LONDON

PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO.

NEW-STREET SQUARE

1

OF

THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT

AND

CONSTITUTION

FROM THE REIGN OF HENRY VII. TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Russell

BY

JOHN, EARL RUSSELL.

Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like
a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see her
as an eagle renewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the
full midday beam, purging and unscaling her long-abused sight at the fountain
itself of heavenly radiance, while the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds,
with those also that love the twilight, flutter about, amazed at what she means,
and in their envious gabble would prognosticate a year of sects and schisms.'
MILTON.