HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

Scotland, after ages of enmity, was at length united to England,not merely by legal bonds, but by indissoluble ties of interestand affection; how, in America, the British colonies rapidlybecame far mightier and wealthier than the realms whichCortes and Pizarro had added to the dominions of Charles theFifth; how, in Asia, British adventurers founded an empirenot less splendid and more durable than that of Alexander.

Nor will it be less my duty faithfully to record disastersmingled with triumphs, and great national crimes and follies farmore humiliating than any disaster. It will be seen that evenwhat we justly account our chief blessings were not withoutalloy. It will be seen that the system which effectually securedour liberties against the encroachments of kingly power gavebirth to a new class of abuses from which absolute monarchiesare exempt. It will be seen that, in consequence partly ofunwise interference, and partly of unwise neglect, the increaseof wealth and the extension of trade produced, together withimmense good, some evils from which poor and rude societiesare free. It will be seen how, in two important dependenciesof the crown, wrong was followed by just retribution; howimprudence and obstinacy broke the ties which bound theNorth American colonies to the parent state; how.Ireland,cursed by the domination of race over race, and of religionover religion, remained indeed a member of the empire, but awithered and distorted member, adding no strength to thebody politic, and reproachfully pointed at by all who feared orenvied the greatness of England.

Yet, unless I greatly deceive myself, the general effect ofthis chequered narrative will be to excite thankfulness in allreligious minds, and hope in the breasts of all patriots. Forthe history of our country during the last hundred and sixtyyears is eminently the history of physical, of moral, and of in-tellectual improvement. Those who compare the age onwhich their lot has fallen with a golden age which exists only