NAVY. 89 



teer rifle clubs. It is upon these latter that the safety of a 

 country will much depend in case of an invasion. With a 

 very little management and at a trifling expense, Sweden 

 might have at her command 50,000 volunteer rifle 

 men men of good blood, in the prime of life, who if 

 properly armed, and fighting in their own country, would 

 be very little if at all inferior to the ordinary land 

 soldiers. 



It does not appear now to be England's policy to inter, 

 fere with foreign quarrels ; and whether it was foolish or 

 wise in her not to assist Denmark in the late struggle, I am 

 not politician enough to say. Whether or no she has lost 

 her prestige among European powers by not doing so, 

 I think matters very little. I do not consider that for many 

 years England has had one really true friend in Europe. 

 And there is not a European power who would not be sin- 

 cerely glad to see her embroiled in a quarrel from which 

 she could not extricate herself. No one but Englishmen who 

 are living abroad can see with what jealousy, I may almost 

 say hatred, England is regarded by nearly every foreign 

 power, and it behoves her just now to be very careful how 

 she casts the first stone. All I trust is, that she never will 

 be taunted into fighting. But if it is once shown that it is 

 her duty to fight, I for one feel pretty confident, notwith- 

 standing all the sneers not only of foreigners but even of 

 many of her own countrymen, that the good old British 

 war-cry of " Heaven prosper the right," will be found to 

 have lost none of its ancient meaning. 



The Swedish fleet consists of 8 line-of-battle ships 

 (2 steamers and 6 sailing vessels) ; 6 frigates (1 screw 

 and 5 sailing ships); 6 brigs; 18 schooners; 88 gun 

 sloops (consisting of 12 steamers and 76 sailing ves- 

 sels) ; 6 small steamers; 112 gun boats (a very effective 

 force on this rocky island-studded coast) ; 12 small tran- 

 sports. In all 24 steamers, 237 sailing vessels, with 1215 

 cannons. 



The Norwegian army consists of troops of the line, 

 19,511 men; land troops, 15,604 men. In all, 35,115 men. 



