according to the actual force of his corporeal power; but few had the courage to subscribe patiently to laws which render all bodily strength useless, and makes compliance a duty instead of a virtue.

A nation whose force is founded solely on its warlike propensity, would quickly fall to the ground. Peace would be a greater scourge than war; and yet a succession of the latter must, by thinning the populace, end in total annihilation.

We cannot sufficiently admire the plan of our polished continental neighbours, who make every civilian a soldier in case of need, thus having a nation of soldiers. On this point no one can deny their wisdom; and their distressing civil broils are the result, not of military disturbances, but want of honour amongst those who dictate in the council.

We are especially told in history, that

Pharamond was 66 cian." Now it is not possible that at the period (the year of our Lord 420) the edge of the sword could have established Pharamond on his throne; his politics awed, subdued, and conquered; for those laws which to us seem strange and barbarous, appeared in a totally different light to the untutored hearts of that period. By following closely the thread of French history from that age, we will gradually approach the epochs of more recent disturbances, and so arrive at the conclusion that our British politicians are as surely the defenders of our country as our warriors.

a famous warrior and politi

From the time of Clovis I (481), the French became more alive to the necessity of establishing laws; but however we may admire the regulations of the past, admire them as chefsd'œuvre for the ages in which they were instituted, the continuance of the Salic law

(formed in this reign) shows us, that where it

suits the French to keep up a custom, they are firm enough in their resolve. Let them turn

their eyes to our country, behold now a queen is on the throne, if they can exclaim "a woman," let them also add a just woman and a Christian. But, "vide et crede," was never a Frenchman's motto. Louis Philippe bestowed a paternal embrace, and paid a great many French compliments to our Queen, but he has no inclination to abolish the Salic law, though he may think a queen a pretty ornament upon a British throne.

Passing over a great many kings, mere tools in the hands of the mayors, who at that period held the office of chief ministers, we arrive at Charlemagne, who won the proud title of Emperor of the West.

Reason governs force, the mind triumphs over the rudeness of the age, learning in its

first timorous shape breaks upon the nation, learned men visit the capital, and France becomes the stage for rising genius-genius in its pure infancy, ere rivalry and ambition rendered it a difficult fight, the prize of which in our day is too often awarded, not to the most deserving, but to the most influential. In this reign Parliament was established, and politicians were held in high esteem. What can a king do as the individual man, but let him call the nation friend, and he has all the sovereign's power, without any of the ill-will of jealousy. No great difference in the laws took place from the death of Charlemagne to the reign of Charles, surnamed the Simple (898); here was a revolt: there was no time for indolenceCharlemagne made laws, but they required the test of improvement, and a king's situation was no sinecure in ages past, the moment of Charles's indolence was the signal for a revolt―

the unhappy monarch died in imprisonment. The new king whom the French set up reigned twelve years; but, at his death, the usual consequence of destroying the legitimate race of kings showed itself in civil wars.

Charles's

son succeeded to Rodolph, his father's successful rival, but he in his turn had to defeat that rival's son.

Louis the Fifth, the last of the Carlovingian race, died hated, and the nobility raised Hugh Capet to the throne.

We have only one law to notice ere we touch upon the contemporary of the Norman Conqueror, we allude to the law against duelling, which Henry the First instituted. The just humanity of this act has been so frequently discussed, that we deem it unnecessary to touch further upon the subject.

Having now arrived at the period when the Norman Conqueror invaded England, we will