4 memoirs of Sir William Lockhart: Nov: 7.- 
for that purpose, and he resolved to invest him in. 
that very delicate office. 
Tt is the peculiarity of great minds, not city 4 to be’ 
Sable to distinguifh great talents where they exist ; 
but also to know how to proceed,.so as to avail 
themselves of these talents in the highest degree: 
Cromwell, on this occasion, fhowed the vast su- 
periority of his powers in this respect. He easily. 
saw that the elegance of Sir. William’s person and. 
addrefs, were well calculated to attract the admi- 
Fation of a luxurious court, while the strength of 
his judgement was capable of penetrating the designs 
of the crafty priest, and the firm intrepidity of his 
mind enabled him to carry into execution whatever 
his judgement approved. He saw also that his can-. 
dour and rectitude of mind were such as to render 
it, not only safe, but prodent, to entrust him with 
almost unlimited powers. He was therefore first 
knighted, and then by a commifsion dated the 30th of 
December 1655, appointed ambafsador to France, 
with full powers. to act in all things as he saw proper, 
and without any limitation of expence. 
By the brilliancy of his appearance, and the. 
splendor of his retinue, he captivated the heart of 
the young monarch, and became the admiration of: 
the court of France; while, by his quick conceptior, 
and delicate addrefs in the management of affairs, he. 
soon obtained an ascendency over the cardinal mi-. 
nister, that no other person ever could boast of. 
France was at that time tired of war, and was upon 
the point of making peace; but this was by no. 
means the with of the Protector. Sir William soon 
