40 



PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



PROCEEDINGS IN THE ATHENiEUM. 



November 13th. — Mr. Dusautoy's Lecture on the Age of 

 Elizabeth. 



In the commencement of his interesting paper the lecturer stated 

 that there was no epoch in British History on which the mind of 

 an Englishman dwelt with more pleasure and enthusiasm than the 

 reign of the wise and virtuous Elizabeth. In the study of the 

 Elizabethan Age, and the characters and works by which it was 

 distinguished, the poet, philosopher, political economist, enlight- 

 ened protestant, and naval adventurer, might acquire a rich store 

 of spirit-stirring thought, and wise and generous principles of 

 action. 



The age of Elizabeth would be best appreciated by those who 

 were acquainted with the early history of their country, and could 

 contrast her reign with the middle ages, politically convulsed, 

 and dark in superstition — the period of the wars of the roses, and 

 tliat which preceded the reformation. 



No prince perhaps ever assumed the reins of government under 

 more favourable auspices than Queen Elizabeth; the people of 

 England harassed by religious dissensions, and well-nigh exas- 

 perated by the impolitic severities of a bigotted administration, 

 welcomed her with exultation. — The protestant doctrines had 

 spread amongst men of all classes, even the nobility; who, though 

 usually opposed to great and sudden innovations had been won 

 over to tlie cause of the reformers, by receiving a share of the 

 spoils wrested from the Ecclesiastics. Mary's cruel measures 

 had excited amongst the more moderate of her own party a pity 

 for the sufferers, which was favourable to protestantism ; and the 

 lawlessness and crime existing among the lower orders, tnade all 

 men desirous of more energetic and less narrow minded admin- 

 istration. 



The expectations as to the merits and capabilities of Elizabeth, 

 do not appear to liave been groundless or unfounded, she had 

 been educated a protestant, had great natural talent and taste for 

 the fine arts, had studied the ancient languages, and possessed 

 firmness of character. Her prerogative was almost boundless, 

 for fortunately for that age, various causes had combined to render 

 the sovereign sufficiently powerful, if prudent, to do immense 

 goud to the commonwealth. 



The almost absolute authority of Henry VIII. had descended 

 unimpaired to his daughter, this authority had been built on the 

 riiins of feudalism, which had been broken down during the wars 

 of the Koses. The power of the barons was but small, and a 

 fondness for display which pervaded all ranks, circulated much 

 money, which finding its way into the coffers of the middle ranks, 

 thiy began to grow rich and powerful. 



