In the high stations which he filled, his virtues, if we will give any credit to the testimonies of his contemporaries, were as conspicuous as his talents. His renown was extended far beyond the limits of his native country. On his advance, ment to the chancellorship, M. Cronstrom, a Swede of high distinction, who had been resident in England, wrote his congratulations." This preferment and dignity, my lord," said he, "was due long since to your high merits; and I do humbly assure your excellency, it is generally believed here the interest of this and your nation will flourish under the wise conduct of such a renowned chief minister of state as you are."-Though not bred to the profession of a lawyer, none of his decrees in chancery were ever reversed; and amidst the voilence and madness of party rage, Dryden himself, in his famous political satire of Absalom and Ahitophel, could not refuse to pay a tribute of praise to the moral and judicial integrity of his character: "In Israël's court ne'er sat an Abethdin With more discerning eyes and hands more clean: Farther, Mr. Hume is pleased to inform us, "that lord Shaftesbury was reckoned a deist;" although incontrovertible evidence remains, that this nobleman was a firm believer in Christianity acccording to the most rational system of protestantism; for which he even declared, in a very memorable debate in the house of lords on the non-resistance bill (1675), his readiness to sacrifice his life. And upon this occasion king Charles, who was himself, according to his frequent practice, present in the house, declared "that Shaftesbury knew more law than all his judges and more divinity than all his bishops." It would extend this digressive dissertation too far, to trace the misrepresentations of Mr. Hume relative to the conduct of lord Shaftesbury subsequent to his resignation of office, and public junction with the opposition, of which he was immediately acknowledged as the head. It must suffice to say, that the historian exhibits a character incongruous, incredible, impossible" a character from no one vice exempt,' yet an object of the highest affection and veneration-not the veneration of the mass of the people merely, but of the best and wisest men of the age and country in which he lived-an Essex, a Holles, a Russel, and a Sydney. And to the inju rious reproaches of Mr. Hume may with infinitely preponderating advantage be opposed the discriminating applause of the celebrated LOCKE, founded on long and intimate knowledge; who says of this nobleman, "that in all the variety of changes of the last age he was never known to be either bought or frighted out of his public principles." And M. le Clerc tells us, "that, to the end of his life, Mr. Locke recollected with the greatest pleasure the delight which he had found in the conversation of lord Shaftesbury; and when he spoke of his good qualities, it was not only with esteem, but with admiration*." When at length reduced to the necessity of taking refuge in Holland, he was received by the republic, which according to his enemies he had laboured to subvert, with unusual honors. On his arrival at Amsterdam, he was visited by several of the states and persons of distinction, one of whom smiling remarked, "Mi-lord, nondum est deleta Carthago." They told him they were sensible his sufferings were for the protestant cause, that he had been their real friend, and that he had no enemies but who were theirs likewise. They assured him of their constant protection, and ordered his portrait to be hung up in their public room. On his death, which hap pened shortly after, they put themselves in mourning. Even the ship which conveyed his body to England was adorned with streamers and scutcheons, and the whole apparatus was, by an express decree of the states, exempted from the payment of tolls, fees, and customs*. On the subsequent landing at Poole in Dorsetshire, it was met by a cavalcade of the principal gentlemen of the county, who attended the procession to his ancient seat of Winborne, where, after all his poli tical conflicts, he reposed from his labors, and received a peace. ful and honorable interment. Some of these particulars are extracted from original ma terials furnished by the late earl of Shaftesbury. The re maining information, and much more to the same effect, was within the reach of every writer possessed of competent diligence, and not disdaining the dull labor of research. But the fine pictures of Mr. Hume are too often little better than fancy pieces: and, notwithstanding many beautiful passages, there is no part of the history of that celebrated author more negligently written, or more open to animadversion, than the first fourteen years of the reign of Charles II. Bibliothèque Choisie, tome ii, HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. WILLIAM III. BOOK I. Illustrious Character of K. William. State of Political Opinions. Appointment of the New Ministry. Convention converted into a Parliament, A. D. 1689. Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy refused by eight Bishops. Cabals of the Nonjurors. Civil List settled. Bill of Rights. Bill of Indemnity. Act of Toleration. Bill of Comprehension. Proceedings of the Convocation. Affairs of Scotland. Crown of Scotland declared forfeited by King James—and conferred on K. William. Exploits of Viscount Dundee. Highlanders described. State of Europe. League of Augsburg. War declared by England against France. Generous reception of K. James by Louis XIV. Invasion of Ireland by the French. Treachery of Tyrconnel. K. James makes his Entry into Dublin. Battle of Bantry Bay. Pretended Parliament of Ireland convened by K. James. Act of Settlement repealed. Memorable Resistance of Londonderry. Unprosperous Campaign under M. Schomberg. Session of Parliament. poration Bill. Parliament dissolved. Proclamation against General Ludlow. Meeting of the New Parliament. Confict of Parties. Act of Grace. Triumph of the Tories. King embarks for Ireland. Victory of the Boyne. King Cor |