to the House of Commons, stating the number of Members who sat in that House by the nomination of Proprietors and Patrons. But it was seen, that the correction of this abuse would be injurious to the interests of the leaders of the faction of the great Whig Families; and all further attempts at Reform of Parliament were abandoned. Had Parliament been reformed at that time, we might possibly have avoided the Crusade against French principles.

Reform will take place. To render it beneficial to the Country, it must be a complete correction of the existing abuses. I do not mean by Universal Suffrage, but by a Reform which may place the House of Commons in a situation to protect the property of the people. The French Revolution has given us an example of an Assembly adequate to the discharge of this duty, viz. an Assembly payers of direct taxes to that none can be Elec

elected by men,

such an extent,

tors, except those who are so affected by the payment, that they are interested that

taxation should be moderate. I am persuaded that such a Reform will sooner or later take place; though it is possible that resistance to such a Reform may occasion it to be preceded by Revolution.

and the

The Bourbons, the, Nobles, Fanatics may attempt to re-establish the ancien regime in France. They will fail. The pillars on which the fabric stood are reduced to powder. No art can again

cement them into solid masses. If à Representative Government should cease to exist in France, it must be succeeded by a Military despotism.

In Spain, though the present efforts should fail, yet the Cortes will ultimately be established.

In Germany, the intelligence of the people will probably prevail against all the efforts of the Holy Alliance; and Representative Government will be the

consequence.

examples under its eye, England will long submit to the usurped power of Proprietors and Patrons of Boroughs? Let it be recollected, that this usurped Power is odious to Royalty, insulting to Aristocracy, and oppressive to the People.

There are among those who call themselves Foxites, men who possess both wisdom and integrity. Let them declare that their efforts are directed to obtain an object in which their Country is interested. Their Country will rally round them, and Revolution may be averted. (Note 16.)

CHAP. IX.

On the Duration of Papal Power.

It

I SHALL consider this not as a religious but as a political subject. The doctrines of the Catholic Church may remain long after the power of the Pope is destroyed. I shall consider the question purely as it regards the duration of Papal Power. seems to me that this power cannot subsist much longer, either in France or Germany. I doubt whether it can continue much longer in Spain and Portugal: it will fall in Italy whenever that country is formed into one kingdom; an event, perhaps, not very distant and with regard to Ireland, where three out of four of the inhabitants are Catholics, the power and the influence of the Pope of Rome will be at an end, whenever the British Government has the good sense to become the pay-master of the Catholic Clergy.

of the Church has been swept away; and its power has vanished with its wealth. Tythes have been abolished; and having now been discontinued for more than thirty years, can never be re-established; the lands of Bishops and Convents have been confiscated; and the present possessors will never submit to be deprived of them. The officiating Ministers of the Church must henceforth receive their salaries from the Executive Government; and from that circumstance must be dependant on that Executive Government. Whenever a King of France abandons the wish of re-establishing the power lately possessed by the Clergy, he becomes really and substantially the Supreme Head of the Church; or, to use an expression applied by Nathaniel Bacon to our King Henry VIII. "He starts up a King with

a Pope in his belly."

No inconsiderable part of Germany remained under Ecclesiastical Sovereigns, down to the commencement of the late Revolution in France; I believe they have been every where destroyed, and their ter