'Be just, and fear not
Let all the ends thou aim'st at, be thy country's,
Thy GODS, and truth's; then, if thou fall'st, 0 Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr.' -SHAKSPEARE.

Public Faith.

WE are informed by Xenophon, that one of the causes both of the great corruption of manners among the Persians, and of the destruction of their empire, was the want of public faith. Of old, says he, 'the king, and those who governed under him, thought it an indispensable duty to keep their word, and inviolably to observe all treaties into which they entered; and it was by this sound policy they gained the absolute confidence both of their own subjects, and all their neighbours and allies. Even Cyrus the Younger, in whose time the Persians had greatly declined in character, made it a maxim never to commit a breach of faith on any pretence whatever.

Such sentiments as these, so noble and so worthy of persons born for government, did not last long. A false prudence, and a spurious artificial policy, soon succeeded in their place. 'Instead of honour, probity, and true merit,' says Xenophon, 'being the qualities cherished and distinguished at court, the chief offices began to be filled by persons who made the humour or caprice of their sovereign, their only rule of action; who held that falsehood and deceit, perfidiousness and perjury, if boldly put in practice, were the shortest and surest expedients of bringing about his enterprises and designs; who looked upon a scrupulous adherence in a prince to his word, and to the engagements into which he has entered, as an effect of pusillanimity, incapacity, and want of understanding; who thought, in short, that a man is unqualified for government, if he does not prefer reasons and considerations of state, to the exact observation of treaties, though concluded in ever so solemn and sacred a manner.'

'The Asiatic nations,' continues Xenophon, 'soon imitated their princes in double dealing and treachery; gave themselves up to violence, injustice, impiety; and ended by throwing off all respect for authority, either human or divine.'

'Kings, says Plutarch, very justly, 'when any revolution happens in their dominions, are apt to complain bitterly of the unfaithfulness and disloyalty of their subjects; too often forgetting that it was themselves who set the first examples of treachery, by showing no regard to justice and fidelity in their administration of the public affairs, and sacrificing them on all occasions to their own particular interests.'

Justice and Expediency.

Themistocles having conceived the design of transferring the government of Greece from the hands of the Lacedemonians, into those of the Athenians, kept his thoughts continually fixed on this great project. Being at no time very nice or scrupulous in the choice of his measures, he thought anything which could tend to the accomplishment of the end he had in view, just and lawful. In an assembly of the people one day, he accordingly intimated that he had a very important design to propose, but he could not communicate it to the people at large, because the greatest secrecy was necessary to its success; he therefore desired that they would appoint a person to whom he might explain himself on the subject. Aristides was unanimously pitched upon by the assembly, who referred themselves entirely to his opinion of the affair. Themistocles taking him aside, told him that the design he had conceived, was to burn the fleet belonging to the rest of the Grecian states which then lay in a neighbouring port, when Athens would assuredly become mistress of all Greece. Aristides returned to the assembly, and declared to them, that nothing could be more advantageous to the commonwealth, than the project of Themistocles; but that, at the same time, nothing in the world could be more unfair. Without enquiring farther, the assembly unanimously declared, that since such was the case, Themistocles should wholly abandon his project.

'I do not know,' says honest Rollin, 'whether all history can afford us a fact more worthy of admiration than this. It is not a company of philosophers, to whom it costs nothing to establish fine maxims and sublime actions of morality in the schools, who determine on this occasion, that the consideration of profit and advantage ought never to prevail in preference to what is honest and just. It is an entire people, who are highly interested in the proposal made to them, who are convinced that it is of the greatest importance to the welfare of the state, and who, however, reject it with unanimous consent, and without a moment's hesitation, and that for this only reason, that it is contrary to justice.'

Making Money of State Secrets.

When Solon undertook the arduous task of reforming the political condition of the Athenians, he resolved, among other things, to put an end to the slavery and oppression of a number of poor citizens, who, overwhelmed with debt, had sold themselves as slaves to their richer neighbours. He accordingly framed a law, declaring all debtors discharged and acquitted of their debts. When he first determined on this edict, he foresaw that to many it would be extremely offensive; and he was at great pains, therefore, to draw it up in as plausible and conciliatory terms as possible. When completed, he submitted it confidentially to some particular friends, whom he used to consult on all important occasions; and from them it met with the most decided approval. More interested, however, than faithful, these friends took care, before the law was published, to borrow large sums of money from their rich acquaintance, and to lay it out in the purchase of land, knowing that the forthcoming edict would relieve them from all necessity of payment. When the law accordingly made its appearance, and it was seen how Solon's particular friends had benefited by their privity to the measure, he was himself suspected of a corrupt connivance at their gains, and loud and general was the indignation expressed against him, though he was, in fact, perfectly innocent of all participation in the fraud. A striking example, that it is not enough for a man in office to be disinterested and upright himself; all that surround and approach him, ought to be so too; wife, relations, friends, secretaries, and servants. The faults of others are charged to his account; all the wrongs that are committed through his negligence, are imputed to him, and not unjustly, because it is his business, and one of the principal designs of his being put into such a trust, to prevent such corruptions and abuses.

Aristides.

When the government of Greece was transferred from the Spartans to the Athepians, it was deemed proper, under the new government, to lodge the common treasure in the island of Delos, to fix new regulations with regard to the public money, and to impose a tax on each city and state exactly proportioned to its population and wealth. The great difficulty was to find a person of sufficient virtue and integrity to discharge faithfully an employment so confidential, and the due administration of which so nearly concerned the public welfare.

All the confederate states cast their eyes on Aristides, and they unanimously invested him with full power to levy a tax of his own fixing on each of them, such was their confidence in his wisdom and justice. The citizens had no cause to regret their choice, for he presided over the treasury with the fidelity and disinterestedness of a man who looks upon it as a capital crime to embezzle the smallest portion of another's possessions; whose care and zeal is like that of the father of a family in the management of his own estate; and with the caution and integrity of a man who considers the public money as sacred. In short, he succeeded in what is equally difficult and extraordinary, in acquiring the love of all in an office to escape odium in which Seneca deems no slight eulogy.

While Aristides was treasurer-general of the republic he felt himself under the necessity of exposing the peculations of some of his predecessors, and these afterwards, when his own account came to be passed, raised a faction against him, accused him of having embezzled the public treasure, and prevailed so far as to have him condemned and fined. But the principal inhabitants and the most virtuous part of the citizens rising up against so unjust a sentence, not only the judgment was reversed and the fine remitted, but he was elected treasurer again for the year ensuing, Aristides then seemed to repent of his former administration, and by showing himself more tractable and indulgent towards others, he found out the secret of pleasing all that plundered the commonwealth, for, as he neither reproved them nor narrowly inspected their accounts, all these plunderers, grown fat with spoil and rapine, now extolled Aristides to the skies.

The same persons who had before moved his degradation now made interest with the people to have him continued a third year in the treasurership, but when the time of election came, and just as they were on the point of unanimously re-electing Aristides, he rose up, and thus warmly reproved the Athenians: 'What!' said he, 'when I managed your treasure with all the fidelity and diligence an honest man is capable of, I met with the most cruel treatment, and the most mortifying returns; and now that I have abandoned it to the mercy of these robbers of the republic, I am an admirable man, and the best of citizens! I cannot help declaring to you that I am more ashamed of the honour you do me this day than I was of the condemnation you passed against me this time twelve months; and with grief I find that it is more glorious with us to be complaisant to knaves than to save the treasures of the republic.' By this declaration he silenced the public plunderers, and gained the esteem of all good men.

The conduct of Aristides on particular and trying occasions was consonant with his general character. After the battle of Marathon he was the only general to take care of the spoil and the prisoners. Gold and silver were scattered about in abundance in the enemy's (the Persian) camp. All the tents, as well as galleys, that were taken were full of rich clothes and costly furniture, and treasure of all kinds, to an immense value. Here Aristides had the finest opportunity in the world to have enriched himself with almost an impossibility of being discovered. But he not only took nothing himself but prevented, to the utmost of his power, every body else from meddling with the spoil.

The strongest proof, however, of the justice and integrity of Aristides is, that notwithstanding he had possessed the highest employments in the republic, and had the absolute disposal of its treasures, yet he died so poor as not to leave money enough to defray the expenses of his funeral.

Public Duty and Private Friendship.

When Cleon came into the administration of public affairs at Athens, he assembled all his friends, and declared to them, that from that moment, he renounced their friendship, lest it should prove an obstacle to him in the discharge of his duty, and induce him to act with partiality and injustice. As Plutarch, however, very fairly observes, it was not his friends, but his passions, which he ought to have renounced. An anecdote is told of a patriot of modern times, the great Washington, which exhibits in a much finer light, the distinction between public duty and private friendship. During his administration as President of the United States, a gentleman, the friend and the companion of the general, throughout the whole course of the revolutionary war, applied for a lucrative and very responsible office. The gentleman was at all times welcome to Washington's table: he had been, to a certain degree, necessary to the domestic repose of a man, who had for seven years fought the battles of his country, and who had now undertaken the task of wielding her political energies. At all times, and in all places, Washington regarded his revolutionary associates with an eye of evident partiality and kindness. He was a jovial, pleasant, and unobtrusive companion. In applying for the office, it was accordingly in the full confidence of success; and his friends already cheered him on the prospect of his arrival at competency and ease. The opponent of this gentleman, was known to be decidedly hostile to the politics of Washington; he had even made himself conspicuous amongst the ranks of opposition. He had, however, the temerity to stand as a candidate for the office to which the friend and the favourite of Washington aspired.

He had nothing to urge in favour of his pretensions, but strong integrity, promptitude, and fidelity in business, and every quality which, if called into exercise, would render service to the state. Every one considered the application of this man hopeless; no glittering testimonial of merit had he to present to the eye of Washington; he was known to be his political enemy; he was opposed by a favourite of the general's; and yet, with such fearful odds, he dared to stand candidate. What was the result? The enemy of Washington was appointed to the office, and his table companion was left destitute and dejected. A mutual friend, who interested himself in the affair, ventured to remonstrate with the president on the injustice of his appointment. 'My friend,' said he, 'I receive with a cordial welcome; he is welcome to my house, and welcome to my heart; but, with all his good qualities, he is not a man of business. His opponent is, with all his political hostility to me, a man of business; my private feelings have nothing to do in this case. I am not George Washington, but President of the United States; as George Washington, I would do this man any kindness in my power; but as President of the United States, I can do nothing.'

Pericles.

So great was the disinclination of the great Pericles to the receiving of gifts, so utter his contempt for riches, that though he was the means of raising Athens to be the richest and most flourishing of all the Grecian states, though his power had surpassed that of many tyrants and kings, though he had long disposed in the most absolute manner of the treasures of Greece, he did not add a single drachm to the estate which he inherited from his father. In this we may discern the source, the true cause, of the supreme authority with which he ruled that fickle republic. The submission yielded to him was the just and deserved fruit of his integrity and perfect disinterestedness.

