trustees
of the nation, not its masters; and there is a High Court of Chancery
in the public opinion of the nation at large, which exercises a vigilant
control over these privileged classes of the community, and to which
they are equitably and morally amenable. Estimating, therefore,
the moral responsibility of our political estates, it may fairly be
maintained that, instead of being irresponsible, the responsibility of
the Lords exceeds that of the Commons. The House of Commons itself not
being an estate of the realm, but only the representatives of an estate,
owes to the nation a responsibility neither legal nor moral. The House
of Commons is responsible only to that privileged order who are its
constituents. Between the Lords and the Commons themselves there is this
prime difference--that the Lords are known, and seen, and marked; the
Commons are unknown, invisible, and unobserved. The Lords meet in a
particular spot; the Commons are scattered over the kingdom. The eye of
the nation rests upon the Lords, few in number, and notable in position;
the eye of the nation wanders in vain for the Commons, far more
numerous, but far less remarkable. As a substitute the nation appeals to
the House of Commons, but sometimes appeals in vain; for if the majority
of the Commons choose to support their representatives in a course of
conduct adverse to the opinion of the nation, the House of Commons
will set the nation at defiance. They have done so once; may they
never repeat that destructive career! Such are our two Houses of
Parliament--the most illustrious assemblies since the Roman Senate and
Grecian Areopagus; neither of them is the 'House of the People,' but
both alike represent the 'Nation.'

CHAPTER V.

_A True Democracy_

THERE are two propositions, which, however at the first glance they may
appear to contradict the popular opinions of the day, are nevertheless,
as I believe, just and true. And they are these:--First. That there is
no probability of ever establishing a more democratic form of government
than the present English constitution.

Second. That the recent political changes of the Whigs are, in fact, a
departure from the democratic spirit of that constitution.

Whatever form a government may assume, its spirit must be determined
by the laws which regulate the property of the country. You may have a
Senate and Consuls, you may have no hereditary titles, and you may dub
each householder or inhabi