Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859. Excerpt: ... QUESTION OF DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY. 35 the product of timidity, and who will ridicule the mere idea of fortifying London in any way whatever. Now it is certain that nothing alarms men so much as being accused of timidity and over-caution; nor is ridicule easily withstood. We must, however, tranquilly answer such objectors by the results of calculation; and say to those who talk of timidity, that the proper time to be timid is when danger is at a distance; and the time to be calm, firm, self-collected, and energetic, is when the enemy is in presence. To be bold, as a critic may be, when no enemy has even landed in the country, may in our opinion be anything but an indication of firmness and determination; and were such boasting innocent, we should not notice it, but we consider that it may be very injurious. 42.--The English people are now, however, beginning to see the question of the Defence of the Country in a different and much more earnest point of view than ever they did before; and as is usual with them, they will in time come to a calm, deliberate, sound, and calculated judgment on the subject. They will neither be swayed from the steady purpose of their minds by being called timid, nor be timid when they see real complications to be contended against; however formidable those complications may be; on the contrary, they will honestly prepare to meet all possible contingencies, and heartily agree to pay the cost, and share in the trouble necessary to put the country in a state of the most perfect security. This country is not in her proper position if she cannot defy--openly defy--invasion arising from whatever combination; and in this position we maintain she may be placed at a very moderate comparative cost in two or three years, the time which wo...
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