neither let us adopt false or doubtful imputations for the purpose of making him a monster. Whoever reviews the interesting period which we have been discussing, upon the principle recommended in the outset of this chapter, will find that, from the consideration of the past, to prognosticate the future would at the moment of Charles's demise be no easy task. Between two persons, one of whom should expect that the country would remain sunk in slavery, the other, that the cause of freedom would revive and triumph, it would be difficult to decide whose reasons were better supported, whose speculations the more probable. I should guess that he who desponded had looked more at the state of the public, while he who was sanguine had fixed his eyes more attentively upon the person who was about to mount the throne. Upon reviewing the two great parties of the nation, one observation occurs very forcibly, and that is, that the great strength of the Whigs consisted in their being able to brand their adversaries as favourers of popery; that of the Tories (as far as their strength depended upon opinion, and not merely upon the power of the crown), in their finding colour to represent the Whigs as republicans. From this observation we may draw a further inference, that, in proportion to the rashness of the crown in avowing and pressing forward the cause of popery, and to the moderation and steadiness of the Whigs in adhering to the form of monarchy, would be the chance of the people of England for changing an ignominious despotism for glory, liberty, and happiness. CHAPTER II. Accession of James II.--His declaration in council; acceptable to the nation--Arbitrary designs of his reign--Former ministers continued--Money transactions with France--Revenue levied without authority of Parliament--Persecution of Dissenters--Character of Jeffreys--The King's affectation of independence--Advances to the Prince of Orange--The primary object of this reign--Transactions in Scotland--Severe persecutions there--Scottish Parliament--Cruelties of government--English Parliament; its proceedings--Revenue--Votes concerning religion--Bill for preservation of the King's person--Solicitude for the Church of England--Reversal of Stafford's attainder rejected--Parliament adjourned--Character of the Tories--Situation of the Whigs.