ly to subdue their pretensions. He wanted suppleness and dexterity
sufficient for the first measure; he was nor endowed with the vigor
requisite for the second. Had he been born an absolute prince, his
humanity and good sense had rendered his reign happy and his memory
precious; had the limitations on prerogative been in his time quite
fixed and certain, his integrity had made him regard as sacred the
boundaries of the constitution. Unhappily, his fate threw him into a
period, when the precedents of many former reigns savored strongly of
arbitrary power, and the genius of the people ran violently towards
liberty. And if his political prudence was not sufficient to extricate
him from so perilous a situation, he may be excused; since, even after
the event, when it is commonly easy to correct all errors, one is at
a loss to determine what conduct, in his circumstances, could have
maintained the authority of the crown, and preserved the peace of
the nation. Exposed, without revenue, without arms, to the assault of
furious, implacable, and bigoted factions, it was never permitted him,
but with the most fatal consequences, to commit the smallest mistake; a
condition too rigorous to be imposed on the greatest human capacity.

Some historians have rashly questioned the good faith of this prince;
but, for this reproach, the most malignant scrutiny of his conduct,
which in every circumstance is now thoroughly known, affords not any
reasonable foundation. On the contrary, if we consider the extreme
difficulties to which he was so frequently reduced, and compare the
sincerity of his professions and declarations, we shall avow, that
probity and honor ought justly to be numbered among his most shining
qualities. In every treaty, those concessions which he thought he could
not in conscience maintain, he never could, by any motive or persuasion,
be induced to make. And though some violations of the petition of right
may perhaps be imputed to him, these are more to be ascribed to the
necessity of his situation, and to the lofty ideas of royal prerogative,
which, from former established precedents, he had imbibed, than to any
failure in the integrity of his principles.[*] [20]

* See note T, at the end of the volume.

This prince was of a comely presence; of a sweet, but melancholy aspect.
His face was regular, handsome, and well complexioned; his body strong,
healthy, and justly proportioned; and being of a middle stature, he was