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these volumes." For this purpose, I have purchased a file of the John Bull, the entire series of the Quarterly Review, Mr. Southey's Book of the Church, Gulliver's Travels, Defoe's History of the Plague, and Robinson Crusoe, -as the most veracious historians, and the best calculated to fill up the interim of my long sleep in the snow. Pray can you tell me who was the Mr. Southey that wrote Wat Tyler? Also when and where a sect or nation flourished, remarkable for every vice under the sun, called "modern philosophers?" I suspect them to be an invention of some fanciful writers of theology is this so? I wish likewise to be informed who is "The Great Unknown," and, also, in what reign a man called Mallagrowther was hung for treason? Your answering these questions will much oblige Your very obedient servant and constant reader,

ROGER DODSWORTH the Younger.

THE SOUND OF THE SEA.

THOU art sounding on, thou mighty Sea,
For ever and the same!

The ancient rocks yet ring to thee,
Whose thunders nought can tame.

Oh! many a glorious voice is gone
From the rich bowers of earth,
And hush'd is many a lovely one
Of mournfulness or mirth.
The Dorian flute, that sigh'd of yore
Along thy wave, is still;

The harp of Judah peals no more

On Zion's awful hill:

And Memnon's lyre hath lost the chord

That breathed the mystic tone,

And the songs, at Rome's high triumphs pour'd,

Are with her eagles flown:

And mute the Moorish horn, that rang

O'er stream and mountain free,

And the hymn the leagued Crusaders sang
Hath died in Galilee.

But thou art swelling on, thou Deep!

Through many an olden clime,

Thy billowy anthem, ne'er to sleep
Until the close of Time.

Thou liftest up thy solemn voice
To every wind and sky,

And all our Earth's green shores rejoice
In that one harmony!

It fills the noontide's calm profound,

The sunset's heaven of gold;

And the still midnight hears the sound

Ev'n as when first it roll'd.

Let there be silence, deep and str ange,
Where crowning cities rose!

Thou speak'st of one that doth not change—
So may our hearts repose.

F. H.

THE LIVES OF THE NORTHS.*

THE interesting period between the Restoration and the Revolution of 1688, has been described, and with good reason, as one of the most singular and important in our history. The overthrow of the ancient system of government in a country remarkable for the stability of its institutions, the substitution of a new authority far less suitable to the genius and circumstances of the nation, and the restoration of monarchy without viclence or bloodshed, are events of so striking a character as naturally to excite an anxiety to observe the succeeding acts of a drama, no less remarkable for the peculiar and distinguishing characteristics of the personages engaged in it, than for the vast importance and magnitude of its incidents. The high expectations of interest and excitement which may have been raised by the introduction to the reign of the restored dynasty are not likely to be disappointed by the sequel. The occurrences which fill up the space from the accession of Charles the Second to the expulsion of James, while they are such as no sagacity could have anticipated, present a bustling variety, which keeps attention perpetually on the stretch; and the contrasts and contradictions which the conduct of the several parties exhibits form one of the most striking pictures of human inconsistency to be found in the annals of the historian. Even a superficial and hasty view, brings within our observation the strange spectacle of a profligate prince and a loyal and devoted people; of jarring sects, all hating the hierarchy and the church, yet furthering their re-establishment; of friends of liberty insisting on the degradation of a portion of the community; of one conspiracy to introduce foreign force in order to establish despotism, and another in order by the same means to overthow authority; of a nation absolutely mad with dread and indignation at a fancied plot, hatched by desperate villany, and sustained by unparalleled assurance and diabolical atrocity, but blind for a long time to another scheme, whence there was rational ground to apprehend the destruction of their religion and liberty. In the midst of these events, the impulse which had been given to public spirit was not altogether inoperative; and the reign of a prince who cared not for laws or constitution, was signalized by the destruction of the most offensive relic of the feudal system, and by a practical and effectual legislative measure for the security of the liberty of the person. Of all the singularities of the period, the most extravagant, and the most reprehensible is the corrupt connexion of Charles with France. Of the character of that monarch in general it is impossible to speak in terms of approbation; but to this part of his career nothing can be appropriate but the most severe and unqualified censure. It is idle to palliate his offence by imputing it to carelessness and indifference of temper. This may be some excuse for the private errors of a private person, though it cannot, even in that case, serve as any palliation for his abandonment of his duty as a citizen. If he sacrifice the interest of his country to a bribe from a foreign state, he is a traitor and a scoundrel; but these words are not strong enough to do justice to such an action in a king. It is a species of political self-murder, combined with all the aggravating circumstances which can attend the most detestable crimes against the well-being of others. Charles, in a great measure, owed his safety to his want of earnestness. He knew how to yield to popular violence during the mania excited by the plot of Oates, and always paused in his other schemes, soon enough to avoid exciting a dangerous expression of

* The Lives of the Right Hon. Francis North, Baron Guildford, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under King Charles the Second and King James the Second; the Hon. Sir Dudley North, Commissioner of the Customs, and afterwards of the Treasury to King Charles the Second; and the Hon. and Rev. Dr. John North, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Clerk of the Closet to King Charles the Second; by the Hon. Roger North. A new Edition, with Notes and Illustrations, Historical and Biographical.

popular feeling :-the headlong bigotry of James was incapable of this temporizing policy. Fortunately for his country, he openly attacked her religion as well as her liberties, and the result was soon seen, in the abrupt termination of the brief and inglorious reign of the restored family.