Pure as was his conduct in this respect, however, it did not escape the envenomed shafts of faction. He was audaciously charged with embezzling the public money during his administration, and a decree was procured by which he was ordained to give in immediately his accounts. Although Pericles had no real cause to fear the strictest scrutiny into his conduct, he could not but be under some apprehensions for the decision of the people, when he reflected on their great levity and inconstancy. He prepared, however, to give obedience to the decree, and but for a hint given him by Alcibiades, then a very young man, would probably have subjected himself to the risk of a popular trial. Alcibiades, calling at his house one day, was told that he could not be spoken with, because of some affairs of great consequence in which he was then engaged. The young man inquiring what these mighty affairs might be, was answered that Pericles was preparing to give in his accounts. Alcibiades, smiling, remarked that were he in Pericles' place he would not give in any accounts. The observation being repeated to the statesman, it induced him to consider seriously, and at last to adopt, the policy thus incidentally suggested to him. In order, however, to divert the public attention from the subject, he resolved to oppose no longer, as he had done, the inclination which the people had expressed for the Peloponnesian war, but giving it every possible encouragement, turned their thoughts into a new channel, and made them forget the call they had made upon him, on a suspicion, the injustice of which was ere long abundantly manifest.

The Sidonian Brothers.

When Alexander the Great deposed Strato, the King of Sidon, he bade his favourite, Hephestion, give the crown to any of the Sidonians he should deem worthy of so exalted a station. Hephestion was at this time living at the house of two-brothers, who were young, and descended from the best family in the city. To these he offered the crown, but they declined to accept it, telling him that, according to the laws of their country, no person could ascend the throne unless he were of the blood royal.

Hephestion, pleased with such disinterestedness, requested that they would name some person of the royal family who might remember when he was king, that it was they who had placed the crown on his head. The brothers had observed that several persons, through ambition, had aspired to this distinguished rank, and to obtain it had paid servile court to Alexander's favourites. Disregarding, however, all the advantages which the power of nominating to a throne gave them, they declared that they did not know any person more worthy of the diadem, than one Abdalonimus, who was descended, though remotely, from the royal line, but who at the same time was so poor, that he was obliged to get his bread by daily labour in a garden without the city; his honesty and integrity having made him disregard many advantageous offers, and reduced him to his extreme poverty.

Hephestion trusting to their choice, the two brothers went in search of Abdalonimus with the royal garments, and found him weeding his garden. They saluted him king, and one of them addressing him, said, 'You must now change your tatters for the dress I have brought you. Put off the mean and contemptible habit in which you have grown old. Assume the garments of a prince; but when you are seated on the throne, continue to preserve the virtue which made you worthy of it. And when you shall have ascended it, and by that means become the supreme dispenser of life and death over all your citizens, be sure never to forget the condition in which, or rather for which, you were elected.'

Abdalonimus looked upon the whole as a dream, and, unable to guess the meaning of it, asked if they were not ashamed to ridicule him in that manner? But, as he made a greater resistance than suited their inclinations, they themselves washed him, and threw over his shoulders a purple robe, richly embroidered with gold; then, after repeated oaths of their being in earnest, they conducted him to the palace. The news of this was immediately spread over the whole city. Most of the inhabitants were overjoyed at it, but some murmured, especially the rich, who despising Abdalonimus's former abject state, could not forbear showing their resentment in the king's court. Alexander commanded the newly-elected prince to be sent for; and after surveying him attentively a long while, spoke thus: 'Thy air and mien do not contradict what is related of thy extraction; but I should be glad to know with what frame of mind thou didst bear thy poverty?' 'Would to the gods,' replied he, 'that I may bear this crown with equal patience. These hands have procured me all I desired; and whilst I possessed nothing, I wanted nothing.' This answer gave Alexander a high idea of Abdalonimus's virtue; so that he presented him not only with all the rich furniture which had belonged to Strato, and part of the Persian plunder, but likewise annexed one of the neighbouring provinces to his dominions.

Brutus and Cassius.

The inhabitants of Sardis having accused Lucius Pella of embezzling the public money, Brutus finding the charge proved, branded him with infamy, notwithstanding he had been formerly censor, and frequently employed by Brutus himself in offices of trust. The severity of this sentence offended Cassius, who, but a few days before, had absolved in public two of his own friends who had been guilty of the same offence, continuing them in their offices, and merely reprimanding them in private.

Cassius complained to Brutus, and in a friendly manner accused him of too much rigour and severity. Brutus, in answer, reminded him of the Ides of March, when they had put to death Caesar, who neither vexed nor oppressed mankind, but who was only the support of those who did. 'If' said this noble Roman, 'justice could be neglected under any colour of pretence, it had been better to suffer the injustice of Caesars friends, than to give impunity to our own; for then we could only have been accused of cowardice; whereas now, if we connive at the injustice of others, we make ourselves liable to the same accusation, and share with them in the guilt.'

Roman Equity.

M. Popilius Laenas, the Roman consul, being sent against the Stelliates, a people in Liguria, bordering on the river Tanarus, killed and took so many of them prisoners, that finding the forces of their nation reduced to ten thousand men, they submitted to the consul without stipulating for any terms. Popilius took away their arms, dismantled their cities, reduced them all to slavery, and sold them and their goods to the highest bidder. Such, however, was the equity of the Roman senate, that they resented this severe and cruel proceeding, and passed a decree, commanding Popilius to restore the money he had received for the sale of the Stelliates, to set them at liberty, to return them their effects, and even to purchase new arms for them. The senate concluded their decree with words which posterity ought never to forget; 'Victory is glorious, when it is confined to the subduing of an untractable enemy; but it becomes shameful when it is made use of to oppress the unfortunate.'

Gelon.

On the return of Gelon, general of the Syracusans, from a successful campaign against the Carthaginians, he convened an assembly of the people of Syracuse, and ordered them to come armed to it. When the assembly were met, the only person present without arms was the general himself. Having claimed their attention, he proceeded to explain every step of his conduct during the campaign, specified minutely the cases to which he had applied the several sums intrusted to him, and concluded with declaring that if they had any complaints to make against him, his person and life were at their disposal. The Syracusans, struck with so unexpected a proceeding, and still more with the censorial confidence he reposed in them, answered by acclamations of joy, praise, and gratitude; they immediately, with one consent, invested Gelon with the title and authority of king; and to preserve to the latest posterity the memory of that patriotic and upright conduct which had raised him to the supreme dignity, they erected a statue in honour of him, in which he was represented in the ordinary habit of a citizen, ungirded and unarmed.

Gelon fully justified the wisdom of the choice which the Syracusans had made of him. By his great equity and moderation, he obtained the title of Father of his People, and Patron of Liberty. The whole of royalty that he assumed, was the toils and cares of it; and he was one of the very few whom the sovereign power made the better man. He was more particularly famous for his inviolable sincerity, truth, and fidelity to his engagements. Having once occasion for money to carry on an expedition he meditated, he did not resort to such taxes and imposts, as might easily have been raised in a country so rich; for finding the Syracusans unwilling to incur the expense, he told them that he asked nothing but a loan, and that he would engage to repay it as soon as the war should be over. The money was advanced, and Gelon punctually repaid it at the time he had promised.

A very singular fate befel the statue raised by the Syracusans, in honour of this excellent prince; but it was happily such as was in every respect worthy of the motives which occasioned its erection. Above a hundred and thirty years after, when the Syracusans had sunk into slavery, and were emancipated from it by the exertions of Timoleon, their deliverer thought it advisable, in order to erase from Syracuse all traces of tyrannical government, and at the same time to aid the public treasury, to bring to public sale, the statues of their former kings and princes. He first, however, brought them to a trial, as so many living personages; and heard evidence as to their respective merits. They were all condemned unanimously, that of Gelon alone excepted, which found an eloquent advocate and defender in the warm gratitude which the Syracusans, even at that distant period, entertained for their first king, whose virtue they revered as if he had been still above.

Erchenbaldus.

Count Erchenbaldus de Burban, who lived at the commencement of the sixteenth century, has been compared to Lucius Junius Brutus, for his inflexible integrity and love of justice. When he was lingering in the last stage of a fatal disease, and confined to his bed, information was brought to him, that one of his edicts, disobedience to which was a capital offence, had been transgressed by his nephew. The vigour of the count was suddenly roused; and sacrificing the natural ties of consanguinity to his determined love of justice, he directed that the young man should instantly be punished with the death prescribed by law. Those who received the order, pitying the youth of the offender, and imagining that Erchenbaldus had but a few days to live, neglected this command, and merely recommended to the young man to keep himself carefully concealed from the sight of his uncle; in the mean time, they made their regular official report, and recorded the execution of the sentence. Five days had scarcely elapsed, when the nephew, imagining his uncle's anger to have subsided, ventured from his place of retirement, and somewhat unadvisedly seated himself at the count's bedside. His appearance was sufficient to discover the imposition that had been practised; but the sick man showing no immediate displeasure, made a motion to his nephew to approach him, and quietly stretched forth his arms as if to embrace him; when he found him near enough, he raised himself, and putting one arm round his neck, seized a knife with the other, which he pitilessly plunged into his breast, and thus became, in his last moments, the terrible executioner of his own sentence and condemnation on another.

Upright Bishop.

When Siguard Magnusen, King of Norway, resolved without any cause to divorce his queen, and marry another woman; Bishop Magnus being informed of the day fixed for the ceremony, went to the royal palace, and demanded an audience. Sigurd suspected the bishop's business, and therefore received him with a drawn sword, in order to intimidate him: but Magnus was void of fear, and boldly represented to his majesty that he was acting in defiance of God, and in a manner that was derogatory to his own honour. He used all his eloquence, and that authority to which the bishops in those times thought themselves entitled, to induce the king to desist from so base a purpose. While he spoke, he stretched forth his head, as if to intimate that even the fear of death could not appal him in the discharge of his duty. Sigurd, who was very impetuous, was highly exasperated to find his will thus stubbornly disputed, yet he could not prevail on himself to injure the good bishop, of whose loyalty and integrity he was fully convinced. He, therefore, remained silent, but expressed his indignation in his countenance. The friends of Magnus trembled for him. 'I have no fear, my friends,' said the bishop, 'but were I to die for what I have done, I should meet my fate cheerfully. I have merely fulfilled my duty, by endeavouring to prevent an evil example.' The zeal of Magnus produced this effect, that the king felt ashamed of accomplishing his object in his own palace, and ordered the ceremony to take place where he could find a more complaisant bishop.

Lord Shaftesbury.

Mr. Denzil Hollis, afterwards Lord Hollis, was one of the commissioners employed by the parliament in the treaty of Uxbridge, while at the same time he carried on a private correspondence with the king. This fact was not long a secret, and when it transpired, Mr. Hollis was attacked in parliament by a party opposed to him; and nothing was wanted to ruin him, but a witness, whose testimony might give credit to the accusation. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper (afterwards Lord Shaftesbury), was thought a fit man for the purpose, as he was not only acquainted with the circumstance, but they thought he would gladly embrace such a fair, and unsought for, opportunity, of ruining Mr. Hollis, who had been his enemy, on account of a family quarrel, which he had carried so far, as by power in the House, to hinder Sir Anthony from sitting in Parliament, though fairly elected.

