difficulty was, how to find the means of redressing such great and extensive grievances. The most valuable lands in Ireland had been already measured out and divided, either among the adventurers who had lent money to the parliament for the suppression of the popish conspiracy, or among the soldiers who had accomplished that business. These men could not be dispossessed; because they were the most powerful, and only armed part of the inhabitants of Ireland; because it was necessary to favour them, in order to support the protestant and English interest in that kingdom; and because they had generally with seeming zeal and alacrity, concurred in the king's restoration. Charles, therefore, issued a proclamation, in which he promised to maintain their settlement: and he at the same time engaged to yield redress to the innocent sufferers35. There was a considerable quantity of land still undivided in Ireland; and from this and other funds, it was thought possible for the king to fulfil his engagements, without disturbing the present landholders. A court of claims was accordingly erected, consisting altogether of English commissioners, who had no connexion with any of the parties into which Ireland was divided; and the duke of Ormond, being supposed the only person whose prudence and justice could compose such jarring interests, was created lord-lieutenant. The number of claims presented, spread universal anxiety and alarm; but after a temporary ferment, all parties seemed willing to abate somewhat of their pretensions, in order to obtain stability. Ormond interposed his authority to that purpose. The soldiers and adventurers agreed to relinquish a fourth of their possessions; all those who had been attainted on account of their adherence to the king, were restored, and some of the innocent catholics36. 35. Carte's Life of the Duke of Ormond, vol. ii. Hume, vol. vii. ་ In consequence of this settlement, Ireland began to acquire a degree of composure, when it was disturbed by an impolitic act, passed by the English parliament, prohibiting the importation of Irish cattle into England. Ormond remonstrated strongly against that law. He said, that the trade then carried on between England and Ireland was extremely to the advantage of the former kingdom, which received only provisions, or rude materials, in return for every species of manufacture; that if the cattle of Ireland were prohibited, the inhabitants of that island had no other commodity with which they could pay England for their importations, and must therefore have recourse to other nations for a supply; that the industrious part of the inhabitants of England, if deprived of Irish provisions, which made living cheap, would be obliged to augment the price of labour, and thereby render their manufactures too dear to be exported with advantage to foreign markets37. The king was so well convinced of the force of these arguments, that he used all his interest to oppose the bill, and declared that he could not give his assent to it A. D. 1667, with a safe conscience. But the commons were JAN. 18. obstinate, and Charles was in want of supply: he was therefore impelled by his fears of a refusal, to pass it into a law38. The event, however, justified the reasoning of Ormond. This severe law brought great distress upon Ireland for a time; but it has proved, in the issue, beneficial to that kingdom, and hurtful to England, by obliging the Irish to apply with more industry to manufactures, and to cultivate a com, mercial correspondence with France. These grievances and discontents in all the three kingdoms, and the little success in a war from which the greatest advantages were expected, induced the king to turn his thoughts toward peace. The Dutch, whose trade had suf fered extremely, were no less disposed to such a measure; 37. Carte, ubi sup. 38. Parl. Hist. vol. xxiii. and and after some ineffectual conferences, held in the queenmother's apartments at Paris, it was agreed to transfer the negociation to Breda. The English ambassadors, lord Hollis, and Henry Coventry, immediately desired, that a suspension of hostilities should be agreed to, until the several claims should be adjusted; but this proposal, seemingly so natural, was rejected through the influence of the penetrating de Wit. That able and active minister, perfectly acquainted with the characters of the contending princes, and with the situation of affairs in Europe, had discovered an opportunity of striking a blow, which might at once restore to the Dutch the honour lost during the war, and severely revenge those injuries which he ascribed to the wanton ambition and injustice of the English monarch39. The expence of the naval armaments of England had been so great, that Charles had not hitherto been able to convert to his own use any of the money granted him by parliament. He therefore resolved to save, as far as