Owing to the semi-independent position of the

States of the American Union the term commonwealth is of frequent application to the various members of the Union, Ma achusetts being officially known as the ‘‘ Commonwealth of Ma achusetts.” The new Australian Federation is known as the ‘“* Commonwealth of Australia.” The word is-also applied to the period in the history of England during which the Parliamentary army and the Protector Oliver Cromwell exercised the power of government. Everybody's Cyclopedia (Vol. 1) — F **F**