IV.

any time OPPRESSIVE, that the English con- DIALOGUR stitution, as it then stood, as well as her own nature, had a good deal of that bias,

In a word, let it be remembered, that she had the honour of ruling, perhaps of forming, the wisest, the bravest, the most virtuous people, that have adorned any age or country; and that she advanced the glory of the English name and that of her own dignity to a height, which has no parallel in the annals of our nation.

Mr. DIGBY, who had been very attentive to the course of this debate, was a little disappointed with the conclusion of it. He thought to have settled his judgment of this reign by the information his two friends should afford him. But he found himself rather perplexed by their altercations, than convinced by them,

It was this circunstance that seemed to weigh most with the Lord Chancellor BACON; who, in his short tract, In felicem memoriam ELIZABETHE, saith, "Illud cogitandum censeo, in quali populo imperium tenuerit: si enim in Palmyrenis, aut Asiâ imbelli et molli regnum sortita esset, minùs mirandum fuisset-verùm in ANGLIA, natione ferocissima et bellicosissimú, omnia ex nutu fœminæ moveri et cohiberi potuisse, SUMMAM MERITO ADMIRATIONEM HABET."

IV.

DIALOGUE He owned, however, the pleasure they had given him; and said, he had profited so much at least by the occasion, that, for the future, he should conceive with something less reverence of the great queen, and should proceed with less prejudice to form his opinion of her character and administration.

Mr. ADDISON did not appear quite satisfied with this sceptical conclusion; and was going to enforce some things, which he thought had been touched too slightly, when Dr. ARBUTHNOT took notice that their walk was now at an end; the path, they had taken, having by this time brought them round again to the walls of the castle. Besides, he said, he found himself much wearied with this exercise; though the warmth of debate, and the opportunities he took of resting himself at times, had kept him from complaining of it. He proposed, therefore, getting into the coach as soon as possible; where, though the conversation was in some sort resumed, there was nothing material enough advanced on either side to make it necessary for me to continue this recital any further.'

DIALOGUE V.

ON THE

CONSTITUTION

ОF THE

ENGLISH GOVERNMENT.

BETWEEN

SIR JOHN MAYNARD, MR. SOMERS,

AND

BISHOP BURNET.

DIALOGUE V.

ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT.

SIR JOHN MAYNARD, MR. SOMERS,

BISHOP BURNET a.

TO DR. TILLOTSON.

THOUGH the principles of nature and common sense do fully authorise resistance to the civil magistrate in extreme cases, and of course justify the late Revolution to every candid and

a The subject of these Dialogues, on the English Constitution, is the most important in English politics.-To cite all the passages from our best antiquaries, and historians, out of which this work was formed, and which lay before the writer in composing it, would swell this volume to an immoderate size. It is enough to say, that nothing material is advanced in the course of the argument, but on the best authority.