His
personal will is constantly encountering obstacles from the wilfulness
of his subjects, and of powerful individuals among their number. The
circumstances of society do not afford him much temptation to mere
luxurious self-indulgence; mental and bodily activity, especially
political and military, are his principal excitements; and among
turbulent chiefs and lawless followers he has little authority, and is
seldom long secure even of his throne, unless he possesses a
considerable amount of personal daring, dexterity, and energy. The
reason why the average of talent is so high among the Henries and
Edwards of our history may be read in the tragical fate of the
second Edward and the second Richard, and the civil wars and
disturbances of the reigns of John and his incapable successor. The
troubled period of the Reformation also produced several eminent
hereditary monarchs, Elizabeth, Henri Quatre, Gustavus Adolphus; but
they were mostly bred up in adversity, succeeded to the throne by
the unexpected failure of nearer heirs, or had to contend with great
difficulties in the commencement of their reign. Since European life
assumed a settled aspect, anything above mediocrity in an hereditary
king has become extremely rare, while the general average has been
even below mediocrity, both in talent and in vigour of character. A
monarchy constitutionally absolute now only maintains itself in
existence (except temporarily in the hands of some active-minded
usurper) through the mental qualifications of a permanent bureaucracy.
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