The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-28 00:00:00

MAUNA CHARTA.

It is observable that the language of the Great.
Charter is simple, brief, general without being,
abstract, and expressed in terms of authority, not
of argument, yet commonly so reasonable as to,
carry with it the intrinsic evidence of ita own
fitness. It was understood by the simplest -of
the unlettered age for whoa n it was intended.
It was remembered by them ; and though they
,did not perceive the extensive conseirences.
which might be derived from' it, their feelings.
.were, however unconsciously, exalted by its ge.
nerality and grandeur.
It was a peculiar advantage that the cause
queuccs of its principles weie, if we may so.
.speak, only discovered gradually and slowly. It
gave out on each occasion only as much of the
spirit of liberty and reformation as the eirenin.'
stances of succeeding generations required, awl
as their character would safely bear. 'For almost
live centuries it was' eppealed to as the Alecisiva
authority on behalf oithe people, though coin..
'manly so far only is the necessities of each me.
demanded. Its effect in these contests wan not
'altogether unlike the grand process by -which
'nature employs snows and frosts ,to cover her.
delicate germs, and to hinder them from rising'
above the earth till the atmosphere has acquired
the mild and equal temperature which insurei
them against blights. On the Engllali nation,.
undoubtedly, the Charter has contributed' to be—
stow the union of establishment with improve.
merit. To ell mankind it set the first example.
of the progress of a great people for centuries,
in blending their tinnultuarr democracy and
:haughty nobility with *'fluctuating and vagtitly
':limited monarchy, so as at length to limn front
these discordant materials the only form of flee
government which experience had shown to be
reconcileuble with widely-extended dominions.
Whoever in any future age, or unborn nation,
may admire the felicity' of the expedient which
converted the power of taxation into the shield
of liberty, by which' discretionary and secret
prisonment was rendered impracticable,and..po4,4.
tions of the people were trained, to exercise
larger abaci of judtual power than' Velss @ft'r
allotted to them in any other civilised st ilia, in
gering, public tranquillity;'---whoever (Auks at
die spectacle of enlightened and independent as.
semblieg, who, under the eye of a welt-informeit
nation, diteiss and determine the laws and
policy
ha t
all‘ri:ig.dr

117.ssada irnproveinents, upon the mind and
nins of a people, sacredly hound to speak with
reverential pratitude or the authors of the Great
Charter. l'o have produced it, to have pre.
served it, to have matured it, constitute the im.
mortal ,witt of England on the esteem of man.
kind. tier Damns and Shakspeares, her Mil.
and
revoaletl, Newtons,atid Withhave alltt
ltealg etie
iliertorh whichtruXerrtue‘%ltilil
tl ef have inspired, are of inferior value when
eotnpared with the subjection of inert and
their rulers to the prinetples of iiihtieC ifs
itith'ed, it be not more trite that these mighty
ipirits could nut have been formed -except under
equal laws, nor roused to 11111 eetivitrwithont
.he influence of th:tt spirit which the Great
Charter breathed over their iorefathers.-1-k;
Lardner's Caltinei cyclopedic Vol. ;