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people。
In the republics of ancient Greece and Rome； during the
whole period of their existence； and under the feudal governments
for a considerable time after their first establishment； the
trade of a soldier was not a separate； distinct trade； which
constituted the sole or principal occupation of a particular
class of citizens。 Every subject of the state； whatever might be
the ordinary trade or occupation by which he gained his
livelihood； considered himself； upon all ordinary occasions； as
fit likewise to exercise the trade of a soldier； and upon many
extraordinary occasions as bound to exercise it。
The art of war； however； as it is certainly the noblest of
all arts； so in the progress of improvement it necessarily
becomes one of the most complicated among them。 The state of the
mechanical； as well as of some other arts； with which it is
necessarily connected； determines the degree of perfection to
which it is capable of being carried at any particular time。 But
in order to carry it to this degree of perfection； it is
necessary that it should become the sole or principal occupation
of a particular class of citizens； and the division of labour is
as necessary for the improvement of this； as of every other art。
Into other arts the division of labour is naturally introduced by
the prudence of individuals； who find that they promote their
private interest better by confining themselves to a particular
trade than by exercising a great number。 But it is the wisdom of
the state only which can render the trade of a soldier a
particular trade separate and distinct from all others。 A private
citizen who； in time of profound peace； and without any
particular encouragement from the public； should spend the
greater part of his time in military exercises； might； no doubt；
both improve himself very much in them； and amuse himself very
well； but he certainly would not promote his own interest。 It is
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
ar