Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-04
OLIVER CROMWELL AND NAPOLEON
Continued

CONTINUED.
Furious impotence of any sort of disobe-
diencs, and an implacable adherence OF
those who der;ded their measures, were
conspicuous characteristics Of both these
men. To the face oil the commissioners OF
parliament, Cromwell caused the king to
be arrested in the Isle Of Wight. He sud-
denly surrounded the house Of commons
with his guards in November, l748 en-
tered it, and arrested forty members ::
an universal ouicry was raised against this
unprecedented outrage-but he not only
remained ohstinately regardless oithe pub
lie voice, but grew more furious upon it,
On an another occasion, he contented HIM
self with writing short note to the speak
er, in these words: dissolve the parlia-
ment IN my name, for the good OF the COM
monweath requires that it should inme-
diately separate" When the commons at
tempted to deprive him of the diploma OF
Protector, he himself threw il down upon
the table: "wha, man amongst you all (he
exclaimed) has the heart to take il away
from there ?"-and in the ebullition OF his
rage, he at the same time dashed his watch
against the floor, and cried aloud, "thus
will break you" He thought fit to rid
himself Of the upper house, and thence the
generous Fairfax resigned his dignities,
and, resolving TO interfere no longer in the
government, retired to bis seat in the neigh
borhood OF London. Cromwell then APP
pointed council Of state, consisting OF Tor
ty mnnbers, and composed of bis relations
and creatures, which was obliged to obey
him. Of proposals fpeace from tha Dutch,
be absolutely refused TO hear in any other
place than London there they must come
and sue for it. He precipitated the fall OF
lord STAFFORD, because he perceived that
that nobleman saw through his designs and
he brought the virtuous Archbishop OF Can
terbury to the scafold, because he hated
him. Montrose, the bravest and best, as
well as the most beloved, l might say ado.
red, of the British nobility, was outlawed
by Cromwell, and, when taken, fell vic.
tim TO his Unsuitable mal:gnity, although
soyereigns interceded in his behalf; for
Cromwell felt that, il not his superior in
talents, he was infinitely his superior in vir-
tue and character. He ordered two men TO
be executed at Colchester because one ct
his iavorites hated them. The earl Of Dan.
by, and above thirty noblemen and aagis-
trates were beheaded on account Of their
loyalty to their sovereign. The duke OF
Buckingham was sent TO the tower and per-
secuted, because he refused TO marry the
usurper's daughter. And such was the san.
culinary cruelty Of his heart, that he ccolly
beheld iron, his window, with his arms re-
posing on silk cushions, the execution of
lord Holland, and even the execution OF the
king. With the most infeyible malignity,
he prosecuted the unfortunate survivors OF
the house OF Stuart, and expressly declared
that no alliance with himself could take
place, whilst they were protected and shell
tered.
Oliver, not less than Napoleon, felt dis
position TO rob foreign countries, whenever
he found himself the strongest, although
they had done him no injury. For instance,
he compelled The grand duke Of Tuscany
TO pay him 10000 pistoles; and Portugal
was forced TO purchase his alliance with a
donation of 200 ,oooofthe same coin. Every
one acquainted with the character OF Boz
naparte, has heard of his excessive irrita'
bility, on occasions of satirical writings
Thi, was so much the foible Of Cromwell,
that it was said by hispanegyrists, forever
he had his prasers) to be his only vulnera-
bic part. His connection with cardinal Ma.
zarin, for instance, was lampooned in a
pamphlet entitled Europe cruci6ed be-
tween two thieves" In vain Cromwell
usei his utmost endeavors to suppress such
writirgs-tLey increased daily, and dePri-
~ him of rest By night, and of peace by
day aud a pamphlet entitled killing no
ns4rder," filled him with continual horror
and inquietude.
Cromwellcreated a new rank Of nobii-
ty, which he called harp lords, from their
being obliged TO quarter harp with their
coats of arms. Napoleon could not refrain