culous in theory as totally impossible in practice.

"Gentlemen, I am firmly attached to a limited monarchy. I have spent no small part of my life abroad: in countries where the government depended on the will or the caprice of an individual, of a minister, a minion, or a mistress; where no one was

secure.

"One of the great advantages of our constitution is, that all is clearly defined, and the limits of each branch ascertained. Now in a republican government there is a continued. struggle who shall be the greatest.、 The Roman was the most famous republic; and witnessed the contentions of Marius and Sylla, of Cesar and Pompey, for pre-eminence. But here the line is clearly chalked out by law; no subject can with us be so ambitious, or so mad, as to contend for the sovereign power. We are preserved from all those evils which necessarily attend a republican government.

"On these principles it is that I profess

my regard for limited monarchy: a monarchy which is not above law, but is founded upon law, and secures freedom to the subject.

"Gentlemen, I shall not longer trespass on your patience. I thought it proper to offer you the sentiments of an individual, who is always ready to come forth in your service; but the weight and the importance of your resolutions must depend on the respectable meeting now assembled."

INTRODUCTION

TO THE

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

[THE Introduction to Mr. Wilkes's proposed History of England having during several years become extremely scarce, miss Wilkes had an intention, a short time before she died, of printing a few copies to present to her father's friends, who wished to possess a composition which they highly esteemed: but her death having prevented the execution of that design, several of Mr. Wilkes's friends, who have not been able to obtain a copy, have requested the editor to introduce the following article into the present work.]

"THE INTRODUCTION.

66

THE Revolution is the great æra of English liberty. From this most auspicious period, freedom has made a regular uninterrupted abode in our happy island. The rights of the crown and the people were then expressly ascertained, and acknowledged by the three branches of the legislature.

"The disputes of prerogative, of privilege, and of liberty, subsided. The public attention was called to different objects: to the variety of changes made in the interior part of government, and to the remarkable events on the continent; for after the new settlement at home, the nation began again to look abroad, and to resume its natural weight among the powers of Europe.

"The changes in the form of the administration at home were important and immediate. The supplies for the army, navy, and the contin

gent expences of government, were now given only from year to year, and were appropriated to each particular service; whereas before they had been granted, without any distinct appropriation, at the beginning of each reign, for the life of the sovereign. The public expence was separated from the private expence of the prince: from thence arose a necessity of convening the parliament annually; and the sovereign has ever since the Revolution been obliged to have recourse to the great council of the nation, not only on all real emergences, but even to continue the administration. Princes have been no longer able to govern without parliaments, and ministers have expe. rienced that a few months necessarily give an injured people the power to call them to

account.

"The house of Stuart had enjoyed so great revenues, that with a little economy they would have been sufficient to continue the government without any application to parliament. Charles I., notwithstanding his great expences, had been able to reign twelve years