The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-13 00:00:00

PARMA.

A Turin letter asserts that when Count de Reiset
entered Parma his carriage was literally filled with
notes, both printed and in manuscript, bearing the
words "We will be the subjects of King Victor
Emmanuel."

THE 2IIILITARY POWER OF FRANCE.

Paris, bent on its day of rejoicing, paying
little attention to politics. 'M. Granier de
it
Cassiag-
nac puts forth -in the Pays—apropos, is pre-
sumable, to the coming military pageant—a long
M. Granier
article headed "The French Army:"
seems bent, of late, on making himself unpleasant,
which one would not much mind if he could con-
trive, at the same time, to be amusing. His object
seems to be to revive subsiding irritation. His
efforts, I am happy to say, are generally blamed
here, and in England they are not likely to attract
attention or have any weight. His present article
is a mere fanfaronade. It is the very essence of
braggadocio. In a sort of desultory sketch of the
progress of the French army, commencing with the
capture of Rome by the Gauls, he places it above
all others, past, present, and future. The French
army-, he says, has conquered the admiration of the
world ; it has conquered, within the last five years
the Russians and A
Austrians, who are evidently
among the best armies in Europe; other nations
may imitate French rifle guns and conical balls, but
tey will never succeed in imitating French soldiers.
It would be easy to remind him of a few things he
has chosen to forget, but there is not much tempta-
tion to join issue with him on points which there
can be no possible advantage in raking up. I pre-
fer giving you, by an extract or two, a notion of
the tone and tendency of his article. He says
Before the Revolution soldiers in France were raised as
soldiers and sailors still are in England. Sub-offiCers,
crowned with laurel, traversed Paris, mounted on carriages
preceded by fifes and drums, and followed by carts laden
with hams, fowls, and wine. At every public-house a halt
was made, and recruits were enrolled who were seduced
much less by the prospect of glory than by goodcheer. The
Revolution of 1789 created -our present army. Civil and
political equality has imparted to th.a_ soldier dignity., emula-
tion, and love of glory; the organisation of the Consulate
and of the Empire has raised th army to its highest power
by giving it, with discipline, the useful employment of allits
strength. At the present day there exists not in the world an
army at once better provided, better administered, better
fed, better kept, better instructed, or braver thanours ; and
when once there shall have been completed the service of
maritime transports. which will permit the unexpected
throwing of a corps d' armee on a point of the enemy's shore,
the enemies of Franco, or those who are jealous of her, will
have to think twice before provoking her."
After this implied threat, M7Granier de Cassaig-
nac explains the causes, in his opinion, of the
alleged superiority of the French army, which he
declares to be such that Europe would in vain en-
deavour to balance. the military power of France.
French arms, he repeats, may be copied, but not
French soldiers, especially, he concludes, like an
adroit courtier, " now that they have at their head
a Sovereign who knows how to give and to gain
great battles."