This their law of empire was promulgated without any requisition on that subject, and proclaimed in a style and upon principles which never had been heard of in the annals of arrogance and ambition.
Burke criticizes the imperial law that was declared arrogantly, emphasizing its unprecedented nature in history.
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By adhering in this manner and on those principles to our forefathers, we are guided, not by the superstition of antiquarians, but by the spirit of philosophic analogy.
This idea of a liberal descent inspires us with a sense of habitual native dignity, which prevents that upstart insolence almost inevitably adhering to and disgracing those who are the first acquirers of any distinction.
This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.
The people of England will not ape the fashions they have never tried, nor go back to those which they have found mischievous on trial.
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