"If circumspection and caution are a part of wisdom, when we work only upon
inanimate matter, surely they become a part of duty too, when the subject of our demo-
lition and construction is not brick and timber, but sentient beings, by the sudden
alteration of whose state, condition, and habits, multitudes may be rendered miserable."
BURKE.

ALLIDIE LIBRARY

OF

LONGMAN AND CO.; HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO.

BRISTOL STRONG. EDINBURGH BLACKWOOD AND SON

DUBLIN MILLIKEN AND CO.

1842.

CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Discovery of America and contemporaneous events-

Common origin of the British and American people

and their institutions-Primitive character of the

colonists and their final separation from the mother

country-important differences in the condition of the

two nations-The American constitution was planned

by Congress, is a legislative experiment, and is not

a precedent to be followed by this country

LECTURE II.

Page

1

PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS-OUTLINE OF AMERICAN

CONSTITUTION.

Close resemblance between the municipal and provincial

institutions of England and America-Outline of the

American constitution-The federal government of

the United States-If at the æra of the French Revo-

lution and of the new constitution of America, Great

Britain had been a republic, could she have preserved

her freedom?..

28

107300

LECTURE III.

ELECTIVE FRANCHISE-LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES.

Instability of Laws in America-Equality-The Ballot-

Universal suffrage-Pledged delegates and free repre-

sentatives - House of Representatives - House of

Commons-Senate-House of Lords

LECTURE IV.

THE EXECUTIVE POWER.

The President of the United States-The British Sove-

reign-Their ministers-Elections - Elective and

hereditary monarchy-The veto-Mutual relations

of the executive and the legislature in both countries

-How far these have been affected in England by

the Reform bill-Opinions of American statesmen

respecting the British constitution

LECTURE V.

LAW RELIGION.

Judicial institutions of England adopted by the Ameri-

cans-Juries-Independence of judges--The supreme

court of the United States-Can the religious instruc-

tion of a country be adequately provided for without

an established church ?-Illustrations from England

and America

......

Page

LECTURE VI.

SOCIAL INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

The will of the majority-The periodical press-Man-

ners-Liberty-Slavery

ADDITIONAL NOTES..

144

191

PREFACE.

THESE discourses were originally prepared for a literary association at Bristol, designed chiefly for the improvement of young men, by means of a select library, and lectures given by clergymen and gentlemen who take an interest in the institution. The author was afterwards invited to deliver them elsewhere; and to the numerous and most respectable audience, at whose request they are published, he has to apologize for the delay caused by his acceptance of an invitation from the principal inhabitants of Newport, in Monmouthshire, to repeat the course there, at the close of autumn. But he has thus been enabled to extend and illustrate it, by a reference to recent documents and very important events.

Great Britain and America having been reunited in amicable bonds, every sincere patriot and philanthropist will desire that their concord may be perpetual, and will mingle his aspirations for the welfare of both countries.

An Englishman, how careful soever, to derive his knowledge of the institutions of the United States, from