possible, the last supply of one million eight hundred thousand pounds, for the payment of his debts. This sum, which was thought by his wisest ministers too small to enable him to carry on the war with vigour, afforded the profuse and needy monarch a pretence for laying up his first and second rate ships. Nor did that measure appear highly reprehensible, as the immediate prospect of peace seemed sufficient to free the king from all apprehensions of danger from his enemies. But de Wit, who was informed of this supine security, protracted the negociations at Breda, and hastened the naval preparations of Holland. The Dutch fleet, under de Ruyter, took possession of the mouth of the Thames; while a squadron commanded by Van Ghent, assisted by an east wind and JUNE 10. a spring tide, after reducing Sheerness, broke a chain which had been drawn across the river Medway, and destroyed three ships stationed to guard it; advanced as far 39. Basnage. as as Chatham, and burned the Royal Oak, the Loyal London, and the Great James, all first rates, and carried off the hull of the Royal Charles49. The destruction of the ships at Chatham, threw the city of London into the utmost consternation. It was apprehended the Dutch would next sail up the Thames, and that they might carry their hostilities even as far as London-bridge. Nine ships were sunk at Woolwich, five at Blackwall; platforms were built in many places, furnished with artillery; the country was armed, and the train-bands of the city were called out. These precautions, and the difficult navigation of the Thames, induced de Ruyter to steer his course to the westward. He made a fruitless attempt upon Portsmouth and also on Plymouth; he returned to the mouth of the Thames, where he was not more successful; but he rode triumphant in the channel for several weeks, and spread universal alarm along the coast11. These fears, however, were soon dispelled by the signing of the treaty of Breda. In order to facilitate that JULY 10. measure, so necessary in his present distressed situation, Charles had instructed his ambassadors to recede from those demands which had hitherto obstructed the negociation. No mention was now made of the restitution of the island of Polerone in the East-Indies, which had been formerly insisted on; nor was any satisfaction required for those depredations, which had been assigned as the cause of the war. England, however, retained possession of New. York; and the English settlement of Surinam, which had been reduced by the Dutch, was ceded to the republic42. 40. Clarendon's Life. King James's Mem. Captain Douglas, who commanded on board the Royal Oak, perished in the flames, though he had an easy opportunity of escaping. Never was it known," said he, "that a Douglas quitted his post without orders!" Temple, vol. ii. 41. Id. ibid. VOL. IV. 42. Clarendon, ubi sup. But But this pacification, though it removed the apprehensions of danger, by no means quieted the discontents of the people. All men of spirit were filled with indignation at the improvidence of government, and at the avarice, meanness, and prodigality of the king, who, in order to procure money to squander upon his pleasures, had left his kingdom exposed to insult and disgrace. In a word, the shameful conclusion of the Dutch war totally dispelled that delirium of joy which had been occasioned by the restoration; and the people as if awaking from a dream, wondered why they had been pleased. Charles, who, amid all his dissipations, possessed and even employed a considerable share of political sagacity, as well as address, resolved to attempt the recovery of his popularity by sacrificing his minister to the national resentment. The plan in part succeeded, as it seemed to indicate a change of measures, at the same time that it presented a grateful offering to an offended people. Though the earl of Clarendon had for some time lost the confidence of his sovereign, by the austerity of his manners and the severity of his remonstrances, he was still considered by the public as the head of the cabinet, and regarded as the author of every unpopular measure since the restoration. The king's marriage, in which he had merely acquiesced; the sale of Dunkirk, to which he had only given his assent, as one of the council; the Dutch war, which he had opposed; and all the persecuting laws against the different sectaries, were universally ascribed to him. The catholics knew him to be the declared enemy of their principles, both civil and religious; so that he was exposed, one way or other, to the hatred of every party in the nation. This general odium afforded the king a pretence for depriving him of the seals, and dismissing him from his councils; and the parliament, to whom Charles ungenerously gave the hint, first impeached, and then banished him43. Conscious of his own 43. King James's Mømoirs. Clarendon's Life. innocence, |