On this presumption, Sir Anthony Cooper was summoned to the House, and being called in, was asked, whether, when he was at Oxford, he knew or had heard of Mr. Hollis's secret correspondence with the king, pending the treaty, of Uxbridge? Sir Anthony replied, that to this question he could make no answer; for, although what he had to say, would be to the exculpating of Mr. Hollis, yet whatever answer he made, would be considered as an acknowledgment that if he had known anything to the disadvantage of Mr. Hollis, he would have taken that dishonourable way of doing him an injury, and wreaking his revenge on a man that was known to be his enemy.

Sir Anthony was much pressed to give evidence against Mr. Hollis, and even threats were resorted to of sending him to the Tower, if he refused to state what he knew of the business. He still, however, persisted in remaining obstinately silent, and was ordered to withdraw. Those who had reckoned upon his subserviency, being greatly disappointed, and displeased, moved warmly for his commitment. Sir Anthony waited in the lobby unmoved, and though several of his friends coming out, endeavoured to persuade him to satisfy the House, he kept firm to his resolution. Nor did this honourable conduct go without its reward, for even among the great men of the party that opposed Mr. Hollis, there were so many who applauded his generosity, and showed that the act so much more deserved the commendation, than the censure, of that assembly, that the more angry members were ashamed to persist in the motion, and so dropped the debate. Some days after, Mr. Hollis came to Sir Anthony Cooper's house, and in terms of great acknowledgment and esteem, expressed his thanks for his late behaviour in the house, with respect to him. Sir Anthony replied, 'That he pretended not thereby to merit anything of him, or to lay any obligation on him; that what he had done, was not out of any consideration of him, but what was due to himself, and what he should equally have done, had any other man been concerned in it; and, therefore, he was perfectly as much at liberty as before to consider him as a friend or an enemy, just as he pleased.' Mr. Hollis, however, was so persuaded of the honour and integrity of Sir Anthony, that he begged they might, for the future, drop all animosities, and live in terms of friendship; to which, Sir Anthony most readily assented.

John Locke.

Mr. Locke was not less eminent for his incorruptible integrity than for his talents. King William pressed him to go as ambassador to one of the principal courts in Europe; but this he declined, on account of the bad state of his health. He then made him one of the lords commissioners of trade, a post which he enjoyed for many years. At length, when his health rendered a residence in the country necessary, and he could not pass the summer in London, without endangering his health, he resigned his commission to the king, disdaining to hold an employment of that importance when no longer able to discharge its efficient duties. The king entreated him to continue in office, telling him that a few weeks' attendance in town would be sufficient; but he persisted in not retaining it as a sinecure.

Mr. Locke was afterwards reproached for not having made interest for some of his friends to succeed to the office, or at least to inform them of his intended resignation of it.

'I know,' said he, in answer to one of his relations who reproached him on this subject. 'I know what you tell me very well, but that was the very reason why I would not communicate my intention to any one. I received my commission generously from the king himself, and to him I resolved to restore it, that he might have the pleasure of bestowing it on some man worthy of his bounty.'

Pedro the First.

Pedro the First, the eighth king of Portugal, distinguished his reign by a steady and impartial administration of justice, and by this conduct rendered both himself and his people happy.

An ecclesiastic, in a fit of passion, had killed a mason in his employment, for not executing some piece of work agreeable to his mind. The king dissembled his knowledge of the crime, and left it to the proper courts to take cognizance of the matter. The sentence passed on the priest was, that he should be suspended from saying mass during a year. At this slight punishment the family of the deceased were naturally highly offended.

The king caused it to be hinted to the son of the mason that he should kill the priest. He accordingly did so, and, falling into the hands of justice, was condemned to death. On this sentence being reported to the king, his majesty asked, what was the young man's trade?' The answer was, that he followed his father's. 'Then,' said the king, 'I shall commute this punishment, by restraining him from meddling with stone and mortar for one twelvemonth.'

After this affair he punished capital crimes in the clergy with death; and when they desired that his majesty would be pleased to refer causes to a higher tribunal, he calmly replied, 'This is what I mean to do, for I send them to the highest of all tribunals, to that of their Maker and mine.'

Repentance and Restitution.

In 1776, two gentlemen returning to Dublin were accosted by a genteel man, who in dress had the appearance of a clergyman, and who begged they would step with him into an adjacent public-house, as he had something of moment to communicate. They agreed, and the stranger then asked one of the gentlemen if 'he had ever possessed a gold watch, and if he recollected the name and number?' The gentleman replied that he certainly once had a watch, of which, twenty two years ago, he was robbed by five men, who also took twenty five guineas from him. The stranger produced the watch, which proved to be the same the gentleman had been robbed of, and gave it him with twenty five guineas. The gentleman then asked how he had come by these articles, as he felt assured he was only the agent in the business. The stranger desired to be excused answering that question, but said that two of the men who had robbed him were dead, the other three were in opulent circumstances. 'Happy,' said he, 'are they, who having in youth despoiled their neighbour unjustly of his property, make restitution in their riper years. This shows their principles are not entirely vitiated, and that their repentance is sincere; but thrice happy are they who need no such repentance.'

Honesty in Humble Life.

At a fair in the town of Keith, in the north of Scotland, in the year 1767, a merchant having lost his pocket-book, which contained about £100 sterling, advertised it next day, offering a reward of £20 to the finder. It was immediately brought to him by a countryman, who desired him to examine it; the owner finding it in the same state as when he lost it, paid down the reward; but the man declined accepting it, alleging that it was too much; he then offered him £15, then £io, then £5, all of which he successively refused. Being at last desired to make his own demand, he asked only five shillings to drink his health, which was most thankfully given him.

An instance of conduct extremely similar occurred at Plymouth, at the end of the late war. A British seaman, who returned from France, received £65 for his pay. In proceeding to the tap-house in Plymouth Dockyard, with his money enclosed in a bundle, he dropped it, without immediately discovering his loss. When he missed it, he sallied forth in search of it; after some inquiries, he fortunately met J. Prout, a labourer in the yard, who had found the bundle, and gladly returned it. Jack, no less generous than the other was honest, instantly proposed to Prout to accept half, then £2o, both of which he magnanimously refused. Ten pounds, next five, were tendered, but with a similar result. At length jack determined that his benefactor should have some token of his gratitude, forced a £2 note into Prout's pocket.

Traits of character like these would reflect honour on any class of society.

Honourable Debtors.

Dr. Franklin relates the following anecdote of Mr. Denham, an American merchant, with whom he once came a passenger to this country:- 'He had formerly,' he says, 'been in business in Bristol; had failed, in debt to a number of people, compounded, and went to America; there, by a close application to business as a merchant, he acquired a plentiful fortune in a few years. Returning to England in the ship with me, he invited his old creditors to an entertainment, at which he thanked them for the easy compensation they had favoured him with; and when they expected nothing but the treat, every man, at the first remove, found under his plate an order on a banker for the full amount of the unpaid remainder, with interest.'

In 1785, Mr. Hutchinson, a cattle-dealer, of Ayrshire, who had compounded with his creditors seven years before, summoned them all to meet him at Ayr. Not one of these had the slightest idea for what purpose they were. called together, until, a short time before they sat down to an excellent dinner which he had provided, he produced all their accounts, with the interest exactly calculated, and paid them to the utmost farthing. The creditors, out of gratitude, and in order that his family might possess a memorial of his integrity, presented him with an elegant piece of plate, bearing the following inscription:

To William Hutchinson, Drover, in Lanehead, Ayrshire.

'This cup is presented by his late creditors, as a small testimony of the high sense they entertain of his upright and honourable conduct to them, who having, from a full conviction of his great losses by trade, accepted a composition, in 1778, of ten shillings in the pound sterling, were, unexpectedly, called together at Ayr, the 2nd of February, 1785, and after receiving a handsome entertaiment, Mr. Hutchinson paid the full amount of their respective debts, with the whole interest due thereon, amounting, at that date, to £16oo.'

A third instance of the like honourable conduct was furnished by a Mr. Turner, a horse dealer at Maldon. Having sustained a succession of losses, he was compelled to call a meeting of his creditors, who, knowing his honesty, accepted of such terms as he could give them, and gave him a full discharge from all his debts. Some time afterwards he purchased two-sixteenths of a lottery ticket, one of which was drawn a prize of twenty thousand pounds, and entitled him to £125o. He no sooner received this sum than he invited his creditors to dine with him, and paid every farthing of their original demands upon him.

Turkish Probity

A French merchant, whose house was destroyed by a fire at Constantinople, having with great difficulty packed up some valuables in a trunk, and being obliged to look for his wife and children, on quitting the house, he put his trunk into the hands of the first person he met who happened to be a Turkish porter. He lost sight of the man in the confusion, and gave up all idea of recovering his property. Some months after, a Turk met him in the street, and told him that he had the trunk in his possession, with which the merchant had entrusted him on the night of the fire, and that he had long sought him in order to restore it. The trunk was then returned, without a single article being missing.

James II. and the University of Oxford.

At the death of the President of Magdalen College, Dr. Clarke, the society, who possess the right of electing their own head, were about to choose a successor, when they were commanded by the king to elect Anthony Farmer, a man who had promised to declare himself a Papist, and who was known to be of bad principles. The society, in the most respectful manner, entreated that his majesty would either allow them to proceed in their own election, or that he would, at least, nominate a more suitable person. To this entreaty no answer was returned; and when the day of election arrived, the Fellows made choice of Dr. Hough, a sincere Protestant, and a man every way qualified for the important office. Enraged at this instance of disobedience, James immediately sent down a mandate for setting aside Dr. Hough, and electing, not the person originally proposed, but Dr. Parker, one of the creatures of the court, and recently elevated to the see of Oxford. The Fellows refused to proceed to a second election, as the place of President was already legally filled up, and as the Bishop of Oxford could not be chosen without a violation of the statutes of the college. Dr. Hough himself thus boldly addressed the commissioners: 'My lords, you say your commission gives you authority to change and alter statutes, and to make new ones as you think fit; now, my lords, we have taken an oath, not only to observe our statutes (laying his hand upon the book of the statutes of the college), but to admit of no new ones, or alterations in these. This must be my behaviour here; I must admit of no alteration of them, and by the grace of God, I never will.' The king was so incensed at this fresh contempt of his orders, that he came to Oxford in person, and having commanded the Fellows of Magdalen College to attend him at Christ Church, he asked Dr. Pudsey, the senior of the Fellows that appeared before him, 'whether they did receive his letter?' They answered, 'they did.' The king replied, 'Then you have done very uncivilly by me, and undutifully.' His reproaches and threats were, however, of no avail: he could not terrify the Fellows into submission. The king then vented his resentment in these terms: 'Get you gone. Know I am your king. I will be obeyed; and I command you to be gone. Go and admit the Bishop of Oxford as president of your college. Let them that refuse it look to it; they shall feel the weight of their sovereign's displeasure!' The Fellows then fell on their knees, and offered their petition to the king; but the king said to them, 'Get you gone; I will receive nothing from you till you have obeyed me, and admitted the Bishop of Oxford.' On this, they immediately withdrew to their chapel, when Dr. Pudsey again inquired whether they would obey the king? They answered they were as ready to obey his majesty in all things that lay in their power as any of the rest of his subjects, but the electing the Bishop of Oxford being directly contrary to their statutes, and the positive oaths they had taken, it was not in their power to obey him in this matter. This determination of the Fellows being made known to the king, after several ineffectual attempts to unbend them to his will, he caused Dr. Hough to be deprived of his office, and expelled twenty-five of the Fellows. The Bishop of Oxford was then made President by the king, who soon after turned out most of the Demies, and Roman Catholics were put in their places. About a year after this tyrannical proceeding the king, finding that his throne trembled under him, restored the Fellows who had so boldly resisted his illegal authority, to their Fellowships. A short time afterwards he was deprived of his crown, and thus met with the common fate of all wicked princes who would enslave their people to gratify their own abominations.

