hemently declaim.' I apprehend, that I have fufficiently fhewn, that the people laboured under fuch a variety of grievances in the reign of Charles the First, as are fully fufficient to account for the oppofition that was made to him, without having recourse to any other caufe; and that the civil war may justly be attributed to the REAL GRIEVANCES Which then existed, to UNDUE STRETCHES OF PREROGATIVE, and to THE ABUSE OF ROYAL POWER. But I fhould be glad to be informed, what it is you mean by the phrase ENEMIES OF OUR CONSTITUTION. Is it really your opinion, Sir, that the. conftitution of the English government is defpotic, and that none but tame and paffive flaves, and the votaries of tyranny, are friends to the constitution? If the conftitution of England be a free, legal, limited government, I can scarcely form an idea of greater enemies of our conftitution, than fmoothly and plaufibly; H niftration of this BEST OF P him to be a tyrant, and an people whom he was fworn HOWEVER unwilling I m your attention from "the "of thofe DIVINE VIRTUE "forth in the life and death "MARTYR," as you exce yourself, p. 21, I must take obferve, that there is a very why the memory of Charles exceedingly dear to fome amb don men. This BEST OF PRIN refs, 0 3 e very fufficiently would not fuffer their own perfons ne Clergy chufe to ates of their own ercife of their own obferve of king he tongue of flancaft no reflection JES, but what time mination have al e obviated.' WheEs of Charles have fuffered fuffered any injury from "the tongue of "flander," will not take upon me to determine this, however, I think appears certain, that his ROYAL VIRTUES appear in no very advantageous point of view in the pages of impartial hiftory. And the pernicious effects of his majesty's ROYAL VICES, have reflected fo much dishonour upon his character, that all the eloquence even of the present Public Orator of the University of Oxford, will never be able to remove it. IT is evident, from the most impartial examination of the reign of Charles I. that his government was unjuft, oppreffive, and tyrannical; and that it deserved to be opposed by all men, who had spirit enough to difdain a fervile fubmiffion to lawless and defpotic power. And fuch an administration as that of Charles, cannot be defended by any man, but one who is an enemy to the liberties of Englishmen, and the 0 4 |