A REMINDER.
[To THE EDITOR OP TOE "SPECTATOR.-] Sir.,—Perhaps some of your readers may like to be reminded of a wise man's wisdom on points that are of special interest to-day :—
" There is not anything amongst civil affairs more subject to error than the right valuation and true judgment concerning the
power and forces of an estate Many are the examples of the great odds between number and courage so that a man may truly make a judgment that the principal point of greatness ut any state is to have a race of military men. Neither is money
the sinews of war where the sinews of men's arms are failing. For Solon said well to Crcesus • Sir, if any
other come that bath better iron than you be will be master of all this gold.' No body can be healthful without exercise and certainty to a kingdom a just and honouralile war is the true exercise. A civil war is like the heat of a fever, but a foreign war is like the heat of exercise and serveth to keep the body in health. Howsoever it be for happiness, without all question, for greatness it maltath, to be still for the most part in arms; and the strength of a veteran army (though it be a charge- able business) always on foot, is that which commonly giveth the law, or at least the reputation amongst all neighbour States thus much is certain that he that commands the sea is at liberty, and may. take as much and as little of war as he will." —(Bacon's Essays, No. 29.)
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