of Body_, and _Capacity of Mind_,
as any People in the Universe: And if our late _Monarchs_ had the
_enervating_ their free Subjects in View, that they might give a
Reputation to _Mercenaries_, who depended only on the _Prince_ for their
Pay (as 'tis plain they had) I know no Reason why their Example shou'd
be followed in the Days of _Liberty_, when there is no such Prospect.
The Preservation of the _Game_ is but a very slender Pretence for
omitting it. I hope no wise Man will put a _Hare_ or a _Partridge_ in
Balance with the _Safety_ and _Liberties_ of _Englishmen_; tho after
all, 'tis well known to Sportsmen, that Dogs, Snares, Nets, and such
silent Methods as are daily put in Practice, destroy the Game ten times
more than shooting with Guns.

If the restoring us to our Old Constitution in this Instance were ever
necessary, 'tis more eminently so at this time, when our next Neighbours
of _Scotland_ are by Law armed just in the manner we desire to be, and
the _Union_ between both Kingdoms not perfected. For the _Militia_, upon
the Foot it now stands, will be of little Use to us: 'tis generally
compos'd of Servants, and those not always the same, consequently not
well train'd; rather such as wink with both Eyes at their own firing a
Musket, and scarce know how to keep it clean, or to charge it aright. It
consists of People whose Reputation (especially the _Officers_) has been
industriously diminished, and their Persons, as well as their
Employment, rendred contemptible on purpose to enhance the Value of
those that serve for Pay; insomuch that few Gentlemen of Quality will
now a-days debase themselves so much, as to accept of a Company, or a
Regiment in the _Militia_. But for all this, I can never be persuaded
that a _Red Coat_, and _Three Pence_ a Day, infuses more Courage into
the poor _Swaggering Idler_, than the having a Wife and Children, and an
Estate to fight for, with good wholsome Fare in his Kitchen, wou'd into
a _Free-born_ Subject, provided the _Freeman_ were as well armed and
trained as the _Mercenary_.

I wou'd not have the _Officers_ and _Soldiers_ of our most Brave and
Honest _Army_ to mistake me. I am not arguing against them; for I am
convinced, as long as there is Work to do abroad, 'tis they (and not our
home dwelling _Freeholders_) are most proper for it. Our War must now be
an _Offensive_ War; and what I am pleading for, concerns only the bare
_Defensive_ Part. Most of our present Generals and Offi