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                 Thoughts on a French Invasion.              7

will be ready to provide for their refreshment, and every necessary support on the march, and at every halt; the farmers will assist with their teams and wag- gons in transporting artillery and forage ; and every one will be careful to keep the roads as clear of encum- brances as possible ; for that is a point of the utmost importance, which they who have never seen great movements are not sufficiently aware of.

And let not individuals suppose, that while they are thus assisting in their country’s cause, they are injuring their own fortunes. As in ordinary life, “ honesty is “ the best policy,” (and, God be praised, this country has not abandoned one ally, or broke its faith to any people) so in case of actual invasion, they who distress the enemy and assist their brethren, will in fact be tak- ing the most effectual measures for their own preserv- ation. But they will also meet due remuneration from Government. Proper modes are adopted, and will be made known, for ascertaining the proportion of damage every individual may have sustained from mili- tary measures. Where property has been abandoned for the sake of carrying off provisions, or helpless per- sons, in preference to other articles, the owner will have an opportunity of stating the case at the time, to officers appointed for the purpose, and where he shall have assisted the troops, those same officers will be bound to procure him the payment in due time. On the other hand, they will know and hold forth to public execration, those cold blooded or traitorous men, who at such a moment may withhold their ser- vices, or counteract the general enthusiasm: and un- questionably no live or dead stock will be paid for if it falls into the enemy’s hands, unless every possible exertion, to save or destroy it, is proved to have been I made by the owner.

What then has the enemy to hope for?—he expects to shake our credit to its foundation. He does not then see, that by the wisest stroke of policy that ever was attempted, it is no longer is his power. The specie of the country centres in the Bank, and its pa- per is now become more than ever the general medium of