470 DESTRUCTION OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 



more interesting reflections. Let us, therefore, view this event in its 

 intrinsic probable results. 



The parallel of a material and moral demolition of the old houses 

 of parliament, viewing the former as an allegory of the latter, was 

 too obvious not to attract attention at once ; and accordingly the 

 circumstance has already been taken advantage of by a part of the 

 public press, and the insinuation thrown out pretty plainly that this 

 was a good opportunity of getting rid of the House of Lords alto- 

 gether, while the House of Commons should be reconstructed poli- 

 tically as well as physically. But these are not the changes that are 

 wanted, and if they were, it would be long before they could be 

 attained. They may appear desirable to those whose whole delight 

 is to pull down, without ever troubling themselves about building 

 up, and yet who have not the power of realizing even those destruc- 

 tive theories which they are so fertile in devising. But this surely is 

 not the taste of the great body of the English people, who on the 

 contrary more probably think with Mr. Burke that " the English 

 constitution is like a good old watch, that wants not to be recon- 

 structed, but only cleaned and repaired and set a-going" a metaphor 

 strictly appropriate, and (we are persuaded) no less true. We can 

 even go further, and declare our firm and sincere conviction that it 

 is the most perfect constitution in all respects, both for church and 

 state, that has ever existed or can be imagined, combining every 

 possible excellence that could be expected or even desired. We not 

 merely are content to retain the present form, and only ask for im- 

 provement in its administration, but, had we even the option of 

 changing it to any thing else whatever, we would prefer retaining the 

 present, as uniting, in the most perfect manner possible, all the ad- 

 vantages of every other simpler form of government ; while yet the 

 different parts of it, though complex, are so well arranged and 

 defined, as to be perfectly within the comprehension of every tolerable 

 intellect. These being our sentiments as truly perhaps more truly 

 ~-than of the staunchest self-styled " Conservative," and wishing, as 

 all friends of their country must wish, to see the energies of all 

 parties united for its common good, instead of being wasted in 

 rancour and hostility against each other a very different thing from 

 that fair and honourable opposition which always will and ought to 

 exist between parties in a free country, and which, in the opinion of 

 the great statesman above quoted, are rather beneficial than injurious 

 to the community ; wishing to see this, and believing it possible to 

 attain, we would call upon all who have the interests of their country 

 or any part of it at heart, to profit by this one great unique oppor- 

 tunity or let us rather say invitation that has been offered to them 

 to begin a new aera for the country, not new in its constitution, or 

 institutions, or laws, but in the SPIRIT in which its public men shall 



act, tO PREVENT THE NEED OF A POLITICAL BY A MORAL REFORM, 



and to give a practical, and therefore unanswerable proof, that the 

 British constitution, beyond every other in the world, attains that 

 which is the highest object in every government, to give to every in- 

 dividual, of every rank and condition, the power of Jilting his proper 

 place in society, with comfort to himself and advantage to the com- 



