the laws of God and man? He would rather be disposed to conclude, from the ferocious conduct of the conflicting parties, that he was beholding a mob of ruffians who had never heard the name of God associated with the Gospel of peace, brotherly love, and good-will towards men; or else, that elections were periods, or incidents, when every principle of mutual regard and kindliness were to be flung to the winds, and the demons of hatred, fury, and brutal violence were to be unchained.

Alas! there are too many who are ever ready to take advantage of the credulity and prejudices of the people; but surely a political leader is to be esteemed as good or bad, according as he applies his influence over them to a good or bad purpose. The true politician, who acts upon principles worthy of that important character among men, will not mislead them, in order to suit his own views or those of his party; but the demagogue catches at general misunderstandings and specious ad

vantages, in the hope of thereby bringing the

people round to his

own erroneous way of

this sense, is Dean

thinking so true, in

Swift's well-known and memorable remark, that "party is the madness of many for the gain of a few."

It is well to keep down all pride and irresponsible power in any collective body or corporation of men; but this purpose should not be effected by such means as would ultimately tend to raise up again that monster of pride in a far deadlier, because in a more insinuating and plausible, form. The genius of dissent seems to be virulent, inquisitorial, and persecuting; this may easily be proved from history, especially in the instance of the Puritans. When they had the upper hand, did they not punish heresies (as they called slight differences of opinion) with fine, imprisonment, and death? Was not an intention avowed of sending their enemies (well-educated clergymen of the Church of England) to work in

the plantations abroad as chained slaves? Did not the people assert and feel that no ecclesiastical government ever before trod upon their liberties with such an iron heel? No provocation surely could excuse such treatment; and was there, in consequence, ever joy like that which hailed the advent of the Restoration? And what body of men ever became more popular than the bishops? On the other hand, did not Calvin burn Servetus at the stake because he held an opinion differing from his own? Has not the solemn privilege of prayer been made wholly political, and a medium of invoking damnation and curses upon an opposite party? Oh! it is too well known what lust of arbitrary power lurks beneath a Pope Calvin, or a Pope Wesley, or any other leader whose vanity urges him to the establishment of a sect; and we must believe that dominant dissent would quickly overwhelm the fair vessel of freedom in its tumultuous and devouring sea. Soon would the modern pharisee thunder

anathemas against the poor man who shaved himself on the sabbath morn, and the wearing a nosegay of Nature's gems would be stigmatised. as stark idolatry. Oh! what a lesson does even the semi-infidel poet read to such narrowminded ones as these when he exclaims in poetical prayer,

"Let not this weak, unknowing hand
Presume Thy bolt to throw,

Or deal damnation round the land

On each I judge Thy foe."

Little did the amiable inmates of Swanbourne Hall imagine the scenes that were being enacted at Leeds: how could such an angelic nature as Cecile possessed ever dream of the possible existence of such wrath and hatred as had been directed so inhumanly and unjustly against her venerable parent! But let all good men take courage, for "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

CHAPTER II.

I love the people,

But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause and aves vehement.

Measure for Measure.

He prayeth well that loveth well

Both man, and bird, and beast.

COLERIDGE.

WE will pass over all the circumstances that usually take place previous to a contested election, when the venal wretch is extolled to the skies as an honest man; when the vulgar bawler for that fair freedom which is incompatible with his coarse and brutal nature, is auded as an independent fellow; when wallowing drunkards are spoken of as exhibiting the moral and patriotic strength of a generous