it; the rest, covering many pages, is, so far as possible, strictly suppressed. One of the dullest Conferences ever held, on an epic subject, in this world. Occupied, great part of it, on mere preliminaries, and beatings about the bush; throws light, even in its most elucidated state, upon almost nothing. Oliver is here - simply what we have known him elsewhere. Which so soon as Mankind once understand to be the fact, but unhappily not till then, the aid of fire can be called in, as we suggested.

Fancy, however, that the large Committee of Ninety-nine has got itself introduced into some Council-room, or other fit locality in Whitehall, on Saturday, 11th April 1657, "about nine in the morning;" has made its salutations to his Highness, and we hope been invited to take seats; and all men are very uncertain how to act. Who shall begin? His Highness wishes much they would begin; and in a delicate way urges and again urges them to do so; and, not till after great labour and repeated failures, succeeds. Fancy that old scene; the ancient honourable Gentlemen waiting there to do their epic feat: the ponderous respectable Talent for Silence, obliged to break up and become a kind of Utterance in this thickskinned manner: - really rather strange to witness, as dull as it is!

The Dialogue has gone on for a passage or two, but the Reporter considers it mere preliminary flourishing, and has not taken it down. Here is his first Note, - in the abridged lucidified state:*

LORD WHITLOCKE. "Understands that the Committee is "here only to receive what his Highness has to offer; such the "letter and purport of our Instructions; which I now read. "[Reads it.] Your Highness mentions 'the Government that "now is;' seems to hint thereby: The Government being well "now, why change it? If that be your Highness's general ob"jection, the Committee will give you satisfaction."

THE LORD PROTECTOR. Sir, I think both parties

* Somers Tracts, vi. 352.

of us meet here with a very good heart to come to some issue in this great business; and truly that is what I have all the reason in the world to move me to. And I am exceeding ready to be ordered by you as to the manner of proceeding. Only I confess, according to the thoughts I have, in preparing my thoughts for so great a work, I formed this notion to myself: That the Parliament having already done me the honour of Two Conferences;* and now sent you again, their kind intention to me evidently is no other than this, That I should receive satisfaction. They might have been positive in the thing; might have declared their Address itself to be enough, and insisted upon Yes or No to that. But I perceive that it is really and sincerely the satisfaction of my doubts that they aim at; and there is one clause in the Paper itself, 'quoted by my Lord Whitlocke,' which doth a little warrant that: "To offer such reasons for his satisfaction," &c. Now, Sir, it's certain the occasion of all this 'Conference' is the Answer I already made; that's the occasion of your having to come hither again. And truly, Sir, I doubt whether by your plan If you will

draw out my reasons from me, I will offer them to you: but on my own part, I doubt, if you should proceed that other way, it would a little put me out of the method of my own thoughts. And it being mutual satisfaction that is endeavoured, if you will do me the favour ["To go by my method," his Highness means; to "offer me YOUR Reasons, and DRAW me out, rather than oblige me to COME out"] I shall take it as a

*Two Conferences with the whole Parliament; and one Conference with a Committee: Speeches VII. (31st March), IX. (8th April), and VIII. (3d April).

favour if it please you I will leave you together to consider your own thoughts of it. [Motioning to go."]

LORD WHITLOCKE. "This Committee, being sent to wait "upon your Highness, I do suppose cannot undertake to give "the Parliameni's reasons for what the Parliament hath done. "But any gentleman here may give for your Highness's satis"faction his own particular apprehension of them. And if you "will be pleased to go in the way you have propounded, and "on any point require a satisfaction from the Committee, I "suppose we shall be ready to do the best we can to give you "satisfaction." [Bar Practice! Is not yet what his Highness wants.]

then I sup

THE LORD PROTECTOR. If this be so, pose nothing can be said by you but what the Parliament hath dictated to you? However, I think it is clearly expressed that the Parliament intends satisfaction. Then it is as clear that there must be reasons and arguments which have light and conviction in them, in order to satisfaction! I speak for myself in this; I hope you will not take it otherwise.* I say it doth appear to me you have the liberty of giving your own reasons. If I should write down any of them, I could not call that "the reason of Parliament." [Whitlocke, in a heavy manner, smiles respectful assent.] But in Parliamentary and other such conclusions the efficient "reason" is diffused over the general body, and every man hath his particular share of it; yet when they have determined such and such a thing, certainly it was reason that led them up into it. And if you shall be pleased to make me partaker of some of that "reason"! I do very respectfully represent to you that I have a general dissatisfaction at the thing

* As if I meant to dictate to you, or tutor you in your duties.

upon you,

[Glancing at the Engrossed Vellum; but meaning the Kingship]; and do desire to be informed of the grounds that lead you, whom I presume to be all satisfied with it and with every part of it. And if you will be pleased, if you so think fit, - I will not urge it farther to proceed in that way, it will be a favour to me. Otherwise, I deal plainly with you, it doth put me out of the method of my own conceptions: and in that case I shall beg that we may have an hour's deliberation, and meet again in the afternoon. LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE GLYNN, one of the old expelled Eleven, whom we saw in great straits in 1647; a busy man from the beginning, and now again busy; begs to say in brief: "The Parliament has sent us to give all the satisfaction which "it is in our understandings to give. Certainly we will try to "proceed according to what method your Highness finds best "for that end. The Paper or Vellum Instrument, however, "is general, consisting of many heads; and we can give but "general satisfaction."

THE LORD PROTECTOR, If you will please to give me leave. [Clearing his throat to get under way.] I do agree, truly, the thing is a general; for it either falls under the notion of Settlement, which is a general consisting of many particulars; or if you call it by the name it bears in the Paper, "Petition and Advice," that again is a general; it is advice, desires and advice. What in it I have objected to is as yet, to say truth, but one thing. Only, the last time I had the honour to meet the Parliament,* I did offer to them that they might put me in the way of getting satisfaction as to particulars, 'any or all particulars.' Now, no question I might easily offer something particular * Wednesday last, 8th April; Speech IX.

for debate, if I thought that would answer the end. [What curious pickeering, flourishing, and fencing backwards and forwards, before the parties will come to close action! As in other affairs of courtship.] For truly I know my end and yours is the same: To bring things to an issue one way or the other, that we may know where we are, that we may attain the general end, which is Settlement. [Safe ground here, your Highness!] The end is in us both! And I durst contend with any one person in the world that it is not more in his heart than in mine! I would go into some particulars [Especially one particular, the Kingship], to ask a question, to ask a reason of the alteration 'made;' which might well enough let you into the business, that it might.* Yet, I say, it doth not answer me. [I had counted on being drawn out, not on COMING out: I understood I was the young lady, and you the wooer!] I confess I did not so strictly examine the terms of your Order from the Parliament, 'which my Lord Whitlocke cites;' whether I even read it or no I cannot tell. [Pause.] If you will have it that way, I shall, as well as I can, make such an objection as may occasion some answer, 'and so let us into the business;' though perhaps I shall object weakly enough! I shall very freely submit to you.

GLYNN (with official solemnity). "The Parliament hath sent us for that end, to give your Highness satisfaction."

LORD COMMISSIONER FIENNES, Nathaniel Fiennes, alias Fines alias Fenys, as he was once called when condemned to be shot for surrendering Bristol; second son of "Old Subtlety" Say and Sele; and now again a busy man, and Lord Keeper, opens his broad jaw, and short snub face full of hard saga* A favourite reduplication with his Highness; that it is!