HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

I purpose to write the history of England from the acces- chap.

sion of King James the Second down to a time which is within--—.

the memory of men still living. I shall recount the errors non.which, in a few months, alienated a loyal gentry and priest-hood from the House of Stuart. I shall trace the course ofthat revolution which terminated the long struggle betweenour sovereigns and their parliaments, and bound up togetherthe rights of the people and the title of the reigning dynasty.

I shall relate how the new settlement was, during manytroubled years, successfully defended against foreign and do-mestic enemies; how, under that settlement, the authority oflaw and.tlie security of property were found to be compatiblewith a liberty of discussion and of individual action never be-fore known; how, from the auspicious union of order andfreedom, sprang a prosperity of which the annals of humanaffairs had furnished no example; how our country, from astate of ignominious vassalage, rapidly rose to the place ofumpire among European powers; how her opulence and hermartial glory grew together; how, by wise and resolute goodfaith, was gradually established a public credit fruitful ofmarvels which to the statesmen of any former age would haveseemed incredible; how a gigantic commerce gave birth to amaritime power, compared with which every other maritimepower, ancient or modern, sinks into insignificance; howMacaulay , History. I. 1