Dissertation Upon Parties: in Several Letters to Caleb D'anvers

Dissertation Upon Parties: In Several Letters To Caleb D'anvers by Robert Walpole. This extended political treatise examines how party conflict has shaped British government and threatens the Constitution. Walpole argues that enduring liberty depends on a Parliament independent of Crown influence, a balanced three-estate system, and frequent elections to keep government accountable. Through a sequence of letters and a dedication, the work traces the evolution of English parties from the Restoration through the Revolution of 1688, analyzing how faction—Whig and Tory—emerged, evolved, and sometimes dissolved as national interests outweighed personal rivalry. It contrasts the British constitutional scheme with the French and Spanish practices to illustrate the dangers of centralized power, standing armies, and corrupt funds that enable bribery. The text defends the Revolution as a restoration of liberty but warns that the Ends of that event are not fully realized while corruption and dependence threaten Parliament. It concludes with a call to unite across parties to preserve liberty and the Constitution for future generations.