But the number of troops that may be brought into the field in times of great emergency is, of course, much greater than can be supported during a long war, or as a part of a permanent military establishment.  Montesquieu estimates that modern nations are capable of supporting, without endangering their power, a permanent military force of about one-hundredth part of their population.  This ratio differs but little from that of the present military establishments of the great European powers.

Great Britain, with a population of about twenty-five millions, and a general budget of $250,000,000, supports a military and naval force of about 150,000 effective and 100,000 non-effective men, 250,000 in all, at an annual expense of from seventy to eighty millions of dollars.

Russia, with a population of about seventy millions, supports an active army of 632,000 men, with an immense reserve, at an expense of about $65,000,000, out of a general budget of $90,000,000; that is, the expense of her military establishment is to her whole budget as 7 to 10.

Austria, with a population of thirty-five millions, has an organized peace establishment of 370,000, (about 250,000 in active service,) and a reserve of 260,000, at an expense of $36,000,000, out of a general budget of $100,000,000.

Prussia, with a population of about fifteen millions, has from 100,000 to 120,000 men in arms, with a reserve of 200,000, at an annual expense of more than $18,000,000, out of a general budget of about $38,000,000.

France, with a population of near thirty-five millions, supports a permanent establishment of about 350,000 men, at an expense of seventy or eighty millions of dollars, out of a total budget of $280,000,000.  France has long supported a permanent military force of from one-hundredth to one hundred-and-tenth of her population, at an expense of from one-fourth to one-fifth of her whole budget.  The following table, copied from the “Spectateur Militaire,” shows the state of the army at six different periods between 1788 and 1842.  It omits, of course, the extraordinary levies of the wars of the Revolution and of the Empire.

Table.

Budget.                     Army. 
Dates.  Population.                                              Remarks.

Of State.  Of the Army.  Peace War
Estab.  Estab. 
Livres.  Livres.  Men.  Men.
1788 24,000,000 500,000,000 100,000,000 180,000 360,000
Francs.  Francs.  Ordinance of
1814 28,000,000 800,000,000 180,000,000 255,000 340,000 1814
Report of
1823 31,000,000 900,000,000 200,000,000 280,000 390,000 Minister
of War. 
Report of
1830 32,000,000 1,000,000,000 220,000,000 312,000 500,000 Minister
of War.
1840 34,000,000 1,170,000,000 242,000,000 312 ,000 — Budget of
1840. 
Estimated
1842 35,000,000 1,200,000,000 285,000,000 370,000 520,000 Expenses
of 1842.