The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-29
ssI0AI Fssuss NssiOna Era. ~ aIor II
LORD BACON AND the OLD METHOD

I ssI0Ai fssue NafOns Era TA 80 u {
/ LORD BACON AND THE OLD METHOD
I y.aln s1.n ~. .ir I'd &
| In 1917, in ne c1t4 yea. of his age, Bacon
Was created Edrds Ksspss. "This, Etbodsh q
great honor and elevation, ~ a pecunisry loss
His incyne ffofT his oaRSes, hssors me appoint
nsnt, va nearly as,06o, Suklst the direc.
| ro6ts Of the 6rsAe SsN wsrsldis than $1,000
The fssa intcSaus dom the oisSs w. ffos sses
sud ptsis4Hts. 7 II Phsd long bssh custoussrty,
] not ohy ft Hhgilnd, Sdt il Hteopss ssnssSliy,,
For thS King Snsds Nigh digu1AsiSs 81 rscsive
pfsssds89 ho3 saioss who 'aPpsaasahd tAem.
T1hsss bessshtu, ssSn When sasaspssFaAssF Of.
i6csrs SgfdsS aseais56, wsrs soesss2aid1red -
brBSs, sof <s9 ifH spsctsdI III ,aossaSu fl.
vorabls 10 Ne dSnor waosad assSssSaasy follow.
Il wssa petnicaoss chssea,q An0 &aA6s . sssaj
sbnse. some radical rsiSrmsss bsfssLsa IL
Fa tendency, saA AsncsAcsdSh ssabGysfy.
/ Bot stf lie ies1kom sssaisse6F Asf Blaosss
ceived mmy sndfit6 iptssa6is from 4lu6s WHO
had been or were suitors before him. Some
we're made openly, with the knowledge and BY
advice of counsel. The servants of Bacon, with
out his knowledge, obtained some by hints to
suitors that their causes would be thus ad-
vanced. The extravaganza of his household
rendered necessary q large income, and Bacon
paid too little attention to its source, provided
he was not troubled in bis political and scien.
tifc pursuits. For this culpable negligence, for
his inattention to the conduct of those for whose
acts he is held responsible he has suffered and
will forever suffer-
1t is not probable the conduct of the Chan.
cellor would have been exposed certainly the
consequences would not have followed-but for
the ripening resistance of the English people
to the expressions of the Crown.
The Reformation, while it had partially
emancipated the intellect, had greatly strength.
ened the Throne, and we'll nigh destroyed the
boasted liberties of Englishmen. In early days,
the Church, in contests for power, had been an.
tagonist to the King-had even leaned to the
popular cause. The people regarded the Church
as their mother, powerful to bless and protect
Serfdom had been abolished, Feudalism modi-
fed, the common law softened by infusions
from the civil code, and Royal authority cur
tailed, through her influence and power. But
the Church grew rich and indolent, and the peo-
pie had lost much of their reverence for fat
priesthood, more intent on smassing wealth
the broad acres and prosperous tenantry Of the
abbeys. Henry i'll brooked divided ale
glance, especially when the rival power inter
posed check upon his lusts. Circumstances
thus rendered it easy for him to sever the Church
from its foreign connection, to seize upon its
vast wealth, and to constitute himself it's head
This power, before divided, was concentrated in
the King; and, ever since, the English Church,
instead of being the champion of popular rights
has been, as q whole, the ally and defender OF
despotism. From the destruction of The Roman
supremacy, till tho 9 struggles which brought
Charles to the block, the Throne was omnipo.
tent. Few in religious or political matters,
dared resist its mandates. Bishops, priests, and
people, were alike servile. The Kings faith
was their faith-ths Kings will their law.
Under Henry, they could worship the mass and
damn the Pope; under the boy Edward reject
both mass and Pope; under Mary, gladly take
the full Roman yoke; and, again, under Eliza
beth, rejoice in deliverance from Pspal thral.
dom. In civil matters, the Royal will had be-.
come equally omnipotent. But, in the time of
which speak, q new spirit was rising. The
faith of Geneva had affected the political az we'll
as religious ideas Of Englishmen, and it now
became pretty we'll understood that the King
owed duties, and the people possessed rights.
The administration of James, under the ia.
vorite Buckingham, had been extravagant,
reckless, and oppressive. Every means, legal
and illegal, had been resorted to- to raise money,
only to be expended in the most disgraceful
manner. Arbitrary levies were made, and the
sale Of the necessaries as well as the Injuries
of life was monopolized and farmed, not to de-
| fray the legitimate expenses of Government,
but to fill the Golfers of profigate favorites
The people began to murmur. The distant
muttering of that storm that burst upon Charles
was distinctly heard. Had the Court followed
the prudent advice of the Lord Chancellor, the
storm would have passed by. But the Stuarts al
ways hated Parliaments, and temporary expe
dents were resorted to, to avoid the necessity
of calling upon the nation for supplies" which
only still more exaggerated the People. At
last, James became penniless, and was forced
to call the Parliament of l620-'2l. In it, the
feeling of the nation was represented. Though
not revolutionary, it was bent upon the punish
ment of offenders.
1t became evident that not only must meas.
ures be abandoned, but victims must be yield.
ed to popular vengeance. The idea of sac.
riGce is not alone of priestly origin-it seems
implanted in our nature. At least, it is the
general sentiment of mankind, that crimes and
wrongs demand an atoning offering. The gods
are satisfied for the sins of man by the blood
of victims. The wrath of people is only sp.
peased by immolstions; and it matters little,
with blind vengeance whether the guilty be of.
fered, or only scape.goat. James at last saw
the storm, and was alarmed. The proffigate
Buckingham was the real criminal, and should
have been abandoned to the vengeance of Par.
lament. But the child would as soon part
with new toy. The King must save his IA
vorite, the just men fall.
In the emergency, instead Of sending for the
Lord Chancellor, the Kings accustomed coun-
aellor, Buckingham introduced to the King an
able and cunning priest, Williams, Dean Of
Westminster. he advised to save, of course,
the favorite and his family; but "a to their
tools, the agents of their tyrannes, to cast them
of. 1t is believed-the subsequent conduct Of
the King warrants the belief-that Williams