Queen Anne's case and William IV.'s case prove that neither object is certainly attained by entrusting this critical and extreme force to the chance idiosyncrasies and habitual mediocrity of an hereditary sovereign.
Bagehot argues against placing critical powers in the hands of hereditary monarchs based on historical examples.
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There is no ELASTIC element, everything is rigid, specified, dated.
Perhaps such powers as these are what a wise man would most seek to exercise and least fear to possess.
And therefore party is inherent in it, is bone of its bone, and breath of its breath.
They have given what I may call a CONFIDENCE IN THE UNIVERSE.
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