ask, whether such things could have arisen under a bad government, or prosper in a state overrun with political depravity? Though such an appeal may fail to bring the har. dened factionist to repentance and confession, it will force him to shift the ground and manner of his attack. But without looking to the con. version of habitual libellers, the main object to be aimed at, in a display of the positive benefits which the country derives from the constitution in its present state, is to make the people at large, sensible of the blessings which they enjoy; and to convince them how much it is their duty and interest to transmit the same unimpaired and improved to posterity. It has been well and aptly remarked, that every man holds the constitution in trust for his children.

Leaving therefore, the professed reformer, and extirpating radical to chew instead of "fruitage fair to sight," the "soot and cinder of a depraved imagination," we shall endeavour, in a series of consecutive Essays, to take a survey of the longest and most important period in the English annals; and which will on various accounts, be justly known to future times by the "AGE OF GEORGE THE GOOD."

How well indeed his eventful and glorious reign, is entitled to this designation, will appear from the single reflection, that throughout the whole of the historic drama, vast and complicated as it has been of the last fifty years and upwards, THE FOREMOST AND COMMANDING

CHARACTER IN THE SCENE HAS

BEEN ENGLAND. Even when the fearful revolutionary volcano arrest.

See MILTON (Par. Lost, Book x.) whose description of the first political reformers, and account of their punishment after having succeeded in the work of temptation, will furnish a lively representation of those

deceivers in our time, who call " evil

good," and "good evil," who substitute "darkness for light;" and in the spirit of opposition stigmatize "light as darkness."

ed the attention of the world; and when the gigantic form that issued from its yawning gulph, arose to a tremendous height, overshadowing and appalling the nations around, ENGLAND ALONE stood unmoved amidst the hurricane, and presented an insurmountable breakwater against its fury. Neither the combination of enemies abroad, nor the arts of faction at home, could unnerve the arm, though they might occasionally distract the councils, and baffle the efforts of this mighty, because it was a steadfast power. To that steadfastness, which was so peculiarly, and so providentially, the character of George the Third it is owing, that the land of our forefathers is an object of envy and a pattern for imitation. To that steadfastness (perpetuated in his son) is the family of Europe indebted for the peace and security which every branch of it at present enjoys;Even whilst that war raged, out of which in fact, these results have arisen, England was employed in works of humanity: for though selfpreservation was the ostensible ground and mainspring of it; yet its ultimate object was, to prevent the establishment of a Jacobinical despotism, which, had it not been checked in its career, would have perpetuated endless miseries upon mankind; by generating new feuds and oppressions, fiercer and heavier than were ever known. Thus, every component of the great historical piece, designated as "the Age of George the Good," presents England (under the auspices of her venerable Sovereign, and animated by his illustrious example,) in the light of an universal benefactor, deserving the gratitude no less than commanding the admiration of the world. In the midst of war, this country became the asylum to the distressed of all nations; and she ministering personal relief to the afwas as actively employed in adflicted, as in repelling the attacks of her powerful adversaries. Whilst

she equipped fleets and armies to combat her enemies, she sent out men of science to make discoveries of unexplored regions; not with a view to oppression, or empire, but for the diffusion of knowledge, and to improve the condition of their savage and untutored inhabitants. In one direction, our attention is strongly directed to the spectacle of England pressed on all sides by a confederacy of powers, each of whom appeared more than equal to her strength; yet from this struggle, does the single-handed combatant issue with undiminished vigour; conquering and forgiving.

This march of war forms the sublimest part of the picture, because the victories of England were the triumphs of humanity; and never did the nation appear so truly great, as when employed in rescuing those states from the grasp of the oppres sor, who were just before leagued with him for her destruction. In contemplating the wonders of this proud era, the observer finds his astonishment heightened at every turn; and particularly when he takes a view of the vigorous aspect of the British empire, after the long and perilous contests which threatened its existence-though the reaction could not but be accompanied by much temporary derangement, yet instead of depopulated towns, dismantled fortresses, and buildings tumbling into ruins; he sees our cities thronged, new structures rising in every direction, useful institutions multiplying, new discoveries awakening attention, the arts in proving, literature extending with education, and an universal, a national spirit of benevolence crowning the whole with those charitable works and deeds which give a blessing to industry, and cover a multitude of minor defects.-That this is a state of real strength, and not of sickly magnificence, is evident from the uniformity which prevails throughout the system, and which will continue to go on with in

creasing vigour, so long as the nation preserves a steadfastness of principle.-Should this be lost (and it cannot be denied, but that many appearances are far from equivocal), then indeed, will the fall of this mighty empire, be as awful as its advancement has been glorious.

