Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/98

Ixxx INTRODUCTION. ixTROD. spirit of the age, was itself obviously repugnant to all principles of civil obedience, and exposed the state to evils scarcely less disastrous than those which it was intended to prevent. It was apparent, that, notwithstanding the mag- nitude of the powers conceded to the nobility and the commons, there were important defects, which prevented them from resting on any sound and per- manent basis. The representation of the people in cortes, instead of partially emanating, as in Eng- land, from an independent body of landed propri- etors, constituting the real strength of the nation, proceeded exclusively from the cities, whose elec- tions were much more open to popular caprice and ministerial corruption, and whose numerous local jealousies prevented them from acting in cordial cooperation. The nobles, notwithstanding their occasional coalitions, were often arrayed in feuds against each other. They relied, for the defence of their privileges, solely on their physical strength, and heartily disdained, in any emergency, to sup- port their own cause by identifying it with that of the commons. Hence it became obvious, that the author has fallen into abundance tal and transient exertion of power of crudities, which he would have in a season of popular excitement, escaped, had he but witnessed the The student of this department practical operation of those liberal of Spanish history, may consult, in forms of gfovernment, which he so conjunction with ]Iarma,Scmpere's justly admires. The sanguine tern- little treatise, often quoted, on the per of Marina has also betrayed History of the Castilian Cortes. It him into the error of puttinp;, too is, indeed, too limited and desulto- uniformly, a favorable construction ry in its plan, to afford any thing on the proceedings of the com- like a complete view of the subject, mons, and of frequently deriving a But, as a sensible commentary, by constitutional precedent from what one well skilled in the topics that he can only be regarded as an acciden- discusses, it is of undoubted value.