It was during this period that the eminent persons flourished, whose biography is contained in the volumes before us. It is a rare felicity for a family to produce three such brothers; and a piece of good fortune yet more rare, to possess also a fourth capable of describing and recording with ability the virtues and actions of the others. The Lord Keeper, Sir Dudley North, Dr. North, and the Hon. Roger North, were the sons of the second Dudley Lord North, Baron of Kirtling. The present work was first published in the years 1740 and 1742. The Life of the Lord Keeper has been more extensively circulated than the others, by a subsequent republication; but neither that nor the rest of the work has become so extensively known as its value and interest deserve. The Life of the Lord Keeper commences the series. Our author begins with expressions of astonishment and even of indignation, that the merits of his Lordship have been so sparingly noticed by contemporary writers. For his complaints there are, undoubtedly, some grounds; but the injustice is not, perhaps, so gross as he supposes. The fame of a lawyer, however eminent he may be, is but of a limited and transient character. The advocate who is the ornament and wonder of his court, lives no longer in memory after his career is closed, than the recollection of those who witnessed his triumphs; or at most is known by tradition only, to the next generation:-the judge who has simplified and illustrated difficult points and complicated cases, is the oracle of his day amidst his own profession, and is even heard of beyond those narrow boundaries, but he will probably find no historian; for in after-ages his wisdom will be sought for and cared about only by those whose business it is to search the pages of the Law Reports. It is true, indeed, that the Lord Keeper was, besides being a judge, a man of influence, not only at Court, but with a party of great weight and importance in the state. The king always received his opinion with respect, and the church party looked upon him as one of its principal supports. All this, however, was done quietly and unostentatiously, and as law ought to be the main business of a lawofficer, the world is generally disposed to sink any other character with which he may be invested, into that to which he is supposed to be principally devoted. The opportunities which Mr. North had of knowing the character and history of his noble brother, are such as seldom fall to the lot of a biographer. He was, indeed, throughout his life, his constant companion and intimate friend. That this circumstance, together with gratitude for many acts of kindness and liberality, should render him, to say the least, a favourable and indulgent narrator, is to be reasonably supposed. Something too is to be allowed for the influence of party spirit, for it is not to be disguised that the Norths were party men. The times in which they lived were no times for lukewarmness, temporizing, or indifference; still, however, facts are not misstated, and such misrepresentations as are committed, are committed evidently rather under the influence of feeling than with any deliberate design to mislead. The most important of these are pointed out and corrected in the notes of the editor, in which selections are judiciously made, for the purposes of illustration and comparison, from the pages of Burnet, Reresby, Evelyn, Dalrymple, Pepys, and other writers of that time. In point of style, the work is entitled to commendation. It is easy, natural, and agreeable, and the reflections with which it is interspersed are full of good sense and practical acuteness.

The early part of the Lord Keeper's education, was directly opposed to the opinions which he subsequently entertained. His first schoolmaster" was a rigid Presbyterian, and his wife a furious Independent." So strict indeed was this lady in her religious tenets, that

“She used,” says our author, "to instruct her babes in the gift of praying by

the spirit; and all the scholars were made to kneel by a bed side and pray: but this petit spark was too small for that posture, and was set upon the bed to kneel with his face to the pillow; and in this exercise of spiritual prayer they had their directory from her. I have heard his lordship say, that all he could remember of his performances was praying for the distressed brethren in Ireland."

His Lordship was afterwards at a cavalier school, whence he removed to Cambridge, and in the year 1655 he entered as a student at the Middle Temple. The course of his studies there is described with some minuteness, and is by no means the least interesting part of the work. It clearly shows, what to be sure has been often shown before, but is still not generally understood, that continual application is the only sure means of success, and that in that power often consists what is commonly called genius and talent. What is most remarkable about his conduct is, that he did not confine himself to the pursuit of the law, which Coke has justly styled a jealous mistress, but extended his inquiries into history, politics, mathematics, and natural philosophy, and became, besides, an accomplished musician. He mixed enough in the fashionable diversions of the time to obtain a sufficient knowledge of them, and yet continued to live within a very narrow income. His favourite mode of study seems to have been to read attentively in the morning, and enter in a common-place book the substance of his reading, and in the evening to converse with persons of his own profession. It is to be regretted that the intercourse of professional men is not more open and frequent than it is at present. We speak here rather of other professions than of the bar. The race of barristers is loquacious, and opportunities of conversation occur almost daily; but in some other instances great advantage might be derived from more free communication. During his progress to the bar, he received considerable aid from the friendship of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, then Attorney-General. In the year 1661 he was called. Of his person and qualifications our author gives the following description.

