BOOK THE NINTH. FEELINGS AND DETERMINATION OF THE ARISTOCRACY. We certainly subscribe to the doctrine, that the church is the true and only fortress of Conservative principles.-London Times, July 31, 1841. We cannot bring ourselves to suppose that Sir Robert Peel, has the slightest intention of sacrificing the rights of the farmer, to a thing so trivial and so temporary too, as the popularity of the streets.-Britannia, Feb. 5, 1842. But the principle is beyond all controversy—that on the safety of the Church of England, depends the safety of the State of England.-Dr. Croly's Historical Sketches. In 1835, When Sir Thomas Potter represented to the Duke of Wellington the great distress of the manufacturing districts, and said that if some remedy was not applied an outbreak would take place the Duke replied, "I have the means of putting that down."-The Duke would put down hungry insurrectionists, not by supplying them with bread—but bayonets. BOOK NINTH. THE FEELINGS AND DETERMINATION OF THE ARISTOCRACY. THE aristocracy of England are not ignorant of those burdens and distresses of the people, which I have faintly pourtrayed, nor of their feelings and determination under their awful wrongs. They are aware of the rapid advances reform has already made, and the increased confidence of those who urge it. The encroachments on their ancient prerogatives and power are felt. The still more radical changes proposed do not elude their scrutiny. Quiet and dignified as they may ap pear, they feel under their feet the mighty undulations of the mass on which they have so long trod. The ominous sounds arising from starving millions-the clear practical language of men who have just learned both their rights and their strength, are not unheard by them; the perils with which they are begirt, thickening every year, are not unwatched. They are also conscious that taxation, the cause of this discontent and suffering, must be in creased to meet the exigencies of the times, or their revenues decreased. Placed in this dilemma, beset by the dangers that are augmenting every hour, it is not to be supposed they are without feeling or purpose. Inaction is not to be entertained for a moment. But the thought of surrendering their power is repelled as equally unwise and unworthy. Too much pride and too much interest are involved in the surrender. A reform thorough enough to allay the discontent of the people and relieve their distresses, would deprive them of their emoluments and influence, and tend to reduce them to the rank of citizens. When Lord Stanley, though willing enough to support reform in the corporations, opposed all reform in the Church, one remarked: "It is very natural ; for he would have to give up livings worth £22,000, or more than $100,000 a year. The Duke of Rutland, in eighteen weeks, had drank in his house 200 dozen of wine, 70 hogsheads of ale-burned 2,330 wax lights-630 gallons sperm oil. In that time there had dined at his grace's table 2000 persons, 2,421 more in the Steward's room, 11,312 in the servant's hall, &c. The income of some of the richest noblemen in England, is over $5000 a day. Such estates will not be given up without a struggle. The same spirit governs the church, with her, immense revenues. A certain Lord Bishop lately said in Parliament, "Reduce the revenues of the Church and no man of rank will enter it." Self |