LECTURE ON CROMWELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6400, 23 May 1882, Page 6

LECTURE ON CROMWELL.

A very interesting lecture on "Cromwell's Times and-Letters "was delivered by Mr. J. L. Kinsella, last night at the meeting of the St. James' Discussion' Class. The lecturer prefaced his remarks by stating that, between the years 1540, and. 1660, two men bearing the same name, but most dissimilar in their characters and the purpose of their lives, had exerted a marked influence on the times in which .they lived. The first of these men was . Thomas Cromwell, follower of Wolsey, and after the fa?l of the. Cardinal, chief minister of Henry VIII., the second was Oliver Cromwell, Lord- Protector of the Commonwealth. Thomas Cromwell was one who "loved;not the people, but the king," and the policy of which he was the exponent was a system "-of espionage. Oliver Cromwell, .on the other hand, was one whose chief object was the welfare of the people, and the protection of their rights against the tyranny and encroachments of the Crown. It was impossible to Understand the time of Cromwell without an intimate acquaintance with that (if the period of the Tudor dynasty, as the one was inseparably connected with, and . dependent; upon the other. Mr; Carlyle, in ' his "Letters and Speeches of, Oliver , Cromwell," had thrown much light on the career of the Protector, and . had' been the means of causing people to entertain a more correct conception of his : really great character than they formerly held. , It was from Carlyle's work chiefly that he intended to quote when illustrating his remarks on Cromwell's letters. It was. not his intention to give a history of Cromwell's life, but if possible to supplement to a certain extent Carlyle's work. _Mr. Kinsella then to the descriptions left by Warwick and Clarendoi of the' Pro'te'etor's ' person, and stated that the rough and uncouth 'pictures they had 'drawn wero 'more caricatures than portraits,' arid did 'not - ; correspond with the details - given by less! prejudiced persons. ' One ;of Cromwell's first acts after being invested with power waa ; the formation of an Executive: Council to administer the affairs of the realm, and Ms solicitude for the welfare of the poor and common people was evidenced by a letter addressed to some of his officers in which he exhorts them rather to strike the larger birds than the smaller ones. The lecturer quoted from many ,df the letters and speeches of Cromwell 'illustrative of his home government, his'foreign policy, and also of his private. : character. Referring to .the Irish campaign, the lecturer remarked that, while Cromwell's policy -was'undoubtedly severe, he was no't to be held ; responsible for the cruelties perpetrated. Injtho_se days national feeling and religious prejudices-were so strong that when two ■ opposite parties came into conflict :restraint .was. almost impossible. Mr. Kinsella concluded;his lecture-with a brief reference to the death of Cromwell, and was greeted with applause on resuming his seat. The usual criticism followed, and waa of a complimentary,.-nature, but there "was considerable variety of opinion as to the character . of the great Puritan, one member asserting that; he was a "coward," "an usurper," and possessed of an " atrocious heart." Next Monday evening Mr. "VY". L.. Skeen; will read an essay on "Louis XIV., and his Influence on Europe, "and one by Mr. Jagger on "Advice to Youths."