Byunsystematicandspasmodiclegislationthecriminallawbecamesosavageastoshockeverymanofcommonhumanity。Itwastemperedbythegrowthoftechnicalrules，whichgavemanychancesofescapetothecriminal；andbypracticalrevoltagainstitsexcesses，whichledtotheremissionofthegreatmajorityofcapitalsentences。9*Thelegislatorswereclumsy，notintentionallycruel；andthelaws，thoughsanguinaryinreality，weremoresanguinaryintheorythaninpractice。Nothing，Ontheotherhand，ismoreconspicuousthanthespiritoffairplaytothecriminal，whichstruckforeignobservers。10*Itwasdeeplyrootedinthewholesystem。TheEnglishjudgewasnotanofficialagentofaninquisitorialsystem，butanimpartialarbitratorbetweentheprisonerandtheprosecutor。Inpoliticalcasesespeciallyamarkedchangewasbroughtaboutbytherevolutionof1688。IfourancestorstalkedsomenOnsenseabouttrialbyjury，thesystemcertainlyinsuredthatthepersonsaccusedoflibelorseditionshouldhaveafairtrial，andveryoftensomethingmore。JudgesoftheJeffreystypehadbecomeinconceivable，thoughimpartialitymightdisappearincaseswheretheprejudicesofjurieswereactivelyaroused。Englishmenmightfairlyboastoftheirimmunityfromthearbitrarymethodsofcontinentalrulers；andtheirunhesitatingconfidenceinthefairnessofthesystembecamesoingrainedastobetakenasamatterofcourse，andscarcelyreceivedduecreditfromlatercriticsofthesystem。
　　Thecountry-gentleman，again，wasnotonlythelegislatorbutamostimportantfigureinthejudicialandadministrativesystem。Asjusticeofthepeace，hewastherepresentativeoflawandordertohiscountryneighbours。Theprefaceof1785tothefifteentheditionofBurn’sJusticeofthePeace，publishedoriginallyin1755，mentionsthatintheintervalbetweenthesedates，somethreehundredstatuteshadbeenpassedaffectingthedutiesofjustices，whilehalfasmanyhadbeenrepealedormodified。Thejusticewasofcourse，asarule，asuperficiallawyer，andhadtobepromptedbyhisclerk，thetworepresentingonasmallscalethegeneralrelationbetweenthelawyersandtherulingclass。Burntellsthejusticeforhiscomfortthatthejudgeswilltakealenientviewofanyerrorsintowhichhisignorancemayhaveledhim。Thedischargeofsuchdutiesbyanindependentgentlemanwasthoughttobesodesirableandsocreditabletohimthathiswantofefficiencymustberegardedwithconsideration。Nor，thoughthejusticeshavebeenafavouritebuttforsatirists，doesitappearthatthesystemworkedbadly。WhenitbecamenecessarytoappointpaidmagistratesinLondon，andthepay，accordingtotheprevalentsystem，wasprovidedbyfees，thenewofficialsbecameknownas’tradingjustices，’andtheirsalaries，asFieldingtellsus，weresomeofthe’dirtiestmoneyuponearth。’Thejusticesmightperhapsbeharduponapoacheras，indeed，thegamelawsbecameoneofthegreatscandalsofthesystem，orliabletobemisledbyashrewdattorney；buttheywereonthewholeregardedasthenaturalandcreditablerepresentativesoflegalauthorityinthecountry。
　　Thejustices，again，dischargedfunctionswhichwouldelsewherebelongtoanadministrativehierarchy。Gneistobservesthatthepowerofthejusticesofthepeacerepresentsthecentreofgravityofthewholeadministrativesystem。11*TheirdutieshadbecomesomultifariousandperplexedthatBurncouldonlyarrangethemunderalphabeticalheads。Gneistworksoutasystematicaccount，fillingmanypagesofelaboratedetail，andshowinghowlargeaparttheyplayedinthewholesocialstructure。Anintensejealousyofcentralpowerwasonecorrelativecharacteristic。Blackstoneremarksinhismoreliberalhumourthatthenumberofnewofficesheldatpleasurehadgreatlyextendedtheinfluenceofthecrown。Thisreferstothecustom-houseofficers，exciseofficers，stampdistributorsandpostmasters。Butifthetax-gathererrepresentedthestate，herepresentedalsopartofthepatronageatthedisposalofpoliticians。Avoterwasofteninsearchoftheplaceofa’tidewaiter’；
　　and，asweknow，thegreatestpoetofthedaycouldonlyberewardedbymakinghimanexciseman。Anyextensionofasystemwhichmultipliedpublicofficeswasregardedwithsuspicion。Walpole，thestrongestministerofthecentury，hadbeenforcedtoanignominiousretreatwhenheproposedtoextendtheexcise。ThecryarosethathemeanttoenslavethecountryandextendtheinfluenceofthecrownoverallthecorporationsinEngland。Thecountry-gentlemanhadlittlereasontofearthatgovernmentwoulddiminishhisimportancebytamperingwithhisfunctions。Thejusticesofthepeacewerecalledupontotakeagreatandincreasingshareintheadministrationofthepoor-law。
