerful Party in the Kingdom, continually plotting against her Life. Nay, even when the mighty Armada, compofed of regular Troops, was just ready to burft upon Her, She trufted to the antient Defence of the Kingdom, and advanced against Them at the Head of her Train'd Bands.- .I fhould therefore be glad to know the Reasons why a Militia may not be riade as capable of defending their Country now, as in ber Time.

I would not be thought to mean that our prefent untrain'd Bands are fit for this Service, or indeed for any Service, befides furnishing the Town with a ridiculous Diverfion, and cramming their Bellies, at the Expence of their industrious Fellow-Subjects. For this Reafon, They have been long laid afide, for the Eafe of the People, in all the Counties of England, except MiddleSex; where there feems, at prefent, to be the leaft Occafion for them; and where an Intermiffion, for one Year, gave the Inhabitants Reafon to hope for a continued Relief, as long as it fhall be judged neceffary to keep up fo large a Number of regular Forces. But We may fee, even from this Inftance, how hard it is to deliver ourselves from an Army, of any Kind, when once

Liberties; nor with any Complaints of burthenfome Taxes and Impofitions to fupport them.

But to This it hath been objected, by the honourable Gentleman and his Advocates, that the Circumftances of Europe are intirely alter'd in this Refpect; that formerly the Armies of all Nations confifted in Militias only; whereas, at prefent, there is no State in Europe, which does not keep up a Body of regular Forces; and therefore it is abfolutely neceffary for Us to do the fame, for our own Security.

I have drawn up this Objection in its full Force, and will now give it a particular Reply.

In the Art Place, I must confefs, and I do it very freely, that Militias were originally the only landing Force in all Nations; but how came these popular Guards to be turn'd into mercenary Armies ? I am afraid We shall find, upon Examination, that this Alteration took Place much about the fame Time that other Alterations were made in the Conftitution of their Government, and when most of the free States of Europe were converted into abfolute Monarchies. Nay, if We enquire a little farther, I believe it will appear that, in every particular State, the Lofs of Liberty and the Eftablishment of ftanding Armies have conftantly gone Hand in Hand; or that one hath been immediately fucceeded by the other.

I must therefore take the Liberty to obferve, that This is a very bad Argument for perpetuating a standing Army in England, and carries the most infamous Reflection on his prefent Majefty's Reign.

The other Part of the Objection (that there is no State, at prefent, in Europe, which does not keep up a Body of regular Forces,) I take to be falfe; or at leaft fo, in fome Degree; for are there no Inftances of any Countries, now in Europe, where Militias are intrufted with the Safeguard of the Community? Even in Holland itfelf (though fituated on the Continent, near powerful Neighbours) are not the Inland and

Trading Towns defended by the Burghers themselves; and is not This the Cafe of the Swiss Cantons, as well as of feveral free States in Italy and Germany?

But fuppofing there were no fuch Inftances at prefent, and that mercenary Armies were grown fashionable all over Europe; why muft We follow the Example of other Nations, without the fame Reafon; fince the Sea is our Frontier, and will effectually preferve us from any fudden Infults and Incurfions? In Queen Elizabeth's Reign, the Spaniards maintain'd a large standing Army in Flanders, which is as near us as France; and yet that wife Princess did not think it neceffary to fecure Herfelf, or to curb her People, with the fame mercenary Forces, though Philip was her implacable Enemy, and there was a powerful Party in the Kingdom, continually plotting against her Life. Nay, even when the mighty Armada, compofed of regular Troops, was just ready to burst upon Her, She trufted to the antient Defence of the Kingdom, and advanced against Them at the Head of her Train'd Bands.. I fhould therefore be glad to know the Reasons why a Militia may not be made as capable of defending their Country now, as in ber Time.

I would not be thought to mean that our prefent untrain'd Bands are fit for this Service, or indeed for any Service, befides furnishing the Town with a ridiculous Diverfion, and cramming their Bellies, at the Expence of their industrious Fellow-Subjects. For this Reafon, They have been long laid afide, for the Eafe of the People, in all the Counties of England, except MiddleSex; where there feems, at prefent, to be the leaft Occafion for them; and where an Intermiffion, for one Year, gave the Inhabitants Reafon to hope for a continued Relief, as long as it fhall be judged neceffary to keep up fo large a Number of regular Forces. But We may fee, even from this Inftance, how hard it is to deliver ourselves from an Army, of any Kind, when once

eftablifh'd; fo juft is that witty Sarcafm of the late Mr. Gay;

Soldiers are perfect Devils in their Way,

When once They're raised, They're curfed hard to lay.

But nothing can be more abfurd and contrary to Reason than to fuppofe that the Militia cannot be made ufeful.From whence is our prefent Army raised and recruited but from the Body of the People ?

Are there not Multitudes ftill left behind, made of the fame rugged Materials; capable of undergoing the fame Hardships; and fearless to partake in the fame Dangers? Is the requifite Knowledge and Art of a common Soldier fo very hard to be attain'd; or does the calling a Man by a different Name, and clapping a red Coat upon his Back make fuch a wonderful Change in his Conftitution? May not a great Part of the prefent Army, when disbanded, and even fome of the Officers, be incorporated into the Militia; and will They lofe any Part of their Courage, or their Skill by fuch an Alteration? But it is ridiculous to propofe any Scheme, of this Kind, whilft there is fo manifeft a Difinclination to the Thing itself; and whilft no Pains are spared to make the Militia contemptible, as well as ulele's. Whenever any Man in Power fhall think fit to fet about fuch a Work in earnest, and upon an honest Plan, He will not want Propofals and Affillance enough to effect. it. God knows many Things, of a more difficult and intricate Nature, have been accomplish'd with incredible Success!

But if it fhould be ftill infifted on, that the Circumftances of Europe are fo much alter'd, as to put us on a Level with our Neighbours on the Continent; if our Situation on an Island is become of fo much lefs Secu rity than it was a Century ago; if our Navy and Militia are grown of little or no Ufe; but it is abfolutely neceffary, for the Safety of the prefent, royal Family,

to perpetuate a numerous standing Army in this Kingdom; if This, I fay, fhould be our Cafe; what is to be done? Is it not incumbent upon us, as a free People, to think of fome farther Regulations, which may render this Army as little dangerous as poffible to the Publick, as well as uneafy to the Officers themselves, by afcertaining the Road to military Preferments, making their Commiffions lefs precarious, and their Conduct, in other Stations, equally independent with the reft of their Fellow-Subjects.

D.

N° 341. SATURDAY, Jan. 13, 1732-3.

To CALEB D'ANVERS, Efq;

SIR,

I

Fancy you must be fomewhat fatigued with your late laborious Enquiries into Excifes and standing Armies; and that it will not be difagreeable to you to breathe a little If therefore you will accept a Turn from a Friend, (as foine of our modern Divines call it) lend me your Pulpit, and I will preach a Saturday's Lecture for you.

We remember very well, on the Conclufion of the late Treaty of Vienna, how much and how loudly your Adverfaries exulted. The Vanity of their Hearts dilated, and they triumph'd in Concert. They cry'd aloud, now Mr. D'Anvers must drop his Pen. Affairs are quite fettled abroad; and our Patron may fleep in Peace. Poor old Caleb will die of the Spleen, for Want of publick Errors to animadvert upon. You very foon fatisfy'd thefe Gentlemen that They were muitaken in this Point. You convinced Them that our