THE INTERREGNUM.

lished the sacramental test, of the la-w which relieved the Ro-man Catholics from civil disabilities, of the law which re-formed the representative system, of every good law whichhas been passed during a hundred and sixty years, of everygood law which may hereafter, in the course of ages, hefound necessary to promote the public weal, and to satisfythe demands of public opinion.

The highest eulogy which can be pronounced on therevolution of 1688 is this, that it was our last revolution.Several generations have now passed away since any wise andpatriotic Englishman has meditated resistance to the estab-lished government. In all honest and reflecting minds thereis a conviction, daily strengthened by experience, that themeans of effecting every improvement which the constitutionrequires may be found within the constitution itself.

Now, if ever, we ought to be able to appreciate the wholeimportance of the stand which was made by our forefathersagainst the House of Stuart. All around us the world is con-vulsed by the agonies of great nations. Governments whichlately seemed likely to stand during ages have been on asudden shaken and overthrown. The proudest capitals ofWestern Europe have streamed with civil blood. All evilpassions, the thirst of gain and the thirst of vengeance, theantipathy of class to class, the antipathy of race to race, havebroken loose from the control of divine and human laws.Fear and anxiety have clouded the faces and depressed thehearts of millions. Trade has been suspended, and industryparalysed. The rich have become poor; and the poor havebecome poorer. Doctrines hostile to all sciences, to allarts, to all industry, to all domestic charities, doctrineswhich, if carried into effect, would, in thirty years, undoall that thirty centuries have done for mankind, and wouldmake the fairest provinces of France and Germany as savageas Congo or Patagonia, have been avowed from the tribuneand defended by the sword. Europe has been threatenedwith subjugation by barbarians, compared with whom thebarbarians who marched under Attila and Alboin were en-lightened and humane. The truest friends of the peopleilacaulay, History. 111. 29