But let us hope for better things, and labour to secure them by a reso lute adherence to those principles which have raised the country to its present eminence in the scale of nations. It is wise to look backward in all concerns where speculation is hazardous, and may end in ruin. This sound rule of prudence is not more necessary for the guidance ofindividuals, than for the administration of states; for if government be directed by caprice, then it will soon become inefficient, and in the end, contemptible.

At this momentous crisis, when as we are constantly told, “a something is to be daily expected," a more useful service may hardly be rendered to the public, in the performance of our duties, than by a reference to the past, to lead them to a correct judgment of the present, and to the investigation of the true springs of public happiness.

The lapse of years and change of circumstances can make no alteration in the great moral principles by which life must be directed, and nations governed. From the extraordinary length, however, of the late reign, it is evident that the great proportion of the present generation can have but a faint recollection, if any at all, of the peculiarities which distinguished it. Here then, the expediency of such a retrospective view as that which we propose to take, under the title of "THE AGE OF GEORGE THE THIRD," becomes more apparent; it being necessary to a present judgment, that the existing race, should not merely be sensible of the advantages which distinguish their own times; but be able to trace the source from which they have flowed, and be impressed Ꭰ

our

Considering thus generally how much the public welfare depends upon a just appreciation of public measures; and persuaded in our own minds, that the reign which we propose to review in all its various conformations, has been distinguished by more practical good and beneficial results, than any other period of British history; we have no hesitation in saying to countrymen-" all this greatness you owe to the blessing of having had a patriot King." While to the world at large our language will be this:-" If war has lost its savage character; if the arts of peace are extensively cultivated-if science is widely diffused; if religion and learning are now enlightening those regions which once lay in darkness and the shadow of death; if, in short, the principles of legislation are better known, and the sentiments of humanity are more nerally felt by the various tribes of mankind, those changes that have already taken place, and those which are manifestly resulting from them, must be referred, primarily, to the springs of moral, intellectual, and political improvement, that constitute the peculiar glory, and are characteristic of THE AGE GEORGE THE THIRD."

ge

OF W.

The political Opinions of Mr. Tristram Shandy, his Family, and Friends.

CHAPTER I.

"As to Alderman W-d," said my Father, rising with increased vehemence of action, "he is as complete a At this moment,

we

your worships, it is necessary you should know in what manner were arranged round the fire, discussing the contents of the newspaper which Corporal Trim had been reading; in order that his auditors might have a better opportunity of commenting upon the several articles contained in the "leading Journal of Europe," as "The Times" newspaper is modestly styled by its diffident Editor; for my father was so much attached to "Old Times" and old manners, that he became fidgetty at the thoughts of any thing modern-not that my father was a Radical-Heaven forbid! but he had taken in this paper when it was conducted by a man of talent, and so continued it. My Uncle Toby was seated quietly in his arm chair, enjoying the puffs of smoke that issued from his own tobacco pipe, and that of Doctor Slop, who sat directly opposite to him; and had

it not been for the occasional attention he gave to the accounts of the military operations in India, or of the Turks and Greeks, I do believe Trim might have read from the title of the paper to the name of the publisher, without my Uncle feeling the least interested, even in the admirable and judicious remarks of the learned Editor; nay, he has been frequently observed to yawn through some of what are called the leading articles. Not so my Father! he was a man fond to an excess of any discussion, which I have already shewn, and as he advanced in years, this propensity became stronger; but his hobby was Politics. My

Uncle once told me, in a confidential moment, that he rather thought his brother had been bitten by the village barber; for independently of the known talents of this class of men to settle the affairs of the nation, my Uncle overheard him one day talk of " the National Debt, and Humpty Dumpty and Common Halls, and many other things," continued my Uncle, "which no sensible man ought to mention." Since which time my Father's head has been fired with the thoughts of setting certain great personages to rights; and when the furor was upon him, he cared no more for what he said, than Lord Byron does for the immorality of his "bread and butter" rhymes. He would mount his hobby, and without bridle or saddle, so ride the poor devil, helter skelter, through thick and thin, that my mother has often said, she wondered how any man could ride at such a furious rate without being thrown. Dr. Slop was likewise fond of argument; but the Catholic Question alone interested him. On this subject he was as eloquent as Mr. P-k-t, and would speak as much to the purpose as Mr. H-e, for at the end of a long speech, his hearers understood the question nearly as well as before he had spoken, if you except a certain confusion or swimming in the head, occasioned by the multiplicity of words that had escaped the Doctor. For myself, I was arrived at that age when passions and feelings are mistaken for reason, and although I considered myself as well able to pay the "National Debt" in theory, as the Patriot H-t is of buying Boroughs out of the proceeds of Penny Subscriptions, yet I had ever been accustomed to remain silent during the debates that almost nightly took place in my Father's parlour. "As to Alderman W-d," said my Father, (now, for the soul of me, I could never account why he raised his voice at the bare mention of the Alderman's name, but certain it is,