　　Theywereconcernedinallmanneroffinancialdetails；theyregulatedsuchpoliceasexisted；theylookedaftertheoldlawsbywhichthetradeswerestillrestricted；and，intheoryatleast，couldfixtherateofwages。Parliamentdidnotoverride，butonlygavethenecessarysanctiontotheiractivity。
　　IfwelookedthroughthejournalsoftheHouseofCommonsduringtheAmericanWar，forexample，weshouldgettheimpressionthatthewholebusinessofthelegislaturewastoarrangeadministrativedetails。Ifawastewastobeenclosed，acanalorahigh-roadtobeconstructed，therewasnopublicdepartmenttobeconsulted。Thegentryoftheneighbourhoodjoinedtoobtainaprivateactofparliamentwhichgavethenecessarypowerstothepersonsinterested。Nogeneralenclosureactcouldbepassed，thoughoftensuggested。
　　Itwouldimplyacentralcommission，whichwouldonly，aswassuggested，giverisetojobberyandtakepoweroutofthenaturalhands。Parliamentwasomnipotent；itcouldregulatetheaffairsoftheempireorofaparish；
　　alterthemostessentiallawsoractasacourtofjustice；settlethecrownorarrangeforadivorceorforthealterationofaprivateestate。Butitobjectedtodelegateauthorityeventoasubordinatebody，whichmighttendtobecomeindependent。Thus，ifitwasthecentralpowerandsourceofalllegalauthority，itmightalsoberegardedasakindoffederalleague，representingthewillsofanumberofpartiallyindependentpersons。Thegentrycouldmeetthereandobtainthesanctionoftheiralliesforanymeasurerequiredintheirownlittlesphereofinfluence。Buttheyhadaninstinctiveaversiontotheformationofanyorganisedbodyrepresentingthestate。Theneighbourhoodwhichwantedaroadgotpowerstomakeit，andwouldconcuringivingpowerstoothers。Butifthestateweretobeintrustedtomakeroads，ministerswouldhavemoreplacestogive，androadsmightbemadewhichtheydidnotwant。TheEnglishroadshadlongbeeninfamous，butneitherwasmoneywasted，asinFrance，onroadswheretherewasnotraffic。12*Thuswehavethecombinationofanabsolutecentralisationoflegislativepowerwithanutterabsenceofadministrativecentralisation。Theunitsmeetinginparliamentformedasupremeassembly；buttheydidnotsinktheirownindividuality。
　　Theyonlymettodistributethevariousfunctionsamongthemselves。
　　TheEnglishparishwithitssquire，itsparson，itslawyeranditslabouringpopulationwasaminiatureoftheBritishConstitutioningeneral。Thesquire’seldestsoncouldsucceedtohisposition；asecondsonmightbecomeageneraloranadmiral；athirdwouldtakethefamilyliving；afourth，perhaps，seekhisfortuneatthebar。Thisimpliesaconceptionofotherpoliticalconditionswhichcuriouslyillustratesomecontemporaryconceptions。
　　IV。THEARMYANDNAVY
　　Weareoftenamusedbythepersistencyofthecryagainsta’standingarmy’inEngland。Itdidnotfairlydieoutuntiltherevolutionarywars。
　　Blackstoneregardsitasasingularlyfortunatecircumstance’thatanybranchofthelegislaturemightannuallyputanendtothelegalexistenceofthearmybyrefusingtoconcurinthecontinuance’ofthemutinyact。Astandingarmywasobviouslynecessary；butbymakingbelieveveryhard，wecouldshutoureyestothefacts，andpretendthatitwasamerelytemporaryarrangement。13*
　　Thedoctrinehadoncehadaveryintelligiblemeaning。IfJamesIIhadpossessedadisciplinedarmyofthecontinentalpattern，withMarlboroughatitshead，MarlboroughwouldhardlyhavebeenconvertedbytheprinceofOrange。Butloyalasthegentryhadbeenattherestoration，theyhadtakenverygoodcarethattheStuartsshouldnothaveintheirhandsuchaweaponashadbeenpossessedbyCromwell。WhenthePuritanarmywasdisbanded，theyhadproceededtoregulatethemilitia。Theofficerswereappointedbythelords-lieutenantsofcounties，andhadtopossessapropertyqualification；themenraisedbyballotintheirowndistricts；andtheirnumbersandlengthoftrainingregulatedbyActofParliament。Theold’train-bands’weresuppressed，exceptinthecityofLondon，andthustherecognisedmilitaryforceofthecountrywasabodyessentiallydependentuponthecountrygentry。Themilitiawasregardedwithfavourasthe’oldconstitutionalforce’whichcouldnotbeusedtothreatenourliberties。ItwasremodelledduringtheSevenYears’
　　Warandembodiedduringthatandallourlaterwars。Itwas，however，ineffectivebyitsverynature。Anaristocracywhichchosetocarryonwarsmusthaveaprofessionalarmyinfact，howevercarefulitmightbetopretendthatitwasaprovisionforapassingnecessity。Thepretencehadseriousconsequences。
