AGRICULTURE Olf THE RHINE. 43 



tne landowner be not altogether freed from the chances of 

 this greater evil, it is a benefit fully recognised on all 

 sides that the smaller calamity is effectually removed. 



Even the chance of a European war is now nearly 

 reduced to the display of the means required to check the 

 periodical ebullitions of one restless power, by whom 

 central Europe is kept in a state of continual alarm. The 

 Prussians have almost solely to thank their French neigh- 

 bours lor the immense military establishment that is 

 supported by the devotion of the people to their king 

 and their national institutions. Every man is enrolled 

 between the age of eighteen and forty, either in the stand- 

 ing army or the militia, the first draft of which, comprising 

 men from twenty-five to thirty-five years of age, forms 

 the military strength of the nation. This arrangement 

 has been sneered at by superficial tourists ; but they have 

 not told us by what other means M. Thiers would have 

 been prevented from invading Germany in 1840. The 

 French minister had then a good opportunity of executing 

 a " coup " at sea, where he was well prepared. He was 

 prevented from attempting it by the imposing attitude 

 maintained by 400,000 Prussians and as many Austrians, 

 well equipped, with horses and artillery in abundance. 



Again a change comes over the spirit of our dream, 

 and the edicts of the ministers Stein and Hardenberg not 

 only recognise the ownership of the soil in the peasant's 

 hands, but allow him to redeem, at a moderate valuation, 

 all dues and services, whether in labour, in kind, or in 

 money. The advantage of this somewhat violent release 

 from dependence must be tested by two standards : first, 

 the tendency to abuse the position of the landlord towards 

 his dependent cultivator; secondly, the advantage at- 



