The former error may perpetually be observed in the reasonings of conservative politicians on the questions of their own day.

The latter error perpetually infects the speculations of writers of the liberal school when they discuss the transactions of an earlier age.

The former error is the more pernicious in a statesman, and the latter in a historian.
It is not easy for any person who, in our time, undertakes to treat of the revolution which overthrew the Stuarts, to preserve with steadiness the happy mean between these two extremes.

The question whether members of the Roman Catholic Church could be safely admitted to Parliament and to office convulsed our country during the reign of James the Second, was set at rest by his downfall, and, having slept during more than a century, was revived by that great stirring of the human mind which followed, the meeting of the National Assembly of France.

During thirty years the contest went on in both Houses of Parliament, in every constituent body, in every social circle.