the same letter we find the following passage, from whence it appears to what a height corruption had arrived in the reign of Charles II. "The King having, upon pretence of the great preparations of his neighbours, demanded £300,000 for his navy, (though in conclusion he hath not sent out any,) and that the Parliament should pay his debts, which the ministers would never particularize to the House of Commons, our house gave several bills. You see how far things were stretched beyond reason, there being no satisfaction how those debts were contracted, and all men foreseeing that what was given would not be applied to discharge the debts, which I hear are at this day risen to four millions. Nevertheless, such was the number of the constant courtiers, increased by the apostate patriots, who were bought off for that turn, some at six, others at ten, one at fifteen thousand pounds, in money; besides what offices, lands, and reversions, to others, that it is a mercy they gave not away the whole land and liberty of England. The Duke of Buckingham is again £140,000 pounds in debt, and, by this prorogation, his creditors have time to tear all his lands in pieces. The House of Commons has run almost to the end of their time, and are grown extremely chargeable to the King, and odious to the people. They have signed and sealed £10,000 a year more to the Dutchess of Cleveland, who has likewise near £10,000 out of the excise of beer and ale; £5,000 a year out of the post-office; and, they say, the reversion of all the King's leases; the reversion of all places in the custom-house: and, indeed, what not? All promotions, spiritual and temporal, pass under her cognizance."

Upon the prorogation of Parliament, in November, 1675, Marvell again commences his correspondence with the Mayor and Corporation of Hull: he says, "I am here in good health and vigour, ready to take that station in the house which I obtain by your favour, and have so many years continued; and therefore desire that you will consider whether there be any thing that particularly relates to the state of your town. I shall strive to promote it to the best of my duty; and in the more general concerns of the nation, shall maintain the same uncorrupt mind, and clear conscience, free from faction, or any self ends, which, by the grace of God, I have hitherto preserved." There are not many

would be a great absurdity if the King personally sat in judgment; because, in regard to these, he appears in another capacity, that of prosecutor. All offences are either against the 'King's peace,' or 'his crown and dignity,' though, in the eye of the law, his Majesty is always present in all his courts, he cannot personally distribute justice. It is the regal office, and not the regal person, that is always present in court; and from this ubiquity it follows, that the King can never be nonsuit. For the same reason also, in legal proceedings, the King is said, not to appear by his attorney, as other

men.

D

men at the present day who would obtain credit with their constituents, were they to speak thus of themselves; but Marvell had for many years given such convincing proofs of the purity of his mind, that his words were an oracle to all who knew him.

Upon the assembling of Parliament, on February 15, 1677, he writes," I think it befits me to acquaint you, that this day the Parliament assembled, in obedience to his Majesty, he being pleased, in a most gracious manner, to proffer, on his part, all things that might tend to the libertyes of the subject, and the safety of the nation; mentioning also his debts: but most of all, he recommended a good agreement between the two houses, calling heaven and earth to witness, that nothing on his part should be wanting to make this a happy session."

Feb. 17:-" Yesterday the House of Lords ordered the Earl of Salisbury, and Lord Wharton to the Tower, during his Majesty's and their House's pleasure. The Duke of Buckingham had retired before his sentence, but, appearing the day afterwards, was also sent to the Tower. The warrant bears for their high contempt of the House, for they refused to ask pardon as ordered. To-day I hear they are made close prisoners..”

March 3, he thus writes :- "Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of the Rolls, moved for a bill to be brought in, to indemnify all Countyes, Cityes, and Burrows, for the Wages due to their Members for the time past, which was introduced by him upon very good reason, both because of the poverty of many people not being able to supply so long an arreare, especially new taxes now coming upon them; and also, because Sir John Shaw, the 'Recorder of Colchester, had sued the town for his Wages; several other Members, also, having, it seems, threatened their Burrows to do the same, unless they should chuse them upon another election to Parliament. This day had been appointed for grievances : but, it being grown near two o'clock, and the day being, indeed, extraordinary cold, to which the breaking of one of the house windows contributed, it was put off till next Tuesday."

March 13, 1677 :-" To-day was read the bill against transporting Wool out of England or Scotland, into forain parts, and ordered a second reading. Then the bill for indemnifying Countyes, Cityes, and

* It is said, that Marvell was the last person in this country that received Wages from his constituents; two shillings a day being allowed for a burgess, and four shillings for a knight of the shire. This was thought so considerable a sum in ancient times, that there are many instances where boroughs petitioned to be excused from sending Members to Parliament; representing, that they were engaged in building bridges, or other public works, and therefore unable to bear such an extraordinary expense. See Blackstone's Commentaries, 1st vol.

Burrows from the Parliament Wages now due, until the first day of this session, was read the first time, and indured a long argument, insomuch, that when the question was put for a second reading, a gentleman, who had disapproved of the bill, deceiving himself by the noise of the negative vote, required the division of the house; but so considerable a number of the affirmatives went out for it, that all the rest in a manner followed after them, notwithstanding their own votes ; and there were scarce either tellers, or men to be told left behind, so that it will have a second reading,"

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March 17:- "I must beg your pardon for paper, pens, writing, and every thing; for really I have, by ill chance, neither eat nor drank, from yesterday at noon, till six o'clock to-night; when the house rose, and by good chance I have now met with Mr. Skyner, so that betwixt both, you may easily guesse I have but little time, and write but at adventure."

April 12-"We sit again to-morrow, being Good Friday, at two o'clock, and hope may rise by Saturday night."

