serving the continuity of historical development-'a national middle class upon hereditary estates' (Gneist). Hand in hand with these attempts at readjusting the Constitution upon a democratic basis, the Educational system has been extended. The Education Act of 1870 provided for the establishment of a School Board by the parish or district in cases where the school accommodation was insufficient, and where there were children, who for some reason or other did not share the education permitted in the voluntary schools. Compulsory attendance was enjoined by the Act. (In 1891 there were no less than 2,300 of such Board Schools.) The School Boards were not permitted to interfere with the so-called voluntary schools, nor could any of their teachers be a minister of any religious sect. This Act was the death-blow to direct clerical influence upon popular education. One striking effect of it, by arresting the Ecclesiastical power and influence in the direction of education, has been to cause the Church to contine its energies within its more specific sphere, and to concentrate them towards the realisation of the dream of an Ecclesiastical hierarchy in rivalry with that of the Roman Church. Imperial Federation.—“Greater Britain" must be regarded as a proximate eventuality of the first order. Within the last decade a close federation of the Mother Country, England, and her Colonies, in both political and commercial respects, has become a question of international importance; for the closer alliance and connection between Great Britain and its dependencies would be tantamount to a restriction of the trade competition of other countries.1 The Colonial Conference, 1887, forms beyond all doubt the startingpoint of a new development. Statesmen from all English Colonies meeting together, accepted as the first basis of such a 'brotherhood,' the firm adhesion to the Mother Country. In this Conference numerous projects were brought forward, and were supported by a fair proportion of the representatives of the Colonial dependencies, as to the adjustment of the burdens incidental to such a vast scheme, yet all were agreed that a change of such magnitude and import was inconceivable until England itself had inaugurated a radical change or new departure in its principles of trade. This would seem to imply an abandonment of 'free trade,' or at least an essential modification of it. 1 Cf. Sir C. W. Dilke, Problems of Greater Britain, pt. 7; Webster, Trade of the World, chapter 12: Lord Dunraven, in Nineteenth Century, March, 1891; Britannic Confederation, papers by Sir J. Colomb and E. A. Freeman, 1892; C. J. Fuchs, Die Handelspolitik Englands (1893), and Tübinger Zeitschrift, No. 50, p. 521. 644 Progress of Constitution since Revolution. [CH. XVII. Yet these observations belong rather to the province of political economy than to that of Constitutional History; a reference to this scheme, which seems every day nearer accomplishment, is not, however, out of place, having regard to the changes in our Constitution which such a federation must necessarily bring about. Trades Unions.-This mainspring of the English working-class legislation also deserves mention, foreign though it may appear to the subject. This combination has exercised, and is continually exercising, a great influence upon domestic legislation.' The German institution of National Insurance works well, in spite of all the hostility it has aroused, and such an institution is one of the later projects in connection with these Unions and Friendly Societies. Blackley's ' opinion is that Trades Unions and Friendly Societies are incapable of doing anything for the masses as such, and demands a National Insurance, more or less upon the German lines. For this the National Providence League would seem to give a fitting starting-point. At the close of this note, embracing as it does but a brief outline of recent legislative activity, it must be remarked that nothing that has become law, nothing that has been introduced, has altered the fundamental principles and bases of the Constitution. Attacks have been made upon vulnerable points, but they have been resisted. The upheaval from below, the institution of Parish and County Councils, the attendant secularisation of the parish, and more or less of parish institutions, have not essentially altered the character of the Constitution. Reference has been made to these later innovations, not from the point of view of supplementing the author's work, which stands as it did, but from that of showing that the innovating spirit of the age is still restlessly vigorous, and is ever looking for vulnerable points in the Constitution to attack. It may be that a new era of calm deliberation is before us; but to all outward appearance the dawn of the 20th century has in store a reconstruction of our Constitutional system foreign to its historical development.