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e very much of the canary…bird； here； are reflections sufficient to annihilate any man； almost before starting！
But to us also it ought to be a very strange reflection！ This； then； is the length we have brought it to； with our constitutioning； and ballot…boxing； and incessant talk and effort in every kind for so many centuries back； this？ The golden flower of our grand alchemical projection； which has set the world in astonishment so long； and been the envy of surrounding nations； iswhat we here see。 To be governed by his Lordship； and guided through the undiscovered paths of Time by this respectable degree of human faculty。 With our utmost soul's travail we could discover； by the sublimest methods eulogized by all the world； no abler Englishman than this？
Really it should make us pause upon the said sublime methods； and ask ourselves very seriously； whether； notwithstanding the eulogy of all the world； they can be other than extremely astonishing methods； that require revisal and reconsideration very much indeed！ For the kind of 〃man〃 we get to govern us； all conclusions whatsoever centre there； and likewise all manner of issues flow infallibly therefrom。 〃Ask well； who is your Chief Governor；〃 says one： 〃for around him men like to him will infallibly gather； and by degrees all the world will be made in his image。〃 〃He who is himself a noble man； has a chance to know the nobleness of men； he who is not； has none。 And as for the poor Public；alas； is not the kind of 'man' you set upon it the liveliest symbol of its and your veracity and victory and blessedness； or unveracity and misery and cursedness； the general summation and practical outcome of all else whatsoever in the Public and in you？〃
Time was when an incompetent Governor could not be permitted among men。 He was； and had to be； by one method or the other； clutched up from his place at the helm of affairs； and hurled down into the hold； perhaps even overboard； if he could not really steer。 And we call those ages barbarous； because they shuddered to see a Phantasm at the helm of their affairs； an eyeless Pilot with constitutional spectacles； steering by the ear mainly？ And we have changed all that； no…government is now the best； and a tailor's foreman； who gives no trouble； is preferable to any other for governing？ My friends； such truly is the current idea； but you dreadfully mistake yourselves； and the fact is not such。 The fact； now beginning to disclose itself again in distressed Needlewomen； famishing Connaughts； revolting Colonies； and a general rapid advance towards Social Ruin； remains really what it always was； and will so remain！
Men have very much forgotten it at present； and only here a man and there a man begins again to bethink himself of it： but all men will gradually get reminded of it； perhaps terribly to their cost； and the sooner they all lay it to heart again； I think it will be the better。 For in spite of our oblivion of it； the thing remains forever true； nor is there any Constitution or body of Constitutions； were they clothed with never such venerabilities and general acceptabilities； that avails to deliver a Nation from the consequences of forgetting it。 Nature； I assure you； does forevermore remember it； and a hundred British Constitutions are but as a hundred cobwebs between her and the penalty she levies for forgetting it。 Tell me what kind of man governs a People； you tell me； with much exactness； what the net sum…total of social worth in that People has for some time been。 Whether _they_ have loved the phylacteries or the eternal noblenesses； whether they have been struggling heavenward like eagles； brothers of the radiances； or groping owl…like with horn…eyed diligence； catching mice and balances at their banker's；poor devils； you will see it all in that one fact。 A fact long prepared beforehand； which； if it is a peaceably received one； must have been acquiesced in； judged to be 〃best；〃 by the poor mousing owls； intent only to have a large balance at their banker's and keep a whole skin。
Such sordid populations； which were long blind to Heaven's light； are getting themselves burnt up rapidly； in these days； by street…insurrection and Hell…fire；as is indeed inevitable； my esteemed M'Croudy！ Light； accept the blessed light； if you will have it when Heaven vouchsafes。 You refuse？ You prefer Delolme on the British Constitution； the Gospel according to M'Croudy； and a good balance at your banker's？ Very well： the 〃light〃 is more and more withdrawn； and for some time you have a general dusk； very favorable for catching mice； and the opulent owlery is very 〃happy；〃 and well…off at its banker's；and furthermore； by due sequence； infallible as the foundations of the Universe and Nature's oldest law； the light _returns_ on you； condensed； this time； into _lightning_； which there is not any skin whatever too thick for taking in！
＇April 15； 1850。＇ No。 IV。 THE NEW DOWNING STREET。
In looking at this wreck of Governments in all European countries； there is one consideration that suggests itself； sadly elucidative of our modern epoch。 These Governments； we may be well assured； have gone to anarchy for this one reason inclusive of every other whatsoever； That they were not wise enough； that the spiritual talent embarked in them； the virtue； heroism； intellect； or by whatever other synonyms we designate it； was not adequate；probably had long been inadequate； and so in its dim helplessness had suffered； or perhaps invited falsity to introduce itself； had suffered injustices； and solecisms； and contradictions of the Divine Fact； to accumulate in more than tolerable measure； whereupon said Governments were overset； and declared before all creatures to be too false。
This is a reflection sad but important to the modern Governments now fallen anarchic； That they had not spiritual talent enough。 And if this is so； then surely the question； How these Governments came to sink for _want_ of intellect？ is a rather interesting one。 Intellect； in some measure； is born into every Century； and the Nineteenth flatters itself that it is rather distinguished that way！ What had become of this celebrated Nineteenth Century's intellect？ Surely some of it existed； and was 〃developed〃 withal；nay in the 〃undeveloped；〃 unconscious； or inarticulate state； it is not dead； but alive and at work； if mutely not less beneficently； some think even more so！ And yet Governments； it would appear； could by no means get enough of it； almost none of it came their way： what had become of it？ Truly there must be something very questionable； either in the intellect of this celebrated Century； or in the methods Governments now have of supplying their wants from the same。 One or other of two grand fundamental shortcomings； in regard to intellect or human enlightenment； is very visible in this enlightened Century of ours； for it has now become the most anarchic of Centuries； that is to say； has fallen practically into such Egyptian darkness that it cannot grope its way at all！
Nay I rather think both of these shortcomings； fatal deficits both； are chargeable upon us； and it is the joint harvest of both that we are now reaping with such havoc to o