224 ENGLAND. 



the title of king. After a most uncomfortable usurpation of four years 

 eight months and thirteen days, he died on the 3d of September, 1658, 

 in the 60th year of his age. 



It is not to be denied that England acquired much more respect 

 from foreign powers, between the death of Charles I, and that of 

 Cromwell, than she had been treated with since the death of Eliza- 

 beth. In the year 1656, the charge of the public amounted to one 

 million three hundred thousand pounds, of which a million went to 

 the support of the navy and army, and the remainder to that of the civil 

 government. 



The fate of Richard Cromwell, who succeeded his father, Oliver, 

 as protector, sufficiently proves the great difference there was be- 

 tween them, as to spirit and abilities, in the affairs of government. 

 Richard was placed in his dignity by those who wanted to make him 

 the tool of their own government ; and he was soon after driven, with- 

 out the least struggle or opposition, into obscurity. The restoration 

 of Charles II, (who ? with his mother and brothers, dui'ing the usur- 

 pation, had lived abroad on a very precarious subsistence) was effected 

 by the general concurrence of the people, who seemed to have thought 

 that neither peace nor protection were to be obtained, but by restor- 

 ing the ancient constitution of the monarchy. General Monk, a man 

 of military abilities, but of no principles, except such as served his 

 ambition or interest, had the sagacity to observe this ; and, after tem- 

 porising in various shapes, being at the head of the army, he acted 

 the principal part in restoi'ing Charles II. For this he was created 

 duke of Albemarle, confirmed in the command of the army, and 

 loaded with honours and riches. , 



Charles II, being restored in 1660, in the first year of his reign 

 seemed to have a real desire to promote his people's happiness. Upon 

 his confirming the abolition of all the feudal tenures, he received from 

 the parliament a gift of the excise for life ; and in this act, coffee and 

 tea are first mentioned. He knew and cultivated the true interests 

 of his kingdom, till he was warped by pleasure, and sunk in indo- 

 lence, failings that had the same consequences as despotism itself. 

 He appeared to intei'est himself in the sufferings of his citizens, when. 

 London was burnt down in 1666 ; but there were no bounds to his love 

 of pleasure, which led him to the most extravagant expences. Hs 

 has been severely censured for selling Dunkirk to the French king 

 to supply his necessities, after he had squandered the immense sums 

 granted him by parliament. The price was about 250,000/. sterling. 

 But even in this, his conduct was more defensible than in his secret 

 connexions with France, which were of the most scandalous nature, 

 utterly repugnant to the welfare of the kingdom, and such as must 

 ever reflect infamy on his memory. 



The first Dutch war, which began in 1665, was carried on with 

 great resolution and spirit under the duke of York ; but, though 

 Charles's misapplication of the public money, which had been granted 

 for the war, the Dutch, while a treaty of peace was depending at 

 Breda, found means to insult the royal navy of England, by sailing up 

 theMedwayas far as Chatham, and destroying several capital ships 

 of war. Soon after this, a peace was concluded at Breda between 

 Great Britain and the States-General, for the preservation of the Spa- 

 nish Netherlands; and Sweden having acceded to the treaty, 1668, 

 it was called the triple alliance. 



In 1671, Charles was so ill advised as to seize upon the money of 



