it, conſidering they are to have half Pay, which we muſt not expect them hereafter when they have lived in Riot and Luxury. Add to this, we have a good Prince, whoſe Inclinations as well as Circumſtances will oblige him to comply with the reaſonable Deſires of his Poeple. But let us not flatter ourſelves, this will not be always ſo. If the Army ſhould be continued a few Years, they will be accounted part of the Prerogative, and 'twill be thought as great a violation to attempt the diſbanding them, as the Guards in Charles the Second's time; it ſhall be interpreted a deſign to dethrone the King, and be made an Argument for the keeping them up. But there are other Reaſons yet: The public Neceſſities call upon us to contract our Charge, that we may be the ſooner out of Debt and in a Condition to make a new War; and 'tis not the keeping great Armies on foot that will enable us to do ſo, but putting ourſelves in a Capacity to pay them. We have had the experience of this in eight Years War; for we have not been ſucceſsful againſt France in one Battle, and yet we have weighed it down by meer natural Strength, as I have ſeen a heavy Country Booby ſometimes do a nimble Wreſtler: And by the ſame Method (for our Policy, Oeconomy, or Conduct) we muſt encounter them hereafter, and in order to it ſhould put ourſelves in ſuch Circumſtances, that our Enemies may dread a new Quarrel, which can be no otherwiſe done, but by leſſening our Expences, and paying off the public Engagements as faſt as we are able. 'Tis a miſerable thing to conſider that we pay near 4000000 l. a Year upon the account of Funds, no part whereof can be applied to the public Service, un leſs they deſign to ſhut up the Exchequer; which would not be very prudent to own. I would therefore aſk ſome of our Men of Management; ſuppoſe there ſhould be a new War, how they propoſe to maintain it? For we all now know the End of our Line, we have nothing left but a Land Tax, a Poll, and ſome few Exciſes, if the Parliament can be prevailed upon to conſent to them. And for once I will, ſuppoſ, that all together, with what will fall in a Twelvemonth, will amount to 3000000 l. and a half, which is not probably; and we will complement them, by ſuppoſingt hey ſhall not in caſe
