From that day the English Crown ceased to be held on the maxim of Hereditary or Divine Right. Its title has ever since reposed on a Contract with the Nation, according to which allegiance is given only on condition that the rights and liberties of all, as guaranteed by law, shall be respected. From that day the Monarchy of England was limited to such an extent that Supreme power virtually passed into the hands of the two Houses of Parliament. Thus triumphed Government by Parliament over Government by King; thus ended the conflict begun by John, in 1215, with his Nobles and Freemen of the Middle Class. From this moment commenced the era of Constitutional Government, a Government that is regulated by the laws and usages of the country. The overthrow of the despotism of the Church in England in the sixteenth century led to the birth of religious freedom in the world. The overthrow of the despotism of the Monarchy in the same country in the seventeenth century led to the advent of political liberty. Both these blessings were secured to England by the Compact entered into with the Nation by William and Mary for themselves and their successors; " and it may justly be affirmed," remarks Hume, "that we in this island have ever since enjoyed, if not the best system of Government, at least the most entire system of liberty that ever was known amongst mankind.” From William and Mary, through the reigns of Anne, the Georges, and William IV., down to the present day Limited Monarchy and Parliamentary Government have lived in perfect harmony. It is true that Government by Parliament has obtained such ascendency that the Monarchy has dwindled into a mere pageant, though it still has its uses, social and political. It is also true that the House of Commons has extended its sway so far as to diminish the salutary influence of its old ally the House of Lords, This is subversive of that balance of the three elementary principles of Government which has been considered the striking merit of the British Constitution, and to maintain which the King, the Lords, and the Commons should each exercise their legitimate influence. We have now seen how, at the beginning of English history, the Kingly power preponderated; how, as time went on, the Lords and Commons combined to limit it; and how, after long struggles, they succeeded in finally accomplishing it in 1688. Since then the House of Lords, as just remarked, has lost much of its ancient authority; whilst the House of Commons has steadily increased its control until it has well nigh absorbed both the Executive and Legislative power. In spite of this defect in the political balance, the English Government is admirably administered, and the reasons for this I will undertake to show when I shall speak of England from personal observation. The theory of "checks and balances "in political machinery, however, is not wholly impracticable, as will be seen when commenting on the Constitution of the United States. Before closing this sketch, it may be interesting to add a few items of curious information, selected from Hume and others, by way of showing the material progress that was made after the Restoration. Hume says that the commerce and riches of England did never during any period increase so fast as from the Restoration to the Revolution-1660 to 1688. The recovery or conquest of New York and the Jerseys was a considerable accession to the strength of the English Colonies, and, together with the settlement of Pennsylvania and Carolina, effected during the reign of Charles II., extended the English empire in America. Dr. Davenant affirms the shipping of England to have more than doubled in these twenty-eight years. Several new manufactures were established, as iron, brass, silk, hats, glass, paper, &c. One Brewer left the Low Countries, and brought the art of dyeing woollen cloth into England; and this improvement saved the Nation great sums of money. Charles II. gave a Charter to the Hudson's Bay Company, and revived the Charter of the East India Company. Sir Joshua Child states that in 1688 there were on 'Change more men worth £10,000 than there were in 1650 worth £1,000; that £500 with a daughter was in the latter period deemed a larger dowry than £2,000 in the former; that gentlewomen in 1650 thought themselves well clothed in a serge gown which a chambermaid in 1688 would be ashamed to wear; and that, besides the great increase of rich clothes, plate, jewels, and furniture, carriages had increased a hundred-fold. ingham introduced from Venice glass and crystal into England. erecting turnpikes was passed in 1662. In 1670, a second Treaty between England and Spain was made, by which both States renounced the right of trading with each other's Colonies. The French King, in Charles II.'s reign, laid some imposition on English commodities. England retaliated by making the commerce with that kingdom almost prohibitory. The Duke of Buckthe manufacture of The first Law for In 1641, when the Star Chamber was abolished, the Long Parliament maintained the old restrictions as to printing of books. The same rigor was maintained by Cromwell. It was not till 1694 that these restraints were taken off, to the great alarm of William III. and his Ministers. In 1677, the old Law for burning heretics. was repealed. The philosophical body known as the "Royal Society" was created by Charles II., who was a lover of the Sciences, especially Chemistry and Mechanics." 66 Amongst the distinguished men of this epoch were Christopher Wren in Architecture, Robert Hooke in Science-the rival of Newton-T. Sydenham in Medicine, Boyle in Chemistry. The reaction from the Puritanical manners and laws of the preceding epoch was so strong at the Restoration that Literature and the Drama, when revived, were affected by it. From asceticism all classes fell into licentiousness. The poetry of Dryden and Rochester, the plays of Wycherley and Otway, are striking proofs. The immortal "Hudibras" was written by Butler in Charles's reign; and by exposing the fanaticism and cant of the Parliamentary party of Charles I.'s time, greatly served his son. |