　　Sincethearmywasnottohaveinterestsseparatefromthepeople，therewasnoreasonforbuildingbarracks。Themenmightbebilletedonpublicans，orplacedundercanvas，whiletheywerewanted。Whenthegreatwarcameuponus，largesumshadtobespenttomakeupforthepreviousneglect。Fox，on22ndFebruary1793，protestedduringalivelydebateuponthissubjectthatsoundconstitutionalprinciplescondemnedbarracks，becausetomixthearmywiththepeoplewasthe’bestsecurityagainstthedangerofastandingarmy。’14*
　　Infactalargepartofthearmywasameretemporaryforce。In1762，towardstheendoftheSevenYears’War，wehadabout100，000meninpay；
　　andafterthepeace，theforcewasreducedtounder20，000。Similarchangestookplaceineverywar。Therulingclasstookadvantageoftheposition。
　　AnarmymightbehiredfromGermanyfortheoccasion。Newregimentsweregenerallyraisedbysomegreatmanwhogavecommissionstohisownrelationsanddependants。WhenthePretenderwasinScotland，forexample，fifteenregimentswereraisedbypatrioticnobles，whogavethecommissions，andstipulatedthatalthoughtheyweretobeemployedonlyinsuppressingtherising，theofficersshouldhavepermanentrank。15*So，aswasshowninMrsClarke’scase，apatentforraisingaregimentmightbeasourceofprofittotheundertaker，whoagainmightgetitbybribingthemistressofaroyalduke。Theofficershad，accordingtothegenerallyprevalentsystem，amodifiedpropertyintheircommissions；andthesystemofsalewasnotabolishedtillourowndays。Wemaythereforesaythattherulingclass，ontheonehand，objectedtoastandingarmy，and，ontheother，sincesuchanarmywasanecessity，farmeditfromthecountryandwereadmittedtohaveacertaindegreeofprivatepropertyintheconcern。Theprejudiceagainstanypermanentestablishmentmadeitnecessarytofilltheranksonoccasionbyallmannerofquestionableexpedients。Bountieswereofferedtoattractthevagrantswhohunglooseuponsociety。Smugglers，poachers，andthelikewereallowedtochoosebetweenmilitaryserviceandtransportation。Thegeneraleffectwastoprovideanarmyofblackguardscommandedbygentlemen。Thearmynodoubthaditsmeritsaswellasitsdefects。ThecontinentalarmieswhichitmetwerecollectedbyequallydemoralisingmethodsuntiltheFrenchrevolutionledtoasystematicconscription。ThebadsideissuggestedbyNapier’sfamousphrase，the’coldshadeofouraristocracy’；whileNapiergivesfactsenoughtoproveboththebrutalitytoooftenshownbytheprivatesoldierandthedoggedcouragewhichistakentobecharacteristicevenoftheEnglishblackguard。
　　Byothers，——bysuchmenasthedukeofWellingtonandLordPalmerston，forexample，typesofthetruearistocrat——thesystemwasdefended16*
　　asbringingmenofgoodfamilyintothearmyandsoprovidingit，asthedukethought，withthebestsetofofficersinEurope。Nodoubttheyandtheroyaldukeswhocommandedthemwereapttobegrosslyignorantoftheirbusiness；butitmaybeadmittedbyahistorianthattheyoftenshowedthequalitiesofwhichWellingtonwashimselfatype。TheEnglishofficerwasagentlemanbeforehewasasoldier，andconsideredthemilitaryvirtuestobeapartofhisnaturalendowment。Butitwasundoubtedlyapartofhistraditionalcodeofhonourtodohisdutymanfullyandtodoitratherasamanifestationofhisownspiritthanfromanydesireforrewardsordecorations。
　　Thesamequalityisrepresentedmorestrikinglybythenavy。TheEnglishadmiralrepresentsthemostattractiveandstirringtypeofheroisminourhistory。Nelsonandthe’bandofbrothers’whoservedwithhim，thesimpleandhigh-mindedsailorswhosummedupthewholedutyofmanindoingtheirbesttocrushtheenemiesoftheircountry，areamongthefinestexamplesofsingle-souleddevotiontothecallsofpatriotism。Thenavy，indeed，haditsuglysidenolessthanthearmy。TherewascorruptionatGreenwich17*
　　andinthedockyards，andparliamentaryintriguewasaroadtoprofessionalsuccess。VoltairenotesthequeercontrastbetweentheEnglishboastofpersonallibertyandthepracticeoffillingupthecrewsbypressgangs。Thedisciplinewasoftenbarbarous，andthewrongsofthecommonsailorfoundsufficientexpressioninthemutinyattheNore。Agrievance，however，whichpresseduponasingleclasswasmaintainedfromthenecessityofthecaseandtheinertnessoftheadministrativesystem。Thenavydidnotexcitethesamejealousyasthearmy；andtheofficersweremoreprofessionallyskilfulthantheirbrethren。Thenationalqualitiescomeout，oftenintheirhighestform，intheraceofgreatseamenuponwhomthesecurityoftheislandpoweressentiallydepended。
　　V。THECHURCH