PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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,·Lnd \\:jtl:. the sentiments of which they have been
bi~u;ht up; thtir hatred of equaliry, and-of all lev­
('Bing preten~ions, which may ultimately affect the
privileges, or e\ren the existence of their order; in
short, every principle and every prejudice which are
\vont to ~\ctuate hunlan conduct, will determine their
choice, to the side and ~upport of the crown. Lastly ~
if the nobles themsel ves should attempt to revive
the superiorities, \\,hich their ancestor exercised under
lhe !eudal constitlltion, the king and the people
would alike remember, ho\\' the olle had been nlsult·
ed, alIa the other en~la,~ed, h}Y that barbarous tyranny.
·'l"hc)T would forget the natural oppo~ition of their
,-ie\vs ;:nd inclinations, \"hcn the,' ~a\\' themselves
.J
threatt:ned \\-ith the return of a dominatiDn, '\1hich
was odiuus ,lnd illtolerat1le to beth.
The reader wiii have obSL'n'ed, that in describing
rhe British constitution, little tlcrice has been
taken of the heuse of lords. The proper u~e and design
of this part of thc con~titution~ are the following:
l;'irst, to enable the king, by his right cf bestowing
the peerage, to reward the ~i-\1 \'anL.,\ of tile l)ul)lic, in
a 111anncr 1110st grateful to thrln, anti at a sIn311 exl>ense
to tIle nation; ~econdly, to fClrtify tIle po\ver
and to secure the stability of regal government, by
an order ()f men naturally allied t() its i!1£ercsts; and,
tfJirjiy, to anS\\'er a purp()~e, \\'llicl1, Illl)u~11 of superior
importa!1ce to tlJe otller t\V(), d.Je~· ll(lt (;ccur so
readily to our obst:rvatioll; namely, to stem the progress
of popuJar fury. Large bOllies of Illen are StlO­
~:ect to ~udden frcllzies. 0PIIlioI1S are SOlllCtill1CS circulated
among~:t a D'ultitude without proof or exaUli~
nation, acquiring confidence and reputation merely
by being repeated from llnf' to anothcr; and passions
founded upon these opinions, diffusing themselves
with a rapidity \\·hich can n(~itllcr be accounted for
nor resisted, may agitate a country with the most violent
cr.nP,lllotions.. Now the only way to.stop the fer.
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