This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. 'Virtue is the truest liberty: nor is he free that stoops to passions; nor he in bondage that serves a noble master." Owen Fellthaji. )HE liberties of the people have so often in past times been crushed out by the despotism of the rulers, that it would have seemed like irony, or at least presumption, to have attempted to show how such calamities could be prevented. In describing the centuries which preceded the French Revolution, Alison says, "Every person was either noble or roturier, no middle class, no shades of distinction were known. On the one side, were 150,000 privileged individuals; on the other, the whole body of the French people. All situations of importance, in the church, the army, the court, the bench, or the diplomatic corps, were exclusively enjoyed by the former of these classes. Whilst the nobles of the land were almost exempted from taxation, the poorer classes were so heavily burdened that they could scarcely tell how to live. It was calculated that if the produce of an acre had been divided into twelve parts, nearly six and a half went to the king, three and a half to the proprietor, and only two to the cultivator of the soil. Wo might have shown our sympathy with this down-trodden people, hy listening to their tales of wrongs and grievances, by mingling our tears with theirs; or we might have pointed them to Him who has invited the weary and heavy-laden to come to lliin for rest, and spoken of a world where they hear not tho voice of the oppressor; but we would not have mocked them with words of encouragement they could never realize, nor have counselled them to make efforts for themselves which must necessarily end in failure. How different is our lot to-day in writing for tlio liritish Workman. Instead of having to und...