a slow fever, which changed into a tertian ague, attended with dangerous symptoms; and he at length saw the necessity of turning his eyes toward that future state of existence, the idea of which had at one time been intimately present to him, though lately somewhat obscured by the projects of ambition, the agitation of public affairs, and the pomp of worldly greatness. Conscious of this, he anxiously asked Goodwin, one of his favourite chaplains, if it was certain that the elect could never suffer a final reprobation. "On "that you may with confidence rely," said Goodwin. "Then am I safe," replied Cromwell; "for I am sure "that I once was in a state of grace!" Elated by new visi tetions and assurances, he began to believe his life out of all danger, notwithstanding the opinion of the most experienced physicians to the contrary. "I tell you," cried he to them, with great emotion." I tell you I shall not die of this dis"temper! Favourable answers have been returned from "heaven, not only to my own supplications, but also to "those of the godly, who carry on a more intimate correspondence with the Lord59,"

Notwithstanding this spiritual consolation, which proves that Cromwell, to the last, was no less an enthusiast than a hypocrite, his disorder put a period to his life and his fanatical illusions, while his inspired chaplains were employed in returning thanks to providence, for the undoubted pledges which they received of his recovery60! and on the third of September, the day that had always been esteemed so fortunate to him, being the anniversary of the battles of Dunbar and Worcester. The most striking features of his character I have already had occasion to delineate, in tracing the progress of his ambition. It can, therefore, only be necessary

59. Bates. See also Thurloe, vol. vii.

69. Id. ibid. Goodwin, who, but a few minutes before the protector expired, says Burnet, had pretended to assure the people, in a prayer, that he was not to die, had afterward the impudence to say to God, "thou hast deceived us! and we are deceived!" Hist. of bis own times, vol. i.

here

here to combine the separate sketches, and conclude with some general remarks.

Oliver Cromwell, who died in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and who had risen from a private station to the absolute sovereignty of three ancient kingdoms, was of a robust but ungraceful make, and of a manly but clownish and disagreeable aspect. The vigour of his genius and the boldness of his spirit, rather than the extent of his understanding or the lustre of his accomplishments, first procured him distinction among his countrymen, and afterward made him the terror and admiration of Europe. His abilities, however, had been much over-rated. Fortune had a considerable share in his most successful violences. The self-denying ordinance, and the conscientious weakness of Fairfax, led him, by easy steps, to the supreme command; and the enthusiastic folly of the covenanters served to confirm his usurped authority. But that authority could neither be acquired nor preserved without talents; and Cromwell was furnished with those that were admirably suited to the times in which he lived, and to the part he was destined to act. He possessed, in an eminent degree, the power of discerning the characters of men, and the rare felicity of employing their abilities to advantage, of discovering the motives of others, and of concealing his own; of blending the wildest fanaticism with the most profound policy; of reconciling a seeming incoherence of ideas with the most prompt and decisive measures, and of commanding the highest respect amid the coarsest familiarity. By these

61. Among his ancient friends, we are told, he would frequently relax himself by trfling amusements; by jesting, or making burlesque verses ; and that he sometimes pushed matters to the length of rustic buffoonery and horse-play; such as putting burning coals into the boots and hose of the officers who attended him, blacking their faces, or throwing cushions at them, which they did not fail to return. (Whitlocke. Ludlow. Bates.) We are also informed by the same authors, that, when he had any particu Jar point to gain with the army, it was usual for him to take some of the most popular serjeants and corporals to bed with him, and to ply them there with prayers and religious discourses.

talents,

talents, together with a coincidence of interests, he was able to attach and to manage the military fanatics; and by their assistance, to subdue the parliament, and to tyrannize over the three kingdoms. But in all this there was nothing extraordinary; for an army is so forcible, and at the same time so rude a weapon, that any hand which wields it may, without much dexterity, perform any operation, and attain any ascendant in human society-62.

