IF a ftate trufts wholly to a mercenary army, and it happens to be defeated and cut off, where fhall they find another to face the victorious enemy? one victory proves decifive to their freedom, and the difarmed people are obliged to yield to the enemy. But fhould an enemy land in an island whose coafts are guarded with a fleet able to cut off their retreat; and whofe strength is in a well-disciplined militia; where the whole people are taught the use of arms; they encounter a many headed monfter, that multiplies by the blood of their fellow citizens, and Anteus-like, gains ftrength by its fall. A militia in this nation was never conquered, and when one part of it has been worfted, another more formidable always rofe up to face the invader.

By a militia the nation prevents the great increase of half-pay officers, which is intailed upon the revenue at every reduction of a mercenary army, and delivers the people from the hazardous effects of a parliament crowded with a military power, obfequious to the ministerial

nod.

A militia would not only relieve us of the burthen of a standing army; but it would fecure our liberties from the danger of being overturned, as they were once, by a parliamentary army. I do not say that the nation has any immediate reason to dread the like ufurpation of power by the army that now exifteth; but it is certain, the parliament had not always the power to difband an army when they had a mind to

it. Therefore no affections for a good king ought to patronize a measure, which might be made use of under a wicked administration, to the difarming of the people.

A government would gain the affection and efteem of the people in general, and be more refpected by their neighbours, did they trust in a militia, rather than a numerous mercenary army because fuch an army is an indication of diftruft between them and the people. But the militia convinces thofe, who defire to disturb our peace, that while our navy carries terror and defolation to their coafts, we are able to protect our own against the most powerful invader. And no minifter ought to dread any bad effects from a well regulated and difciplined militia in this ifland, unless he is grafping at more power than the freedom of our conftitution allows him.

THEREFORE let the militia be restored, and Britain will have nothing to fear from foreign or domeftic foes. It will deter the ambitious and perfidious from infefting our coafts, and raifing up factions amongst us. It will deprive the advocate for fubfidiary forces and a standing army, of those ruinous arguments, with which they raise money, only to be confumed: there would be no time loft, nor reputation facrificed in fruitless negotiations, neutralities, and unprofitable treaties. The genius of Britain would once more revenge the indignities offered by our perfidious neighbours; and our hopes

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hopes would be crowned with peace, and with the fecurity both of our liberties and trade.

Q:

No. 20. SATURDAY, December 20, 1755:

Tanquam magis ullum populo bellum fit, quam cum eis, qui legum ferendarum caufa creati, nibil juris in civitate relinquerent.

To the BRITISH

SIR,

W

TIT. LIV.

FREEHOLDER.

HILE we are alarmed with great preparations, and faddled with large impofitions on our eftates, for carrying on a war with France: while the nation is divided into parties, on the fubject of the new method of making alliances by fubfidiary treaties and whether Hr or the British Empire in America is to be the object of our care, it becomes the Freeholder to take his part in the debate.

TELL the contending parties what Livy writes of the Roman people, preffed by a faction in their fenate. He advifes them first to purge the ftate of thofe, who fluck neither at corruption nor oppreffion to maintain their power, and then to unite against the common enemy. What war, fays he, can be

of

of more confequence to the people, than that which is levelled against thofe, who, entrusted with the legislative power, would leave neither right nor justice in the ftate?

WHAT reafon Livy had for this admonition, which, though not fo laconic, is equal to the royal proverb, Take away the wicked from before the King, and his throne shall be eftablifhed in righteoufnefs; may be collected from the corrupt state of the Roman fenate, when it was deferving of that fevere reproach,

O urbem venalem, fi emptorem inveniffet! intimating, that they, who had been chofen to make laws for the well-being of the commonwealth, and to prevent any encroachments on those laws, either by force or corruption, were become fo venal, as to be ready to fell even the city itself, could there be found any one that would give them their price.

BEFORE that time the path to honour and power was by virtuous and great actions; but then money without merit opened the door of preferment, at which fools and knaves entered, in fuch droves, as left very little room for the admiffion of honeft men. Then it seemed a crime to be virtuous; and the people, by taking bribes for their votes, fet fuch a bar to their complaints, that they were afraid to complain, when their fenators made inerchandize of their liberties and property, and joined those at the head of the government, who in the disposal of confulthips, governments of provinces, com

mands

mands of armies, and every public employment, regarded neither the merits nor fervices of the candidates; but difpofed of every place to fuch only, as would join with them in meafures ruinous to the people.

How near have fome modern ftates copied this example? we need only mention the iniquitous practices in the reign of Charles II. which brought this nation to the very brink of deftruction; when men of virtue, untainted probity, and love to their country, ran the hazard of being ruined by levelling their ftrength, wisdom and integrity against those, who entrufted with the legislative power, would leave neither right nor juftice in the state; when the parliament, the ftrength and glory of Britain, was filled with a band of abject penfioners: when the King of England debased his crown by taking a bribe from France, to the prejudice of his people: and when the nation wept at the fight of their fenators cloathed with the badge of flavery, and doing the most abject drudgery for cloaths and fuftenance.

THE hirelings retained by the court in that illuftrious body were fo numerous, that if any point were there carried on England's fide, it feldom had the majority of more than two or three voices and in the contended election between Mr. Trenchard and Mr. Bertie, the latter carried it by a refolution, that thirteen was more than one and twenty. And when the good old laws were produced in bar of their proceedings,