Dr. PercivaPs Notes and Illuftrations. 625 



ing plea for fuch exercife of power : And the ultimate decifion, 

 concerning this juftifying plea, muft reft wthlhe people. 



Note (B) page 12, 



INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN. 



The refolutiqn, that " the influence of the crown hath in- 

 creafed, is increafing, and ought to be diminiftied," was moved 

 by Mr. Dunning ; who explained his meaning to be, not the 

 influence of the virtues of the fovereign, or the juft rights of his 

 prerogative, but that which arofe from corruption, and other 

 undue practices. 



Sir Fletcher Norton, the Speaker of the Houfe, obferved, 

 *• that it would be criminal in him to remain filent on this oc- 

 " cafion. He declared, in the moft direft terms, that the influ- 

 *' ence of the crown had been increafing of late to an alarming 

 " degree. No man had a higher veneration for monarchy than 

 «* he had : He meant that fpecies of it eftablilhed in this country; 

 " a monarchy limited by law. Such a government required no 

 " affiftance, but what was derived from the conftitution and the 

 *' laws. The powers^ vefted in the executive part of government, 

 " were ample and fufficient for all the purpofes of good govem- 

 " ment ; and, without any farther aid, much too ample for the 

 " purpofes of bad government. And he thought himfelf bound, 

 •* as an honeft man, to fay, that the influence of the crown had 

 " increafed much beyond the ideas of a monarchy ItridUy limi- 

 ** ted in its nature and extent." See New Annual Regifter, 1 780, 

 p. 148. 



Sir William Blackftone, fpeaking of the ancient prerogative? 

 of the crown, and of the bounds fet to them, at the revolution, 

 fays " though thefe provifions have, in appearance and nominally, 

 " reduced the ftrength of the executive power to a much lower 

 " ebb than in the preceding period ; if, on the other hand, we 

 »' throw into the oppofitc fcale (what perhaps . the immoderate 



Vol. III. S f "reduftion 



