GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. CXV 



truths upon which the prosperity of states depends, with a 

 particular application of them to this island. He has, 

 however, only drawn the outline, and filled up two or 

 three detached parts, reserving the minute investigation of 

 the whole subject for other works, (b) 



According to his usual method, he commences the tract 

 by clearing the way, in the removal of some erroneous 

 opinions, on the dependence of government upon extent 

 of territory; upon wealth; upon fruitfulness of soil; 

 and upon fortified towns. Each of these subjects it was 

 his intention to have separately considered, but he has in 

 this fragment completed only the two first sections. 



To expose the error, that the strength of a kingdom de- Extent of 

 pends upon the extent of territory, &quot; Look/ he says, &quot; at terntol T- 

 the kingdom of Persia, which extended from Egypt to 

 Bactria and the borders of the East, and yet was over 

 thrown and conquered by a nation not much bigger than 

 the isle of Britain. Look, too, at the state of Rome, which, 

 when too extensive, became no better than a carcass, 

 whereupon all the vultures and birds of prey of the world 

 did seize and ravine for many ages ; as a perpetual monu 

 ment of the essential difference between the scale of miles 

 and the scale of forces : and that the natural arms of each 

 province or the protecting arms of the principal state, 

 may, when the territory is too extensive, be unable to 

 counteract the two dangers incident to every government, 

 foreign invasion and inward rebellion.&quot; 



Having thus generally refuted this erroneous opinion, he 

 beautifully explains that the power of territory, as to ex- 



(6) See vol. v. p. 311 ; also see his treatise on the Art of Government, 

 which he notified the next year, and published in the decline of his life ; 

 see Advancement of Learning in fine, vol. ii. p. 295, and de Augmentis, 

 vol. ix. p. 72; and see his essay on the true Greatness of Kingdoms and 

 States, vol. i. p. 97. 



