410 
has rarely been omitted to notice the trea- 
chery or imbecility of fome of thofe who 
ferved the Emperor.. The remark is 
nearly related to the dependence placed on 
a ftanding army. Whatever the evil 
might have been, the whole amount was 
the lofs of an army ; a lofs great enough, 
without doubt: but the defence ot a 
country refts on a foundation of ftraw, if 
the lots of an army is the lofs of a king- 
dom. The men able to bear arms in 
England alore would form five-and-twen- 
ty armies, each of an hundred thoufand 
men. The fame proportion would have 
given the Emperor fifty armies equally 
numerous. He refted his hope on two, 
and kept eight-and-forty in the ftate of 
cattle and fheep : they are now eaten up 
likecattle and theep. 
T fay nothing of our navy, the glorious 
and never to be too much commended de- 
fence of this kingdom: for an evident rea- 
fon ; the four hundred thoufand volun- 
teers,.(on paper, at leait,) and the fertifi- 
cations I have feen in Effex, prove that 
our Government is convinced that an in- 
vafion is poffible : if fo, the poffibility 
fhould be guarded againft. 
In the battles of Bonaparte I believe he 
has invariably fought with inferior num 
bers ; and this accounts for his having 
won fo many victories, by turning the 
flanks of his adverfaries. This circum- 
itance fhews that the command of numbers 
is a matter of immentfe confequence. Here 
it is abfolutely our own fault and prefump- 
tion if we do not oppofe him with very fu- 
perior numbers in every engagement that 
could take place. He ought not to land 
an army without having three upon it, as 
foon as might be; one in front, and one 
hanging on each of his wings. With 
troops of the line this may be impoffible to 
effect ; but not fo with a general levy. 
There is one obfervation which ought 
to be very obvious—exaétly in proportion 
to the talents, fkill, and experience in com- 
mand, of thofe who are to lead an invad- 
ing army, will be the neceflity of fupply- 
ing an inferiority in thofe refpects by num- 
bers, preparation, intrenchments, or fome 
counterbalance : the idea of a loft battle or 
two deciding the fate of the kingdom, is 
the laft that is to be admitted for a fingle 
moment, And the fame remark is ap- 
plicable to the fyftem of keeping troops in 
parracks or quarters till the moment they 
are. wanted: to have armies collected in. 
camps, and exercifed in large bodies, pre- 
vicusto afiual fervice, appears.to be an 
advantage which is lof in the contrary 
; 
tran 
a ; 
Pliakle 
The Example of Europe a Warning to Britain, (June 1, 
\ 
The idea which I would moft humbly — 
propofe for confideration is, to pafs an aét 
for a general militia of ail men able to 
bear arms, that is to fay, one-fourth of the 
grofs population of the kingdom, and to 
arm them immediately with pikes ; to 
admit no exemptions but the mott abfo- — 
lutely neceffary ones, and not admit of a 
fubftitute: when all are enrolled that 
could ferve, where are fubftitutes to be 
found ? 
Population returned by the A& of the asft 
of the King. 
No. I. 
Kent, hale 307,624 
Suffex, : - 159,315 
466,935 
Fighting men, - 116,733 
No, IT. 
Surrey, “ 269,043 
Hants, = 219,656 
483,699 
Fighting men, - 122,177 
: No, ITT: 
Norfolk, - 2735371 
MULOIKs 1 te 210,431 
483,802 
Fighting men, - 120,950 
No. IV. 
Effex, : 226,437 
Herts, ° ~ 975577 
Cainbridge, 89,346 
413,360 
Fighting men, - 103,340 
This is fufficient te explain the idea. 
Each maritime diftriét fhould have an- 
other behind it to call out as a referve. 
Were the kingdom thus armed, and for 
fuch a purpofe, as foon as the counties in 
the vicimity of the invafion were called in- 
to the field, all the reft would be alert, in 
exercife every eveniy> without pay, and 
ready to obey the call expected by them- 
felves. 
In the General Defence. Bill the inrol- 
ment was by claffes, refpecting fingle men, 
and married with child:en ; and there 
were reafons for it: but in the meafoure 
néw propofed, this weuld not be praéti- 
cable. To call men frem Northumber- 
jand to Keni, becaufe they ae fingle, 
would 