An Example for Bungling Lawyers.

Chamillart, comptroller-general of the finances in the reign of Louis XIV., had been a celebrated pleader. He once lost a cause in which he was concerned through his excessive fondness for billiards. His client called on him the day after in extreme affliction, and told him that if he had made use of a document which had been put into his hands, but which he had neglected to examine, a verdict must have been given in his favour. Chamillart read it, and found it of decisive importance to his cause. 'You sued the defendant,' said he, 'for 20,000 livres. You have failed by my inadvertence. It is my duty to do you justice. Call on me in two days.' In the mean time Chamillart procured the money, and paid it to his client, on no other condition than that he would keep the transaction secret.

The Duke of Newcastle.

In a letter written by the Earl of Chesterfield, to Colonel (afterwards General) Irwin, he says, 'My old kinsman and contemporary, the Duke of Newcastle, is at length dead, and for the first time quiet.'

'He had the start of me at his birth by one year and two months, and, I think, we shall observe the same distance at our burial. I own I feel for his death, not because it will be my turn next, but because I knew him to be extremely good-natured, and his hands to be extremely clean, if that were possible; for after all the great offices which he held for fifty years, he died £300,000 poorer than when he first came into them - a very unministerial proceeding!'

Lucky Lottery Ticket.

That virtue is its own reward, is a maxim which experience has long ago confirmed; and it is equally certain that avarice often overleaps itself. A singular instance in support of both these acknowledged truths occurred towards the close of the last century in the British metropolis. A merchant, somewhat remarkable for absence of mind, had left his counting-house for the Bank, with a large sum of money, which he intended to deposit there; on reaching Lombard Street he found his pocket cut, and his pocket-book missing. He immediately suspected that his pocket had been picked of all his money, and returning home, mentioned the circumstance to his clerk. What, however, was his astonishment in finding that he had left the money behind, and that though his pocket-book had been taken from him, yet it contained nothing but a few papers of little consequence.

Pleased with the integrity of his clerk, who gave him the money he thought he had lost, he promised him a handsome present; but neglecting to fulfil his promise, was reminded of it. Unwilling to part with money, he gave the clerk one of two lottery tickets he had purchased. The young man would have preferred money, as he had parents far advanced in years, who depended upon him for support; he, however, was contented, and, as it afterwards proved, had cause to be so, for his ticket was drawn a prize of £2020002 which enabling him to begin business for himself, he soon rose to great eminence and wealth as a merchant.

Louis XII.

When Louis XII. was persuaded to retain the Archduke of Austria prisoner, on the ground that he had been duped by the artifices of Ferdinand, he replied, 'I would rather, if it must be so, see myself deprived of my kingdom, the loss of which might hereafter be recovered, than forfeit my honour, which can never be restored. The advantages which my enemies obtain over me, can scarcely excite surprise, since they employ means to which I shall resort, a contempt for good faith and for honour.'

Fair Award.

A peasant once entered the hall of justice at Florence, at the time that Alexander, Duke of Tuscany, was presiding. He stated, that he had the good fortune to find a purse of sixty ducats, and learning that it belonged to Friuli the merchant, who offered a reward of ten ducats to the finder, he restored it to him, but that he had refused the promised reward. The duke instantly ordered Friuli to be summoned into his presence, and questioned why he refused the reward? The merchant replied, 'That he conceived the peasant had paid himself, for although when he gave notice of his loss, he said this purse only contained sixty ducats, it in fact had seventy in it.' The duke inquired if this mistake was discovered before the purse was found? Friuli answered in the negative. 'Then,' said the duke, 'as I have a very high opinion of the honesty of this peasant, I am induced to believe that there is indeed a mistake in this transaction; for as the purse you lost had in it seventy ducats, and this which he found contained sixty only, it is impossible that it can be the same.' He then gave the purse to the peasant, and promised to protect him against all future claims.

Peter the Great.

In the war between Peter the Great and the Ottoman Porte, Cantemir, Hospodar of Moldavia, put himself under the protection of Russia, and used every exertion to raise an insurrection against the Grand Seignior. In this he failed, and took refuge with the Czar, who, notwithstanding his inability to fulfil the engagements into which he had entered, was favourably received. When a negociation for peace was begun, the Grand Vizier agreed to the terms proposed, on condition that Cantemir should be given up. 'No,' replied Peter, 'I would rather surrender all the country that I have conquered as far as Kiusk, than yield to his demand. Not to keep a promise when it has been once given, is to forfeit all title to confidence for ever.'

Count 0stermann.

Previous to the peace of Nystadt, between Russia and Sweden, Peter the Great, who was anxious to obtain possession of Wyburgh, remitted a hundred thousand ducats to Count Ostermann, his ambassador, to be employed in obtaining the most favourable terms for Russia. Ostermann was acquainted with the poverty or the nobility, and knowing also his sovereign's love of economy, disbursed his money with such address, that for ten thousand ducats he accomplished his purpose, and returned the remaining ninety thousand to his imperial master.

Patriot Artist.

When the King of France had reduced Nancy, he sent for Callot to engrave that new conquest, as he had done that of Rochelle. The engraver begged to be excused, for being a Lorrainer, he could not do anything against the honour of his prince and country. The king, instead of being displeased, confessed 'the Duke of Lorrain was happy in having such faithful and affectionate subjects.'

Frederick the Great.

A Prussian ecclesiastic, of the name of Mylius, found among his father's papers, a promissory note to a considerable amount, which the Prince Royal, afterwards Frederick the Great, had given him. He, therefore, immediately sent it to the king, with the following letter:

SIRE - Among my father's papers, I have found the enclosed note. I cannot tell whether it has been through negligence, or any other means, that it has not been cancelled. I know not, but I leave the matter to the disposal of your majesty.'

The king immediately sent for Mylius, and said, that he well remembered receiving the money from his father, and that, if there was any error, he would be the loser himself. He immediately paid the money, with interest.

Francis the First.

Chabot, a distinguished admiral in the reign of Francis I. of France, fell under the displeasure of his sovereign, who issued a commission to the Chancellor Poyet, and other judges, to bring the admiral to trial, on an indictment preferred against him by the Royal Advocate. The chancellor was a man of unlimited ambition, and hoping to please the king by condemning the admiral, seduced some of the judges by promises, and others by threats, to join him in his decision. Though nothing could be proved against the admiral, yet the chancellor and judges decreed the confiscation of his estate, dismissal from all his offices, and imprisonment.

The king learning of the artifice by which such a judgment had been obtained against the admiral, instantly restored him to his estate and his liberty, and caused the chancellor to be degraded.

Count Munich.

When Catherine the Second ascended the throne of Russia, she solicited Count Munich to accept some marks of her favour, although she knew he had been the most formidable opponent to her accession. 'No,' said the count, 'I am an old man; I have already suffered many misfortunes; and if I purchased a few years of life, by compromising my principles, I should make but a bad exchange.'

Nonconformity.

Dr. Owen, the celebrated dissenter, though a warm opponent of the doctrines of nonresistance, and divine right, was a man of so upright, pure, and moderate a character, as to be held in the highest esteem. by those who were most opposed to him in opinion and practice. Charles the Second, and his brother, the bigoted James, both paid him particular attention. James, when Duke of York, sent for him, and entered into a long discussion with him, of the justifiableness of non-conformity. The doctor found it probably not very difficult to confute his highness in argument; but was treated with affability, and dismissed with kindness. Charles also sought an interview with the doctor, and it ended in a way which showed that while, like his brother, he could have an opinion of his own, he could be something more than civil to those who differed from him. After conversing for more than an hour with the doctor, on different topics, he gave him the strongest assurance of his friendship and protection, told him, that he should at all times have free access to his person, regretted that he had suffered injury to be done to anyone for thinking independently in matters of religion, and presented the doctor with a thousand guineas, which he requested he would distribute among those who had suffered most for 'conscience sake.'

Dr. Donne.

Dr. Donne having clandestinely married the daughter of Sir George Moore, when without any appointment in the church, or visible means of maintaining a family, was treated for some time with great severity by the old gentleman. At length, through the intercession of some mutual friends, Sir George gave the doctor a bond, to pay him as a portion for his daughter, £8oo upon a specified day, or '£20 quarterly, until the sum was liquidated. The latter mode of payment, was that preferred by Sir George; but it had not continued long, when the doctor was promoted to the Deanery of St. Paul's. The next time his father-in-law waited on him with a quarter's salary instalment, the doctor thus handsomely addressed him: 'I know, Sir George, that your present condition is such as not to abound, and, I hope, mine is such as not to need it. I will therefore receive no more from you on that contract.'

When this eminent divine and poet was seized with that illness of which he expired, he gave another memorable proof of that tenderness of conscience, which had distinguished him through the whole course of his life. He was requested to renew some prebendal leases, the fines for which were considerable, and would have added largely to the fortune he had to bequeath his family. 'No, no,' said the worthy man, 'I dare not now that I am upon my sick bed, when Almighty God has made me useless to the service of the church, seek to obtain any advantages out of it.'

Whiston.

Whiston was a pensioner to Queen Caroline, who often admitted him to the honour of conversing with her, and paid the pension with her own hands. One day she said to him, 'Mr. Whiston, I understand you are a free speaker, and honestly tell people of their faults; no one is without faults, and I wish you would tell me of mine.' Whiston hesitated, until at length he found he could not evade an answer. 'Well,' said he, 'since your majesty insists upon it, I must obey. There are abundance of people who come out of the country every year upon business. They all naturally desire to see the king and queen, and have no other opportunity of doing it so convenintly as at the chapel royal; but these country folks, who are not used to such things, are perfectly astonished to see your majesty talking with the king, even at the time of divine service, and leave town with impressions by no means favourable to your majesty, which they report in the country.' 'I am sorry for it,' answered the queen. 'I believe there may be too much truth in what you say; but pray, Mr. Whiston, tell me of another fault.' 'No, madam,' replied he, 'let me see you mend this before I tell you of another.' Her majesty had the good sense to respect the rebuke, and to continue her friendship to her honest and faithful monitor.

