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the wisdom of the state only which can render it for his interest
to give up the greater part of his time to this peculiar
occupation： and states have not always had this wisdom； even when
their circumstances had become such that the preservation of
their existence required that they should have it。
A shepherd has a great deal of leisure； a husbandman； in the
rude state of husbandry； has some； an artificer or manufacturer
has none at all。 The first may； without any loss； employ a great
deal of his time in martial exercises； the second may employ some
part of it； but the last cannot employ a single hour in them
without some loss； and his attention to his own interest
naturally leads him to neglect them altogether。 These
improvements in husbandry too； which the progress of arts and
manufactures necessarily introduces； leave the husbandman as
little leisure as the artificer。 Military exercises come to be as
much neglected by the inhabitants of the country as by those of
the town； and the great body of the people becomes altogether
unwarlike。 That wealth； at the same time； which always follows
the improvements of agriculture and manufactures； and which in
reality is no more than the accumulated produce of those
improvements； provokes the invasion of all their neighbours。 An
industrious； and upon that account a wealthy nation； is of all
nations the most likely to be attacked； and unless the state
takes some new measures for the public defence； the natural
habits of the people render them altogether incapable of
defending themselves。
In these circumstances there seem to be but two methods by
which the state can make any tolerable provision for the public
defence。
It may either； first； by means of a very rigorous police；
and in spite of the whole bent of the interest； genius； and
inclinations of the people； enforce the practice of military
exercises； and oblige either all the citizens of the military
age； or a certain number of them； to join in some measure the
trade of a soldier to whatever other trade or profession they may
happen to carry on。
Or； secondly； by maintaining and employing a certain number
of citizens in the constant practice of military exercises； it
may render the trade of a soldier a particular trade； separate
and distinct from all others。
If the state has recourse to the first of those two
expedients； its military force is said to consist in a militia；
if to the second； it is said to consist in a standing army。 The
practice of military exercises is the sole or principal
occupation of the soldiers of a standing army； and the
maintenance or pay which the state affords them is the principal
and ordinary fund of their subsistence。 The practice of military
exercises is only the occasional occupation of the soldiers of a
militia； and they derive the principal and ordinary fund of their
subsistence from some other occupation。 In a militia； the
character of the labourer； artificer； or tradesman； predominates
over that of the soldier； in a standing army； that of the soldier
predominates over every other character： and in this distinction
seems to consist the essential difference between those two
different species of military force。
Militias have been of several different kinds。 In some
countries the citizens destined for defending the states seem to
have been exercised only； without being； if I may say so；
regimented； that is； without being divided into separate and
distinct bodies of troops； each of which performed its exercises
under its own proper and permanent officers。 In the republics of
ancient Greece and Rome； each citizen； as long as he remained at
home； seems to have practised his exercises either separately and
independently； or with such of his equals as he liked best； and
not to have been attached to any particular body of troops till
he was actually called upon to take the field。 In other
countries； the militia has not only been exercised； but
regimented。 In England； in Switzerland； and； I believe； in every
other country of modern Europe where any imperfect military force
of this kind has been established； every militiaman is； even in
time of peace； attached to a particular body of troops； which
performs its exercises under its own proper and permanent
officers。
Before the invention of firearms； that army was superior in
which the soldiers had； each individually； the greatest skill and
dexterity in the use of their arms。 Strength and agility of body
were of the highest consequence； and commonly determined the
state of battles。 But this skill and dexterity in the use of
their arms could be acquired only； in the same manner as fencing
is at present； by practising； not in great bodies； but each man
separately； in a particular school； under a particular master； or
with his own particular equals and companions。 Since the
invention of firearms； strength and agility of body； or even
extraordinary dexterity and skill in the use of arms； though they
are far from being of no consequence； are； however； of less
consequence。 The nature of the weapon； though it by no means puts
the awkward upon a level with the skilful； puts him more nearly
so than he ever was before。 All the dexterity and skill； it is
supposed； which are necessary for using it； can be well enough
acquired by practising in great bodies。
Regularity； order； and prompt obedience to command are
qualities which； in modern armies； are of more importance towards
determining the fate of battles than the dexterity and skill of
the soldiers in the use of their arms。 But the noise of firearms；
the smoke； and the invisible death to which every man feels
himself every moment exposed as soon as he comes within
cannon…shot； and frequently a long time before the battle can be
well said to be engaged； must render it very difficult to
maintain any considerable degree of this regularity； order； and
prompt obedience； even in the beginning of a modern battle。 In an
ancient battle there was no noise but what arose from the human
voice； there was no smoke； there was no invisible cause of wounds
or death。 Every man； till some mortal weapon actually did
approach him； saw clearly that no such weapon was near him。 In
these circumstances； and among troops who had some confidence in
their own skill and dexterity in the use of their arms； it must
have been a good deal less difficult to preserve some degree
regularity and order； not only in the beginning； but through the
whole progress of an ancient battle； and till one of the two
armies was fairly defeated。 But the habits of regularity； order；
and prompt obedience to command can be acquired only by troops
which are exercised in great bodies。
A militia； however； in whatever manner it may be either
disciplined or exercised； must always be much inferior to a
well…disciplined and well…exercised standing army。
The soldiers who are exercised only once a week； or once a
month； can never be so expert in the use of their arms as those
who are exercised every day； or every other day； and though this
circumstance may not be of so much consequence in modern as it
was in ancient times； yet the acknowledged superiority of the
Prussian troops； owing； it is said； very much to their superior
expertness in their exercise； may satisfy us that it is； even at
this day； of very considerable consequence。
The soldiers who are bound to obey their officer only once a
week or once a month； and who are at all other times at liberty
to manage their own affairs their own way； without being in any
respect accountable to him； can never be under the same awe in
his presence； can never have the same disposition to ready
obedience； with those whose whole life and conduct are every day
directed by him； and who every day even rise and go to bed； or at
least retire to their quarters； according to his orders。 In what
is called discipline； or