Reflections upon the present state of the nation

R EFLECTIONS
Upon the Prefent State of the
IT is a Maxim of the Law of England concerning the Government, Thai
there is no Interregnum. Of neceffity there muft be a Change in the Per-
fbtt,yet there is a Continuation of the Government. Which (news the Pru¬
dence and Perfe&ion of the Conftitutipn, in preventing that, which of
all thihg^ is tnoff deplorable, a Failure of Goyeratriefit. This Rule is therefore
of that importance, as not to begived up upon the trivial Saying of Nemo eft
bares viventis.
’Tfs true, the common and ordinary caufe of a Change in the Perfbn that is
inverted with xi\z <Royal Jutborkjy is Death. 1
But we art now in a rare and extraordinary Cafe, where the King fe li¬
ving, and yet. may belaid to be diverted of the (ftoyal Office, as having by his
Encroachments upon the Peoples Rights, provoked them to relbrt to Arms,*
and being vanquilhed by that Force, followed with a total Defe&ion from
him, arid ^ his relinquifliing the Kingdom thereupon, Without providing any
ways fbt the Admidiftratidn of theGovcritment.
This leems to be a Ceffei oFthiiGchrettiAcnt^ :and teay ln: CivS.and Pcii-
tick Conftru&idn amdUnt to a^hraich as^f he had Died/
But becaule this is a Cefs of that nature that requires a Judgment to be made
upon it, it leems neceflary to have a Convention of the Eftates of the Nation, to
make a Declaration thereupon (for 5tis not for private Perfbns to determine in
the Cafes aforefaid, how or when the King has loft his Government) and dll
luch Authoritative Declaration made, the King may be fiippofed in fome kind
of pofleffion of the Kingly Office.
But after the Judgment made and declared, there feems to be ho difference
in the confequence and refult of the thing, between fuch an extraordinary
cafe of the Ceffer of the (Royal Dignityy and the cafe of Death or voluntary
Refignation; or as if the King had been profefs’d and made himfelf a Reclufe
in a Religious Houfe. ^ y
(Then it muft devolve upon the next Heir, her Royal Highnefs the Pfincefs
of Orange.
As to the pretended Prince of Wales, if there had been no Sufpicions as to
his Birth, (as there are many violent ones) yet his being conveyed into un¬
known Places, by Perfons in whom ho credit can be tepofed, and at ah Age
which expofes him to all mantier 6f Pfa&ices ahd Ihipoftures, touching his
A T I O N.