Charles XII.

Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, when he dethroned King Augustus, was advised by Count Piper to annex Poland to his dominions as a fair conquest, and to make the people Lutherans. The temptation thus presented to him of repairing his losses, enlarging his kingdom, extending his religion, and revenging himself of the Pope, made him hesitate a little. But reflecting on his declaration to the Polish malcontents, that his purpose was only to dethrone Augustus, in order to make way for a king of their own nation; 'I reject a kingdom,' said he, 'that I cannot keep without a breach of promise. On this occasion, it is more honourable to bestow a crown, than to retain it.'

Disinterested Dean.

In the reign of James the Second, Dr. Wallis was Dean of Waterford, and during the troubles of that unhappy country at that period, he suffered greatly in his private fortune, from his strong attachment to the Protestant faith. After peace was restored, and the Protestant religion firmly established by King William, Wallis was presented to the court of London, as a gentleman who had well merited the royal patronage. The king had before heard the story of his sufferings, and therefore immediately turning to the dean, desired him to choose any church preferment then vacant. Wallis (with all the modesty incident to men of real worth), after a due acknowledgment of the royal favour, requested the deanery of Derry. 'How!' replied the king in a transport of surprise, 'ask the deanery, when you must know the bishopric of that very place is also vacant?' 'True, my liege,' replied Wallis, 'I do know it, but could not in honesty ask so great a benefice, being conscious there are many other gentlemen who have suffered more than myself, and deserve better at your majesty's hands; I therefore presume to repeat my former request.' It is needless to add, his request was granted.

Magnanimous Creditor.

A rich merchant at Lyons, wishing to befriend a manufacturer in that city, advanced him 50,000 livres for goods which he was to furnish. The manufacturer, soon afterwards, finding that so far from being able to fulfil his engagement, he was in danger of bankruptcy, repaired immediately to the merchant, and acquainting him with the critical situation of his affairs, returned the whole sum he had received in advance. 'No,' said the generous merchant, 'you have made me your confidant, but I should consider myself as an accomplice in your bankruptcy if I were to receive this money without the knowledge of your other creditors: therefore take it back; forget that you are my creditor, and, if possible, preserve your honour and credit; but if, notwithstanding this, you are under the necessity of giving up your effects, enter me among the rest of your creditors, and let me be paid in proportion to the dividends they may receive.'

Honourable Surrender Rewarded.

The following interesting narrative was given by one who was a witness to the transaction. 'I attended the examination of Messrs. Neale, James, and Down (bankers in London). The unhappy circumstances under which these gentlemen laboured, particularly Mr. James, was affectingly striking; I acknowledge that I was not less astonished at the honesty of his conduct than I was grieved for the greatness of his misfortune. I have no intimacy whatever with Mr. James, nor am otherwise acquainted than as having for several years done business at the house; consequently I am not biassed by partiality, or influenced by any other prejudice, than that which I wish ever to indulge towards an honest man. It is generally known that Mr. Fordyce solely occasioned the failure of this house, and that the rest of the partners were unexpectedly involved and precipitated into ruin. Mr. James's property, I am told, far exceeded that of either Mr. Neale or Down, amounting to about thirty thousand pounds, all which he most cordially surrendered, The presiding commissioner observed that Mr. James had even brought several articles into the account, which he was not strictly bound to do; he had retained neither watch nor rings. His money (which from appearance could be but trifling) was tied up in a purse. After surrendering it, he discovered, upon feeling in his pockets, that he had unintentionally left a trifle behind. The mistake was undesigned, and therefore immediately corrected. Mr. James, who had already surrendered thirty thousand pounds, nobly produced the last halfpenny of his fortune. Some may smile at this as the contrivance of affectation; but all-convincing as his manner was of its resulting from motives of an opposite nature, I cannot forbear crying out in admiration, 0 matchless probity! how truly ennobling is unaffected honesty!

'The creditors generously returned the deposits the partners had made, after which the presiding commissioner informed the creditors that Mr. James had put a paper into his hand which he had desired him to read. As nearly as I can recollect, it was to the following import:- "Gentlemen, Mr. James is too deeply impressed by his situation to address you personally. The kindness you have now conferred he accepts with the sincerest gratitude; and did he appear before you only as an individual, he would cease to give you any further trouble; but the ties of nature and the affections of a father prevail with him to solicit the indulgence of your attention and assistance. A wife and seven children, all of whom are dependent upon him, reduced from a state of affluence, to that of poverty, call forth all the yearnings of a husband and of a parent. Mrs. James, upon her marriage, settled an estate of the value of £16o per annum upon Mr. James for life, with the remainder to herself and children. For the continuance of this estate for life, which will probably now not be a long one, he humbly supplicates your kindness. In doing this, he is wholly influenced by the affection which he bears to the tenderest branches of himself and wife. He ventures, gentlemen, in this address, to appeal to your feelings as men, as husbands, and as fathers. if you shall indulge this request, be assured the blessing of infants will descend upon you."

'The address was too pathetic to be read without tears, for the commissioner, to his honour be it spoken, evinced himself "a man of feeling," or to be heard without receiving the strongest testimonials of pity and commiseration. The meeting unanimously complied with the request. I acknowledge it was to me the most mixed scene of melancholy and of pleasure I had ever witnessed.'

English Honour and Italian Finesse.

In the year 1780, a young English nobleman lost to Count Palfy, in Vienna, the sum of 120,000 florins (£12,000), and gave him a bond for the sum, to be paid after the death of his father, whom he wished not to afflict by asking him to pay so large a debt for him. Count Palfy affected to admire his delicacy, but caused the bond, torn in two, to be delivered to the father. The young Englishman, however, sent the 120,000 florins, in money, to the count, immediately upon the death of his father.

A Lesson in Diplomacy.

A gentleman who had received an appointment as envoy to a foreign court, went to Lord Wentworth to take his advice as to the mode by which he might best execute his mission with credit to himself and honour to his country. 'To do honour to yourself and serve your country,' said the sagacious nobleman, 'you must at all times, and on all occasions, speak the truth, for the consequence will be that you will never be believed. By this means you will not only secure yourself against the treachery of the inquisitive, but will put all you deal with at fault in their conjectures and projects.'

Sir Thomas More.

During the time that Sir Thomas More was Lord Chancellor, a gentleman who had a suit depending before him sent him a present of two silver flagons. The chancellor immediately gave orders to his servants to fill them with the best wine in his cellar, and carry them back to the gentleman, and tell him that it gave him great pleasure to have an opportunity of obeying him; and that when the flasks were empty, he should be welcome to have them filled again.

Seneca.

Neither the great wealth which Seneca acquired as the preceptor of the Emperor Nero, nor the luxury and effeminacy of a court, produced any alteration in that system of life which this great philosopher had planned for himself. He continued to the last to live abstemious, correct, and above all, free from flattery and ambition. 'I had rather,' said he to Nero, 'offend you by speaking the truth than please you by lying and flattery.' When Seneca perceived that his favour was on the decline, and that his enemies were constantly reminding the emperor of the wealth which he amassed, he offered to make a full surrender of all the gifts which had ever been conferred upon him. The tyrant, however, not only declined the offer, but protested that his friendship for him remained the same. The continued machinations of his enemies were at length so successful that the emperor sent him an order to put himself to death. Seneca received the mandate with calmness and composure, and only asked to be allowed to alter his will. The officer entrusted with the execution of the sentence refused to grant such permission. Seneca, then, addressing his friends, said, that 'since he was not allowed to leave any other legacy, he requested they would preserve the example of his life, and exercise that fortitude which philosophy taught.'

Spoliation of Corinth

When L. Mummius, the Roman consul, had defeated the Corinthians under Dracus, and the whole of Achaia had submitted to his arms, the senate sent him orders to demolish utterly the city of Corinth, for there its ambassadors had received those insults which led to the war. The general obeyed his orders, but in the execution of them gave a rare example of disinterestedness and integrity. For all the brazen images, all the marble statues and pillars, all the paintings of the ablest artists, and other rich spoils with which this noble city abounded, he touched not one; nor would he allow a single relic of the glory of Corinth to be transferred to his house as a memorial of his victory over it, deeming it a far prouder boast to have subdued a great and wealthy city, and to have had all its treasures within his grasp, without adding a single denier to his own.

Paulus Emilius.

Paulus Emilius, in the course of his campaigns in Spain, is said to have gained two general battles, and reduced two hundred and fifty cities, and yet returned to Rome not one groat the richer for all these victories. How pure may we not expect the domestic administration of a man to have been who could behave with such integrity, when at a distance from the scrutinizing eye of his fellow citizens, and when possessed of absolute power to do as he pleased. Although he was twice consul, yet, when he died, he left scarcely enough to satisfy his wife's jointure.

Ecclesiastical Appointments.

Few dignitaries of the Church have shown a more scrupulous regard to the qualifications of candidates for the offices of the holy ministry, than the celebrated Bishop Grosseteste. Pope Innocent sent him a mandate to promote a nephew (or son) of his holiness to the first canonry which should be vacant in the cathedral of Lincoln, declaring that any other disposal of the canonry should be null and void, and that he would excommunicate whoever dared to disobey his injunctions. This nephew was a young Italian, who possessed not one qualification for the office, nor any other merit more substantial than that of having a pope for his uncle. The bishop felt that it would be a gross prostitution of his authority to invest such a person with the canonry, and instantly wrote to the pope, refusing compliance in the most resolute and spirited manner, and almost returning excommunication for excommunication. The pope, on receiving so unexpected an answer, angrily exclaimed, 'Who is this old dotard, deaf and absurd, that thus rashly presumes to judge of my actions? By Peter and Paul, if the goodness of my heart did not restrain me, I should so chastise him as to make him an example and a spectacle to all the world! Is not the King of England my vassal, my slave, and for a word speaking would throw him into prison and load him with disgrace?' His holiness proceeded to pronounce the excommunication of the bishop, who contented himself with appealing to the tribunal of heaven, and was suffered to remain in the quiet possession of his see.

Of a spirit equally upright, and more directly disinterested, was John Egerton, Bishop of Durham. The preferments at his disposal, he distributed with a truly pastoral care; always preferring those clergymen who were most distinguished for their learning, merit, and humility. In one instance, where he felt a strong desire to promote a particular friend of his own, he refused to indulge his inclination, from a doubt that the person was not sincere in the belief of the sentiments he professed. He had made a covenant with himself, and he kept it, that his inclinations should never interfere with his duty.

Earl of Hillsborough.

