tempt for Oliver Cromwell, when he was in the plenitude of his power. She found herself under the necessity of recovering some of her property by a lawsuit. Cromwell offered his mediation; but she answered loftily, she would never accept it, whilst there was any law to be found in England. "What!" said she, "does he imagine that I, who refused to submit to king James, will yield to him?"

158. Her dislike to Cromwell was not founded on party, but on principle. She had the same dislike to Charles II., when she became acquainted with the spirit of his government. On being pressed by her friends, some time after the Restoration, to go to court: By no means," said she, "unless I may be allowed to wear blinkers."

1 159. She was the most heroic, noble, generous, economical, virtuous, and discreet lady of her age. Bishop Rainbow summed up her character with respect to her prudence and discretion, by calling her A perfect mistress of forecast and aftercast.'

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DR. CLARKE.

"

160. HUME said, that Butler's Analogy was the best defence of Christianity he had ever seen. Queen Caroline is said to have read some part of this profound work every day at breakfast. She asked Dr. Clarke what he knew of Butler. Dr. Clarke told her he was residing with his family upon a small living in Kent. The queen expressed her surprise, and said she thought he was dead. No, madam,' said Dr. Clarke, he is not dead, but he is buried.'

MR. CLIFTON.

161. KING JAMES said to Mr. Clifton one day, 'I do not know how it is, but I never knew a modest man make his way at court.' Please your majesty,'

asked Mr. Clifton,

whose fault is that?"

COLLINS.

162 THIS sweet poet was much attached to a young lady, who was born the day before him, and who did not return his passion. Yours is a hard case,' said a friend. "It is so, indeed,' said Collins, ' for I came into the world a day after the fair.'

THE PRINCE OF CONDE.

163. An officious friend showed the prince of Condé some libels written against him, in which he was described as acting and speaking things that were false, 'These rascals,' said he, make me talk and act as they would do if they were in my place.'

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK.

164. He married a young lady to whom he had been guardian. Preparing soon after for one of his voyages, he said, on taking leave of his friends, The spring of my life was stormy, the summer has been laborious; but I leave in my native country a fund of happiness to enrich the autumn and cheer the winter of my days. Little did this adventurous navigator think, when he expressed himself in this beautiful manner, that death would suddenly arrest his progress at the extremity of the globe, and frustrate the fondest hopes of his heart!

ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER.

165. WHEN Mr. Anthony Ashley Cooper was member for Pool in Dorsetshire, he gave a very singular instance of his humanity and integrity. Before the revolution, and for some time after, prisoners accused of high treason were not permitted to be heard by counsel, unless a special matter of law was stated to the court. A bill was at length presented to the house

of commons, to abolish this prohibition; and, notwithstanding the equity of such an intended law, it met with great opposition.

When the bill was brought into the house, Mr. Cooper had prepared a speech in support of it; but when he stood up to read it, he was so agitated, that he was unable to proceed. The speaker observing his confusion, recommended him to take time, and not be discouraged; upon which encouragement Mr. Cooper recovered himself, and spoke as follows:

Mr. Speaker-If I, who rise only to give my opinion upon the bill now depending, am so confounded that I am unable to express the least part of what I proposed to say, what must be the condition of that man, who, without any assistance whatever, is obliged to plead for his life, whilst under the dreadful apprehensions of being deprived of it?'

This emphatic speech had such an effect upon the house, that the bill passed without opposition.

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On the death of his father he became earl of Shaftes bury. His work entitled Characteristics' has acquired for him the reputation of a philosopher. Therein he argues to inculcate these two principles; that Divine Providence administers all affairs for universal good; and that man is made by that Providence a social animal, who can only find his proper end in the pursuit of moral virtue.

Thus he echoes the tenets of the Socratic school; but certainly he does not convey them in the manner either of Xenophon or Plato; for his style is so perplexed and verbose, as to throw a veil of obscurity over his ideas.

PETER CORNEILLE.

He was the father of the French drama. In the force by which he is impelled, and the fire by which he is

animated when he describes the passions, he is more like Shakspeare, than any of the French dramatists. He is rarely pathetic, but often sublime. The best edition of his works is enriched with the notes of Voltaire.

166. When a friend informed him that the critics threatened to publish some very severe remarks on his tragedy of Horatius, he said, alluding to the trial of that hero, 'I am very little alarmed at their menace; for you may recollect, that although Horatius was condemned by the decemviri, he was acquitted by the people.'

FERNANDO CORTEZ.

167. A SPANIARD of good family. He subdued the kingdom of Mexico, but not without exercising great cruelties against the sovereign and people of that country. When he returned to Spain, he was coolly received by the emperor, Charles V. One day he suddenly presented himself to that monarch. Who are you?" said the emperor, haughtily. The man, said Cortez, as haughtily, who has given you more provinces than your ancestors left you cities.'

COTON.

168. HENRY IV. of France asked the jesuit Coton, 'Would you discover to me the confession of a man who told you he was determined to assassinate me?' 'No, I could not,' said Coton, neither in honour, nor conscience; but I would prevent his malice, by. placing myself between him and you.'

LORD CHANCELLOR COWPER.

169. HENRIETTA Lady Luxborough remarked, 'I remember once to have heard lord chancellor Cowper

say, 'If every body knew as much of the law as I do, they would (were the cause ever so good) give up half, rather than embark in our courts.''

CREBILLON.

170. A FRIEND asked him why he had introduced so much of the terrific into his tragedies. I had no alternative,' said he : Corneille has taken the heavens, Racine the earth, and I had nothing left me but the infernal regions.'

171. In retirement he formed the subjects of his plays, and composed them without writing them down, till he had completed all the parts. One day, when he was lost in a tragical reverie, some one abruptly entered. Do not interrupt me,' said he, ' I am overwhelm=ed in business: I am this moment engaged in killing one minister for being a rascal, and banishing another for being a fool.'

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172. He was asked, why he was fond of being surrounded by a number of dogs. 'I have always I been so,' said he, since I was thoroughly well acquainted with mankind.'

THE CRITICS.

173. WHEN prejudice once prevails, reason tries in vain to recover her rights. Names, upon almost all occasions, carry greater weight than things. When the fables of de la Mothe first appeared, it was the fashion to speak very unfavourably of them. At a supper given by the prince of Vendome, the abbe Chaulieu, the bishop of Lucon, the abbe Cointin, and other highly reputed critics were present, and they were all very merry at the expense of de la Mothe, and oppressed the poor author with their censures. Voltaire, who related the anecdote, was one of the party. Gentlemen,' said he, with an air of gravity, 'you are all