The main fact is—and it serves to explain in a great measure every other fact connected with this question that in the middle of the last century, all the States on the Continent of Europe, except only Holland and some few Cantons of Switzerland, were subject to the unlimited control of Monarchical or Aristocratical power. While despotism in one or other of these forms was weighing on them, the Commons of England retained as in the previous age a certain, and that considerable, share in the direction of their own affairs. This was the vivifying flame of freedom which, never quenched and but seldom obscured among us, nor yet, as in some foreign states, spreading to a conflagration, has made us what we are, and were from age to age. In closing, then, these seven Decades of the History of England, I firmly adhere to the assertion, which I stated in their first page, eighteen years ago. I still say, that, on the whole, and as compared with the contemporary annals of other countries, it was a period combining happiness and glory - a period of kind rulers, and a prosperous people. They were prosperous because they had freedom, and because that freedom was restrained within ancient and appointed bulwarks; and they will cease to be prosperous, when either of these conditions shall cease to be fulfilled. June, 1854. APPENDIX. EARL OF SHELBURNE TO LORD MAHON. MY DEAR LORD, [Stanhope Papers.] High Wycombe, April 7. 1780. I AM very sorry that the Buckinghamshire Committee has been appointed to meet in London, as they cannot be assisted by the country members without manifest inconvenience. I cannot, with any propriety, ask the gentlemen in this part to go out of the county. As to the business which it meets upon, I can only repeat to your Lordship, that I cannot discover in the plan of the Yorkshire Association a single exceptionable principle. General union is acknowledged to be essential to our success. To this end, there must be a reasonable lead somewhere. Where can it remain so safely or so honourably as with the Meeting of the County of York, which took its rise from a sense of oppression, who have uniformly proceeded hitherto with a view to measures and not to men, and regarding whom there does not exist the smallest well founded suspicion of the interference of party? Next as to the points which are made subjects of association. It is acknowledged, that the approaching Election has a very great influence on the divisions now taking place in the House of Commons in favour of Reform and redress of grievances. The county members have very generally voted on the public side, except a few who are likely to lose their seats by not doing so. What, then, is so natural or so reasonable, as to follow where these principles lead, and desire that Parliaments shall be shortened, and an effectual addition or substitution of county members made to the present House of Commons? My principle does not go to influence the political opinion of any man. But I think it a duty to declare my own, and your Lordship will do me a great deal of honour by communicating these as my sentiments to the Committee either individually or collectively, if those of absent persons shall be alluded to. I have the honour to be, with the greatest attachment, &c., &c., SHELBURNE. SIR HENRY CLINTON TO LORD GEORGE GERMAINE. (Secret.) MY LORD, New York, August 25. 1780. (Received Sept. 25.) I HAVE thought this letter of so much importance that I have induced Brigadier General Dalrymple, notwithstanding his high and responsible station in this army, to be the bearer of it. His intimate knowledge of my opinions concerning public affairs in America, and of the circumstances on which they are founded, will enable him, I trust, to satisfy your Lordship in any points on which you may wish a further dis cussion. I had the honour to inform you in my last public despatch, that I had placed the troops in front of Kingsbridge defences. On the 18th July, by a courier from the east end of Long Island, the first intelligence was received of the arrival of the French fleet off Rhode Island on the 10th', which I transmitted immediately to Admiral Arbuthnot. In the hope that I might be able to undertake something offensive against the enemy newly disembarked, I had, in expectation of their coming, requested that transports for 6000 men might be kept in readiness for the immediate embarkation of troops. Notwithstanding the tardy notice I had of the enemy's arrival, I yet determined, as speedily as possible, to put a body of troops afloat in the Sound, at hand either for operation eastward, if practicable, or to be brought rapidly back and act against the rebel army, should they, in my absence, form any enterprise on these posts. Many causes conspired to retard the anchoring of the transports off Frog's Neck, from which place my embarkation was effected, but not until the 27th. From the 28th to the 31st of July, I kept the fleet of trans |