Chap. X. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 219- 



* of the country, fo that it needs no foreen fupplies of men.' Now, 

 in this refped, let us compare the iimding armies of Europe 

 with the Egyptian military eftabliftunenc or with the feudal miliria, 

 which was not very long ago in Euro; :. 1 he foldiers of a ftand- 

 ing army are little better than vagabonds, who have neither houfc 

 nor home, nor any thing of value, for which it is worth their 

 while to hazard their lives: So that it would be ridiculous to ex- 

 hort them to fight pro arts et Jocis. as the antients exhorted their 

 foldiers. And as to what Diodorus thinks of the greateft in.portance 

 in the Egyptian militia, the increafe of the people, there are tew 

 of our foldiers married ; and of their children, 1 am aff;aid, a very 

 bad account is got. So that the race of the ftrongeft and ableft bo- 

 died men among us, fuch as the foldiers are or ought to be, may be 

 faid to be loft to the country. Now, this muft have a very great 

 effe£t, not only upon the numbers, but upon the fize and ftrength 

 of men in the country. 



E c 3 CHAP, 