Some reluctance having been manifested, to fulfil a promise which was made of increasing the pension of Sir Francis Barnard, the intrepid governor of Massachusetts Bay, to £1000 a year, the Earl of Hillsborough threatened, if it was not kept, to resign the Colonial Department. Sir Francis, when he heard of it, hastened to the noble earl, and entreated him to remain in office; 'For,' said he, 'it would be an additional chagrin to me, that the country should lose the benefit of your service.' Lord North soon afterwards granted to Sir Francis the pension he had promised him; and afterwards, in lieu of it, appointed him one of the Commissioners of the Board of Revenue in Ireland.

The Lost Half-Guinea.

A gentleman passing through the streets of Newcastle, about twenty years ago, was called in by a shopkeeper, who acknowledged himself indebted to him to the amount of a guinea. The gentleman, much astonished, enquired how this was, as he had no recollection of the circumstance. The shopkeeper replied, that about twenty years before, as the gentleman's wife was crossing the river Tyne in a boat which he was in, she accidentally dropt half a guinea as she took out her money to pay the fare. The shopkeeper, who had a family at home literally starving, snatched up the half-guinea. He had since been prosperous in the world, and now seized the first opportunity since his good fortune, of paying the money, with interest.

Fate of Strafford.

None of all those who attached themselves to the fortunes of Charles the First, was more distinguished for talents, zeal, and fidelity, than the unfortunate Earl of Strafford. The king was not insensible of his services, and in the warmth of his gratitude, swore, that while he had power to help it, 'not a hair of his head should be touched by the Parliament.' When, at length, Strafford, by the able support which he gave to the obnoxious measures of the crown, brought upon himself the general indignation of the people; when he was impeached, condemned, and cast into prison, and when it seemed that nothing but his death could appease the popular rage, the earl sent in a letter to his royal master, in which he magnanimously requested him to forget the promise which he had made him, and to suffer his life to be taken, if by that means the public peace could be secured. Whatever impression this noble offer may have made upon Charles, and it is difficult to imagine that it could have done otherwise than awaken the strongest feelings of sympathy in the royal breast, it made none on the heartless courtiers around him, who coolly urged, that the full consent of Strafford to his own death, absolved his majesty from every scruple of conscience under which he might labour. The weak and irresolute Charles at length yielded to these importunities, and in breach of the solemn promise which he had made, not to suffer 'a hair of his head to be touched,' granted a commission to four noblemen to give their royal assent to the bill for the earl's attainder and execution.

Strafford, notwithstanding the voluntary tender of his life, which he had made in a letter to the king, was quite unprepared for so sudden and utter a dereliction by his sovereign: When Secretary Carleton waited on him with the intelligence, and mentioned that his lordship's own consent was one of the circumstances which weighed chiefly with the king, in assenting to his death; the earl, in mingled surprise and indignation, asked 'If it was indeed possible that the king had given assent to the bill?' When Carleton assured him of the truth, he exclaimed, 'Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, for in them there is no salvation.'

Can we wonder that a prince, who could thus faithlessly sacrifice the life of a devoted servant, should, in the ways of Providence, become himself the victim of outrage and violence?

Roman Idea of Treachery.

It was a noble answer which a Roman general once made to a traitor, who came and tendered him the keys of a town that he had besieged:- 'Wretch,' said he, 'know that it is not yet so bad with the Romans, that they should stoop to the baseness of taking towns by treachery.'

A Judge above Resentment.

In the latter half of the last century, the lord justice clerk of Scotland, who had a fine avenue of trees leading to his country house, though not growing on ground which he could call his own, happened to displease the proprietor, who caused all the trees to be cut down. The damage was irreparable, but his lordship, who was of a mild and amiable disposition, submitted to it in silence.

Two or three years afterwards, it happened, that this laird's whole estate was put in jeopardy by the next heir at law producing a prior will, which, though it had long lain dormant, appeared so plain and genuine, that the laird nearly gave up his right; and abandoned all hope, when he found it must be decided by the man he had so deeply injured. The strict integrity of the judge was, however, a sufficient guarantee, that justice would be impartially administered. The judge, when the cause came before him, sifted it, with indefatigable industry and zeal for public justice, when he discovered that the bill was a forgery; and thus, contrary to all expectation, the laird gained his cause. He then waited on the judge with shame and confusion, and acknowledged that he would never have recovered the suit, had it not been for his lordship, as his own counsel had given it up. 'You have nothing to thank me for,' said the judge, 'but my having taken due pains to do you justice. This was a duty I owed to myself, and I should have been unworthy of the place I occupy, if I suffered any injury done to myself, to influence me in the administration of justice.'

Magnanimous Legatee.

About the year 1772, a grocer of the name of Higgins died, and left a considerable sum to a gentleman in London, saying to him at the time that he made his will, 'I do not know that I have any relations, but should you ever by accident hear of such, give them some relief.' The gentleman, though thus left in full and undisputed possession of a large fortune, on which no person could have any legal claim, advertised for the next of kin to the deceased, and after some months were spent in enquiries, he at length discovered a few distant relatives. He called them together to dine with him, and after distributing the whole of the money, according to the different degrees of consanguinity, paid the expenses of advertising out of his own pocket.

Principles in High Life.

At the establishment of the Reformation in England, all future commerce with the See of Rome was strictly prohibited, under the penalties of high treason; and though the law on this subject had been repealed during the reign of the bloody Mary, it was re-enacted in the time of her successor, and was in full force when the Catholic James the Second came to the throne of England. James, regardless of this circumstance, invited the Pope to send an envoy to him, to renew, probably, the old relations between the court of England and the See of Rome; but when the envoy arrived, the Duke of Somerset, whose duty it was, as lard of the bed-chamber, to present him to the king, declined doing so, being advised by his lawyers, that his compliance might bring him under the penalties of the existing laws. Waiting on his majesty, he expressed his regret that he could not serve him upon this occasion, as he was assured it would be against the law. The king asked him, if he did not know that he (the king) was above the law? The duke replied, that whatever the king might be, he himself was not above the law. James was in high displeasure, and turned the duke out of all his employments.

On another occasion, James gave the duke of Norfolk the sword of state to carry before him to the Catholic chapel. When they arrived at the chapel door, the duke, halting there, stepped aside to allow the king to pass. 'My lord,' said his majesty, 'your father would have gone further.' The duke, with great readiness of wit, answered, 'Your majesty's father was the better man, and he would not have gone so far.'

The Speaker Cornwall.

The Right Honourable Charles Wolfran Cornwall, when Speaker of the House of Commons, was strongly solicited to apply to his majesty for a pardon for the notorious John Shepherd, who was related to him, and who was under sentence of death. 'No.' said Mr. Cornwall, 'I should deserve public censure if I attempted to contribute to the prolongation of the life of a man, who has so frequently been a nuisance to society, and has given so many proofs, that kindness to him would be cruelty to others. Were my own son to offend one-tenth part so often as he has done, I should think it my duty rather to solicit his punishment than his pardon.'

Quaker Responsibility.

A young man desirous of entering into business on his own account, applied to a wholesale linendraper, to give him credit for goods to the amount of £500. Being asked for a reference as to character he mentioned Mr. B., a Quaker, who, on being applied to, gave the young man such a character, as induced the tradesman immediately to let him have the goods he wished for. After being some time in business, and by his conduct justifying the trust reposed in him, he fell into habits of dissipation, neglected his shop, and, a natural consequence, became insolvent. The injured creditor meeting Mr. B., complained that he had been deceived as to the character of the young man, by which he had lost f500. The honest Quaker replied, that he had spoken to the best of his knowledge, and had been deceived. As, however, it was on his representation the credit had been given to the insolvent, he would pay the debt; which he did immediately, by a cheque on his banker.

Duke Of Wharton and the Earl of Stair.

Among the many inconsistencies recorded of the witty and profligate Duke of Wharton, it was none of the least conspicuous, that though personally attached to the family of Hanover, he was politically devoted to the interests of the House of Stuart. As Pope has said, he was 'Traitor to the king he loved.'

An intimate friend having once expressed to the duke, great surprise at the course of his political attachments, his grace was frank enough to declare, that he had sold himself to the cause, for that he was in debt to the Pretender's banker, and until that debt was paid, he must remain a Jacobite. When at Paris, on a visit to the Pretender, his grace's winning address, and shining abilities, gained him the esteem of all the English residing there, and made him an object of political solicitation to the English ambassador, the Earl of Stair. His excellency, sincerely desirous of reclaiming the young duke from the error of his ways, embraced every opportunity of giving him useful admonitions, which were not always, however, taken in the best part. Once in particular, the ambassador extolling the merit and noble behaviour of Wharton's father, added, that he hoped he would follow so illustrious an example of fidelity to his prince, and love to his country. The young duke immediately replied, that he thanked his excellency for his good advice, and as his excellency had also had a worthy and deserving father, he hoped he would likewise copy so bright an original, and tread in his steps.' A severer sarcasm could not have been pronounced, as the ambassador's father had betrayed his master in a manner not very creditable.

A Poor Man above all Reward.

A poor man who was porter to a house in Milan, found a purse which contained two hundred crowns. He immediately advertised it, and was applied to by a gentleman, who gave sufficient proof that the purse belonged to him, and had it instantly restored. Full of gratitude at recovering his loss, the owner offered his benefactor, twenty crowns; but he positively refused to accept of any reward. The gentleman who had lost the money, seeing the porter thus positive, threw his purse on the ground, and in an angry tone exclaimed, 'I have lost nothing, nothing at all, if you thus refuse to accept of so trivial a gratuity.' The porter then consented to receive five crowns, which he immediately distributed among the poor.

The Old Bookcase.

An old and rich clergyman, who had long been the incumbent of a valuable rectory in the vale of Evesharn in Worcestershire, dying in 1784, his household furniture was sold by auction. The curate, who had performed the whole duty of the living for a salary that was very inadequate to the maintenance of his family, purchased an old oaken bookcase. When he had got it home, and was tenanting with loose scraps of paper and old sermons, those drawers which had formerly been the depository of accumulating wealth, he found a drawer which he could not return to its place; in ascertaining the cause, he discovered two bags of gold, of two hundred guineas each. Such a sum would have made the curate happy for life, for it would have purchased an annuity of double the amount of his salary; but the good man considered it not his own, and instantly went back to the Parsonage, and returned it to the administrators, who were contented with expressing their surprise at so unexpected a proof of integrity.

Pardon Refused to Royal Blood.

When a prince of the blood royal of France disgraced himself, by committing robbery and murder in the streets of Paris, Louis XV. would not grant a pardon, though eagerly solicited to do so by a deputation from the Parliament of Paris, who tried him, and suspended their sentence until the royal pleasure should be known. 'My lords and counsellors,' said the king, 'return to your chambers of justice, and promulgate your decree.' 'Consider,' said the first president, 'that the unhappy prince has your majesty's blood in his veins.' 'Yes,' said the king, 'but that blood has become impure, and justice demands that it should be let out; nor would I spare my own son for a crime, for which I should be bound to condemn the meanest of my subjects.' The prince was executed on a scaffold in the court of the Grand Chatelet, on the 12th of August, 1729.

