A History of the British Empire, from the Accession of Charles I, to the Restoration Volume 4 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIV. Richard Cromwell, Oliver's eldest Son, acknowledged Pro tector.--Summons a Parliament.--Cabal of Wallingford House.--Parliament disso Ived.--Richard deposed.--Long Parliament restored.--Conspiracy of the Royalists.--Insurrection suppressed.--Parliament expelled the House.--Conduct of Moncke.--Parliament restored.--Resolutions of the City.--Moncke sent against it.--Enters London a second time, and declaresfor a free Parliament.--Secluded Members restored.--Long Parliament dissolved.--New Parliament.--The Restoration. Richard There were, at the time Cromwell usurped the procUumed. ggygmjueu about half a million in the treasury and the value of seven hundred thousand pounds in the magazines, while the customs and excise yielded near a million annually: at "his death the pay of the troops was in arrears, and a public debt contracted of about three millions. All his expedients of government having been exhausted, and his finances in such a state, even he could not have long continued at the head of affairs. Little, therefore, was it to be expected that a feebler hand, unsupported by that glory which, after so many exploits, raised him to such estimation in the minds of men, --should have been able to manage the reins which himself could not much longer have held. He had formally named no successor; but, as it was said that he had, when almost speechless, given an affirmative to a question, whether he wished his eldest son to succeed him, and as no other party was prepared to assume the power, Richard was proclaimed. For such a situation, he was particularly unqualified: his abilities were slender; his knowledge of business extremely limited; and, never having been a soldier, he was incapable of controlling the military, while the...