lilSTORV or HIS OWN TIME. 



mean heart which lurks beneath the star," in such a manner as to 

 leave it doubtful whether public good or private pique had the chief 

 share in the exposure. Through the whole of his life Burnett was 

 a keen partizan, or, as he has been designated, a christian whig. 

 On party topics, therefore, he had an utter contempt for neutrality 

 and indecision. Where are those delicate and dignified antipathies, 

 which would lead him to think it ignoble to repeat his blow if he 

 missed his aim ? His object was to strike hard and in the right 

 place ; no matter how clumsy the stroke, provided it brought down 

 his antagonist. Nevertheless, where his vituperations are fiercest, 

 he, somehow contrives to make it appear that they spring from the 

 movements of a generous and indignant spirit; and that he is em- 

 ployed in what he thinks a work of just and manly castigation. — 

 Many, indeed, are the passages iu this memorable book, which indi- 

 cate a strong belief that a new era of historical liberality was com- 

 mencing, which might dare to seize the truth under whatever 

 form, and bring it forward to the view. In speaking, therefore, of 

 that great Revolution which threw off a line of kings for their 

 tyranny, and adopted a new line for their religion, he has not hesi- 

 tated to display, in their true colours, the conduct, feelings, and 

 views of that party w^ho, in secretly abetting the house of Stuart, 

 sought to revive at the same time, those antiquated and hateful 

 maxims, which taught monarchs to forget that the prosperity and 

 liberty of their subjects were the surest basis of their own greatness. 

 While, then, it is quite apparent to which side Burnett's political 

 feelings carried him, it never with any truth or justice can be said, 

 that he evinces the sad prostitution of mind implied in the con- 

 dition of a devoted party-man ; which leads such a puppet to refer 

 to mean and interested motives the conduct of every opponent. On 

 the contrary, a sense of truth and justice has often forced him to 

 condemn his political friends, and to approve the proceedings of 

 their adversaries; besides which, of every opinion pronounced by 

 our author, he fairly states the grounds, and the reader is thus 

 enabled to judge whether prejudice or sound reasoning were most 

 conspicuous in his preferences and disgusts, his resentments and his 

 friendships. The delineation of the character of King William 

 may be evidenced in verification of these remarks. 



