ly obliged to the King of France if he would A.D. 1662. write a letter testifying the kind sense which he had of his conduct, and if he would send, at the same time, civil offers of assistance in case of any unhappy consequences; offers, which would not oblige the French king to do anything, but could not fail of producing a good effect."

The French king, in compliance with Lord Clarendon's request, wrote two letters, to the King of England and the chancellor, to that purpose. By this means Charles might have been plunged in the greatest difficulties; for, if any commotions had happened in the nation, he might have been induced to trust to these offers, and would probably have been deceived.

manner of

on.

This transaction was carried on during the The hasty interval of parliament, contrary to the opinion carrying it of the whole council,† and the inclination of the people. It was begun soon after the recess of parliament, and hurried into a conclusion before the next meeting; as if purposely to pre

A.D. 1662. vent the parliament's obstructing the sale, and annexing Dunkirk to the crown; for which a bill had been resolved on, and carried through the house of commons. Indeed, as the parliament had given the king money for supporting it, it could not properly be disposed of without Lord Ash- their consent during sitting. Lord Ashley opthe sale of posed the sale in the most strenuous manner.

ley opposed

Dunkirk,

He well knew the high importance of Dunkirk;
he had already given a proof of the estimation
in which he held it just before the Restoration;
for when Monk, to prevent Lord Ashley's dis-
covery of his designs in council, made the con-
cessions which we have before mentioned, and
declared his readiness to do anything to show
the sincerity of his intentions, the first care of
Lord Ashley was to provide a proper governor
for Dunkirk; and he procured his friend, Sir
Edward Harley, to be nominated. Immediately
after the Restoration, upon the king's telling Sir
Edward Harley, that he had no mind to part
with Dunkirk, and therefore thought proper it
should be annexed to the crown, a bill was
passed in the convention parliament for that pur-
pose.
When Sir Edward afterwards found that
it was to be sold, he could not, either by en-

ward Har

treaties or rewards, be induced to have any con- A.D. 1662. cern in the sale. Another person was there- and Sir Edfore appointed to succeed him, in order to de- ley. liver it up, and Sir Edward returned to Eng land; where, when he told the king "that the place was sold for no more than the artillery and ammunition were worth," the king expressed his surprise at it.67

cious effects of selling it.

This transaction proved, in its consequences, The perniof infinite prejudice. Spain and Holland grew jealous that King Charles would be closely attached to the interest of France, and from this crisis he became so; whilst England for a trifle, of no benefit to the public, lost a place which would have been a great security to her navigation, and which has always been a fatal rock to her trade, in every war with France.

made a free

As soon as the French king was in possession Dunkirk of Dunkirk, he made it a free port, and took all port. imaginable methods for enlarging the trade and navigation of France; and, being intent upon increasing his navy, which before was inconsider

67 Unfortunately for Sir Edward's fame, it appears from the Dalrymple Papers, that in 1678, "Harlie, ci-devant gouverneur de Dunquerque," received 300 guineas from Barillon, Louis the Fourteenth's ambassador.

A.D. 1662. able, he commanded supernumerary seamen to

Lord Clarendon loses

the good opinion of the public.

be put on board the French trading ships, and trained up at his own charge, in order to supply his men-of-war. Thus Lord Clarendon, by this hasty and unwarrantable sale, contributed as much to the greatness of France, by making her a maritime power, as Cromwell had done before, in supporting her interest against the crown of Spain.

The sale of Dunkirk justly exasperated the minds of the people, especially the trading part; and Lord Clarendon being known to be the author of it, soon lost his credit with the public and for want of this, in concurrence with other reasons, he afterwards lost his interest with the king.

CHAPTER VIII.

Obsequiousness of the Parliament.-Effects of the Uniformity Act.-Lord Ashley appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.His zeal and exertions in the execution of the duties of his new office. War declared against Holland.-[Bill for granting Indulgences to Nonconformists.]-Severe Measures against the Nonconformists.- Five-mile Act.- Policy of France. Shaftesbury's perception of character-useful to him as a Minister.-His Character of the Hon. William Hastings.-Breach with Hamburgh.-Peace with Holland.

A. D. 1662-3.

parliament.

to the

WH HEN the parliament met, on the 18th of February 1662-3, the commons proceeded in the Meeting of same steps as in the former session. With the Obsequious same obsequiousness, they received the dictates tout of the throne for the guide of their actions. Every sense of liberty was sunk in adulation; and, as if the abuse of freedom had rendered them weary of the blessing, they seemed ready to make a voluntary surrender of it. To strengthen the hands of the crown against themselves, a bill was passed, intitled, " An additional act for ordering the forces of the kingdom;" and thereby they