tion, Charity, and Justice-take root and life1 here in the inexhaustible reservoir of the independent spirit and spontaneous sacrifices of twenty millions of Christian souls.

3

The Englishman gives his money, his time, his name to a work of charity, or of public interest; he makes it his glory that the work thus promoted shall be equal to all wants, and in accordance with all progress; but to accomplish this, he never thinks of asking or of accepting the controlling authority of the government over that which his fathers and himself have founded. He keeps the authority with the responsibility, the rights with the duties. He would faint 5 at the sight of our system of legal charity, directed, superintended, educated, in fact, pinioned and gagged," in which," since 1852, all the members of all the Bureaux de Bienfaisance through France are placed and displaced by the Préfets, as are also all the administrators of hospitals, who formerly were elected.

"Supported by voluntary contributions:" such is the proud and noble inscription that we read all over England on most of the hospitals and various asylums provided for 10 human misery. Even when 11 the English government has taken the initiative, the public always follows, to claim 12 its share and right. "Condidit Rex, Civium largitis perfecit," as it is written on the front of the immense hospital of Bedlam. It is easily understood

1 Take root and life, plongent leurs racines et puisent leur sève -2 he makes it his glory that, il met sa gloire à ce que-3 shall be equal to all wants, soit au niveau de tous les besoins the controlling authority......over, la main-mise......sur-5 he would faint, il tomberait en pâmoison-6 in fact, pinioned and gagged, en fin de compte garrottée-7 in which, où-8 as are also, et où il en est de même de-9 on most, sur la façade de la plupart-10 provided for, simply de- even when, alors même que (see note ", p. 49)12 always follows, to claim, est toujours venu revendiquer.

CHARITY AND PUBLIC SPIRIT IN ENGLAND. 335

that these words, " Supported by voluntary subscriptions," imply also," governed by the authority of the subscribers.” It is ever the same principle-effort, personal and permanent sacrifice, and then the rights and power arising1 from the sacrifice and the effort. . . . .

6

3

It is thus that England escapes the greatest difficulty and the greatest danger of modern society-the social uniformity and the absorbing power of the government. There the variety of rights and the infinite diversity of individual opinions strangle in its birth that fatal germ of uniformity which is not only the parent of weariness, but especially the offspring of bureaucracy -which is, moreover, the mark and condition of servitude; and which, very far from being a guarantee of stability to nations or governments, has never saved these from the most sudden and most shameful overthrows. Still less does England know that detestable abuse of force created by the omnipotence of our modern governments, whatever may be their origin or their denomination-Dictatorship or Assembly, Monarchy or Republic.

In 10 the nations of this age a revolution or a conspiracy easily overthrows a government, but it is too often only to substitute for the fallen power a new one, which is found to be quite as impatient of restraint as its predecessor was,11 and which arrogates to itself the right and the power 12 of doing whatever it pleases, and which always succeeds for a time-so much have the useful inventions of civilization, and the happy gentleness

1 Arising, naissant-2" to the "-3 absorbing power, toute-puissance-4 strangle in its birth that fatal germ, brisent dans l'œuf le germe fatal-5 parent of wearinesss, mère de l'ennui-6 the offspring, la fille to, pour-8 overthrows, "falls "-9 created by, qui ressort de-10 in, chez-11 a new, etc.......as its...... venu qui ne veut pas plus de frein que son........

12

was, un nouveau

power, faculté.

of modern manners, simplified the formerly 1 laborious and hazardous task of despotism!

MONTALEMBERT,

"Avenir Politique de l'Angleterre."

THE FRENCH PROTESTANT REFUGEES (a.d. 1685).

When one sees how the scattered communities of the great religious emigration of France became dissolved,2 one cannot but regret that a leader did not at the first 3 present himself sufficiently illustrious by birth, and great in authority, to rally all these exiles under one banner. Realizing the idea of Coligny, he might have led them to 5 America, and there have founded a vast colony. He would have found himself possessed at once of all the elements of a society, numerous, energetic, and full of hope: generals, soldiers, sailors, preachers, learned men, manufacturers, artizans, labourers, merchants, and even capitalists would have been there to facilitate their first establishment. What more was wanted to transplant a Protestant France into the New World, there to flourish, and perhaps to lay the foundation of a powerful empire.

