The  Colossus  of  tyranny  was  undermined,
and  a  pebble  overthrew  it.
Witn  this  progress  of  opinion  arose  the
American  Revolution:  and  from  this  last,
most  unquestionably,  the  delivery  of  France,
Nothing,  therefore,  could  be  more  natural,
than  that  those  who,  without  blind  bigotry
for  the  forms,  had  a  rational  reverence  for
the  principles  of  our  ancestors,  should  rejoice
in  a  Revolution,  in  which  these  principles,
long  suffered  to  repose  in  impotent  abstrac-
tion in  England,  are  called  forth  into  energy,
expanded,  invigorated,  and  matured.  If,  as
we  have  presumed  to  suppose,  the  Revolu-
tion of  1688  may  have  had  no  small  share
in  accelerating  the  progress  of  light  which
has  dissolved  tho  prejudices  that  supported
despotism,  they  may  be  permitted,  besides
their  exultation  as  friends  of  humanity,  to
indulge  some  pride  as  Englishmen.
It  must  be  confessed  that  our  ancestors  in
1688,  confined,  in  their  practical  regulations,
their  views  solely  to  the  urgent  abuse.  They
puni shell  the  usurper  without  ameliorating
the  government ;  and  they  proscribed  usurpa-
tions without  correcting  their  source.  They
were  content  to  clear  the  turbid  stream,  in-
stead of  purifying  the  polluted  fountain.
They  merit,  however,  veneration  for  their
achievements,  and  the  most  ample  amnesty
for  their  defects ;  for  the  first  were  their  own,
and  the  last  are  imputable  to  the  age  in  which
thoy  lived.    The  true  admirers  of  the  Revo-


Intion  will  patdon  it  for  having  Smred  vse^
less  establishments,  only  because  tney  revere
it  for  having  estabhshed  grand  prmciples.
