The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-11-28
MACAULAY'S HISTORY OF ENG
LAND.

The Literary World publishes the pref
atory chapter of MACAULAY's long expect
ed History, which is now in the Press of
the Messrs. IlARPERs. 1t is kind of
programme of the work
81 purpose to write the History of Eng
land from the Accession of King James
the Second, down TO time which is with
in the memory of men still living. shall
recount the errors, which, III few
months, alienaled loyal gentry and
priesthood from the House Of Stuart. l
shall trace the course of that revolution
which terminated the long struggle be-
tween our sovereigns and their parliament,
and bound up together the rights of the
people, and tue title Of the reigning dy>
nasty. ! shall relate how the new settle
ment was, during many troubled years,
successfully defended against foreign aud
domestic enemies how, under that set
Element, the authority of law and the Sc
curitS of property were found to be com,
palible with liberty Of discussion and of
individual action never before known /;
how, from the suspicious union of order
and freedom, spraag prosperity OF which
the annals of human affairs had furnished
no example; how our country, from a
state of ignominlous vassalage, rapidly
rose to the place among European pow
ers; how her opulence and her martial
glory grew together how. by wise and
resolute good faith, was gradually estab-
lished public credit fruitful of maryels,
which to the statesman of any former age
would have seemed incredible; how 81
gantc commerce gave birth to a maritime
power, compared with which every Other
maritime power, ancient or modern, sinks
into insigniicancc how Scotland, after
/ ayes Of cnmity, was at length united &c
England, not merely by legal bonds, but
; by indissoluble tics of interest and affec-
ton: how in America, The British colo
, mics rapidly became far mightier anc
, Weather than the realms which Cortez
and Pizarro had added to the dominion!
of Charles the Fifth; how in Asia, British
1 Adventures founded an empire not les.
r splendid and more durable than that o
r Alexander.
Nor will it be less my duty faithfully Il
record disasters mingled with triumphs
with great national crimes and follies ia
V more humiliating than any disaster.
), will be seen that what we justly accoun
:, our chief blessings were not without al
;, 10y. 1t will be seen that the system
u which etfectually secured our liberties a
= gainst the encroachment of kingly pow
h er, gave birth to new class Of abuse
b from which absolute monarchles are ex
empt. 1t will be seen that in consequence
partly of unwise interference, and partl
of unwise neglect, the increase Of wealth
d and the extension of trade produced, &c
gether with immense good, some evil
from which poor and rude societies ar
- free. 1t will be seen how, in two impor
IN tant dependencies of the crown, wron
i'll was followed by just retribution how iii
Ill prudence and obstinacy broke the tie
Ill which bound the North American Colo
he mics TO the parent state; how ireland
y cursed by the domination of race owe
race, and of religion over religion, remain
ed indeed member Of the empire, but
wiihered and distorted member, addn
IN no strength TO this bndy polite, and re
ID proachfulIy pointed at by all who feare
; or snvied the greatness of England.
Yet, unless ! greatly deceive mysel
Is the general effect of this chequered nal
tn rative will be to excite thank fulness in a
lg religious minds, and hope in the breas
or of all patriots For the history of OF
=. country during the last hundred and si'
i'S ty years is eminently the history of ply
zeal, of moral, and of intellectual in
proteRent. Those who compare the az
Of which exists only in their Imagination