ported by the weight of Adam Smith's authority, who contends that "it is only by means of a standing army that the civilization of any country can be perpetuated or even preserved for any considerable length of time.” *

This is a remarkable passage in the writings of a man who has afforded texts for so many commentators, and for those who delight in stringing together axioms, instead of examining their truth or reference to the point at issue; I am therefore induced to give from my notes another passage from the works of this philosopher.

Civilization promoted and perpetuated by means of a standing army." As it is only by means of a well regulated standing army that a civilized country can be defended, so it is only by means of it that a barbarous country can be suddenly and tolerably civilized. A standing army establishes, with an irresistible force, the law of the sovereign through the remotest provinces of the empire, and maintains some degree of regular government in countries which could not otherwise admit of any. Whoever examines with attention the improvements which Peter the Great introduced into the Russian empire, will find they almost all resolve themselves into the establishment

The foregoing are thus officered in the higher ranks :—

How far any change in the distribution of officers might be made, is another question.

• Book I. chap i. p. 68.

of a well regulated standing army.* It is the instrument which executes and maintains all his other regula

At a moment when so much attention is turned to the Russian army, the following recent statistical detail, by M. Niellon Gilbert, will be acceptable to the reader. At the present period the Russian army is greater than the force here stated:

To these are to be added, first, 12,000 men of every class from the military colonies, where they have been formed for service with the most rigorous discipline; and, next, the troops called garrison regiments, who are armed, equipped, and exercised in the same way as the troops of the line, with the exception of wearing a grey uniform, instead of the green which is common to the troops of the line, in which also it is of rather a superior quality. These garrison regiments are employed principally as militia are in other countries, and also for the protection of fortresses and the escort of prisoners; but they are liable to be called into service in the same way as the regular troops their number is estimated at 60,000. The irregular cavalry, in which are included all the Cossacks, already trained to the warfare for which they are found to be so useful and enduring, are calculated at 50,000, that being the number which can be called out with ease, although it is supposed that a third more than that number might be brought forward without much difficulty. The total force of the Russian army, either in actual service or liable to be called out at a short notice, is

At Tula in Russia, more than 700,000 stand of fire-arms and

25,000 side-arms are now annually made.

tions. That degree of order and internal peace which that empire has ever since enjoyed, is altogether owing to the influence of that army."-(Wealth of Nations, Book v. p. 68.)

Do we not see the principles of Dr. Smith acted on in every part of Europe-nay even in the free country of England, (to leave Ireland out of the question)? It may therefore be fairly asked if troops, or whole regiments of cavalry and infantry, be necessary for the preservation of property and peace in Bristol, in Nottingham, in London, are they not so in such a country as India, where there is always floating on its surface about two million of soldiers, who have been compelled by our government to turn their swords into ploughshares, but who are ready at a moment's warning, on the slightest hope of pillage or plunder, or if provided with able and popular leaders, to take up arms?*

Independent therefore of the absolute necessity of retaining the Indian army, without any material reduction, as regards the maintenance of civilization, let attention be directed to the immense line of frontier which it is necessary to protect; surrounded by jealous neighbours, pretended friends,+ or implacable foes. Moreover, forty mil

Every city of any extent in India, particularly in the Western provinces, could in a few hours assemble from 10 to 15,000 fighting men ready for combat; the insurrection at Bareilly is a case in point. It is well known that had the last attack on Bhurtpore failed, one million of men were ready to have disputed with the present government for the sovereignty of India! Sir Henry Strachy, says: "There is here, as elsewhere, a very numerous class of the lower orders, ready to serve under any standard where they can get subsistence. These have no idea of loyalty or disloyalty, except to the masters who support them; they would readily enlist with a foreign power." Even of the Sepoys Sir Henry thus speaks, "The Sepoys are entirely uninstructed as to the form of the government, of the policy of their rulers, and of the justice of their wars: it is in this ignorance and apathy that our strength consists."

The key to India is the valley of Cashmere, now in the possession of that wily old fox, Runjeet, or Ranajit Singh; on his demise, which will soon occur, his territories and his armies, like those of

Alexander,

lion of inhabitants in Lower Bengal are essentially a nonmilitant race, and stand therefore in the light of a protected nation, while their wealth as well as feebleness, render them peculiarly obnoxious to the rapacious invasions of the Burmese, or the no less predatory attacks of their braver but poorer countrymen.* A little reflection will teach, that an army of 100,000 men in Bengal, for the protection of 40,000,000 human beings in a flat, swampy country, where there are no natural means of defence, is any thing but an extravagant military establishment.

Independent of these considerations it has been correctly observed, that although the East-India Company's troops have gained splendid victories, they have been as dust in the balance when contrasted with the mighty moral power which has preceded as well as attended on their conquests;

Alexander, will be divided among his favourites, for his son is incapable of wielding the power enjoyed by the parent. Intrigues are now going on to a great extent; and it is well to recollect that the possession of Cashmere afforded Mahmood an easy passage for the invasion of India at the head of 130,000 Tartars; and that the plan of Nadir Shah, to check the encroachments of Russia by a fleet in the Caspian sea, would not now be practicable on account of the dubious faith of Persia.

Notwithstanding the peculiar situation of India, her army is actually less in proportion to her people than that of any civilized nation, except the United States of America, as the following table

will shew:

The proportion of Russia is large, but it must be remembered her population, exclusive of Poland, is fifty-five million! and that this population is divided into three classes; the first of which, supplies European troops; the second, in time of war, contributes an irregular force; and the last, or Asiatic tribes, do not afford any military contingent.

when peace has succeeded to anarchy, safety to rapine, and prosperity to desolation.

Were it not foreign to my purpose, I might shew that the officers of the Indian army have distinguished themselves as highly in civil affairs, when employed therein, as they have crowned themselves with laurels whenever their country required their services; I might point to many such characters as Reid, Monro, Carnac, Walker, Malcolm, Bernival, Robertson, Briggs, Duff, Wilks, &c. and prove that the opinion of Sir E. Paget, who would not permit the officers in the Company's army to aspire to civil situations, and who would have "no feelings uppermost with them, but their regimental ones,+" would be as unjust towards the service as it would be impolitic in the state; but I pass on to consider Sir E. Paget's expressions respecting the transfer of the Indian army to the crown.

The gallant officer would unite the Indian army to that of the crown, because the officers of the former have," a sort of spirit of independence among them, which is by no means subsiding, but if possible becoming worse, and which would be remedied by the change proposed!"‡

Long may Britons, whether soldiers or not, cherish a noble spirit of independence;' may they, while mindful of their duty to their God, to their King, and to their country, ever remember what they owe to themselves; and the moment they cease to be, so far as is compatible with their

* If such a rule existed in the British army, would Sir E. Paget have held the civil government of Ceylon? Would many of our foreign ambassadors be military officers? governors of colonies? functionaries of government at home and abroad?. It is true that the policy of the East-India Company has been not to appoint military men to civil situations, but it has been well for their territories that the exceptions to the rule have been numerous, and in no one instance, I believe, has there ever been cause to repent it. + Evidence before the Commons, in May 1832. Evidence before Parliament, 8th May 1832.