310 CAUSES OF DEGENERATIVE EVOLUTION 



Spain to be continued much longer. " It is to 

 be expected," says the paper from which this 

 information was obtained, " that the French 

 Foreign Minister will in the near future come 

 to an understanding with the Spanish authorities 

 to put an end to this iniquitous custom, arid it is 

 to be hoped that this year is the last occasion upon 

 which a blood-tax will be paid by the valley of 

 Baretous to the valley of Roncal." 



2. Respect for tradition. In his " Essays on Pro- 

 gress, Manners arid Customs" (Westminster Review, 

 1854), Spencer points out the connection between 

 respect for tradition and custom, and the con- 

 servatism of those in authority. He says that 

 certain customs, which have elsewhere died out, 

 survive in some departments of the government. 

 The Secretary of State in ratifying acts passed in 

 Parliament uses old Norman French, 1 and certain 

 legal terms in old Norman French are still used. 

 The wigs now worn by judges and barristers are 

 identical with those seen in old portraits, while the 

 " Beef-eaters " of the Tower of London wear the 



1 " For financial Acts the formula is: La Reyne remercie ses bons 

 sujets, accepte leur benevolence et ainsi le veult ; for general Acts : 

 La Reyne le veult ; for private bills : Soit fait comrae il est desire ; 

 for petitions: Soit droit fait comme il est desire. The veto is 

 announced : La Reyne s'avisera. Cromwell had changed these old 

 forms ; he gave his consent to Bills in English ; the old custom 

 was resumed at the Restoration, and the House of Commons in 

 1706 rejected a Bill passed by the Lords to abolish the French 

 phraseology." De Franqueville, Gouvemement et Parlement Britan- 

 niques, vol. i., p. 279. 



