fundamental security of these liberties,—­the grant of their own property,—­seemed a thing so incongruous, that eight years after, that is, in the thirty-fifth of that reign, a complete and not ill-proportioned representation by counties and boroughs was bestowed upon Wales by act of Parliament.  From that moment, as by a charm, the tumults subsided; obedience was restored; peace, order, and civilization followed in the train of liberty.  When the day-star of the English Constitution had arisen in their hearts, all was harmony within and without:—­

            Simul alba nautis
        Stella refulsit,
    Defluit saxis agitatus humor,
    Concidunt venti, fugiuntque nubes,
    Et minax (quod sic voluere) ponto
        Unda recumbit.

The very same year the County Palatine of Chester received the same relief from its oppressions, and the same remedy to its disorders.  Before this time Chester was little less distempered than Wales.  The inhabitants, without rights themselves, were the fittest to destroy the rights of others; and from thence Richard the Second drew the standing army of archers with which for a time he oppressed England.  The people of Chester applied to Parliament in a petition penned as I shall read to you.

“To the king our sovereign lord, in most humble wise shown unto your most excellent Majesty, the inhabitants of your Grace’s County Palatine of Chester:  That where the said County Palatine of Chester is and hath been alway hitherto exempt, excluded, and separated out and from your high court of Parliament, to have any knights and burgesses within the said court; by reason whereof the said inhabitants have hitherto sustained manifold disherisons, losses, and damages, as well in their lands, goods, and bodies, as in the good, civil, and politic governance and maintenance of the common wealth of their said country:  And forasmuch as the said inhabitants have always hitherto been bound by the acts and statutes made and ordained by your said Highness, and your most noble progenitors, by authority of the said court, as far forth as other counties, cities, and boroughs have been, that have had their knights and burgesses within your said court of Parliament, and yet have had neither knight no burgess there for the said County Palatine; the said inhabitants, for lack thereof, have been oftentimes touched and grieved with acts and statutes made within the said court, as well derogatory unto the most ancient jurisdictions, liberties, and privileges of your said County Palatine, as prejudicial unto the common wealth, quietness, rest, and peace of your Grace’s most bounden subjects inhabiting within the same.”

What did Parliament with this audacious address?—­Reject it as a libel?  Treat it as an affront to government?  Spurn it as a derogation from the rights of legislature?  Did they toss it over the table?  Did they burn it by the hands of the common hangman?—­They took the petition of grievance, all rugged as it was, without softening or temperament, unpurged of the original bitterness and indignation of complaint; they made it the very preamble to their act of redress, and consecrated its principle to all ages in the sanctuary of legislation.