The National Register.
London, England, 1820-11-19 00:00:00

IitiNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1820.

made his celebrated models in the House of Commons
" that the power of the crown had increased, was
incoming, and ought to be diminished." The mo-
tion had no other effect than to record the fact ; and
the rapidity with which the nation recovered from
the difficulties occasioned by the American war,
counteeected the effects intended to be produced by
that &Sion. The erowtecontinued to receive op
aananion of strength; scut at the period when die
Queen retuiped, it had reached a height that was
probably never contemplated by the statesmen of
the last century.

One ill-advised and intemperate measure has been
the means of restoring the ancient powers of the
constitution ; and the crown has lost, in the course
of a few months, what it had been acquiring in the
space of half a century. It is nominally the same,
and to a superficial observer as imposing as ever;
but it is in reality as weak, and perhaps weaker,
than it was at the beginning of the last reign. It
has shewn, by its abandoning the proceedings against
the Queen, that it is not able to contend with the
power of public opinion ; and as it has betrayed the
secret of its weakness, it will be pursued without
respite, till it be driven back to its old ground. The
people, wheie they arc the assailants, act with fur
more impetuosity than their rulers ; and us they
have in general injuries to resent, es well as prin-
ciples to support, they always make the most of
every, advantage they acquire. When they have
asseted sae eamoossion, it is only a signal for insist-
ing ea another; and every compliance, in weakening
the party that yields, strengthens that which de-
mands. When once a government, long accustomed
to give the law, is compelled to receive it, it is very
rarely able to resume it; and it is our firm belief,
that the crown, having failed in this great trial of
strength, will be obliged to act for the future on the
defensive, instead of pursuing, as heretofore, a sys.
tem of aggression. Such are often the consequences
of a single error in politics, and such is likely to be
the memorable result of the proceedings against her
Majesty.

We confess the more we examine the state of
public feeling, as excited by that ill-fated question,
the less we feel ourselves competent to fix the limits
at which the desire, so strongly evinced by tho na-
tion for redress, may confine itself. The public,
indignant as they arc at the attempt to force upon
them the Bill of Pains mid Penalties, will probably
require far greater securities for their liberty than
they would have otherwise deemed necessary. They
h2ve now little or no confidence in the justice and
moderation of the government; and as they imagine
that they have been threatened with a military rule,
►hey wisp probably be guided by that apprehension
in their future precautions. They will endeavour
so to restrict the influence of the crown, as to render
such un attempt fur ever impracticable. An unqua-
lified jealousy of the executive will be the rule of
their conduct, and it will require great temper and
great management in the leaders of the people, to
prevent this feeling from running into any tingcr-
ous exec.'s. Royalty never stood so naked in the
eyes of mankind as it dots at present; it is nut sur-
rounilol by any of those illusions which used to
fascinate the many, and without which it can exist
but with difficulty. We deplore this change, for
there arc static things, and those of the highest uti-
lity, Which cianivit exist without the aid nt siltodid
prejudices; and tuyalty is a, u, which, in our opt•

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