the crown; raiſed by the crown, officered by the crown, commanded by the crown. They are kept on foot it is true only from year to year, and that by the power of parliament: but during that year they muſt, by the nature of our conſtitution, if raiſed at all, be at the abſolute diſpoſal of the crown. And there need but few words to demonſtrate how great a truſt is thereby repoſed in the prince by his people. A truſt, that is more than equivalent to a thouſand little troubleſome prerogatives.
Add to all this, that, beſides the civil liſt, the immenſe revenue of ſeven millions ſterling, which is annually paid to the creditors of the public, or carried to the ſinking fund, is firſt depoſited in the royal exchequer, and thence iſſued out to the reſpective offices of payment. This revenue the people can never refuſe to raiſe, becauſe it is made perpetual by act of parliament: which alſo, when well conſidered, will appear to be a truſt of great delicacy and high importance.
Upon the whole therefore I think it is clear, that, whatever may have become of the nominal, the real power of the crown has not been too far weakened by any tranſactions in the laſt century. Much is indeed given up; but much is alſo required. The ſtern commands of prerogative have yielded to the milder voice of influence; the ſlaviſh and exploded doctrine of non-reſiſtance has given way to a military eſtabliſhment by law; and to the diſuſe of parliaments has ſucceeded a parliamentary truſt of an immenſe perpetual revenue. When, indeed, by the free operation of the ſinking fund, our national debts ſhall be leſſened; when the poſture of foreign affairs, and the univerſal introduction of a well planned and national militia, will ſuffer our formidable army to be thinned and regulated; and when (in conſequence of all) our taxes ſhall be gradually reduced; this adventitious power of the crown will ſlowly and imperceptibly dimihiſh, as it ſlowly and imperceptibly roſe. But, till that ſhall happen, it will be our eſpecial duty, as good ſubjects and good
