BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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the soundest principles, was not popular. Both the events in chap.which it originated, and the effects which it had produced, -prejudiced men against it. It had sprung from militaryviolence. It had been fruitful of nothing but disputes. Thewhole nation was sick of government by the sword, and pinedfor government by the law. The restoration, therefore, evenof anomalies and abuses, which were in strict conformitywith the law, and which had been destroyed by the sword,gave general satisfaction.

Among the Commons there was a strong opposition, con-sisting partly of avowedRepublicans, and partly of concealedRoyalists: but a large and steady majority appeared to befavourable to the plan of reviving the old civil constitutionunder a new dynasty. Richard was solemnly recognised asfirst magistrate. The Commons not only consented to transactbusiness with Oliver’s Lords, but passed a vote acknow-ledging the right of those nobles who had in the late troublestaken the side of public liberty, to sit in the Upper House ofParliament without any new creation.

Thus far the statesmen by whose advice Richard actedhad been successful. Almost all the parts of the governmentwere now constituted as they had been constituted at thecommencement of the civil war. Had the Protector and theParliament been suffered to proceed undisturbed, there canbe little doubt that an order of things similar to that whichwas afterwards established under the House of Hanover wouldhave been established under the House of Cromwell. Butthere was in the State a power more than sufficient to dealwith Protector and Parliament together. Over the soldiersRichard had no authority except that which he derived fromthe great name which he had inherited. He had never ledthem to victory. He had never even borne arms. All histastes and habits were pacific. Nor were his opinions andfeelings on religious subjects approved by the military saints.