New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-29

labored at the time under kind Of infatuation.
He was trying TO maintain perfect military
integrity and sinaleness of purpose in his dealings
with men who had already made it plain that they
cared nothing even for their own pledged word
when their interests suggested its reputation.
They had openly violatedt the provisions of their
own commission in this instance, and were charge
able with long list of crooked, unfrendly ana
treacherous actions toward their general. Yet IL
was very hard task to persuade honest George
of the truth, and his friends had to set 1t forth
with the utmost force and plainness before ne
could be brought 10 realize the critical position
into which he had fallen from too creduious
acceptance of the assurances given by sly ana
INSCRIPTIONS politicians and dictionaries. Even
then he believed that it was possible TO restore
and maintain a commonwealth. and almost to the
last he set his face against restoration oil the
monarchy evidently believing that such a step
would be productive of another civil war. "heh
he restored the secluded members 10 their seats
in the House he warned them against any enor's
TO bring back the Stuarts, and there is no grouno
for questioning his sincerity either then or later
In estimating the purposes OF a man VINO kepO
his own counsel so resolutely all through his lie
it is perhaps impossible to apportion exactly the
influences which finally led Monk TO restore the
monarchy. Mr.. Corbett appears to hold that the
concentrations Of the Portuguese Ambassador
who showed him the imminent danger OF Chariees
seizure by SPAIN and held out the prospect Oh
English control of the Mediterranean and Eas1
India trade in the event of restoration were tue
considerations which determined him. lie hau'
however by this time become convinced llho one
existing situation was Noticeable; that either ne
himself must accept or take the Protectoraoe' Vi
the country would speedily be embroiled ane"
through the intrigues of the Royansls, alAnc
pendents and Presbyterians; and he was resoi'eu
not TO take upon himself the responsibilities Vi
the future. More than this, his progress 70
London must have shown him that the hauon
WAS no longer deeply hostile to the MONARCHY
that il had grown weary of the disturbed conui
lions which had followed the wlthura"al VI
CromwelTs firm guidance; and that to leave the
Government to bigots and fanatics Wouiu eli-
danger the public peace more than all eiso' Do
many things coalesced to move HIM from MS ol'
position. and when after long hesltaton' he niaue
IN his mind in favor of restoration he acted WIN
the swift and thoroughgoing deterh'h"''0n
which belonged TO his military charac'er'
That there was time when ne mighV nave
! crowned himself and this with the general con-
sent of the nation, is unquestonaole; nut ne was
nnt ambitions. and could he have surrendered the
have done so cheerfuly. Circumstances ana MS
own prudence in refusing close alliances WIN any
marty had co-operated with the folly OF the hump
Parliament in making him dictator; nut ne
ALWAYS stood upon authority, and between uhis
anomalous state of things and the restoration OF
the monarchy the choice must have appeared 10
him obvious when once the situation had peeh
clearly defined. Charles the Second kept his worn
10 Monk. if to no one else, and TO the END OF MS
life the latter, as Duke of Abemarle was the chei
adviser and helper of the Government. "r. Cor
bett gives. almost for the first time, somewhaV
ful account of Monks services 10 the country aiter
the Restoration and the recital abundanty sus-
as1s the high estimate this writer places upon the
old soldiers sagacity. integrity and PATRIOTISM
Beth friends and foes ever regarded MN as III
corruptibe What he held to be his duty or the
duty of his place." as he WAS used to phrase IT,
that he did unninchingly and fully. When IL
became question of the highest interests oil MS
country. however, he showed bis ability TO rise 10
the OCCASION Mr. Corbett has written an eN-
tremely interesting spirited and clear account ol
a remarkable man, and his monograph is one OF
the best that has appeared in the series OF Eng
lish Men of Action