INTRODUCTION, CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF AFFAIRS From 1660 to 1688. Character of King Charles II. His discreet Appointment of Ministers. Character of the Earl of Clarendon. Change of Measures. Act of Uniformity. Marriage of the King. Sale of Dunkirk. First Declaration of Indulgence. First Dutch War. Disgrace of the Earl of Clarendon. Triple Alliance. Cabal Administration. King becomes a Catholic. Projects of the Cabal. Second Dutch War. Second Declo ration of Indulgence. Earl of Shaftesbury joins the Opposition. Test Act passed. Spirited Conduct of the Commons. Peace with Holland. Insidious Policy of the Court. Secret Intrigues of the Patriots. State of the Nation. Popish Plot. Impeachment of the Lord Treasurer Danby. New Parliament. Bill of Exclusion. Habeas-Corpus Act passed. Duke of York presented as a Popish Recusant. New Parliament. Bill of Exclusion revived. Oxford Parliament convened. Triumph of the Court. Death of the King. Accession of King James II. Arbitrary Measures of the Court. Embassy to Rome. Meeting of Parliament. Abject Complaisance of the Commons. Rebellion of Monmouth. Barbarities of Jeffries. Dissolution of Parliament. ChaTacter of the Earl of Sunderland. King's dispensing Power confirmed by the Judge Artifices of the Court to gain over the Dissenters. Affairs of Scotland--and of Ireland. of King Charles II. New Court of Ecclesiastical Commission. Bishop of London Prudent Conduct Birth of the Prince State of Europe. Terrors of the King. 1660. CHARLES II. was endowed by nature with Character qualities which gave him a just title to popularity; and his wonderful restoration to the throne of his ancestors, amidst the universal acclamations of his subjects, after twenty years of calamity and confusion, seemed to prognosticate a reign of unexampled felicity. felicity. Adversity has been styled the school of princes; and he possessed a capacity which might have enabled him to derive the most essential benefits from its discipline. His knowledge, though not extensive or profound, was of that species which in public life is of the highest importance, and which, if it had been rightly applied, would have conferred an honorable distinction upon his character. He was well acquainted with history and politics; he understood the interests of his country, and perfectly knew the rank she was entitled to hold amongst the powers of Europe. He was possessed of the most insinuating and graceful address; and, without departing from the dignity of his station, he knew how to charm all who approached his person, by the unaffected condescension and engaging affability of his manners. Notwithstanding, however, the flattering appearances which raised so high the hopes of his subjects, and the expec tations of the world, such and so great were his deviations from the standard of political and moral rectitude, that he incurred, before the conclusion of his reign, the indignation, the odium, and contempt of every friend of liberty and of vir tue. Appoint nisters. The declaration from Breda, the appointment His discreet of the earl of Clarendon to the post of prime ment of Miminister, the admission of Annesley, Ashley Cooper, Hollis, Robarts, and Manchester, the leaders of the presbyterian party, to the royal councils, and the act of indemnity passed by the convention parliament, were measures well calculated to conciliate the affections of the nation, and to restore peace, order, and general harmony. During the sitting of the convention parliament, in which the presbyterian interest predominated, and which regarded the proceedings of the government with a watchful and jealous eye, affairs were conducted with prudence and moderation. That assembly was dissolved in December 1660; of the Earl don. 1661. and in May 1661 a new parliament was convened, which quickly appeared to be of a complexion very different from the preceding one, and from which the perfidy of the king, and the violent and wretched bigotry of the earl of Clarendon, might expect the highest encourageCharacter ment and applause. This celebrated minister of Claren- was possessed of very shining virtues, both in public and private life. His capacity, if not of the first rate, was however not inadequate to his elevated station; and his integrity and probity are universally acknowledged. He had the interests not only of the king but of the kingdom really at heart; and though the measures of his administration were often extremely exceptionable, they invariably proceeded from a firm persuasion that they were calculated to promote the welfare and happiness of the community. The grand defect in the character of this nobleman was a want of liberality and comprehension of mind. He was a religious bigot; a character totally incompatible with that of a great statesman. He was under the influence of a thousand weaknesses and prejudices; his ideas of the nature and extent of regal authority were extravagantly high; he was wholly unacquainted with the principles of toleration. He was haughty, intractable, conceited, and morose; and entirely destitute of that spirit of mild wisdom and enlightened bene |