The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-29
London of the Restoration.

The lecture OF DIR. BolleS on this subject last
evening in Congress Square church began
with a description and illustration of the
great seal of England, which has always been
an object of especial sanctity and reverence
1t gave its name to high Office of State. Its
impression in wax hanging from a deed c!
charter, conferred upon the documents the
whole authority of the realm. From the days
of the Norman Conqueror this seal has been
sacred to the honor of the king. Two devices
have come down to us, the last bearing the
date 1861. and the words around the margin,
Gin the third year of freedom by Gods blessing
restored" No shock of history could ever dis
place the people. from the advanced position
which the seal of the commonwealth declares
that they have won.
Under all the vicissitudes of the civil war,
the commerce and wealth of London increased,
the city was the London merchants home,
and his house exhibited a luxury equal to a
Peers mansion. The chief magistrate OBJ
served almost as much state at Guildhall as
Westminster. Nor was the city destitute of
military means, as twenty thousand men
could be mustered under arms at sound of bell
or beat of drum. Macaulay says, "That
without the citys hospitality Charles III could
never have been restored" Such was the i'm
portance of London in the troubled politics OF
the time, that Parliament and Protector alter
nately labored to init midate or conciliate it.
The city Toasted both houses, and the officers of
the army presented Fairfax and Cromwell
with rich gifts in gold and as return Rich
mond Park and donative for the poor, was
bestowed upon the citizens. The Character
and importance of London turned the scale in
favor of the restoration, and the CITY was
honored equally with Parliament by letter
from the king. The joy and pomp which at
tended the exile's return was such as the old
streets had never before seen.
The garlandS OF welcome had hardly
withered before the citizens learned with
what difficulty kings forget how to be cruel.
| cutters flowed with blood. Lawyers, soldiers,
| clergymen who had sat in the high commits
sion were butchered at Charing Cross. The
sledges which drew them to death were
garnished with the heads of those who had
| suffered before.
The Merry Monarch as men loved to call
him was SO selfish, cynical and profigate as to
| make those who had most heartily greeted his
accession, long for the days of the military
usurper who had stood like grave stern
pillar between England and its shame.
One act of especial shame was the insult
to the body of Cromwell. He had
been buried in Westminster Abby with impos-
| ing ceremonies. The embalmed body was
| dragged from the tomb and carried to an inn,
| ION the anniversary of Charles 1. execution),
then drawn on sledge to Tyburn, and hung
| on the gibbet used for common felons. Crom-
| wells head was so perfectly embalmed that it
remained unchanged for twenty-five years, and
| being at last thrown down was secreted and
carried away by the sentry then on guard.
| Un 1874 it was said to be in the possession of
| DR.. Wilkinson in London.)
Every act OF elegance or luxury which had
been suppressed by the Commonwealth reviv-
164S ordered all play houses to be pulled down
and the actors treated as vagabonds but at the
restoration all the world flocked to see the
play. Two illustrations were here shown upon
the scene, the exterior and interior of a theater
building-the interior giving scene from the
Empress of Morocco on the stage.
But all dreams OF royalty and happiness
were rudely broken by two great calamities-
the plague and the great fire. In four years,
London, II not itself again, was fairly rebuilt,
or Evelyn been followed the new London
whould have risen from the old in a form
which would have left even the 10Th century
but little to regret. During his long life and
services, Wren had to contend against the mar
rownesS or ignorance of his superiors, who
spoiled some of his best designs to suit theiI
own prejudices or whims The lofty monu-
ment which stands but few feet from where
the hre began the Royal Exchange, Temple
Bar, St. Paul'S Cathedral, Bow Church and
st. Stephens in Walbrook, were all shown
upon the screen as few of the many which
this great architect designed. The history o.
Temple Bar from its beginning to its close was
then given and illustrated.
The most complete picture which has been
given of London at the close of Charles III. ;.
reign. will be found in the first volume O
Macaulay's history. 1t would be very easy
with map Of London before us to trace it:
typographical features
A few pictures were here shown which gave
an idea OF the western growth of the CITY,
one of the Strand in 1860, and one at the be-
ginning of Charles LIS reign.