He was fond of his dignity, while he was perpetually degrading
it by undue familiarity; capable of much public labour, yet often
neglecting it for the meanest amusement; a wit, though a pedant; and a
scholar, though fond of the conversation of the ignorant and
uneducated. Even his timidity of temper was not uniform; and there
were moments of his life, and those critical, in which he showed the
spirit of his ancestors. He was laborious in trifles, and a trifler
where serious labour was required; devout in his sentiments, and yet
too often profane in his language; just and beneficent by nature, he
yet gave way to the iniquities and oppression of others. He was
penurious respecting money which he had to give from his own hand, yet
inconsiderately and unboundedly profuse of that which he did not see.
In a word, those good qualities which displayed themselves in
particular cases and occasions, were not of a nature sufficiently firm
and comprehensive to regulate his general conduct; and, showing
themselves as they occasionally did, only entitled James to the
character bestowed on him by Sully--that he was the wisest fool in
Christendom.
That the fortunes of this monarch might be as little of apiece as his
character, he, certainly the least able of the Stewarts, succeeded
peaceably to that kingdom, against the power of which his predecessors
had, with so much difficulty, defended his native throne; and, lastly,
although his reign appeared calculated to ensure to Great Britain that
lasting tranquillity and internal peace which so much suited the
king's disposition, yet, during that very reign, were sown those seeds
of dissension, which, like the teeth of the fabulous dragon, had their
harvest in a bloody and universal civil war.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135