states, to whom neither their liberty nor their property is guaranteed, and where the government is placed in such hands that the people cannot have the slightest influence upon it. Exterior enemies would hardly find a faction in the former state, and the loud complaints would soon be changed into a general cry of war if another power were to attack the state, whose subjection would entail an enormous loss upon every citizen."169

An

Alfred smiled, and responded:-" Amund has distributed the power to the people with such liberality that he has left nothing for either the nobles or the king. And yet power, which alone is the spring wheel of all transactions, cannot be removed with speed, importance, and certainty, if another power can with one finger check that wheel and stop the movement of business. enemy summoned to war offends the honour of the He undertakes conquests by which England is placed in danger; he oppresses my allies; and in such a case there are no means to stop the consequent violences and war. But the people who have allotted me subsidies for one year can withdraw them in the following. If I should displease them, would they not either extort the most unreasonable demands from me, or the state be disarmed and fall a prey to its enemies? I con

crown.

clude an alliance with the Picts. I promise them subsidies against their restless neighbours, and they assist me faithfully. An orator begins to ridicule the Picts and their assistance; the people refuse to give the subsidies, by which I have hired those useful friends to give their blood in order to save that of my Saxons. The abandoned allies turn enemies, and such mischief can be caused by a mere pleasing harangue of a favourite deputy."

"This objection," replied Amund, "is difficult to answer. That which the wise Alfred fears may happen-nay, it will happen, because it arises from human nature. It was thus the discontented Romans refused to conquer for the councils, and rather let themselves be defeated than allow Appius to triumph. Alfred's apprehension is one of the consequences of liberty when not led by wisdom.

"One means remains, which is, that the deputies be not elected yearly, but represent the people for three or for seven years. The electing them for only one year seems to me, besides, prejudicial; they will be too dependent on the populace, of whom they ought to be perfectly free. Every

election is likewise a fermentation, which had better not be too often repeated, for the people to remain industrious, laborious, and orderly. If the power of the representatives is secured for several years, the unchanged deputies would probably not reduce, in case of war, the fruits of the efforts of the first year, by refusing their future assistance. They would not risk the vengeance of the nation, which, as blind as it might be to the merits of its king, would implacably abhor those by whose obstinacy the dignity and safety of the state were sacrificed. The ally would likewise gain confidence in England, if the government were fixed for several years, for, the more new elections take place the more the constitution approaches towards government by the people; but the longer the great senate remains unaltered, the less influence will the populace preserve. 170

"This duration of the assembly might, perhaps, be used in future centuries as a spring to accelerate or check the rudder of government, in proportion as it may meet with too much resistance, or be pulled along with too great velocity.

"Human wisdom possesses no remedy to cure all evils, to prevent every excrescence of liberty, or to give to the prince a power which does not tend

to the oppression of the people. I nevertheless, believe, that from the danger which the prince incurs through the loss of the love of his people, he would find himself in the useful necessity of preparing to carry his sceptre with prudence-not to let it oppress the citizens too much, nor let it become too heavy in his hands. The prince will, in the first year of his reign, learn to surmount the difficulties of a government composed of jealous parties, and to proceed in such a manner that the wiser and better portion of the people may attach themselves to him. He will have nothing to fear, if he strives to become an Alfred."

The king reflected-not without sorrow-on the proposition which Amund had made. "Not yet," said the wise king, "are my people able to govern themselves. In future enlightened centuries they will be more worthy to sit at the rudder of government.171 It will be my care to point out to them the path to those daughters of heaven -sciences, wisdom, and truth. While I govern with the power which I have inherited of my ancestors, it will be my indefatigable exertion that my people shall not repent to see so much power in my hands; and to apply that power in all ways to their "172

use.

[Alfred not only endeavoured to fortify his kingdom with laws, embellish the cities and castles, and promote arts and sciences, but likewise to increase navigation, trade, and commerce, by discoveries of foreign countries. He found in Othar the Northman, an experienced navigator, who vastly assisted him in attaining that aim. A portion of Othar's voyages and discoveries will be found in the following book.]*