The Political Works of Andrew Fletcher

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J. Bettenham, 1737 - 448 pages

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Page 372 - I knew a very wise man so much of Sir Chr — 's sentiment, that he believed if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation.
Page 271 - ... by the advice of English ministers, and the principal offices of the kingdom filled with such men, as the court of England knew would be subservient to their designs : by which means they have had so visible an influence upon our whole administration, that we have from that time appeared to the rest of the world more like a conquered province than a free independent people.
Page 284 - ... 6. That the king without consent of parliament shall not have the power of making peace and war; or that of concluding any treaty with any other state or potentate.
Page 132 - ... misapplication of names has confounded every thing. We are told, there is not a slave in France ; that when a slave sets his foot upon French ground, he becomes immediately free : and I say, that there is not a freeman in France, because the king takes away any part of any man's property at his pleasure ; and that let him do what he will to any man there is no remedy.
Page 386 - Scots nation had many great and profitable places at court, to the high displeasure of the English, yet that was no advantage to our country, which was totally neglected, like a farm managed by servants, and not under the eye of the master.
Page 274 - England, though to the betraying of the interest of this nation, whenever it comes in competition with that of England. And what less can be expected, unless we resolve to expect miracles, and that greedy, ambitious, and for the most part necessitous men, involved in great debts, burdened with great families, and having great titles to support, will lay down their places, rather than comply with an English interest...
Page 298 - English court, and not to take place during the life of the Queen; he who refuses his consent to them, whatever he may be by birth, cannot sure be a Scots-man by affection. This will be a true test to distinguish, not whig from tory, presbyterian from episcopal, Hanover from St. Germains, nor yet a courtier from a man out of place; but a proper test to distinguish a friend from an enemy to his country.
Page 10 - I shall deduce from their original, the causes, occasions, and the complication of those many unforeseen accidents ; which falling out much about the same time, produced so great a change. And it will at first sight seem very strange, when I shall name the restoration of learning, the invention of printing, of the needle and of gunpowder...
Page 271 - ... From that time this nation began to give away their privileges one after the other, though they then stood more in need of having them enlarged. And as the collections of our laws, before the union of the crowns, are full of acts to secure our liberty, those laws that have been made since that time are directed chiefly to extend the prerogative.
Page 57 - Speeches exhorting to military and virtuous actions should be often composed, and pronounced publicly by such of the youth as were, by education and natural talents, qualified for it.

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