"He was of low stature, but had an amiable, ingenuous aspect; and his conversation was answerable, being ever agreeable to his company. His hair grew to a considerable length, but was hard and stiff, and did not fall as the rest of the family, which made it bush somewhat, and not without a mixture of red and grey. As to his humour, he was free from vanity himself, and hated it in others. His youthful habits were never gay, or topping the mode, like other inns-of-court gentlemen, but always plain and clean, and showed somewhat of firmness and solidity beyond his age. His desire was rather not to be seen at all, than to be marked by his dress. In those things, to the extreme, was his aim; that is, not to be censured for a careless sloven, rather than to be commended for being well dressed. But as to his appearing in public, the composition of his temper was extraordinary; for he had wit, learning, and elocution, and knew it, and was not sensible of notable failings, whereof to accuse himself; and yet was modest even to a weakness. I believe a more shamefaced creature than he was never came into the world he could scarce bear the being seen in any public places. I have heard him say, that, when he was a student, and ate in the Temple Hall, if he saw any company there, he could not walk in till other company came; behind whom, as he entered, he might be shaded from the view of the rest; and he used to stand dodging at the screen till such opportunity arrived; for it was death to him to walk up alone in open view. This native modesty was a good guard against vice, which is not desperately pursued by young men, without a sort of boldness and effrontery in their natures. Therefore ladies and other fond people, are greatly mistaken, when they desire that boys should have the garb of men, and usurp as surance in the province of shamefacedness."

And Evelyn, in his Diary, on mentioning the appointment of Sir Francis North to be Lord Keeper, says of him :

"He is a most knowing, learned, and ingenious man; and, besides, an excellent person, of ingenuous and sweet disposition, very skilful in music, painting, the new philosophy, and politer studies."

Before he was called, he had been successful in the management of several

suits; business soon afterwards rapidly poured in upon him, and his advancement was further promoted by his being employed to assist the Attorney-general. In the case of the members prosecuted for a riot in the House of Commons, in the reign of Charles the First, in holding the Speaker down in his chair, he particularly distinguished himself, and was immediately appointed King's Counsel. On circuit he was no less fortunate and successful than in his town practice. The circuit which he chose was the Norfolk, where his connexions lay. He was a favourite with the judge, was assisted by many advantageous circumstances, and rose speedily into practice. His knowledge and dexterity seem to have been by no means confined to law. He was equally master of the arts necessary for the humouring of a judge and the management of a jury. There is one story told of him, which shows that he was not very scrupulous in the measures he adopted in order to carry his point.

"His Lordship had a relation, one Mr. Whitmore, of Balms, near London, a humoursome old gentleman, but very famous for the mere eating and drinking part of housekeeping. He was owner of Waterbeach, near Cambridge, and took a fancy that his estate ought not to pay tithes, and ordered bis tenants expressly to pay none, with promise to defend them. The parson had no more to do but to go to law; and by advice brought an action of debt for treble damages, upon the statute against substraction of tithes. The tenants got the whole demand to be put into one action; and that stood for trial at the assizes. Then he consults his cousin North, and retains him to defend this cause; but shows him no manner of title to a discharge. So he could but tell him he would be routed, and pay treble value of the tithes, and that he must make an end. This signified nothing to one that was abandoned to his own testy humour. The cause came on, and his Lordship's utmost endeavour was to fetch him off with the single value and costs; and that point he managed, very artificially: for, first, he considered that Archer was the judge, and it was always agreeable to him to stave off a long cause. After the cause was opened, his Lordship, for the defendant, stepped forwards, and told the judge that this would be a long and intricate cause, being a title to a discharge of tithes, which would require the reading a long series of records and ancient writings. That his client was no Quaker, to deny payment of tithes where due; in which case the treble value was by the law intended as a sort of penalty: but this was to be a trial of a title, which his client was advised he had to a discharge: therefore he moved that the single value might be settled; and if the cause went for the plaintiff, he should have that and his costs (which costs, it seems, did not go if the treble value was recovered), and then they would proceed to their title.' The other side mutinied against this imposition of Mr. North; but the judge was for him, and they must be satisfied. Then did he open a long history of matters upon record, of bulls, monasteries, orders, greater and lesser houses, surrenders, patents, and a great deal more, very proper, if it had been true, while the counsel on the other side stared at him; and having done, they bade him go to his evidence. He leaned back, as speaking to the attorney, and then, 'My Lord,' said he, we are very unhappy in this cause. The attorney tells me, they forgot to examine their copies with the originals at the Tower;' and so, folding up his brief, My lord,' said he, they must have their verdict, and we must come better prepared another time.' So, notwithstanding all the mutiny the other side could make, the judge held them to it, and they were choused of the treble value. This was no iniquity, because it was not to defraud the duty, but to shift off the penalty. But the old gentleman told his cousin North, he had given away his cause."

6

On this passage the Editor observes, that this is "a singular apology for the very disreputable and unprofessional stratagem practised by the learned counsel," and that "the author's excuse is founded on a correct application of that highly injurious distinction between that which is merely a malum prohibitum and that which is malum in se." It may be proper to remark, that this distinction has been denied by the present Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and would probably be now condemned in every court.

The next step of his Lordship's preferment was his appointment to be Solicitor-general, in the place of Sir Heneage Finch, promoted to be At

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