French Military Power

1753

It may, and very probably it will be urged by both these kind of People, that first with regard to Facts, the Armies which France had on foot in the last Year of the late War, were very much superior to what I allow she could possibly form; and because I know that this has been laid down with great Force, by some who would be thought extremely well acquainted with the Military Establishment in France, I have taken some Pains to learn how far I was mistaken, which from these People I could never do, for they answered always in the general, that France was out of Comparison stronger than I imagined; that we deceived ourselves here in thinking the contrary; and that the Troops in her Pay during the last Campaigns, very far exceeded our Computations. But I am at present out of all Pain upon this Subject, having in my Possession a compleat and authentic State of the French Military Establishment in the Month of May, 1748; which is indeed a very correct and satisfactory Piece of its kind, and in all respects the finest Detail of an Army I ever saw. I will give the Reader an Extract of the Totals, which will serve sufficiently to illustrate this Point.

STATE of his Most Christian Majesty's Land Forces in May 1748

My first Observation upon this is, that so far from subverting my former Calculation, this State of the French Army very clearly establishes it. In Time of Peace we have shewn, that standing Forces of France are about one hundred and fifty thousand Men; and in Time of War, it may be very fairly computed, that about this Number is requisite for the Garrisons, the Security of the Coasts, and the Preservation of the interior Part of the Kingdom: Which will be still more evident, if we consider that one hundred and twelve Battalions of Militia, making upwards of eighty thousand Men, are included in the foregoing State of the Army. I was not consequently in the wrong, in supposing that France could not bring many above two hundred thousand Men into the Field, even when she exerted herself to the utmost. We have likewise seen, that great as this Force is, she might have been attacked by the Allies, if their Engagements to each other had been punctually performed, with equal, if not superior Armies.

My next Observation is as to the Expence, which the Reader sees, for the bare Subsistence of the Troops, amounts to the whole ordinary Revenue of France, or somewhat more than five Millions Sterling. As to the Extraordinaries of War, the Subsidies to foreign Powers, the Expences of the Navy, the Charge of Colonies, and many other Particulars, they are totally excluded; and I presume noboby will think that the Computation is extravagant, if we consider these as amounting to the like Sum. To all this me must add the Charge of the Civil Government, which in a Time of War cannot be at all lessened; and when we have done this, and brought into the Account the distressed Condition of their Trade, which manifests itself more and more since the Conclusion of the Peace, when Traders attempting to draw their Money out of the Hands of those who paid them Interest for it during the War, when they could not employ it in Commerce, has occasioned innumerble Bankruptcies.

I say, when all this is taken into our View, and feriously reflected upon, we must, unless we will absolutely shut our Eyes, perceive, that tho' the absolute Power of the French Government enables those who administer it, to avail themselves of the last Man and the last Shilling that Kingdom can raise, for the Support of their ambitious Projects, yet when this is done, no Policy, however refined, can repair that Waste of Wealth, or restore their extenuated Strength, in a short Space of Time.

Power may supersede the Laws of Reason, Humanity and Justice; but human Power cannot constrain the Laws of Nature. When a People are exhausted, they must have Time to recruit; and tho' it may be very well supposed, that in an absolute Government, this will be so far from being prevented, that all imaginable Pains will be taken to further and facilitate their Recovery, yet a very little Penetration will shew us, that even this cannot be immediately done; for those who administer such a Government, being always jealous of their Neighbours, cannot turn their Thoughts instantly, or at least not intirely, even to this necessary Point; for tho' such a Recovery is requisite, yet Self-Preservation remains still the first Law, and consequently Provision must be made for that.

When an absolute Government is not preparing to attack her Neighbours, she must be occupied in providing against any Danger, that may result from her being suddenly attacked; and therefore whatever the Bulk of the People, whatever those who have the Interest of the People only at Heart, may wish or plead for, the Ministers under such a Government will attend to that, and will not suffer their Cares to be called off to any other Object, before what regards this, upon which their Power depends, is thoroughly fettled.

Campbell. The Present State of Europe; Explaining the Interests, Connections, Political and Commercial Views of its Several Powers, Comprehending also, A clear and Concise History of each Country, so far as to show the Nature of their Present Constitutions. (London: 1753), pp. 300-302.