CONCLUSION. In studying the annals of our country, the devout and thoughtful mind cannot but be struck with the singular privileges which have been bestowed upon it through the goodness of Almighty God. Even the remote changes through which it had to pass-the domination of the Romans-the settlement of the Saxons-the inroad of the Danes-and the Norman conquest-were of great service, under His providential interposition, in contributing to form a people who were destined to stand in the front rank of the nations of the globe. But most of all, the light of the blessed gospel was spread through the isle at an early period, and though popish errors for a long time obscured the truth, yet, by the glorious Reformation, the revealed will of God was at length fully made known to our ancestors; and just in proportion as our rulers have been guided by its teachings, has our land advanced in moral dignity and material prosperity. An artificial splendour may sometimes surround a people who are careless about the favour of God; but we believe (because we rely on the testimony of the Scriptures, and are taught by the facts of history) that no nation can be permanently great, glorious, and happy, which does not seek to live in the fear of the Lord, and to keep His commandments. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance." 66 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." PRINCIPAL MINISTERS OF ENGLAND From the Accession of George I. GEORGE I. 1714 Lord Townshend, Gen. Stanhope, Earl Wharton, Lord Cowper, Duke of Marlborough, &c. 1715 Lord Townshend, Gen. Stanhope, Robert Walpole, Lord Cowper, Duke of Marlborough, &c. 1717 Viscount Stanhope, Earl of Sunderland, Lord Cowper, &c. 1718 Earl of Sunderland, Earl of Stanhope, Mr. Aislabie, &c. 1720 Sunderland, Stanhope, Walpole,Townshend, &c Robert Walpole, 1722 Sir Townshend, &c. GEORGE II. 1730 Sir Robert Walpole, &c. 1742 Pulteney (Earl of Bath), Lord Wilmington, Lord Carteret, Mr. Sandys, &c. 1743 Henry Felham, Lord Carteret, Lord Bath, Duke of Newcastle, &c. 1746 Henry Pelham, Duke of Newcastle, Earl of Harrington, &c. 1754 Duke of Newcastle, Sir Thomas Robinson, Henry Fox, &c. 1756 Duke of Devonshire, William Pitt, Mr.Legge, Earl Temple, &c. (Dismissed by the king in April, 1757, and restored in June.) 1767 Duke of Grafton, Lord North, Charles Townshend, &c. 1770 Lord North, Lord Halifax, Mr. Thurlow, &c. 1782 Marquis of Rockingham, Lord John Cavendish, Charles James Fox,&c.; succeeded by Lord Shelburne, William Pitt, Lord Grantham, &c. 1783 Duke of Portland, Lord &c. Lord 1790 Mr. Pitt, Lord Gren Duke of Wellington, Lord Lyndhurst, &c. 1835 Lords Melbourne, Palmerston, Lansdowne, John Russell, &c. VICTORIA. 1841 Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, Earl of Aberdeen, &c. 1846 Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston, Sir Charles Wood, &c. 1852 Earl of Derby, Mr. Disraeli, &c.; succeeded by Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Gladstone, &c. 1855 Lord Palmerston, Lord Clarendon, Sir G. C. Lewis, &c. 1858 Earl of Derby, Mr. Disraeli, Lord Malmesbury, &c. 1859 Lord Palmerston, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Gladstone. 1865 Earl Russell, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Clarendon, &c. 1866 Earl of Derby, Mr. Disraeli, Lord Stanley, &c. 1868 Mr. Disraeli, Lord Stanley, Mr. Hardy, &c.; succeeded by Mr. Gladstone, Earl Clarendon, (and on his decease in 1870, Earl Granville), Mr. Lowe, &c. 1874 Mr. Disraeli, Earl of Derby, Mr. Cross, &c. |