always followed by some temporary abridgments of that very
liberty; and every such abridgment is a fertile and plausible
theme for sarcasm and invective.

Unhappily sarcasm and invective directed against William were but
too likely to find favourable audience. Each of the two great
parties had its own reasons for being dissatisfied with him; and
there were some complaints in which both parties joined. His
manners gave almost universal offence. He was in truth far better
qualified to save a nation than to adorn a court. In the highest
parts of statesmanship, he had no equal among his contemporaries.
He had formed plans not inferior in grandeur and boldness to
those of Richelieu, and had carried them into effect with a tact
and wariness worthy of Mazarin. Two countries, the seats of civil
liberty and of the Reformed Faith, had been preserved by his
wisdom and courage from extreme perils. Holland he had delivered
from foreign, and England from domestic foes. Obstacles
apparently insurmountable had been interposed between him and the
ends on which he was intent; and those obstacles his genius had
turned into stepping stones. Under his dexterous management the
hereditary enemies of his house had helped him to mount a throne;
and the persecutors of his religion had helped him to rescue his
religion from persecution. Fleets and armies, collected to
withstand him, had, without a struggle, submitted to his orders.
Factions and sects, divided by mortal antipathies, had recognised
him as their common head. Without carnage, without devastation, he
had won a victory compared with which all the victories of
Gustavus and Turenne were insignificant. In a few weeks he had
changed the relative position of all the states in Europe, and
had restored the equilibrium which the preponderance of one power