The moral character of Cromwell, is by no means so exceptionable as it is generally represented. On the contrary, it is truly surprising, how he could temper such violent am

84

62. Mr. Cowley expresses himself admirably on this subject. "If craft "be wisdom, and dissimulation wit," says he, "I must not deny Crom. "well to have been singular in both; but so gross was the manner in “which he made use of them, that, as wise men ought not to have believed "him at first, so no man was tool enough to believe him at last; neither "did any man seem to do it, but those who thought they gained as much by "their dissembling as he did by his. His very actings of godliness grew "at last so ridiculous, as if a player, by putting on a gown, should think that he excellently represented a woman, though his beard at the same "time were seen by all the spectators-If you ask me, why they did not "hiss and explode him off the stage? I can only answer, that they durst not "do so; because the actors and the door-keepers were too strong for the "company." (Discourse concerning the government of Oliver Cromwell.) The military establishment during Cromwell's administration, seldom consisted of less than forty thousand men. The foot soldiers had commonly a shilling, and the horsemen two shillings and six-pence a day. (Thurloe, vol. i. p. 395. vol. ii. p. 414.) This desirable maintenance, at a time when living was much cheaper than at present, induced the sons of farmers and small freeholders to enlist in the army, and proved a better security to the protector's authority than all his canting, praying, and insidious policy. Men who followed so gainful a profession, were naturally attached to the person who encouraged it, and averse against the re-establishment of civil government, which would render it unnecessary.

Cromwell is said to have expended sixty thousand pounds annually, in procuring private intelligense; and it was long supposed, that he was intimately acquainted with the secret councils of all the courts of Europe; but since the publication of Thurloe's state papers, it appears, that this money was chiefly employed in procuring information of the intrigues of the roya'ists, and that the protector had little intelligence of foreign councils, except those of Holland, which are not expected to be concealed.

bition,

bition, and such enraged fanaticism, with so much regard to justice and humanity. Even the murder of the king, his most attrocious measure was to him covered under a cloud of republican and fanatical illusions: and it is possible that like many others concerned in it, he considered it as the most meritorious action of his life. For it is the peculiar characteristic of fanaticism to give a sanction to any measure, however cruel and unjust, that tends to promote its own inter ests, which are supposed to be the same with those of the Deity; and to which, consequently, all moral obligations ought to give place.

LETTER X.

THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, FROM THE DEATH OF THE PROTECTOR TO THE RESTORATION OF THE MONARCHY.

IT was generally believed, that Cromwell's arts and policy was exhausted with his life; that having so often, by fraud and false pretences, deceived every party, and almost every individual, he could not much longer have maintained his authority. And when the potent hand, which had hitherto conducted the government of the commonwealth, was removed, every one expected that the unwieldy and illconstructed machine would fall to pieces. All Europe, therefore, beheld with astonishment his son Richard, an inexperienced and unambitious man, quietly succeed to the protectorship. The council recognized his authority: his brother Henry, who governed Ireland with popularity, in sured him the obedience of that kingdom: and Monk, who still possessed the chief command in Scotland, and who was much attached to the family of Cromwell, there proclaimed the new protector without opposition. The fleet, the army, acknowledged his title: he received congratulatory addresses

from the counties and most considerable corporations, in terms of the most dutiful allegiance, and foreign ministers were forward in paying him the usual compliments; so that Richard, whose moderate temper would have led him to decline any contest for empire, was tempted to accept of a sovereignty which seemed tendered to him by universal

consent.

But this consent, as Richard had soon after occasion to experience, was only a temporary acquiescence, until each party could concert measures, and act effectually for its own interest. On the meeting of the parliament, which A. D. 1659.

it was found necessary to summon, in order to furnish supplies, the new protector found himself involved in inextricable difficulties. The most considerable officers of the army, and even Fleetwood, his brother-in-law, and Desborow, his uncle, who were extremely attached to republican principles, if not to the fifth monarchy or dominion of the saints, began to enter into cabals against him. Overton, Ludlow, Rich, and other officers whom Oliver had discarded, again made their appearance, and also declaimed against the dignity of protector; but, above the rest, Lambert, who was now roused from his retreat, inflamed by his intrigues all those dangerous humours, and threatened the nation with some great convulsion'. As the discontented officers usually met at Fleetwood's apartments, the party was denominated, from the place where he lived, the cabal of Wallingford-bouse.

Richard, who possessed neither vigour nor superior discernment, was prevailed upon, amid these commotions, to give his consent inadvertently to the calling of a general council of officers, who might make him proposals, as was preten led, for the good of the army. But they were no sooner assembled than they voted a remonstrance, in which they lamented, that the good old cause, as they termed it, was

I. Whitlocke. Ludlow.

utterly