bravery of Englishmen, they leave their kingdom unprovided with defence, prefuming that English peasants who have never known the use of arms, because they have never been trusted with them, can repell an invafion from France, of a regular and well-difciplined force. THIS very neglect is a monftrous expence to this kingdom; it renders, a fleet of fhips neceffary to defend their coafts in two or three places, which, after all, are ineffectual where the paffage is fo fhort, if the best feamen are to be credited. By means of this, double the men of war become neceffary for the English, that are for the kingdom of France; the laft deftine none to the defending their coafts, and are at ease about the ill effects which any defcent can caufe, because they confide in a militia well train'd in arms; the English dare not quit theirs, because they have not land forces equal to repel an invafion. AN imitation of their neighbours in this respect would certainly be of infinite use, and pre preferve the nation from that ruin which threat ens it, unless the miniftry may hereafter prevent it, by ruining it themselves: it is difficult to decide with what other view this infatuation, of neglecting all military discipline, can be fuffered amongst the common people. In Paris, I observed a very different turn of thinking; it is the French fashion to talk much of the fuperior excellency of the English, in arms, fcience, and learning; to fo great a degree is that carried, that a gentleman has written a comedy, called the Anglomania; indeed it has never been presented but privately, however, it is fufficient to fhew the prefent reigning difpopofition of the Parifians.. NOTHING can recommend a thing at Paris, more than having it faid in its favour, that it is of English production; our filks, are preferred to their own, and the royal family of France has been more than once cloathed in the manufactures of the English: a gentleman, who is imagined to understand these affairs well, has told me, that the ballance of trade between these two pations, illigit and permitted, is in favour of England; in this however, I am a true catholic, and act on implicit faith. THIS I am fure of, that no scheme will be rejected at Paris, because it comes from London, and none left unrewarded; because I have known feveral that have been well received; tho' there is more than one in this kingdom, who having contrived useful machines, have yet never met reward or encouragement, and at prefent languish in obfcurity, THAT England has once been the deserved wonder of Europe, is certainly indifputable; the fire has blazed extremely bright, and the fuel has been the fooner confumed; the present ministry, whofe duty it is to continue that fupply, are inattentive to the confequence, and confider it poffible for the great particulars to be at eafe and happy, without caring whether the people are or not.. THERE is fcarce a motive to human actions, I mean a laudable one, which is not totally exhaufted; patriotifm, or love of our country, is now ridiculed even in the little boroughs, and ba nished nifhed all polite company; religion has no longer interest fufficient to create a difpute in its favour; even Lord Bolingbroke's pofthumous works do not fell. The minds of the profeffed free-thinkers, are fettled into a thorough conviction, that religion is a plaufible error, and at' present are in no neceffity of reading any thing to confirm them in that idea; and yet this arises from the 4 infufficiency of all kinds of fubjects to move men to read them, and not from improved knowledge, or deeper thinking. THE whole motive to action in this island is the enriching the individual, where every purfuit is lawful, which does not mifcarry; `a man who has held confiderable employments under the crown, to whom the diftribution of tickets was entrusted in the laft lottery, violated the law made on that account, in his own favour immediately, and yet he retains his places, and I hear of no punishment which he is like to undergo. 1 THE fame is to be found in all poffible ways where it is practicable and yet these people Bill believe that sathation can hold together, |