He writes, January 29, 1678,—"It was ordered, that the house will, to-morrow in the afternoone, turn itself into a Committee of the whole house, to consider of the interring of his late martyred Majesty,"

January 31:-"The house met yesterday at two o'clock, after sermon, sate in Committee of the whole house, and ordered that a bill be brought in for £70,000, for the more decent interring of his late martyred Majesty, and raising a monument for him.”

We have now followed Marvell through his regular correspondence with the Corporation of Hull for upwards of twenty years, and have selected a few passages for the purpose of elucidating his history, yet a very insufficient part to give an idea of the excellent matter contained in his letters, which possess considerable strength and clearness of style, though the expressions occasionally appear quaint. The orthography, also, of that period was overcharged with letters, as the present is, perhaps, too much divested of them, They, however, throw considerable light on the character of Marvell, and are of importance in showing the sense which so able a man, and so illustrious a patriot, entertained of the duty he owed his constituents, and of the relation he bore to them in Parliament. He expresses himself upon the several matters on which he writes, with that spirit and freedom which distinguished his character, and which drew upon him the notice of persons in power. Not content with discharging the duty his station required, he appears to have been an active friend to the town of Hull, in all affairs that concerned its interest. By this attention Marvell gained the affections of his constituents. He had no private views to gratify the welfare of Hull, and the love of his country, were all his study and pursuit.

We cannot find, however, by any writings, that he ever spoke in Parliament: the journals of that time make no mention of such speeches; but by his own account, he always took notes of what passed; and by his indefatigable conduct otherwise, he obtained a great ascendancy over the minds of the members. He preserved the respect of the Court, even when he was most determined in his hostility to its measures. The good sense of Prince Rupert was conspicuous in making him his friend; for when Marvell's name became the hatred of the Court party, and it was dangerous for him to appear abroad, Prince Rupert would privately go to his lodgings; so that, whenever his Royal Highness voted on the side of Marvell, which he often did, it was the observation of the adverse faction, "that he had been with his tutor."

The severe tracts which he was frequently publishing against the profligate Court, and the inflammatory literary fight which he had with Parker and others, often made his life in danger; but no bribes, no offers of situation, could make him swerve from the virtuous path in which he continued to walk invariably to the last. A man of such excellent parts, and facetious converse, as Marvell, could not be unknown to Charles II., who loved the company of wits so much, that he would suffer the severest jokes, even upon himself, rather than not enjoy them.

Marvell having once been honored with an evening's entertainment, by his Majesty, the latter was so charmed with the ease of his manners, the soundness of his judgment, and the keenness of his wit, that the following morning, to shew him his regard, he sent the Lord Treasurer Danby to wait upon him with a particular message. His Lordship, with some difficulty, found Marvell's elevated retreat, on the second floor in a court near the Strand. Lord Danby, from the darkness of the stair-case, and its narrowness, abruptly burst open the door, and suddenly entered the room in which he found Marvell writing. Astonished at the sight of so noble and unexpected a visitor, Marvell asked his Lordship, with a smile, if he had not mistaken his way. No, he replied, with a bow, not since I have found Mr. Marvell; continuing that he came with a message from the King, who wished to do him some signal service, on account of the high opinion his Majesty had of his merits. Marvell replied with his usual pleasantry, that his Majesty had it not in his power to serve him. But becoming more serious, he told the Lord Treasurer, that he knew the nature of courts well; he had been in many; that whoever is distinguished by a Prince's favours is expected to vote in his interest. The Lord Danby told him his Majesty only desired to know whether there was any place at court he would accept. He told the Lord Treasurer he could not accept

anything with honour, for he must be either ungrateful to the King in voting against him, or false to his country in giving in to the measures of the court; therefore the only favour he begged of his Majesty was, that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and more in his proper interest, in refusing his offers, than if he had accepted them. The Lord Danby finding that no arguments could prevail, told Marvell that the King requested his acceptance of £1,000, till he could think what further to do for him.

This anecdote has been somewhat differently related, in a Pamphlet printed in Ireland, about the year 1754, from whence we shall extract it. "The borough of Hull, in the reign of Charles II, chose Andrew Marvell, a young gentleman of little or no fortune, and maintained him in London for the service of the public. His understanding, integrity, and spirit, were dreadful to the then infamous administration. Persuaded that he would be their's for properly asking, they sent his old school-fellow, the Lord Treasurer Danby, to renew acquaintance with him in his garret. At parting, the Lord Treasurer, out of pure affection, slipped into his hand an order upon the treasury for £1,000, and then went to his chariot. Marvell looking at the paper calls after the Treasurer, "My Lord, I request another moment." They went up again to the garret, and Jack, the servant boy, was called. Jack, child, what had I for dinner yesterday?" "Don't you remember, Sir? you had the little shoulder of mutton that you ordered me to bring from a woman in the market." Very right child.” "What have I for dinner to-day?" "Don't you know, Sir, that you bid me lay by the blade-bone to broil." ""Tis so, very right child, go away." "My Lord, do you hear that? Andrew Marvell's dinner is provided; there's your piece of paper. I want it not. I knew the sort of kindness you intended. I live here to serve my Constituents; the ministry may seek men for their purpose; I am not one.”

No Roman virtue ever surpassed this; nor can gold bribe a mind that is not debauched with luxury; and with DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, we repeat, "No man, whose appetites are his masters, can perform the duties of his nature with strictness and regularity. He that would be superior to external influences, must first become superior to his own passions. When the Roman general sitting at supper, with a plate of turnips before him, was solicited by large promises to betray his trust; he asked the messengers whether he, that could sup on turnips, was a man likely to sell his country? Upon him who has reduced his senses to obedience, temptation has lost its power; he is able to attend impartially to virtue, and execute her commands without hesitation."

It

may be here remarked, that if the 'Qualification Acts' had taken