Page:Thoughts on a French invasion.pdf/13

              Thoughts on: a French Invasion. 13

But though the Jacobin traitors will not dare to rise manfully as a body, it well behoves every man to watch, left they should convey intelligence, or give assistance of any kind to an invading enemy. Be it remembered, that such men are parricides, and deserve no more mercy than the unnatural son who lifts his hand against his father.

That the French army, if ever it should land, will come with erroneous opinions of the great body of the people, and that it will meet with confusion and dis- may at landing, in consequence of that error, is evident from the declaration of their rulers; their headings must to every firm mind appear ridiculous, and but for the wickedness of degenerate men in our own country, would be perfectly despicable *.

If the writer has in any way succeeded in guarding honest men against misrepresentation, and in shewing them, from experience, how best they can distress the enemy, and assist in the common defence, before our own

* Present effective force in Great Britain:

2 Regiments Life Guards, 1 ditto Horse Guards, 3 ditto Dragoon Guards,                                      16,160 15 ditto Light Dragoons, 126 Regiments Fencible Cavalry,                              13,104 32 ditto Infantry Regulars,                                  13,540 12 Skeleton ditto officers included,                          2,124 18 regiments Forcible Infantry,                              11,042 69 ditto Militia,                                            45,000 252 Troops Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry,                   15,120 856 Companies Volunteers,                                    51,360 Supplementary Militia,                                       60,000 --- Making in the whole, effective men,                         227,450 ---

Besides 117 Companies Artillery, 10 invalid ditto, 59 Independent Companies of Invalids, and the Marines in garrison.

In Ireland is a force of nearly 120,000 effective men.

And a TRIUMPHANT NAVY!