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THE GOLDEN BOOK OF
The King's own leanings towards a soldier's life—"the only life"—as he said in his younger days,—and the firm confidence in "our first line of defence" which led him to place both his sons as Cadets in the Navy, were often manifested in his utterances.
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I think Englishmen have every reason to be proud of possessing such an Army and Navy as ours. Of course, we do not pretend that they are perfection, but I am sure that every endeavour is used year after year to make our land and sea forces as efficient as possible for our defence an for the maintenance of peace, both in this country and in our vast possessions abroad.
(1875)
And his stirring words in 1877 are as true now as when they were first spoken:
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