JAMES II.

i95

sides, so frivolous ; more resembling the verbaldisputes of the schools than the solid reasoningsof statesmen and legislators. In public transactionsof such consequence, the true motives, whichproduce any measure, are seldom avowed. Thewhigs, now the ruling party, having united withthe tories, in order to bring about the revolution,had so much deference for their new allies, asnot to insist, that the crown should be declaredforjcited , on account of the king’s mal-adminiidea-tion : Such a declaration, they thought, wouldimply too express a censure of the old tory prin-ciples, and too open a preference of their own.They agreed, therefore, to confound togetherthe king’s abusing his power, and his withdraw-ing from the kingdom; and they called the wholean abdication as if he had given a virtual, thoughnot a verbal, consent to dethroning himself. Thetories took advantage of this obvious impropriety,which had been occasioned merely by the com-plaisance or prudence of the whigs; and theyinfilled upon the word desertion, as more signifi-cant and intelligible. It was retorted on them ,that, however that expression might be justlyapplied to the king’s withdrawing himself, itcould not, with any propriety, be extended tohis violation of the fundamental laws. And thusboth parties, while they warped.their principlesfrom regard to their antagonists , and from pru-dential considerations, lost; the praise of consistenceand uniformity.

The managers sot .the lords next insisted, that,

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HAP.

LXXI.

I6S9.