“Yes, I’ve heard of that; but the attempt to tax the colonies was clearly unconstitutional; they were without representation in the Parliament that enacted the law.”

“But then, General, you are to remember that, according to Blackstone, Parliament was and is, by the English Constitution, omnipotent.  The fact is, we took one part of the constitution, and George the other; we kept our part, and all our land, and George maintained his, on his island, strong as ever; and yet there, property-owners always have been and always will be taxed, who do not vote.  I fear that it will be found that all the other maxims have from time to time suffered in the same way.”

“You must admit, however,” said the General, “that the maxims in favor of personal freedom have usually been adhered to in England proper.”

“Yes, the sturdy elements of the natural constitution of the English people have vindicated their liberty against all constitutional violations of it; and while I cordially detest them, one and all, there isn’t another nation in Europe that I am willing to be descended from.”

“I fear that is the common sentiment among our people,” said the General.  “And so you think the world-famous British Constitution may be written in one condensed sentence—­the old English formula—­Parliament is omnipotent.”

“Yes, just that.  Parliament is the constitution; everything else is ornamental.”

Without expressing any opinion, the General resumed, and turning at hop, skip and jump, he found that Bart happened to be at home wherever he alighted.  He finally turned to the last page, and asked questions with the same result, closing the book with: 

“Well, what else have you been doing this week?”

“Not much; I’ve worked a little, dabbled with geometry some, read Gibbon a little, newspapers less, run some in the woods, and fooled away some of my time,” answered Bart, with a self-condemning air.

“Have you slept any?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Oh, dear!” said the General, laughing good-humoredly, and then looking grave, “this will never do—­never!”

“Well, General,” said Bart, crestfallen, “I’ve only had the book a week, and although I don’t memorize easily, I believe I can commit the whole before a month is out, except the notes.”

“Oh, my dear boy, it isn’t that!  I don’t know but there is a man in the world who, without having seen a law book before, has taken up and mastered the first volume of Blackstone in a week, but I never heard of him.  What will never do is—­it will not do for you to go on in this way; you would read up a library in a year, if you lived, but will die in six months, at this rate.”

With tears in his eyes, Bart said:  “Do not fear me, General; I am strong and healthy; besides, there are a good many things worse than death.”

“I am serious,” said the General.  “No mortal can stand such work long.”