cafes, to be perused with caution, and allowances for fuch embellishment, and fuch perverfion of facts, as may proceed from motives of private intereft or vanity. But of all men, James, who appears to have written his life with a view to publication, or at least of its being produced in his own vindication, was under great temptation to exaggerate or extenuate those particulars which might affect the reputation, either of himself and his friends, or of his numerous enemies. How is it poffible to trust the private anecdotes of a writer, who, in a letter to the prince of Orange, could deny that he had any acceffion to a treaty with France, after he had been for fome months eagerly engaged in promoting it; or who gravely profeffed to the fame perfon his principles of univerfal toleration, while he was congratulating Lewis XIV. on the most intolerant act of his reign, and expreffing his great fatisfaction with the violent measure of that monarch for the extirpation of herefy? As James must have been sensible that he

* See his Letters. Dalrymple's Appendix.

was

was hated by a great part of the nation,
and that his views and conduct were fe-
verely cenfured, the relation which he gives
of his transactions must be confidered as,
in some measure, the representation of a
culprit placed at the bar of the public; and
which, though affording good evidence
against himself, yet when adduced in his own
favour, is worthy of belief only according
to its internal probability, and to the degree
of confirmation which it may receive from
collateral evidence,

CHAPTER VII.

Of the Revolution-Settlement; and the Reign of William and Mary.

OF

F all the great revolutions recorded in the hiftory of ancient or of modern times, that which happened in England, in the year 1688, appears to have been productive of the least disorder, and to have been conducted in a manner the most rational, and confiftent with the leading principles of civil fociety. When a fovereign has violated the fundamental laws of the conftitution, and shewn a deliberate purpose of persevering in acts of tyranny and oppresfion, there cannot be a doubt but that the people are entitled to refift his encroachments, and to adopt fuch precautions as are found requifite for the preservation of their liberty. To deny this, would be to maintain that government is intended for the benefit of those who govern, not of the whole com. munity; and, that the general happiness of

the

When a

the human race, ought to be sacrificed to the private interest, or caprice, of a few individuals. It cannot, however, be supposed, that fuch resistance will ever be effected without fome disturbance, and without a deviation from thofe forms and rules which are obferved in the ordinary courfe of adminiftration. When the machine is out of order, it must be taken to pieces; and in the repairing and cleaning of the wheels and fprings, there must be some interruption and derangement of its movements. general reformation of government has become indifpenfible, it must be conducted according to the exigency of times and circumstances; and few fituations will occur, in which it is practicable without many temporary inconveniencies, or even without violence and bloodfhed. It is the part prudence and of justice, in those cafes, to adopt fuch measures as are likely to produce the end in view with the leaft poffible hardfhip; fo that, although violent and irregular, they may be juflified by the great law of neceffity.

of

In confequence of a very general and preffing invitation from the English nobility and gentry, the prince of Orange, about the end of the year 1688, landed, with an armed force, in England; and immediately published a declaration, that the fole purpose of his undertaking, was to obtain the difmiffion of Roman catholics from those offices of trust which they held contrary to law, and the calling of a free parliament for the redress of grievances. Though the nation was in fome measure apprised of this event, yet, intimidated by the unusual fituation, they remained, for a fhort time, irresolute and in fufpenfe; but foon after, an universal approbation of the enterprise was manifeft from the conduct of the people in all quarters, who reforted to the prince, and formed an association to fupport his measures. The king found himself deferted by thofe upon whose fidelity he had moft reason to rely; even by his own family, the prince and princess of Denmark, and by a great part of that army which he had provided to enforce his authority.

In