BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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which Cromwell had, for his own sake and that of his family, chap.

so much reason to desire as a general religious war in Europe.-

In such a war he must have been the captain of the Protestantarmies. The heart of England would have been with him.

His victories would have been hailed with an unanimousenthusiasm unknown in the country since the rout of theArmada, and would have effaced the stain which one act,condemned by the general voice of the nation, has left on hissplendid fame. Unhappily for him he had no opportunity ofdisplaying his admirable military talents, except against theinhabitants of the British isles.

While he lived his power stood firm, an object of mingledaversion, admiration, and dread to his subjects. Few indeedloved his government; but those who hated it most hated itless than they feared it. Had it been a worse government, itmight perhaps have been overthrown in spite of all itsstrength.. Had it been a weaker government, it would certainlyhave been overthrown in spite of all its merits. But it hadmoderation enough to abstain from those oppressions whichdrive men mad; and it had a force and energy which nonebut men driven mad by oppression would venture to encounter.

It has often been affirmed, but apparently with little Oliverreason, that Oliver died at a time fortunate for his renown, edbyand that, if his life had been prolonged, it would probably Rl0har<1-have closed amidst disgraces and disasters. It is certain thathe was, to the last, honoured by his soldiers, obeyed by thewhole population of the British islands, and dreaded by allforeign powers, that he was laid among the ancient sovereignsof England with funeral pomp such as London had never be-fore seen, and that he was succeeded by his son Richard asquietly as any King had ever been succeeded by any Prince ofWales.

During five months, the administration of Richard Crom-well went on so tranquilly and regularly that all Europe be-