from the summit of the highest tower in his besieged capital.  A brilliant victory crowned the efforts of the Dutch admiral, dearly bought by the death of his second in command, the brave De Witt, and Peter Florizon, another admiral of note.  Relief was poured into Copenhagen.  Opdam was replaced in the command, too arduous for his infirmities, by the still more celebrated De Ruyter, who was greatly distinguished by his valor in several successive affairs:  and after some months more of useless obstinacy, the king of Sweden, seeing his army perish in the island of Funen, by a combined attack of those of Holland and Denmark, consented to a peace highly favorable to the latter power.

These transactions placed the United Provinces on a still higher pinnacle of glory than they had ever reached.  Intestine disputes were suddenly calmed.  The Algerines and other pirates were swept from the seas by a succession of small but vigorous expeditions.  The mediation of the States re-established peace in several of the petty states of Germany.  England and France were both held in check, if not preserved in friendship, by the dread of their recovered power.  Trade and finance were reorganized.  Everything seemed to promise a long-continued peace and growing greatness, much of which was owing to the talents and persevering energy of De Witt; and, to complete the good work of European tranquillity, the French and Spanish monarchs concluded in this year the treaty known by the name of the “peace of the Pyrenees.”

Cromwell had now closed his career, and Charles II. was restored to the throne from which he had so long been excluded.  The complimentary entertainments rendered to the restored king in Holland were on the proudest scale of expense.  He left the country which had given him refuge in misfortune, and done him honor in his prosperity, with profuse expressions of regard and gratitude.  Scarcely was he established in his recovered kingdom, when a still greater testimony of deference to his wishes was paid, by the states-general formally annulling the act of exclusion against the House of Orange.  A variety of motives, however, acting on the easy and plastic mind of the monarch, soon effaced whatever of gratitude he had at first conceived.  He readily entered into the views of the English nation, which was irritated by the great commercial superiority of Holland, and a jealousy excited by its close connection with France at this period.

It was not till the 22d of February, 1665, that war was formally declared against the Dutch; but many previous acts of hostility had taken place in expeditions against their settlements on the coast of Africa and in America, which were retaliated by De Ruyter with vigor and success.  The Dutch used every possible means of avoiding the last extremities.  De Witt employed all the powers of his great capacity to avert the evil of war; but nothing could finally prevent it, and the sea was once more to witness the conflict