must be made for Cromwell. If he erected little that was new, it
was because there had been no general devastation to clear a
space for him. As it was, he reformed the representative system
in a most judicious manner. He rendered the administration of
justice uniform throughout the island. We will quote a passage
from his speech to the Parliament in September 1656, which
contains, we think, simple and rude as the diction is, stronger
indications of a legislative mind, than are to be found in the
whole range of orations delivered on such occasions before or
since.

"There is one general grievance in the nation. It is the law. I
think, I may say it, I have as eminent judges in this land as
have been had, or that the nation has had for these many years.
Truly, I could be particular as to the executive part, to the
administration; but that would trouble you. But the truth of it
is, there are wicked and abominable laws that will be in your
power to alter. To hang a man for sixpence, threepence, I know
not what,--to hang for a trifle, and pardon murder, is in the
ministration of the law through the ill framing of it. I have
known in my experience abominable murders quitted; and to see men
lose their lives for petty matters! This is a thing that God will
reckon for; and I wish it may not lie upon this nation a day
longer than you have an opportunity to give a remedy; and I hope
I shall cheerfully join with you in it."

Mr. Hallam truly says that, though it is impossible to rank
Cromwell with Napoleon as a general, "yet his exploits were as
much above the level of his contemporaries, and more the effects
of an original uneducated capacity." Bonaparte was trained in the