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THE

CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND.

THE

CONSTITUTION OF ENGLAND;

OR,

AN ACCOUNT

OF THE

ENGLISH GOVERNMENT:

IN WHICH IT IS COMPARED BOTH WITH THE REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT AND THE OTHER MONARCHIES IN EUROPE.

BY

J. L. DE LOLME.

A NEW EDITION, WITH LIFE AND

BY

JOHN MACGREGOR, M.P.

Ponderibus librata suis

OVID. Met. lib. i. v. 13.

LONDON:

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

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LONDON:

Printed by Wilson and Ogilvy,

57, Skinner Street.

PREFACE.

To all who have read the celebrated work of M. De Lolme, it must be evident that he has more truly written an account of our Government and Institutions as they are at the present day, than when he wrote; for at that period there did not exist, to the same extent as at present, the diffusion of knowledge among the people,—the freedom of speech and of the press, the religious and civil liberty,-the independence of Parliament, and the justice of the tribunals, which he so energetically applauds.

Although we have not, in practice, yet fully developed his beautiful theory of a Constitution, we have, nevertheless, by ameliorations in our criminal laws, improvements in our Courts of Equity, reforms in Parliament, and many other legislative measures, greatly advanced the happiness of the people, without invading the dignity of the Crown or the privileges of the nobility. We have abolished the Test and Corporation Acts, and all religious disabilities, with the sole exception of the restrictive oath imposed on Members of Parliament. We have, it is true, much yet

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