Page:An answer to a pamphlet, intitled, "Thoughts on the causes and consequences of the present high price of provisions" in a letter, addressed to the supposed author of that pamphlet.djvu/33

( 31 ) it very difficult to prove, at least in every particular. Our army in Britain is maintained at as great expence as a French army three times as numerous; and the English fleet, during the late war, required more money to support it than all the Roman legions, which kept the whole world in subjection, during the time of the emperors. A private soldier in the Roman infantry had a denarius a day, somewhat less than eight pence. The Roman emperors had commonly 25 legions in pay, which, allowing 5000 men to a legion, makes 125000. 'Tis true there were also auxiliaries to the legions; but their numbers are uncertain, as well as their pay. To consider only the legionaries, the pay of the private men could not exceed 1,600,000 pounds. Now the parliament, in the last war, particularly in 1760 and 1761, allowed for the fleet 3,640,000. We have therefore 2,040,000 (a sum by far too great) for the officers and other