FRANCE. H* 



with a mod extenfive coaft, the compadt- 

 nefs of its form, the ftrength of its natural 

 boundaries, except in one part, and there 

 its artificial works, fo as to be called the 

 very horns of the bull. When we look 

 upon the numerous, large, deep, and navi- 

 gable rivers which interfeft it in every part : 

 in fine, when we calculate the extent of 

 its territory, and find it to amount to above 

 an hundred millions of acres, when England 

 is not thirty, and England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, not above fixty; that, in all the 

 the vaft territory of France, the foil is far 

 better upon an average than that of the 

 Britifh iflands---that the climate is infinitely 

 fuperior, and its productions much richer. 

 When all thefe things are confidered, is 

 it not amazing, that, in any national wars 

 or difputes, in which each kingdom tries 

 the depth of its refources, that the fcale of 

 France (hould fo far preponderate, as to 

 make Britain, and all her neighbours, 

 tremble ? 



In faft, this was once the cafe, while 

 the territory of this great kingdom was well 

 cultivated, and agriculture tolerably encou- 

 raged, which was, from the time of Henry 



the 



