er but a small portion of that which is evil, blended with
much that is undoubtedly good. Although his public speeches were, for
the most part, ambiguous--leaving others to pick out his meaning--or
more frequently still, having no meaning to pick out--being words,
words, words--strung of mouldy sentences, scriptural phrases, foolish
exclamations, and such like; yet, when necessary, he showed that he
could sufficiently command his style, delivering himself with so much
energy, pith, propriety, and strength of expression, that it was
commonly said of him, under such circumstances, "every word he spoke was
a thing." But the strongest indication of his vast abilities was, the
extraordinary tact with which he entered into, dissected, and
scrutinised the nature of human kind. No man ever dived into the manners
and minds of those around him with greater penetration, or more rapidly
discovered their natural talents and tempers. If he chanced to hear of a
person fit for his purpose, whether as a minister, a soldier, an
artisan, a preacher, or a spy--no matter how previously obscure--he
sent for him forthwith, and employed him in the way in which he could be
made most useful, and answer best the purpose of his employer. Upon this
most admirable system (a system in which, unhappily, he has had but few
imitators among modern statesmen,) depended in a great degree his
success. His devotion has been sneered at; but it has never been proved
to have been insincere. With how much more show of justice may we
consider it to have been founded upon a solid and upright basis, when we
recollect that his whole outward deportment spoke its truth. Those who
decry him as a fanatic ought to bethink themselves that _religion was
the chivalry of the age in which he lived_. Had Cromwell been born a few
centuries earlier, he would have headed the Crusades, with as much
bravery, and far better results than our noble-hearted, but wrong-headed
"Coeur de Lion." It was no great compliment that was passed on him by
the French minister, when he called the Protector "the first captain of
the age." His courage and conduct in the field were undoubtedly
admirable: he had a dignity of soul which the greatest dangers and
difficulties rather animated than discouraged, and his discipline and
government of the army, in all respects, was the wonder of the world. It
was no diminution of this part of his character that he was wary in his
conduct, and that, after he was de