LAW FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD LONDON LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS PREFACE. HAVING no political bias, no object either personal or peculiar to serve, I have been induced to publish the opinion I have formed on these momentous questions, because I cannot satisfy myself that the facts published, and the articles written with the view of leading the public in England to a right and fair conclusion, have been certain or even veracious. The curious apparent vacillation of ideas which has prevailed, is, to say the least, suspicious that the facts have been made up to support them on one side or the other. My acquaintance with a vast number of American citizens in all four continents, and the opportunities I have had of hearing the opinions of every class and every kind of party, have led me to look carefully before I can honestly form conclusions upon questions so violently argued, |