-ED. 1 On this question of Trades Unions and their kindred Friendly Societies, and the 8 Hours Agitation, vide a paper by W. L. Blackley, in the Nineteenth Century, 1878, and later in the press. INDEX. ABBEYS, Barons founders of, to have custody of, when vacant, op. Abhorrers and Petitioners, 513. Act of Settlement, 184, 551; text of, 551-555. Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, passed Addled Parl., 1614, dissolved. 421. Administration, system of, under Norman and Ager publicus, analogy of Folkland to, 12. Agriculture, means proposed for restoration of,! Aids, contributions from the tenant to his lord, Alcred, deposition of, 27. Alford, Mr., M. P., speech of, on Petition of ALFRED the Great, styled only King of the Aliens, their disabilities, denization, naturali- Allen, Cardinal, founds Seminary at Douay, 374, n. I. Altham, B., on legality of Proclamations, 419. into Upper Canada), 522, ". Anne, Queen, her dislike of party government, Annual Indemnity Acts, t. Geo. II. in favour Annual Parliaments, 226. Appeal, Accusation, origin of this private Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 191, n. 1. Arbitrary imprisonment, Stat. Pet. of Right, Archbishops, rank as high as members of Armada, Spanish, 379. 326. Arms, Protestants allowed to carry, for their Army, Standing, supersedes ancient National Arrest, freedom from, a privilege of Parlia I.1, 409, and ib. n. 1. Ashby v. White, 1702, right to vote 282. Assassination practised by English on Nor Assize of Arms, national militia revived by, 77 ; Assize of Clarendon [1156], 80, 132, 138. Association of Christian Brothers, 344 Luther's Athelings, sons or brothers of king, 25; word ATHELSTAN, King, 10, 28. Attainder, Bills of, 267, and n. 4. 397; differ- Attaint, Writ of, jurymen liable to, 141: Atwyll's case (17 Edw. IV.), freedom of speech, Audit of public accounts enacted by Parl. Aurum reginae, payment of, 25. Aylmer's Harborowe of True and Faithful Azo, his Summa' used by Bracton, 3, n. 5. BACON, Sir Nicholas, Lord Keeper [on Parl. Bacon, Francis, Lord Chancellor, 402; advice Ballot Act, 1972, 21, bar: Universities ev Bank of England esta lished. 14, 315, . I. Ear, the, Jac. I. attempts to repress liberty of, 423, N. I. 'Baron,' a word of wide signification, 107. II., 64; [new men raised up as] by Hen. I., Bastwick, Dr., his trial with Prynne and Bates, John, case of [Case of Impositions], in Battle, wager of, 56: trial by, superseded by Bedchamber Question, 1839, 586. 4. 1. 2. Belesme, Robert de, Earl of Shrewsbury and Bell, Mr., M.P., [against] Monopolies, 1571, 395. Benefices, John concedes to Pope [a veto on Benefit of clergy [t. Hen. VIII.), 344. 544-549. Bileting of Soldiers and Mariners, 454, M. I Bills of Attainder, 267, 317, and n. 5. Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Civil regis Bishops: prominent members of Witan. 8; Bishops, the Seven. trial of, 1688, 143, 537; Blount, Sir Thonias, Steward, Edw. II., 173. Bohun (Humphrey], Earl of Hereford, resists Bolingbroke, Henry St. John, Visct., case of Boniface VIII., Bull Clericis laicos, 211, 214; Borough-English, a variety of tenure in bur Bet, compensation for injury, 24, 34. Brétigni, treaty of, 1360, 236. Bretwaldas, the, 8; Egbert, eighth king who Bribery at Elections, attempt to prevent by 9 make, 113. Brihtric, king. p isoned by his wife. 24. Bromley, Sir Henry, M.P., brings forward Succession Question [7. Eliz.), 394: com. Burdett, Sir Francis, case of, committed to Burgage, tenure in, 53. Burgh, the, and its organisation, 16. Burton, Henry, his pamphlet News from Bushell's case, 1670, immunity of Juries estab Bute, [John, 1st Marq. of], his Administration, 1762, 578; fall, 579; continued influence Byron, Sir John (1st Ld. Eyron], Governor of Cabinet- secrecy of, 565; the Premier, 565. 563, n. ; Calvert, Mr. Secretary, 431, 440. Calvin, Richd., Post-nati case, 7 Jac. I., 413, Cambridge, (Univ. of), Vice-Chancellor de- Campbell, Lord, Libel Act of 1943, 635. Canons, new, promulgated by (unconstitution- Carleton. Sir Dudley (V.-Chamberlain of Carr's case, 1630 (Press Laws), 634, n. 1. Case Commendams, 1515, 427, Catherine, Queen. Hen. VIII.'s divorce suit 'Catholic Association,' the, 628. Catholic Emancipation Act, 1829, 623. Cerdic, ancient line of, supplanted for a time, Chamberlain of London v. Allen Evans (1767), 2. Chancellor, subordinate to Justiciar, 60; CHARLES I., 1025-49: accession, 444; politi- |