Vane's "Exhortation to his Children.". - His Parting with his Family and Friends.· PREFACE. IN compiling the following memoir, the writer has availed himself of the usual authorities in reference to the period of which it treats. His most valuable materials, however, have been drawn from the printed works of Sir Henry Vane himself, many of which he has fortunately been able to procure. Several of his speeches, and one or two of his larger productions, cannot be found in this country, and are probably very rare in England. If they could have been obtained, the biography would, of course, have been more satisfactorily executed. As it was designed to furnish an account of the Life and Writings of Sir Henry Vane, it was necessary to present frequent and liberal extracts from his various productions. In adopting this course, the writer is strong in the belief, that he has recovered from oblivion what will be considered a valuable addition to the literature of the language; and, however inadequately he may have accomplished his purpose, of investing with the glory he deserves one of the greatest patriots and men of modern times, he is sure that, in perusing the quotations from Sir Henry's writings, the reader will be instructed, delighted, and improved by the noble sentiments, the enlightened views, and the admirable expositions of political, moral, and religious truth, which they contain. Perhaps it may be proper to say a word in respect to the substance of the memoir itself. While it claims to be an American biography, the scene is principally laid in England, and the history it embraces belongs to the annals of that country. But we claim a right of property in the glory of Sir Henry Vane, because his name is enrolled as a citizen of Massachusetts, and adorns the list of her Governors, and, still more, because his whole life was devoted to the illustration and defence of American principles, and finally sacrificed in their cause. We claim his name as our own, o the same ground that we claim that of Lafayette. And, here, I would suggest to the reader to notice, as he traces the life of Vane, the singular parallelism it presents to the life of Lafayette. They derived their origin and received their education in the highest spheres of the ancient aristocracy of their own countries. In early life their hearts were attracted and their steps turned towards |