LANCASTER COUNTT. 277 



have Cvontributed, according to my small ability, to have 

 rule and order established and preserved among us. I 

 have always attended the courts of judicature; except 

 when want of health, or the service of my country, in 

 some other station, require my absence ; and it has been 

 my lot repeatedly to give the charge to the gentlemen of 

 the grand juries from this place. 



"I am now an old man; too old, if both opportunity 

 and inclination should invite (which I am assured never 

 will) ever to take the burden upon me again; and, there- 

 fore, am willing to make you a few observations on power 

 and Government, and the present posture of affairs here. 



" I shall pass over the original of the English constitu- 

 tion; the several steps and gradations, by which it has 

 rose to the purity and perfection, it is at this day; the 

 many attempts, which have been made to invade it, and 

 the blood and treason, which have been spent, in defence 

 of that constitution, and those liberties, which render the 

 English nation so famous throughout the world. 



"And, first, I observe to you. Gentlemen of the Grand 

 Jury, that the privilege of trials, by juries is counted 

 older than the English Government, and was not un- 

 known to the ancient Britons: juries are looked upon 

 as essential felicity to English subjects-, and are put in 

 the first rank among English liberties; the reason given 

 is this; because no man's life shall be touched, for any 

 crime (out of parliament) unless he be thought guilty by 

 two several juries ; and these juries, being substantial 

 men, taken, from time to time, out of the neighborhood 

 of the person accused, cannot be supposed to be biased; 

 whereas, it is observable, that judges are made by pre- 

 rogatives and many have been preferred by corrupt min- 

 isters of state; and may be so again; and such ad- 



24 



