Walter Bagehot: “Scarcely any one can help yielding to the current infatuations of his sect or party.”

But it is natural also that persons used to analyse political institutions should look at these anomalies with a little tenderness and a little interest.

The casual line was traced according to the strength of deceased combatants; succeeding generations fought elsewhere; and the hesitating line of a half-drawn battle was left to stand for a perpetual limit.

Subject to this saving remark, however, I not only admit, but maintain, that our Constitution is full of curious oddities, which are impeding and mischievous, and ought to be struck out.

I own that I do not entirely sympathise with the horror of these anomalies which haunts some of our best critics.