tion.[**] [9]

* Rush. vol. v. p. 526.

** See note I, at the end of the volume.

Each party was now willing to throw on its antagonist the odium of
commencing a civil war; but both of them prepared for an event which
they deemed inevitable. To gain the people's favor and good opinion was
the chief point on both sides. Never was there a people less corrupted
by vice, and more actuated by principle, than the English during that
period: never were there individuals who possessed more capacity, more
courage, more public spirit, more disinterested zeal. The infusion of
one ingredient in too large a proportion had corrupted all these
noble principles, and converted them into the most virulent poison. To
determine his choice in the approaching contests, every man hearkened
with avidity to the reasons proposed on both sides. The war of the
pen preceded that of the sword, and daily sharpened the humors of the
opposite parties. Besides private adventurers without number, the
king and parliament themselves carried on the controversy by messages,
remonstrances, and declarations; where the nation was really the
party to whom all arguments were addressed. Charles had here a double
advantage. Not only his cause was more favorable, as supporting
the ancient government in church and state against the most illegal
pretensions; it was also defended with more art and eloquence. Lord
Falkland had accepted the office of secretary; a man who adorned the
purest virtue, with the richest gifts of nature, and the most valuable
acquisitions of learning. By him, assisted by the king himself, were the
memorials of the royal party chiefly composed. So sensible was Charles
of his superiority in this particular, that he took care to disperse
every where the papers of the parliament together with his own, that
the people might be the more enabled, by comparison, to form a judgment
between them: the parliament, while they distributed copies of their
own, were anxious to suppress all the king's compositions.[*]

To clear up the principles of the constitution, to mark the boundaries
of the powers intrusted by law to the several members, to show what
great improvements the whole political system had received from the
king's late concessions, to demonstrate his entire confidence in
his people, and his reliance on their affections, to point out
the ungrateful returns which had been made him, and the enormous
encroachments, insults, and indignit