LS 
et 
a 
SKETCHES OF THE STRENGTH AND FORCE OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA. 
eourage America to quarrel with Spain, with 
Portugal, or with eee Britain; but the 
republic will reserve to herself the objects 
of their differences, as a pledge of their future 
tranquillity.” 
As to the military force of France, it 
appears* to be equal to the military 
force of the rest of Europe, Russia ex- 
cepted ; “ the peace of Nimeguen ‘made 
the dominions of Louis XIV. the most 
compact and populous kingdom in Eu- 
rope: that of Utrecht extended them to 
Spain and the Indies, and a natural con- 
sequence was the consolidation of the 
military preponderance of that monar- 
chy. ‘The present situation of Holland, 
Germany, and Italy, was then foreseen, 
and the rising of Great Britain itself was 
predicted.” . It. is shrewdly and sneer- 
ingly remarked, that the former was the 
* preliminary’ to the subjection of Eu- 
rope, and the latter the ‘ definitive treaty :’ 
the one put France in an offensive posi- 
tion, the other destroyed the defensive 
means of all her neighbours. 
From this general view of the subject 
it appears, then, that 
«The political advantages which the re- 
wblic, in a military point of view, possesses, 
in preference to her neighbours, are, 
*« 1, An immense, secure, annual revenue. 
« We have already observed, that the Eu- 
ropean territory and industry of France are 
capable of producing, without inconveniency 
to the public, 30,000,0001. sterling to govern- 
ment. 
«* Or, if we take fifteen per cent. as a me- 
dium assessment by cadastre, of the property 
and income of the nation, it will give the said 
sum and upwards. 
«* From these thirty millions deduct about 
- two millions, which the consulate is yet 
pleased to allow to the creditors of the state, 
and there will remain a clear and unencum- 
313 
bered revenue of 28,000,000. sterling. A 
sum equal to, if not exceeding the unencum- 
bered part of the revenues ofall the inde- 
pendent governments of Europe. Add to 
this, that, in all other European states, the 
public imposts, as they are raised, amount to 
upwards of thirty percent. upon the income 
of the taxable part of the community. 
«2. The military organization of the re- 
public. 
«« By the conscription-laws, every male is 
liable to serve in the lowest military capacity : 
there is neither legal exemption nor privi- 
leged preferment : and consequently, there is 
no subject for jealousy in the army, nor for 
digcontent in the community. In France 
upwards of six millions of men are able to 
carry arms; of these, two millions and a 
half are between 18 and 23. Any number of 
these young men may be armed and put in 
motion by a parole d’ordre ; for both the le- 
gislation and sovereignty of the republic are 
in the staff of the army: the. military is the 
only road to consideration and power. And 
such is now the reputation ofthat profession, 
that, to avoid the contempt of the public, it 
is necessary either to serve or to haye seryed. 
These are advantages which no other govern- 
ment possesses. f 
«© 3. The frontiers and avant-posts of the 
republic. 
«In a defensive point of view, since the 
meridian of the Roman power to the present 
time, no state had ever its frontiers so judici- 
ously covered as those of the French repub- 
lic now are. The strength of the frontier 
lines of monarchical France has often been 
proved ; the subjugation of Holland, Swit- 
zeriand, and Italy, render those lines now, 
We may say, inaccessible. Those vassal auxi- 
liaries, being acknowledged by the rest of 
stupified Europe as independent states, may 
either serve as neutral outworks, or will have 
to maintain Freirek armies sufficient to op- 
pose any force that can_ he brought against 
them. Considered as offensive, the strength 
of her frontiers, and the localities of her se- 
veral dependents, must necessarily give to the 
* For the several data from which this and other inferences are drawn we must refer to the 
‘volume itself: to state them all would he to transcribe it. 
t “The absurd declamations and fallacious reports, which we daily see in the Lendon-news- 
apers, respecting the tyranny of the conscription and the desertion of the young men in 
rance, deserve no attention ; they only shew, that those writers are as little acquainted with 
the military institutions of other countries as they are with the present state of the republic. 
In every part of continental Europe, thé lower orders of the community are as immediately 
subject to military service as they are in France; and with that aggravating difference, that 
the baptism of every male is the act of his enrolment ; infirmity or death isthe only term 
to which he can look forward for release ; neither talents, bravery, nor other merit, can ad- 
vance the rank or better the condition of an European bondman. © {t should likewise be con- 
sidered, that it is not the low situation in which the great majority of mankind is placed 
that induces them to complain of their lot, it is the difference they see between themselves 
and others that makes thein dissatisfied and op 
pose their superiors ; in as far as relates to the 
conscription system in France this difference is professed ‘to be done away, and the mass of 
the nation rejoice at it. Besides, we know fora certainty, that it is only the rich and easy 
who complain of military tyranny ; 
Operations of government.” 
and their 
desertion will rather. facilitate than impede the 
} 
Re 6} ame ae mer. ’ - 
eee eee: ae ee 
