The policy of Colbert was the strength of France.

But in their foreign successes, and their internal prosperity, the people saw only the greatness and wisdom of Lewis." In the second chapter of the History much of this is compressed into the sentence: "He had shown, in an eminent degree, two talents invaluable to a prince,--the talent of choosing his servants well, and the talent of appropriating to himself the chief part of the credit of their acts." In a passage that occurs towards the close of the essay may be traced something more than an outline of the peroration in which, a quarter of a century later on, he summed up the character and results of the Revolution of 1688.
"To have been a sovereign, yet the champion of liberty; a revolutionary leader, yet the supporter of social order, is the peculiar glory of William.

He knew where to pause.

He outraged no national prejudice.

He abolished no ancient form.