This book is not a work of invention. It is no fancy-piece, but “an ower true tale,” as it would be easy to show. The materials are for the most part contained in the Reports of various Commissions, and in the Evidence on which those Reports are based; and the largest amount has been supplied by the latest authorities,—especially the Report and Evidence on the Sanitary Condition of the Army, communicated last year.

The Statistical Statements are illustrated by three diagrams showing the Sanitary State of the Army during the War in the Crimea, for permission to use which I am indebted to the Publishers of “A Contribution to the Sanitary History of the British Army,” in which they originally appeared.

It cannot be necessary to explain at any length the inducements to prepare this volume. We sustained a fearful misfortune in the last war: we were taught by a duplicate experience the causes of the loss of our soldiers, and the means of preserving our forces in future: the war has been over nearly three years: there has been no sufficient reason for any it may suffice to rouse the public to claim the complete fulfilment of the programme of reform, laid down by the Royal Commissioners, approved by the authorities at the War-Office, and assented to by all rational persons who have considered the particulars.

There is now a general expectation of war in Europe: and when there is war in Europe, each nation must stand on its defence.