JAMES II,

217

like behaviour, improved the politeness of thenation; as much as faction, which of all thingsis most destructive to that virtue, could possiblypermit. His courtiers were long distinguishablein England by their obliging and agreeablemanners.

Till the revolution, the liberty of the presswas very imperfectly enjoyed in England, anddining a very short period. The star-chamber,while that court subsisted, put effectual restraints. upon printing. On the suppression of that tribunalin 1641 , the long parliament, after their rupturewith the king, assumed the same power withregard to the licensing of books; and this au-thority was continued during all the period ofthe republic and protectorship 1! . Two yearsafter the restoration, an act was passed, revivingthe republican ordinances. This act expired in1679; but was revived in the first of king James.The liberty of the press did not even commencewith the revolution. It was not till 1694, thatthe restraints were taken off; to the great dis-pleasure of the king, and his ministers, who,seeing no where, in any government, duringpresent or past ages, any example of such un-limited freedom, doubted much of its salutaryeffects, and probably thought, that no books orwritings would ever so much improve the generalunderstanding of men, as to render it safe tointrust them with an indulgence so easily abused,

55 Scobell, i. 44. 154. ii. 88-2}o.

HAP.

LXXI.

lfi§9.