...Reflections, p. 193 on the 'defects, redundancies and errors' of existing jurisprudence; p. 141 on 'hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes with it, are too much idolized by creeping sycophants'; p. 197 on 'the wealth and pride of individuals at every moment makes the man of humble rank and fortune...

...the commonwealth." Burke therefore concludes: "Some decent regulated pre-eminence, some preferences (not exclusive appropriation) given to birth, is neither unnatural, nor unjust, nor impolitick" (Works 5: 108-109; cf. 6: 188, 15: 370). Burke further explained the union of wealth and...

...amongst the best — they are, at the very worst, the ballast in the vessel of the commonwealth. For It is said that twenty-four millions ought to prevail over two hundred thousand. True; if the constitution...

...being amongst the best, they are at the very worst, the ballast in the vessel of the commonwealth. For though hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes...birth, is neither unnatural, nor unjust, nor impolitic. . . . The Revolution Society has discovered that the English nation is not free. They are convinced...

...amongst the best,) they are, at the very worst, the ballast in the vessel of the commonwealth. For though hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes...petulant, assuming, shortsighted coxcombs of philosophy. . . . Your leaders in France began by affecting to admire, almost to adore, the British Constitution;...

...being amongst the best, they are at the very worst, the ballast in the vessel of the commonwealth. For though hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes...birth, is neither unnatural, nor unjust, nor impolitic. It is said, that twenty-four millions ought to prevail over two hundred thousand. True; if the constitution...

...by creeping sycophants, and the blind abject admirers of power, 6o PROPERTY THE CHIEF QUALIFICATION. they are too rashly slighted in shallow speculations...preference (not exclusive appropriation) given to _birth, is neither unnatural, nor unjust, nor impolitic. It is said, that twenty-four millions ought...

...the traditional leaders of society would be eroded also. These were the fears upon which he played. 'Some decent regulated pre-eminence, some preference (not exclusive appropriation) given to birth', he insisted, 'is neither unnatural, nor unjust, nor impolitic.' Why? The answer was straightforward...

...amongst the best,) they are, at the very worst, the ballast in the vessel of the commonwealth. For though hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes...petulant, assuming, shortsighted coxcombs of philosophy. . . . Your leaders in France began by affecting to admire, almost to adore, the British Constitution;...

...with the other. Men would become little better than the flies of a summer."21 Burke 's admission that "hereditary wealth, and the rank which goes with it,...creeping sycophants, and the blind abject admirers of power"22 is borne out in Persuasion by Sir Walter's self-worship, Lady Russell's "prejudices on the...