The military forces of the British empire amount to about one hundred and fifty thousand men, and the naval forces to about seven hundred vessels of war,[13] carrying in all some fifteen thousand guns and forty thousand men.

France has less commerce, and but few colonial possessions.

She has a great extent of sea-coast, but her fortifications secure it from maritime descents; her only accessible points are on the land frontiers.

Her army and navy, therefore, constitute _her_ principal means of defence.

Her army numbers some three hundred and fifty thousand men, and her navy about three hundred and fifty vessels,[13] carrying about nine thousand guns and thirty thousand men.