Bankrupt Family made Happy.

A merchant of Bordeaux, who had carried on trade with equal honour and propriety, till he was turned of fifty years of age, was, by a series of unexpected and unavoidable losses, at length unable to comply with his engagements, and his wife and children, in whom he placed his principal happiness, were reduced to a state of destitution, which doubled his distress. He comforted himself and them, however, with the reflection that upon the strictest review of his own conduct, no want either of integrity or of prudence, could be imputed to him. He thought it best, therefore, to repair to Paris, in order to lay a true state of his affairs before his creditors, that being convinced of his honesty, they might be induced to pity his misfortunes, and allow him a reasonable space of time to settle his affairs. He was kindly received by some, and very civilly by all; and wrote immediately to his family, congratulating them on the prospect of a speedy and favourable adjustment of his difficulties. But all his hopes were destroyed by the cruelty of his principal creditor, who caused him to be seized and sent to a gaol. As soon as this melancholy event was known in the country, his eldest son, a youth about nineteen years of age, listening only to the dictates of filial piety, went to Paris, and threw himself at the feet of his father's obdurate creditor, to whom he painted the distress of the family in most pathetic terms, but apparently without effect. At length, in the greatest agony of mind, he said, 'Sir, since you think nothing can compensate for your loss but a victim, let your resentment devolve upon me: let me suffer instead of my father, and the miseries of prison will seem light in procuring the liberty of a parent, to console the sorrows of the distracted and dejected family that I have left behind me. Thus, sir, you will satisfy your vengeance, without sealing their irretrievable ruin.' And here his tears and sighs stopped his utterance. His father's creditor beheld him upon his knees in this condition for a full quarter of an hour. He then sternly desired him to rise and sit down; he obeyed. The gentleman then walked from one corner of the room to the other in great agitation of mind for about the same space of time. At length, throwing his arms about the young man's neck, 'I find,' said he, 'there is something more valuable than money: I have an only daughter, for whose fate I have the utmost anxiety. I am resolved to fix it. In marrying you she must be happy. Go, carry your father's discharge, ask his consent, bring him instantly hither; let us bury in the joy of this alliance the remembrance of all that has passed.'

Fabricius.

Among the Roman ambassadors who were sent to Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, was Caius Fabricius. The king being told that he was much esteemed among his countrymen, that he was a man of the greatest honour and integrity, that he preserved the character of a brave and skilful warrior, and that he was in the lowest circumstances in life, he received him more kindly than the rest of his companions; and among other favours, offered him large presents of gold and silver, desiring him to receive them from him, not from any disrespect towards him on account of his poverty, but as a pledge only of that friendship and good will that should in future exist between them. Fabricius rejected all these offers, and others more splendid that were made him; and having executed the duty assigned to him, returned to his poverty and his integrity.

Admiral Thurot.

It has been said of the French naval commander, Thurot, that he was strictly honest in circumstances that made the exertion of common honesty an act of the highest magnanimity. When this officer appeared on the coast of Scotland, and landed in order to supply the three vessels he had under him with provisions, he paid a liberal price for everything he wanted, and behaved with so much affability that a countryman ventured to complain to him of an officer who had taken fifty or sixty guineas from him. The officer, on being called on to vindicate himself against the charge, acknowledged the fact, but said that he had divided the money among his men. Thurot immediately ordered the officer to give his bill for the money, which he said should be stopped out of his pay, if they were so fortunate as to return to France.

On another occasion, one of Thurot's officers gave a bill upon a merchant in France, for some provisions that he had purchased. Thurot hearing of the circumstance, informed the countryman that the bill was of no value; and reprimanding the officer severely for the cheat, compelled him to give another bill on a merchant whom he knew would pay the money. What makes this act of integrity still more striking and praiseworthy, is that Thurot's men at this time were so dissatisfied as to be ready to break out into open mutiny.

Dentatus.

When Curius Dentatus, who was thrice honoured with dignity of consul, had driven Pyrrhus out of Italy, he divided the land into equal shares amongst all his army, being about four acres each, and reserved no more for himself, saying, that 'no person ought to be a general without being contented with the share of a common soldier.'

When the Samnites, who had been vanquished by him during his consulship, offered to bribe him by large sums of money, he told them 'That he had much rather rule over rich men than be rich himself; and that he that could not be worsted in fight could not be bribed with money.' It is worthy of remark that at the time the Samnites came to bribe Dentatus, he was found by them at his little country farm, sitting by the fire, and roasting turnips.

Swift's Butler.

During the publication of the 'Drapier's Letters,' Swift was particularly careful to conceal himself from being known as the author. The only persons in the secret were Robert Blakely, his butler, whom he employed as an amanuensis, and Dr. Sheridan. It happened that on the very evening before the proclamation, offering a reward Of £300 for discovering the author of these letters, was issued, Robert Blakely stopped out later than usual without his master's leave. The dean ordered the door to be locked at the accustomed hour, and shut him out. The next morning the poor fellow appeared before his master with marks of great contrition. Swift would hear no excuses, but abusing him severely, bade him strip off his livery, and quit the house instantly. 'What!' said he, 'is it because I am in your power that you dare to take these liberties with me? Get out of my house, and receive the reward of your treachery.'

Mrs. Johnson (Stella), who was at the deanery, did not interfere, but immediately despatched a messenger to Dr. Sheridan, who on his arrival, found Robert walking up and down the hall in great agitation. The doctor bade him not be uneasy, as he would try to pacify the dean so that he should continue in his place. 'That is not what vexes me,' replied Robert, 'though to be sure I should be sorry to lose so good a master; but what grieves me to the soul is that my master should have so bad an opinion of me as to suppose me capable of betraying him for any reward whatever.' When this was related to the dean, he was so struck with the honour and generosity of sentiment which it exhibited in one so humble in life, that he immediately restored him to his situation, and was not long in rewarding his fidelity.

The place of verger to the cathedral becoming vacant, Swift called Robert to him, and asked him if he had any clothes of his own that were not a livery. Robert replying in the affirmative, he desired him to take off his livery, and put them on. The poor fellow, quite astonished, begged to know what crime he had committed, that he was to be discharged. The dean bade him do as he was ordered; and when he returned in his new dress, the dean called all the other servants into the room, and told them that they were no longer to consider him as their fellowservant Robert, but as Mr. Blakely, verger of St. Patrick's Cathedral; an office which he had bestowed on him for his faithful services, and as a proof of that sure reward which honesty and fidelity would always obtain.

Patriotic Exhortation.

Sebastianus Foscarinus, some time Duke of Venice, caused to be engraved on his tomb in St. Mark's Church the following exhortation to his countrymen:- 'Hear, 0 ye Venetians! and I will tell you which is the best thing in the world;- it is to contemn and despise riches.'

Self-Denial.

George Dade, a poor parish boy of Nottinghamshire, educated through the charity of an old lady, acquitted himself so well in service, that from being a gentleman's butler he was recommended as house-steward. Here his strict honesty and attention in a place of great trust made him a great favourite with his master, and still more so with an unmarried sister, who manifested her partiality to him in a way that could not be misunderstood; at this circumstance, Dade became uneasy and scarcely knew whether to repel or encourage the lady; however, a sense of duty got the better of his inclination and ambition; he mentioned his suspicions to his master, and begged that the lady might be diverted from an individual so unworthy of her rank in life. Struck at such a generous instance of honesty and self-denial, the master removed his sister, and as a reward for Dade got him a very eligible appointment in a public office, where his talents and industry raised him rapidly, and soon afterwards he was in a situation to accept the hand of the lady without any conscious inferiority, an union to which her brother readily consented.

Prayers of the Guilty.

When Peter the Great was about five-and-twenty years of age he was seized with an inflammatory fever, which brought him to the brink of the grave. Public prayers for his recovery were made in all the churches, and the chief judge came to his Majesty, according to ancient custom, and inquired whether it would not be proper to give liberty to nine malefactors, who had been condemned for murders and highway robberies, in order that these criminals might address their prayers to Heaven for his recovery. The Czar commanded the judge to read the heads of accusation against these men. The judge obeyed, when the Czar, with a weak and faltering voice, said, 'Dost thou think that in granting pardon to those wretches, and impeding the course of justice, I should do a good action, and that God, to reward it, would prefer the prayers of murderers and wicked men that have forgotten even him? Go, I command thee, to execute the sentence pronounced on these criminals, and if anything can obtain from heaven the restoration of my health, I hope it will be this act of justice.'

Mr. Elwes.

Mr. Elwes, the miser, was perhaps the only person who, in modern times, got a seat in Parliament for nothing, or for eighteenpence, which was the sum, he said, it cost him to get returned for the county of Suffolk. His seat costing him so little, he never sought to make anything by it, for although he sat in the House twelve years, a more faithful or a more incorruptible representative never entere'd St. Stephen's Chapel. In the whole of his parliamentary life he never asked or received a favour, and never gave a vote but he could solemnly and conscientiously say, 'I believe I am doing what is for the best.' He voted as a man would do who felt that there were people to live after him; as one who wished to deliver, unmortgaged, to his children the public estate of government, and who felt that if he suffered himself to become a pensioner on it he thus far embarrassed his posterity, and injured the inheritance.

As a legislator, Mr. Elwes could never be said to belong to any particular party, for he had the very singular quality of not determining how to vote before he heard what was said on the subject. On this account he was not reckoned an acquisition by either side, and he was perfectly indifferent to the opinions of both.

When Mr. Elwes first took his seat, in 1742, the opposition of that time, headed by Mr. Fox, had great hopes that he would be of their party. These hopes, however, were disappointed, for Mr. Elwes immediately joined the party of Lord North, and that from a fair and honest belief that his measures were right. But Mr. Elwes never was of that decided cast of men that a minister would best approve. He would frequently dissent, and really vote, as his conscience led him. Hence many members of the opposition looked upon him as a man 'off and on,' or, as they styled him, 'a parliamentary coquette.' It is remarkable that both parties were equally fond of having him as a nominee on their contested elections; frequently he was the chairman, and he was remarkable for the patience with which he always heard the counsel.

Mr. Elwes went on in his support of Lord North and the American war till the country grew tired of this coercive measure; but the support given by Mr. Elwes was of the most disinterested kind, for no man suffered more by the continuance of the war than he did.

When Lord Shelburne came into power, Mr. Elwes was found supporting for a time his administration; but not long after this he voted with Mr. Fox against his lordship, and thus added another confirmation to the political opinion that was held of him, 'that no man or party of men could be sure of him.' Sir Edward Astley, Sir George Savile, Mr. Powis, and Mr. Marsham frequently talked to him on his whimsical versatility. But it will, undoubtedly, admit of a question in politics, how far a man thus voting on either side, as his opinion led him at the moment, be or be not a desirable man in aiding the good government of a country?