that his feelings were wonderfully excited) I say wonderfully excited, for my Father was of that placid disposition, that he could hear Trim wade through the longest speeches of Sir Francis B-t, without doing more than simply shrugging his shoulders at the end of it, heaving a sigh, and with a look of pity, gently murmur, "God help him, poor fellow." Whether this pious remark applied to the honest Corporal, who would pause to wipe his face after the effort, or to the Baronet, was a matter of great doubt. Certain it is, that no observation of this nature ever escaped my Father's lips at any other speech; yet, strange to say, he had heard the Corporal patiently read the celebrated Irish Counsellor P ps'Oration, I mean the speech of which he was delivered at a certain Bible Society Meeting, after attending a duel. Though my Mother, by the way, I must tell your worships, whispered to me at the time, " your Father's fast asleep;" but I could not then, nor can I now, give credit to it, much as I respect my Mother, for as I have observed, my Father was a man of most exemplary patience and fortitude, and I have no hesitation in saying, that if it had been required of him, I think he would have listened even to the effusions of Alderman Wn without dosing, at least without dosing so much as the generality of the linen draper's auditors are accustomed to do at his sublime flourishes. "As to Alderman W-d❞—but I cannot. think of bringing in my Father's observation at the end of a chapter; for, besides that it would be paying him a very poor compliment, it would also be maltreating the worthy Alderman, making him appear, as it were, like a culprit at a cart's tail, for although our great bard says, "Reward every man according to his deserts, and who shall 'scape whipping?" yet it does not necessarily follow, that every meddling knave must perforce undergo the ope

ration; so I leave the Alderman and my Father's remark for a fresh chapter.

CHAPTER II.

Demosthenes defined the three grand requisites for Oratory to be, "Action, Action, Action." I cannot agree with him exactly, for I think it may be as well to have a little understanding to give the Action effect. I know I differ from Counsellor Pps and Mr. H-bh-e on this point; but when I determined to favour the world with my political opinions, I also determined to pay no attention to the yelping of every cur, that may chuse to growl and snarl at me. These men, therefore, are at perfect liberty to sputter after their own method, without any interruption from me. Let every man ride his own hobby horse after his own fashion, and if with his face to the pummel or the crupper, what odds is it to you or I, or any other of his Majesty's liege subjects, so that he does not ride over us? This is precisely the way of looking at the case that Father would call the argumentum ad hominem, the appeal direct to a man's proper feelings. "Suppose," I have heard him say, suppose a man chuses to have the bridle put on the horse's tail, it is not another person's concern-people would call him a silly fellow, and let him ride on." A volume written about Mr. H-bh-e could not have conveyed so happy an illustration of my meaning as this single speech of my Father's. But to return to Oratory and Demosthenes. Most of our every day orators, from Mr. B-g-m down to Doctor Wn, translate the "Action" of the Athenian Orator into violent bodily exercise; thus we see them running to all parts of the country, in order to gratify their cacoëthes loquendi, and be coming finished speakers after their celebrated model; but under favour of your worships' better opinion, I

my

would hint, that he no more meant that sort of Action than Whigs mean in their pretended aversion to office.

CHAPTER III.

I closed the last chapter abruptly, for no other reason than a twinge of conscience at having kept my Fa ther all this time on his legs, without allowing him to finish his speech. I cannot compare my ideas of digressing to any thing else, than a man travelling along the high road, with a certain object in view, but who is so fascinated with the fields and the gardens to the right or left of him, that every five minutes he skips out of his regular track, vaulting over hedges and ditches, caring no more about his journey than B-d-t does for the good of his country; when, suddenly remembering it,-hop, step, and jump, and he is once more plodding soberly along. "As to, Alderman W-d," said my Father, rising with such in-creased vehemence, that he almost overturned my Mother's work-table, "he is as complete a nincompoop "And pray, brother," interrupted my Uncle Toby with the most natural look and tone imaginable, "Pray, brother, what is a nincompoop?" There never was a question so ill-timed. My Father stopped short-my Mother put down her work, and looked over her spectacles at my Uncle-Dr. Slop smiled-and Corporal Trim placed himself in an attitude, as if endeavouring to cover the retreat of his master from the storm impending over him. It burst" Good God," said my Father,

66 was ever any man interrupted at the very commencement of his harangue by such a simple question? I am surprised that one of your years and experience," addressing my Uncle, who now began to feel rather unpleasantly, though without knowing the magnitude of his crime, "I am surprised that you could offer an interruption at a moment, when I was beginuing to