conomy were united in her court; when spirit and prudence equally marked her regulations; when men of the greatest ability, vigilance, and virtue, were patronifed and employed; when military skill and valour were eminently encouraged; when politeness and gallantry walked in the train of literature and knowledge; when the fashionable pleasures, and established paftimes, were moderate, hardy, animated, and rational;-in those illuftrious days the People of England appeared with real majefty: they baffled with ease the machinations and attempts of their enemies, though the most powerful and political in Europe: they excited, in other countries, terrors which they had never felt for their own: nothing could appall their bravery, corrupt their loyalty, or cool their zeal; unbought and uncourted, they efpoused and executed the measures of a Sovereign, whom they had fo many reasons to revere and truft. While neighbouring nations were over-run with con-

fpiracies, feditions, and fcenes of blood, they enjoyed all the benefits of peace: commerce was extended; manufactures were improved; arts and learning were cultivated with fuccefs: in a word, they enforced veneration from the whole world; their capacity, courage, regularity, discipline, and fplendor, were admired and extolled by the best judges in foreign lands; while at home they were happy in their abundance, in their order, in their unanimity, and in their queen.

From the habits of temperance and wifdom which they had contracted under her infpiring influence, they were generally difpofed rather to contemn than.copy the imbecillity, luxury, and vanity of her pe-dantic fucceffor, however vilely he might be flattered by too many individuals, who facrificed their understanding and independence to avarice or ambition. The meannefs and worthleffness of James would not, you may believe, difguft the better

part the lefs for their comparing him with a predeceffor fo refpectable on many accounts, though it must be owned much to blame on fome; nor would their difcontent be diminished, when they found that his adminiftration was reproached and defpifed abroad, at the fame courts where the preceding had been applauded and honoured. There indeed they themselves continued to be objects of just esteem, for the fpirit of fobriety, manlinefs, and elevation, which they ftill retained, being neither infected by the low vices, nor allured by the little amufements, nor awed by the arbitrary maxims, of their monarch.

Through feveral fubfequent reigns the fame dignified character failed not to difplay itself. In that of the First Charles, it operated too powerfully to leave room for any public diverfions, but fuch as were decent, temperate, and chafte. Such indeed was the character of the prince himself, at the fame time that, with a VOL. II.

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regularity of conduct not very common in perfons of his rank, he was by no means an enemy to elegant pleasures, or innocent mirth. Then, as we learn, began to appear a strictnefs of principles and manners, which in those days was treated, by light and by prejudiced minds, with every mark of derifion, and which continues in ours to be frequently branded with the odious names of fanaticifm and hypocrify. That it was disfigured by these in great numbers, will be questioned by none who reflect on the frailties and diforders incident to human nature. That in not a few who were fincere it ran into a gloomy fcrupulofity, and unamiable aufterity, will also be acknowledged. Nevertheless, we muft ftill think, that the vigour and purity of the moft eminent writers at that period; the exemplary fortitude and felf-denial difcovered, not long after, by a large body of men, in the expenfive facrifices they made to the rights of confcience; the tender fympathy and

efteem expreffed for them, and for others who fuffered on account of what they believed to be their duty; the juft indignation felt at their perfecutors, and the arduous ftruggle perfeveringly maintained against the most dangerous encroachments; we muft, I fay, be ftill of opinion, that fuch effects proceeded, on the whole, from a ftrong fenfe of whatever was important and facred among men.

In the fcenes which quickly followed, a peculiar ftrain of ferioufnefs and magnanimity was often manifefted, notwithftanding the fanctimonious affectation too frequently blended with it., Effeminacy, and her languid wanton train, could hope for little indulgence, at a conjuncture when the plainnefs and parfimony of an unpolifhed Soldier, who affumed the graveft airs of religious folemnity, were united with a determined aim to render the nation profperous, great, and formidable. The profound reverence which its manly and