Thus it is in every great division; and thus it was in our civil
war. On both sides there was, undoubtedly, enough of crime and
enough of error to disgust any man who did not reflect that the
whole history of the species is made up of little except crimes
and errors. Misanthropy is not the temper which qualifies a man
to act in great affairs, or to judge of them.

"Of the Parliament," says Mr. Hallam, "it may be said I think,
with not greater severity than truth, that scarce two or three
public acts of justice, humanity, or generosity, and very few of
political wisdom or courage, are recorded of them, from their
quarrel with the King, to their expulsion by Cromwell." Those
who may agree with us in the opinion which we have expressed as
to the original demands of the Parliament will scarcely concur in
this strong censure. The propositions which the Houses made at
Oxford, at Uxbridge, and at Newcastle, were in strict accordance
with these demands. In the darkest period of the war, they showed
no disposition to concede any vital principle. In the fulness of
their success, they showed no disposition to encroach beyond
these limits. In this respect we cannot but think that they
showed justice and generosity, as well as political wisdom and
courage.

The Parliament was certainly far from faultless. We fully agree
with Mr. Hallam in reprobating their treatment of Laud. For the
individual, indeed, we entertain a more unmitigated contempt
than, for any other character in our history. The fondness with
which a portion of the church regards his memory, can be compared
only to that perversity of affection which sometimes leads a