Statistical Notices^ 



industry of the agriculturist, and it is in this that the rea 

 advantages of commerce primarily consist. In this way an 

 extensive population is gradually generated, for no maxim or 

 political economy is now more generally admitted, than that 

 population is sure to follow close and to press hard against the 

 means of subsistence. An affluence of inhabitants on a com- 

 paratively small territory, is itself the primary ingredient, of 

 power, and this first requisite of strength is, in the case< i>f 

 Great Britain, essentially corroborated by our insular situation. 

 Surrounded by dangerous coasts and tempestuous seas, we can 

 only be approached at certain points and certain times ; whilst, 

 on the other hand, as this state of things supposes and sup- 

 ports a powerful navy, we are able in a great degree jtQ,chDQSfi 

 our point of attack. ohviao r * dud ' 16 



From a population such as we have described, of which only 

 a very limited part is employed in creating the means of actual 

 subsistence, a very considerable portion may always be ab- 

 stracted for purposes of attack or defence. It is usually cal- 

 culated, that one-fifth part of the inhabitants of every country 

 is capable of bearing arms. On this calculation, Great Britain 

 contains four millions of fighting men, of whom it is believed 

 One million might be formed into an army without any very 

 serious interruption to the essential operations of agriculture 

 and commerce. This supposition may seem a little extrava- 

 gant, but it must be recollected that, at one period during the 

 late war, the number of men under arms was actually calculated 

 at seven hundred and fifty thousand. .'< 



In the second place, such a state of things is favourable to 

 public liberty. The congregation of men in great masses is 

 found to give great force to the influence of public opinion ; 

 by the spirit of discussion which it generates ; by the anxiety 

 for intelligence which it diffuses ; by the collisions of opinion 

 which it engenders, and by the facility of union which it 

 affords. Nations purely or principally agricultural are gene- 

 rally under a despotic government, especially large states, for 

 the maxim of divide et impera is applicable as well to internal 

 as to external politics. Ancient Persia and Assyria, and 

 modern Russia and Poland, are instances in point. The fierce 

 and demoralizing tyranny of the feudal system, which, after 



