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150 provided they are good, and bear the character of grandeur, Now įt must be acknowledged that Italy soon accommodates herself to ņew forms. Her inhabitants are far from wanting courage, but they want chiefs; the proof is in duels and other individual combats in which the Italians shew great ability, whilst their valour in battles seems, almost extinguished; which can only be attributed to the weakness of the officers, who cannot make themselves obeyed by those who know, or think, they know, the trade of war. So that we have seen: the greatest generals of the present day, whose orders were never executed with exactness and celerity. These are the reasons why, in the wars in which we have been for the last twenty years engaged, the armies raised in Italy have been almost always beaten. Witness Tarus, Alexandria, Capua, Genoa, Vaila, Bologna, and Mestri.

If therefore your illustrious house is willing to regųlate its conduct by the example of our ancestors, who have delivered their country from the rule of foreigners, she ought above all to institute a national militia, the only one whose strength and fidelity can be guaranteed; and though each soldier of it be good, all will become still better when they see their own prince lead them on to battle, honour and reward them.

It is therefore absoļutely necessary to have troops raised in our country, if we wish to protect it from