Mr. Elwes having thus voted against Lord Shelburne, gave his entire support to the celebrated coalition of Lord North and Mr. Fox. It is imagined that he thought they were the only men who, at that time, were able to govern this country.

In private life, notwithstanding his avarice, all his dealings were marked by the most inflexible integrity, and although to save a halfpenny at a turnpike gate he would ride a dozen miles out of his way, yet he would not do a dishonourable act to gain millions.

Marquess of Winchester.

A more striking contrast in the same family could scarcely be exhibited than between the first and the fifth Marquesses of Winchester. The first rose to the highest offices in the State, which he preserved in the most critical times, by being, as he acknowledged, 'a willow, not an oak;' a description which did more credit to his wit than to his discretion or integrity.

The fifth Marquess of Winchester was distinguished for his unshaken attachment to Charles I. When the rebellion was at its height, the marquess resolutely disregarded every overture that was made to him by the parliament, the leaders of which offered him almost his own terms, knowing what an influence and respectability a man of such honour and probity must give their cause. Nothing, however, could induce him to desert the unfortunate monarch; and when Basing-house, in Hampshire, the place of his residence, was three times besieged, he declared, that 'if the king had not another foot of ground in England, he would hold that spot for him to the last extremity.' Dryden, in his epitaph on the marquess, has alluded to his inflexible loyalty, in mentioning him as one;

'Who in impious times undaunted stood,
And 'midst rebellion, dar'd be just and good
Whose arms asserted, and whose suffering more
Confirmed the cause for which he fought before.'

Peter the Great.

Peter the Great having been informed that his subjects suffered much from lawsuits, owing to the avarice and dishonesty of those lawyers employed, who, while any money was to be got from their clients, delayed terminating the process, he determined to remedy the grievance. He fixed the number of lawyers, and apportioning them a sufficient salary, ordered that they should officiate for all his subjects gratis, and that whoever should be found to accept a bribe or fee, or should be dilatory in forwarding a process, should have the knout, and be condemned to perpetual banishment. Though this law may seem severe, yet it was found beneficial, and in a few years, the lawyers were as remarkable for their integrity, as they had previously been for their gross bribery and corruption.

British Admiral's

When Admiral Haddock was dying, he called his son, and thus addressed him: 'Considering my rank in life, and public services for so many years, I shall leave you but a small fortune; but, my boy, it is honestly got, and will wear well; there are no seamen's wages or provisions, nor one single penny of dirty money in it.'

Epaminondas.

The most illustrious of the Theban generals, Epaminondas, had such an utter disregard for the things of this life, and his whole soul was so wrapped up in the pursuits of immortality, that he had but one upper garment, and that a poor one; when there was occasion to have it cleaned or mended, he was obliged, for want of another, to stay at home till it was returned from the fuller's or tailor's. At one time, he had a confidential offer made him, from the Persian king, of a large sum of gold, but refused it with disdain; and 'in my mind,' saith AElian, 'he showed himself more generous in the refusal, than the other did in the gift of it.' When he died on the field of Mantinaea, he did not leave behind him enough of worldly estate, to pay the expenses of his interment; the only thing found in his house, was a little iron spit.

Gustavus III.

When Gustavus the Third, King of Sweden, was in France, he was frequently solicited to visit Dr. Franklin, which he always declined. One of the French guards, who could use a little freedom with his majesty, begged to know why he denied himself an honour which every crowned head in Europe would be proud to embrace? 'No man', said the monarch, 'regards the doctor's scientific accomplishments more than I do; but the king, who affects to like an enthusiast for liberty, is a hypocrite. As a philosopher, I love and admire the doctor; but as a politician, I hate him; and nothing shall ever induce me to appear on terms of friendship and personal esteem, with a man whom my habits and situation oblige me to detest.'

Bishop Burnet.

'I knew Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury,' says Dr. King; 'he was a famous party man, and easily imposed upon by any lying spirit of his own faction; but he was a better pastor than any man who is now seated on the bishops' bench. Although he left a large family when he died, yet he left them nothing more than their mother's fortune. He always declared that he should think himself guilty of the greatest crime if he was to raise fortunes for his children out of the revenue of his bishopric.'

Marlborough.

Madame de Sevigne has said, le monde n'a Point de longues injustices; it were better to say, there will be no injustice in the next world; for that which is committed in this, is often but too lasting in its effects. During a whole century, the Duke of Marlborough has been represented in books, both at home and abroad, as a consummate general indeed, but as being devoid of honour and principle; an intriguer, a traitor, a peculator; and so careless of human life, and of human sufferings, that for the sake of his own sordid interests, he wantonly prolonged a war, which, but for his ambition and his avarice, might many times have been brought to an end. These foul charges appear, now, to have had their origin in the envy and jealousy of the very men whom, in the course of his political life, he patronized most, and for some of whom he had exerted himself as advantageously, as disinterestedly. His enemies, when they came into power, gave these falsehoods the sanction of authority, because it was necessary to sacrifice Marlborough, before they could sacrifice the interest of their country. When Louis XIV. heard of Marlborough's removal, he added, with his own hand, in his dispatches to his Envoy at London, 'The affair of displacing the Duke of Marlborough, will do for us all we can desire;' and that he judged rightly, the disgraceful treaty of Utrecht will attest to all posterity. The calumnies which thus originated, and were thus sanctioned, have prevailed till the present times, because they have found their way from libels into history; and still worse, because they were propagated in the writings of Swift, a principal actor in the moral assassination which was planned and perpetrated by his party, against the reputation of this great man.

Marlborough's character has now been laid open to the world, by the life of his grace, which Mr. Coxe has compiled from the family records at Blenheim, and other unquestionable documents, hitherto secreted, as it were, from the public eye. And from these it appears most clearly, that never was the integrity or patriotism of any public man more unfairly aspersed.

The charge of prolonging the war, for his own benefit, meets, in particular, with the most satisfactory refutation. When the King of France, after the loss of Lisle, offered to negotiate for peace, the Marquess de Torcy, who was sent to conduct the treaty, offered Marlborough two millions of livres, if he could obtain for the House of Bourbon certain advantages, and double that sum, if he could obtain others, pledging the word and honour of the king for its payment. Marlborough refused the bribe; but such is the uncharitableness of party animosity, that he has been reproached with having only refused it. From De Torcy's account of the affair, it does appear that he returned no answer to the proposal, and changed the conversation immediately; but whenever it was resumed, by the manner in which he adhered to his instructions, he proved to the marquess, that it was as impossible to prevail over him by such base means as to beat him in the field. An expression of indignation was not called for. In making the offer, De Torcy only obeyed the commands of his sovereign, whose money had too often before been very graciously received by men of great name in England; and the English government had, through the agency of Marlborough himself, been accustomed to employ the same golden arguments with the ministers of the allied powers. The offer, therefore, was not then as it would be in these days, an insult. De Torcy acted conformably to the times when he made it and Marlborough, conformably to himself, when he received it with silent disdain, and pursued the business of their meeting with an unaltered temper.

In his administration of the war supplies, the duke was accused of peculation, because he received the same perquisites that had been always allowed to commanders-in-chief on distant expeditions for secret service money; which he had been privileged to receive, moreover, and to employ, without account, by the queens royal warrant; and which had been applied, as Marlborough said, in his defence, 'with such success, that through the blessing of God, and the bravery of the troops, we might in great measure attribute most of the advantages of the war in the Low Countries to the timely and good advice procured with the help of this money.'

Earl Poulet, while vindicating in the House of Lords the Duke of Ormondy who had succeeded Marlborough in the command of the army in the Low Countries, for taking the field with Eugene, while he was at the same tune in secret communication with Marshal Villars, and had secret orders not to fight, was pleased to say, 'that he did not resemble a certain general, who led his troops to the slaughter, to cause a great number of officers to be knocked on the head, in a battle, or against stone walls, in order to fill his pockets, by disposing of their commissions.' Marlborough heard this atrocious calumny in silence; but as soon as the house rose, he sent a message to him, by Lord Mohun, inviting him to take the air in the country. Earl Poulet could not conceal from his lady the uncomfortable emotions which this message excited, and the duel was prevented, by a verbal order from Queen Anne to Marlborough, enjoining him to proceed no farther in the affair. As has been remarked, it is a sufficient punishment for this slanderer, that he is remembered in history, for this and this only; so easily may the coarsest, meanest mind purchase for itself a perpetuity of disgrace!

Marlborough seems to have felt keenly the cruel imputations to which his conduct was exposed from party malevolence; and long before he was driven from power, he often declared that nothing but a sentiment of gratitude to the queen, and his friendship for Godolphin, prevented him from instantly retiring. 'I have had the good luck,' said he, in one of his familiar letters to his wife, 'to deserve better from all Englishmen, than to be suspected of not being in the true interest of my country, which I am in, and ever will be, without being a faction; and this principle shall govern me for the little remainder of my life; I must not think of being popular here, but I shall have the satisfaction of going to my grave with the opinion of having acted as an honest man.'

Godolphin.

The most intimate friend of Marlborough, the greatest man of the age, was, perhaps, the next greatest, the Lord Treasurer Godolphin.

From an early period of the reign of Charles the Second, an intimate connexion had subsisted between them, which took its rise from their intercourse in public employments, and was afterwards cemented by a similarity in political principles, both being Tories and high churchmen; but without the rancour and prejudice by which all parties were then distinguished. Their union was rendered more cordial by the diversity of their talents and pursuits; Marlborough being attached to the profession of arms, and Godolphin to civil employments. In the revolution which was the test of so many public and private connexions, Godolphin acted a less prominent, and also a less doubtful, part than his noble friend. He did not forsake the interest of James, till the misguided monarch became wanting to himself; and he made a vigorous opposition to the breach of the hereditary succession, caused by the elevation of William to the throne. Still, however, he was continued in the commission of the treasury by the new monarch, such was the high opinion which he entertained of his abilities and integrity. When his friend Marlborough fell under the odium of peculation, he shared it with him. Thirty millions are said to have been missing during his treasurership; and yet, at his death, all the property which he left to his family did not exceed £12,000.

Matrimonial Adventure.

At the time that Europeans were not very numerous in India, and such individuals as could not reconcile themselves to marrying the natives, used to send a commission to England, that a female for a wife should be transmitted to them, a gentleman of property in Bengal, gave orders to his factor in England, to send him a young lady of good family, well educated, and with a tolerable share of personal charms, promising to make her his wife. The factor executed his commission to the best of his judgment; but when the lady arrived in India, by one of those accidents, which, though very frequent, cannot be accounted for, she failed in captivating the heart of her expected husband, who received her with a coldness almost bordering on aversion. The lady scarcely seemed to notice it, for she was as little inspired as the gentleman. A few interviews convinced them that they were not made for each other, and the lady prepared to embark for Europe. In taking his leave of her, the gentleman begged to entrust to her care a letter to his factor in London, who had consigned her to Indi