O18 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
T sometimes happens that a specious 
proposition once established, main- 
tains its ground long after its fallacy has 
been exposed. Innumerable proofs of 
this truth might be cited, but I shall 
content myself with one: that ** Money 
is the sinews of war.” It is a sentiment 
and a form of expression continually in 
the mouths of modern politicians, al- 
though the opinion was. satisfactorily 
shewn to be erroneous three hundred 
years ago by Machiavelli, in his Reflec- 
tions on the first Decade of Livy; a work 
in itself sufficient to form a statesman, 
and instruct him in the science of go- 
vernment. Such a treatise, at all times 
yaluable, is at the present period capable, 
of inspiring extraordinary interest; nay, 
more, it is capable of healing the poli- 
tical wounds which have wasted the life- 
stream of the British empire, and again 
entitling us to command the respect and 
admiration of surrounding nations. 
- Machiavelli’s refutation of the doctrine 
that money is the sinews of war, is con- 
tained in the tenth chapter of the second 
book of the Reflections on Livy, and runs 
as follows: “ That Money is not the sinews 
of war, although itis the generally re- 
ceived opinion.” 
‘© We can commence war at plea- 
sure, but we cannot terminate it in the 
same manner. It is therefore the duty 
of a prince, before he engages in an 
€nterprize, to ascertain his strength, and 
yegulate his designs accordingly. He 
ought to be careful not to deceive him- 
self on this examination, which he infale 
libly must do if he calculates on the basis 
of his pecuniary resources, his geogra- 
phical position, or the friendship of his 
allies. These advantages considerably 
augment his real strength, but they do 
not constitute it.. Considered alone, and 
by themselves, they are a mere nullity, 
nor can they be of any service to him 
unless he has a well-disciplined and brave 
army. Without such troops all the trea- 
sures in the world are nothing. The 
strength of a country cannot defend it 
alone; the fidelity and the friendship of 
allies wear out; if you are unable to de- 
fend them in your turn, they will no 
longer be faithful. | Mountains, lakes, 
and places of the most difficult access, 
present few difficulties when deprived of 
valiant defenders. ‘Treasures, instead 
of serving you, will only tend to excite. 
the cupidity of the invading army: in- 
Money not the Sinews of War. 
[Jan. 1, 
deed, there isno opinion more false, thani 
that money is the sinews of war. 
“The doctrine was first broached by 
Quintus Curtius, in speaking ef the war 
of Antipater king of Macedon, against 
Lacedemon. He relates that, for want 
of money, the king ef Sparta was com- 
pelled to give battle, and was defeated. 
If he had been able to defer it a few 
days, intelligence ef the death of Alex- 
ander would have arrived, and he would 
have remained conqueror without striking 
a blow; but being in want of money, 
and feariny that his army would mutiny 
and abandon him for want of pay, he 
was obliged to run the risk of a battle: 
and from thence Quintus,Curtius takes 
an occasion of saying, that money is the 
sinews of war. 
“‘ This maxim is every day held forth as 
a political maxim, and the princes who 
confide in it more than they ought to do, 
regulate their conduct according to this 
prejudice, which infatuates them, so as 
to make them believe that great trea", 
sures are sufficient for their defence 
They do not perceive that if it were 
really so, Darius would have conquered 
Alexander, the Greeks have triumphed 
over the Romans; in more modern times 
the Duke Charles would have beaten the 
Swiss, and the Florentines would not 
have had so many difficulties to surmount 
against Francis Maria, nephew of Juliug 
the Second, in the war af Urbino, 
“ All the above powers have'been con- 
quered by those who did not think that 
money was the sinews of war, but good 
troops. Among the objects of curiosity 
which Croesus king of Lydia showed 
Solon, was an immense treasure, What 
think you of my power, said the king, 
on showing it to him, It is not by this 
mass of gold that I can judge of it, ree 
plied the philosopher; it is with tie 
sword and not with gold that you make 
war, and he who can bring more arms 
into the field than yourself, may soon bee 
come master of your treasures, 
“ After the death of Alexander the 
Great, animmense horde of Gauls overran 
Greece and afterwards Asia. - They bil 
ambassadors to the king of Macedon, to 
conclude with him a treaty of peace. 
That monarch, to give them a splendid 
idea af his power, and to dazzle their 
eyes with his maguificence, cauged to be 
displayed all his gold and treasurés. The 
ambassadors of the Gauls, who had nearly 
concluded the treaty, broke it off; sé 
anxious were they'to possess his riches; 
I a "and 
