Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/29

 was publihed in the Gazette, that ten Regiments hould be forthwith dibanded; and we were told, as oon as it was done, that more hould follow their example. But thee Reolutions, it eems, were altered, and the modih Language was, that we mut keep up a Standing Army. Their Arguments were turned topy turvy: For as during the War the People were prevailed upon to keep up the Army in hopes of a Peace; o now we mut keep them up for fear of a War. The Condition of France, which they had been decrying for many Years, was now magnified: We are told, that it was doubtful whether the French King would deliver up any of the Towns; that he was preparing a vat Fleet upon the Lord knows what Deign; that it was impoible to make a Militia ueful; that the warlike King Jeanny had an Army of eighteen thouand Irih Heroes in France, who would be ready when called for; and that the King of Spain was dying. The Members of Parliament were dicoured with as they came to Town; 'twas whipered about, that the Whigs would be all turned out of Employments. A new Plot was aid to be dicovered for murdering the King, and earches were made at Midnight thro' the whole City to the dicovery of Plenty of Fornicators but no Traitors. The Placemongers conulted among themelves, and found by a wonderful Sympathy they were all of one Opinion; and if by any means they could get a few more to be of the ame the day was their own: So they were poitive of ucces, and very ure that hould carry it by above a hundred Voices.

The Houe had not at a Week, but this matter came to be debated; and the Quetion in the Committee was, Whether all Forces raied ince the Year 80 hould be dibanded? Which was carried in the Affirmative, the Court being not able to bring it to a diviion; and the next Day when it was reported, they did not attempt to et aide the Vote, but to recommit it, upon pretence it tied the King to the old Tory Regiments, (tho' by the way, none of thoe Regiments have been ince dibanded) and ome aid they thought the Forces in 80 too many. I can afely ay, tho' I had frequent dicoure with many of them, yet I never heard any one of them at that time pretend to be for a greater force than this Vote left the