There is, therefore, my lords, no danger of an invasion, even though
we had no forces by which it could be opposed; but much less is it to
be feared, when it is remembered, that the sea is covered with our
ships of war, and that all the coasts of Europe are awed and alarmed
by the navies of Britain.
This then, my lords, is surely the time, when we ought not to have
sacrificed any immediate and apparent interest to the fear of attempts
from Spain or France; when we might without danger have assisted our
allies with our national troops, and have spared that money which we
have so lavishly bestowed upon auxiliaries; when we might securely
have shown the powers of the continent how much the British valour is
yet to be feared, and how little our late losses or disgraces are to
be imputed to the decline of our courage or our strength.
I suppose, my lords, no man will confess, that foreign troops have
been hired as more to be trusted for their skill or bravery than our
own. To dispute the palm of courage with any nation would be a
reproach to the British name; and if our soldiers are not at least
equally disciplined with those of other countries, it must be owned,
that taxes have been long paid to little purpose, that the glitter of
reviews has been justly ridiculed as an empty show, and that we have
long been flattered by our ministers and generals with false security.
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