ABSTRACT
Like the proclamation of the Commonwealth forty years back, the proclamation of William and Mary was dictated by the necessities of the moment. But it chanced that, on this latter occasion the necessities of the moment coincided with the strongest tendencies of the age and the best possibilities of the future. It was needful to a lasting and happy settlement, that the Tories should surrender their principles and the Whigs forgo their vengeance. Yet so fierce was party passion, that nothing short of the need to preserve society would have compelled the Tories to abandon hereditary right and religious persecution, and the Whigs to let their dead sleep without the atonement of blood. They both learnt their lesson, but could not forgive their Dutch schoolmaster.
