times, who have strangely dreaded the reproach of republicanism, from availing themselves of the benefit of his example. Sir Henry Vane's principles of universal toleration, and his unlimited liberality towards all religious denominations, deprived him of the sectarian support of the zealots of his own times. And as the spirit of party still unhappily prevails, and no one sect can claim Vane as a thorough partisan, he has been overlooked by them all; and a life and death, which exhibit as bright a manifestation of the power of Christian faith, as can be found in the modern history of the church, have thus been permitted to continue concealed from the view of its members.

But, in America, it cannot raise a prejudice against any name to associate it with the principles of republicanism or the spirit of toleration. It becomes us, therefore, to do justice to Sir Henry Vane. When once brought fairly and fully to the light, we shall find his name the most appropriate link to bind us to the land of our fathers. It presents, more perhaps than any that could be mentioned, in one character, those features and traits by which it is our pride to prove our lineage and descent from the British Isles.

The family of Vane was of the ancient nobility, tracing itself clearly back to the earliest dates of English history. Six generations are distinctly recorded before the battle of Poictiers in 1356,

when the honor of knighthood was conferred upon Sir Henry Vane, for his valiant behavior. After the lapse of several more generations, one of the branches of the family altered the name Vane to Fane, and gave rise to the noble house of which the Earl of Westmoreland is the present representative. The Vanes continued to figure conspicuously in the wars and in Parliament, until, in 1611, James the First knighted the father of the subject of this memoir.

Sir Henry Vane, the elder, was at that time twenty-two years of age. After finishing his travels, and completing his education in foreign languages, and the other learning of his day, he was elected to Parliament from Carlisle in 1614, and continued from that time, for more than thirty years, to exercise a controlling influence in the senate, and the cabinet. King James appointed him Cofferer to Prince Charles, an office which he continued to sustain, after the latter had ascended the throne. He was also a member of his Majesty's Privy Council. In 1631, he went to Denmark as Ambassador Extraordinary, and shortly afterwards, in the same capacity, he visited the court of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden. In both countries he concluded treaties of great importance to the commerce and power of England. He also acted a conspicuous part in military affairs. In 1633, and again in 1639, he

entertained King Charles with great splendor in his castle at Raby. In the last named year he was made Treasurer of the Household, and advanced to the highest seat in the administration, as his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State.

Such was the extraction, and such the parentage of Sir Henry Vane the younger. He was born in 1612, and was one of a very numerous family of children. Two of the brothers, Thomas and John, died young. George was knighted in 1640. Charles was distinguished as a diplomatist, in the times of the Commonwealth, particularly as Envoy to Lisbon. The eldest sister married Sir Thomas Pelham, ancestor of the noble families, which are now represented by the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Chichester, and Lord Yarborough. Another married Sir Robert Honeywood; another, Sir Thomas Liddal; and another, Sir Francis Vincent.*

It thus appears, that young Vane entered life under the most brilliant auspices. His ancestry, his father's position in the government, and the wide circle of his elevated family connexions, all seemed to assure him the easy attainment of every honor and enjoyment, which ambition could aspire to, or the love of pleasure covet.

There is nothing more inscrutable and mysterious than the causes, which determine the formation

* Biographia Britannica, art. Vane.

of character. When the whole career of Sir Henry Vane shall have been traced, and his principles, sentiments, and views fully presented, the reader will be inclined to regard with astonishment the fact, that such a history was commenced, and such a character formed, under circumstances so very unlikely to lead to them.

He was educated much in the manner then usual among youth of the principal families. At the college school at Westminster, he was under the tuition of Mr. Lambert Osbaldeston, an eminent instructer; and in the list of his fellow-pupils are to be found the names of many, who distinguished themselves in the extraordinary and memorable crisis upon which England was then just entering. If we may adopt the severe judgment he passed against himself, it may be inferred, that, in his early youth, he was more than commonly giddy, wild, addicted to pleasure, and fond of "good fellowship." But such were the elements of his character, that he could not long continue in an indolent, trifling, and thoughtless career; and, about the fifteenth year of his age, an entire change took place in his views and feelings, and thenceforth he devoted himself to those subjects and interests for which his strong and excellent mind was naturally adapted. "God was pleased," to use his own expression, "to lay the foundation or ground-work of repentance in him."

From that moment, the truths of religion, and the cause of human happiness, freedom, and virtue, became the predominating objects of his regard and pursuit; and seldom have they had a purer, a more sincere, an abler, or a more faithful advocate and champion.

At sixteen years of age, he became a gentlemancommoner of Magdalen College in Oxford. The direction towards theological studies and religious meditations, given to his mind some time before, had already so far alienated him from the form of worship and doctrine established by law, that when the period of his matriculation arrived, he quitted his gown, declined to take the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and thus forfeited his membership at the University. Leaving Oxford, he passed over to the Continent, visited Holland and France, and spent some time in Geneva.

It is not to be doubted, that while on the Continent, particularly during his residence in the celebrated theological city just named, his taste for doctrinal speculations and spiritual exercises was increased, his disapprobation of the ecclesiastical condition of his own country heightened, and his original religious impressions so confirmed, that they became the controlling principles of his whole future life.

The views and feelings of such a man as Vane, rendered interesting by his talents, learning, vir