Ask any boxing man what he thinks of the chances.

The French might have sacrificed a fleet to land fifty thousand.

Our fleet was our one chance.
Any foreign General at the head of fifty thousand trained, picked troops would risk it, and cut an 'entrechat' for joy of the chance.

We should have fought and bled and been marched over--a field of Anglo-Saxon stubble! and Nelson riding the Channel, undisputed lord of the waters.
Heigh! by the Lord, this country would have been like a man free to rub his skin with his hand and a mortal disease in his blood.

Are you ready?
How anticipate a hostile march on the capital, is our business.' Striding up and down the library, Lord Ormont dropped his wrath to dictate the practical measures for defence--detesting the cat's-cry 'defence,' he said; but the foe would bring his old growlers, and we should have to season our handful of regulars and mob of levies, turn the mass into troops.