COMMONWEALTH, a term generally synonymous with commonweal, i.e., public welfare, but more particularly signifying a form of government in which the general public have a direct voice. "The Commonwealth" is used in a special sense to denote the period in English history embracing the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, between the execution of Charles I. in 1649 and the Restoration in 166o. Commonwealth is also the official designation in America of the States of Massachusetts, Pennsyl vania, Virginia and Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Australia is the title of the federation of Australian colonies carried out in 'goo. The associated self-governing communities of the Brit ish empire are also described as the British Commonwealth of Nations.