Watchman And Observer

NEW LIGHT ON CROMWELL

The December number of Frazer's Magazine contains thirty-five unpublished letters of Oliver Cromwell, communicated by Thomas Carlyle. Copies of these letters came to Mr. Carlyle through an unknown correspondent, who after having copied them, committed the original to the flames, together with a manuscript Journal kept by a subaltern in the Ironsides regiment, and other documents relating to Cromwell. Under these circumstances, Mr. Carlyle admits that one might almost feel inclined to doubt the authenticity of these letters, but from the internal evidence of their genuineness he expressed himself as perfectly satisfied that they are really and truly what they profess to be. The motive of his correspondent for burning the documents was an "amiable fear" that the old animosity might be revived among the descendants of Roundheads and Royalists by giving them to the world. Light is thrown upon several obscure points in Cromwell's history by these letters; and they present new instances of his 'endless activity, audacity, rapidity; strict general integrity too, nay, Rhadamanthine justice, and traits of implacable severity connected therewith.'