8

11

But Providence ordered it 10 otherwise. These fugitives, dispersed throughout the world, were to 11 become, unknown to themselves,12 the instruments of that mysterious will. They were destincd, in America especially, to check 13 the puritanical fanaticism, and to help in its

1 Formerly, naguère.

2 When one sees how......became dissolved, en voyant se dissoudre .—3 at the first, dès l'abord-1 see note a, p. 27—5 see note a, p. 73-6 he would, etc......of, il aurait trouvé sous sa main-' full of hope, pleine d'avenir-8 what more was wanted, en fallait-il davantage 9 Protestant and New World, no capital-10 ordered it, en décida 11 see note, p. 40-12 see note ", p. 139-13 to check, à tempérer.

THE FRENCH PROTESTANT REFUGEES.

337

fruitful efforts and final triumph that spirit of independence controlled by the law, the magnificent results of which are now witnessed in the United States.* In Europe their mission was to develope for Prussia, and to increase for England and Holland, the elements of power and prosperity already to be found in those countries whose present greatness may in some respects be traced to them.2.

What the foreign nations thus gained was so much lost for France. This kingdom, which Henry IV., Richelieu, and Mazarin had transmitted to Louis XIV. covered with glory, powerful in arms, preponderant abroad, tranquil and satisfied at home, he transferred to his successor, humiliated, weakened, discontented, ready to succumb to the reaction of the Regency and of the whole of the eighteenth century, and thus fatally carried away to the revolution of 1789. To the formidable encroachments of a prince who, during the latter part of his reign, was governed in his religion by a narrow and intolerant spirit, and in his policy by views more dynastic than national, Protestantism had opposed an irresistible barrier in England and Holland, united under one 7 prince, who prevailed upon all Europe to enlist against isolated France.

8

6

5

WEISS,

"Histoire des Réfugiés Protestants de France."

1 Already to be found in, que contenaient-2 may, etc......to them, est à quelques égards leur œuvre-3 abroad......at home, au dehors ......au dedans 4 he, il le―5 governed, dominé—6 in, dans—7 one, un même-8 who prevailed upon all Europe to enlist against, qui entraîna toute l'Europe contre.

* The very interesting work from which this extract is taken was published about twelve years ago.

PEEL AND THE WORKING CLASSES.

I more than once remarked the influence, mingled with sympathy and with fear, which was exercised over his mind by our great revolution of 1789, and by the ideas and social forces which it has called into play.1 On this subject he shared neither the maxims nor the passions of the Tories of the old school; and in his inmost soul, in spite of all his moral, political, and national reservation, this great English Conservative was himself rather a child than an enemy of that new social order, which continues powerful and fruitful in spite of its faults, its reverses, its miscalculations, and its dark features.3 But what struck me most of all, in the conversation of Sir Robert Peel, was 4 his constant and earnest solicitude with regard to the condition of the labouring classes in England-a solicitude arising as much from moral as from political considerations, and in which, beneath a cold and somewhat compassed language, might be discerned the emotion of the man, as well as the forethought of the statesman. "There is," he always said, "too much suffering and too much perplexity amongst the working classes; it is a disgrace, as well as a danger to our civilization; it is absolutely necessary to render the condition of those people who work with their hands 7 less hard and less precarious. We cannot do everything, far from it; but we can do something, and it is our duty to do all that we can." In the activity of his thought and the leisure of his

5

1 Called into play, mises en jeu-2 in his inmost soul, au fond de son âme-3 dark features, ténèbres-4 was, ce fut-5 arising, etc... ...considerations, morale autant que politique- might be discerned, perçait- those people, etc.......hands, ce peuple du travail manuel.