Our soil will grow anything, and after twenty years of peace, France would altogether recover herself." "And yet the alliance of Spain is considered as of vital importance to France!" "Of great importance, certainly.

Spain has still soldiers who can fight well, as they have proved in Italy; and were the levies at home equally well drilled and disciplined, they would no doubt turn out good soldiers.

But these are, at present, almost undrilled.

They desert in numbers and return to their homes, after the slightest reverse, and prefer to act as partisans under leaders of their own choosing.

But with Philip once firmly seated on the throne, with French advisers and officers to assist him, and a few regiments to serve as a nucleus to his army, Spain could turn out a force which would be a very valuable addition to the strength of any European power.