The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-16 00:00:00

became in the course 'of centuries still more ?`.
worthy of attention ; though, as it acted by opi-
niou rather than by law, 'it was neither easy to
trace and measure its unfelt progress, nor in a'
few words to describe its nature, and to afford
clear proof of its insensible but extensive in-
fluence. Its source was evidently the Parlia-
linentary union of the lesser nobility with the
burgesses, which could not fail in due time to
• produce a correspondent union throughout so-
.eiety. In the reign of Edward 11. the fords be-
tween the• orders were so passable, that corn-
moners seem to have been called to the peerage.
,It was not till the time of Henry VI. that the
word " gentleman.' began to be used in some-
what of that modern sense which distinguishes.
it legally from a nobleman, and Morally from an
imeducated plebeian. In the farther stages of
the progress heralds and genealogists began to
complain of its indiscriminate application, while
in their antiquarian pleasantry they represented
;, as being usurped by every idle and useless upstart.
The principle of birth continued to lie at the
foundation of the body of gentry, and lent to
f every newly-received candidate some portion of
a feeling which is so much mingled with the
moralities of education, with the means of gene•
rosity, and with lasting exemption from grievdeit
and disreputable toil, that, except where it is
counteracted by, jealousy, it never can fail, with
or without the aid of legal privilege, to be on
agreeable object of contemplation, whether in
. our own possession or in that of others. But in
the course of ages'the body gradually opcneo
their arms to receive among them all men of li-
beral education and condition. It became
pecies of voluntary aristocracy, which after some
silent trial adopted every man who appeared to,
be distinguished from the multitude. It was
t bestowed neither by kings nor laws : and it was.
only to be withdrawn silently, on strong appear-
ances that the delicacies and refinements of

honour, which were imposed when the rank was
granted, had been disregarded by some of its
possessors. One of its last and most modern re-
sults was an unbroken chain of connexion ex-
tending from the steps of the throne to the lowest
limit of liberal education. It would be easy to
multiply examples of gentlemen of moderate
fortune whose affinities and relationships now
spread nearly to the opposite points. Distant
as the extremities are, the'steps are 'in the inter-
mediate degrees short, and made without effort.
Every accurate observer may easily convince him-
,elf how much all the parts of the chain are
fastened together by links more in number and
strength than would at first be thought probable.
The natural subserviency of this intermixture
of interests and attachments to the quiet and
harmony of the community, is too obvious to
need illustration. Hence it in a great measure
came to pass that the fiercest civil dissensions of
after-times were not between orders, but between
. parties, each of whom contained in itself a por-
' tion of every order, checking the tendency of each
other to extremities, and affording inducements
to moderation as well as channels of compro-
mise. Hence perhaps also that extraordinary
union of the principles of stability and advance-
ment which has enabled the British constitution
to pass unbroken through so vast an extent oi'
time and place ; to control an absolute monarchy
m India ; and, after political separation, to wit-
' ties.; its laws and institutions flourishing_amont.
the North American democracies. Nothinl
;hors of a union of the most seemingly discor-
dant classes, linked together by ties too deep fel
common observation, could fit it to be a bond of
union between the most ancient times of which
we have an account, and the most remote tutu-
rity which our imagination can anticipate.—Dr.
„/ ardner's cabinet Cycloptedia, Vol. VIII.

THOMAS-A-BECKET.

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