vereign? It was, never to despair of the triumph of
principle; never to doubt of the ultimate fortunes of good in a contest
with evil; and never to hesitate in calling upon a great and free people
for the defence of that constitution which had made them great and
free."

Those high-toned sentiments were received with loud cheers. Even
Opposition felt the natural force of the appeal, and the cheering was
universal; party was forgotten for the time, and the name of England,
and the revived glory of those illustrious days, bowed the whole House
at the will of the great orator. In the midst of their enthusiasm, he
took from the table a volume of the records, and read the final address
of William to his Parliament; the bequest of a dying king to the people
whom he had rescued from slavery. This royal speech had evidently formed
his manual of government, and, certainly, a nobler declaration never
came from the throne.

"My Lords and Gentlemen--I promise myself that you are met together
with that just sense of the common danger of Europe, and that
resentment of the late proceedings of the French king, which have
been so fully and universally expressed in the loyal and seasonable
addresses of my people." In allusion to the French plan of
universal monarchy in the reign of Louis XIV., the speech
pronounced that the alliance of Spain was the commencement of a
system for subjugating Europe. "It is fit," said the King, "that I
should tell you that the eyes of all Europe are upon this
Parliament--all matters are at a stand until your resolutions are
known; and therefore no time ought to be lost.

"You have yet an opportunity, by God's blessing, to secure to
yourselves and your posterity the quiet enjoyment of your religion
and liberties, if you are not _wanting to yourselves_, but will
exert the utmost vigour of the English nation. But I tell you
plainly, that if you do not lay hold of this occasion, you have no
reason to hope for another." One of the measures proposed was, for
the maintenance of the public good faith. "I cannot but press upon
you," said the King, "to take care of the public credit, which
cannot be preserved but by keeping sacred the maxim, that _they
shall never be losers_ who trust to parliamentary security.

"Let me conjure you to disappoint the only hopes of your enemies by
your unanimity. I have shown, and will alway