In this state of real, though not always perceived, warfare between the noble ancient landed interest and the new moneyed interest, the greatest, because the most applicable, strength was in the hands of the latter.
Analyzing the social tensions in pre-revolutionary France, Burke identifies the growing power of the new financial class in its conflict with the traditional landed aristocracy.
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This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.
But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.
But the course of succession is the healthy habit of the British Constitution.
When such an unwarrantable maxim is once established, that no throne is lawful but the elective, no one act of the princes who preceded this era of fictitious election can be valid.
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