nately for the nation, it took not place: though he was undoubtedly capable of filling falfe patriots in more modern times; who, under the guise of good men with upright intentions and difinterefted views, forced themselves into power, and, when poffeffed of it, used it to as bad purposes as their predeceffors. Of all modern virtues, patriotifm has stood the teft the worft. The great Strafforde, with the eloquence of Tully and the heroifm of Epamimondas, had none of the fteadiness of the latter. Hampden, lefs ftained, cannot but be fufpected of covering ambitious thoughts with the mantle of popular virtue. In the partition of employments on a treaty with the King, ⚫ his contenting himself with asking the post of Governor to the Prince, feems to me to have had at least as deep a tincture of felf-intereftnefs as my Lord • Straffordé had, who strode at once from demagogue to • Prime Minister (i)'. It seems therefore to have hap-( Catapened very fortunately, as I have faid, for Hampden's character, that he escaped the temptation, and therefore carried down an unsullied name to pofterity. He might, however, in the trial have come off conqueror. The coalition of these patriots and courtiers would have had also infinite bad effects on the public. The inftruments of tyranny would have efcaped unpunished, perhaps uncenfured; and, emboldened by impunity, have increased the burdens then too heavy to bear. But above all, the great and noble struggle for liberty made by Hampden, and his fellows, in arms, againft tyranny and the tyrant, would never have had an exiftence; the noble example would have been loft ;-and the means of recalling liberty remained unknown. What logue of Royal and Noble Au p. 18. 8vo. Lond. 1759 thors, vol. ii. filling the poft with honor and advantage to his pupil. After What Hampden's character was in the eyes of his ene- do good or hurt, than any man in the kingdom, or ❝ than any man of his rank hath had in any time: for his reputation of honefty was univerfal, and his af•fections feemed fo publicly guided, that no corrupt or private ends could byafs them.- He was very tem< perate in diet, and a fupream governour over all his paffions and affections, and had thereby a great power ⚫ over other mens. He was of an industry and vigilance 'not to be tired out, or wearied by the moft laborious; • and of parts not to be imposed upon, by the most subtle, or fharp; and of a perfonal courage equal to his best parts; so that he was an enemy not to be wished wherever he might have been made a friend; and as much to be apprehended where he was fo, as any 'man could deferve to be.' What a character this! ---muft not every one stand amaz'd that his Lordship fhould conclude (for his Lordship it is, and not his editors, as has been groundlefly promulgated), 'What has been faid of Cinna, might be well applied to him; he had a head to contrive, and a tongue to perfwade, and (k) Hift.of a hand to execute any mischief (k).' Few readers will fubmit to this decree from the Chancellor of human nature; if indeed a man who paid no regard to the Rebel lion, vol. ii. 8vo. truth After the treaty of Uxbridge, the Prince. was fent into the weft [D]; constituted General truth in his writings, can have the leaft pretence to fo honourable a character. (D) The Prince was fent into the west.] The King, fays Clarendon, fpoke to thofe he trusted most at that time, with much more melancholy of his own condition, and the ftate of his affairs, than he had used to do. So that his Majefty told them, "He found "it abfolutely neceffary to purfue his former refolution "of feparating the Prince his fon from himself, that the enemy might not, upon any fuccefs, find them toge❝ther; which, he faid, would be ruin to them both; "whereas, though he should fall into their hands whilft ❝his fon was at liberty, they would not dare to do him "harm." He feemed to have very reasonable appre henfions, that upon the lofs of a battle, he might • become a prisoner; but he never imagined, that it • would enter into their thoughts to take away his life; ⚫ not that he believed they could be restrained from that impious act by any remorfe of confcience, or that they had not wickednefs enough to defign and execute it : but he believed it against their intereft; and would ' often, in difcourfe, fay, of what moment the prefervation of his life was to the rebels; and how much they were concerned to preserve it, in regard, that if he himself were dead, the Parliament ftood diffolved; fo that there would be an end of their government : which though it were true in law, would have little 'fhaken their power, of which they were too long pof feffed to part with it eafily. This was a fpeculation ← of that nature, that nobody had reason to endeavour to change General of an affociation for petitioning or compelling the Parliament to a peace; and General of all the forces of Eng-land. change the King's opinion in that particular; and his Majefty thought of nothing so much as haftning the 'Prince's journey; and to that purpofe, commanded ❝ those who were appointed to attend him to be ready · by a short day, refolving that his Highness should make his journey directly to Bristol, and continue his refi'dence there till fome emergent alteration should make his remove from thence neceffary. There happened " an accident at this time, that reconciled the mind of 'many to this journey of the Prince inte the Weft, and looked like a good omen that it would produce good effects; though it proved afterwards an occafion of much trouble and inconvenience. When the King ' returned through Somerfetfhire, after the defeat of the Earl of Effex in Cornwall, there had been a petition • delivered to him, in the names of the gentry, clergy, freeholders, and others his Majefty's protestant fub'jects of the county of Somerset, in which they defired, that his Majefty would give them leave to petition the Parliament, that there might be a treaty for peace; and that they might have liberty to wait upon his Majefty in perfon in his march; and that when they came * to a nearer distance, they might then go before, and ' deliver their petition; and if they should not obtain their fo juft request, they would then affift his Majefty to get that by the fword, which could be ob'tained no other way to that purpose they defired leave to put themselves in arms, to attend his Ma 'jefty land. On account of his youth a council was affigned him by his Majefty. But nothing of confequence was done by council jesty in his journey.-The King gave them a gra'cious reception, and liberty to do all that they defired; believing it poffible, that he might even 'from thence recruit his foot; which he most desired. 'But his Majesty's speedy march left that defign to 'be better weighed and digested. Upon the fame of 'the Prince's being to visit the Weft, and to keep his ⚫ court there, fome gentlemen, of the best quality in the Weft, came to Oxford, as entrusted by the reft to · acquaint his Majefty, that they had now formed the · defign, they had formerly presented to him, much better than it was; and that the four Weftern counties, • Dorfet, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, had refolved to enter into an affociation, and to be joint petitio· ners to the Parliament for peace; and whofoever re'fused to join in the petition, should be looked upon as enemies to peace, and their country, and accordingly treated; fo that this addrefs could not but have · great influence upon the Parliament, being under the style of one and all; and could not but be look'd upon as fuch. They defired the King, that the Prince might be made General of this affociation; in order to which, they would provide for his fupport according to his dignity; and, in the first place, take care ' for the raising a good guard of horfe and foot, for the fafety of his perfon. Upon thefe reasons, the Prince ' had two commiffions granted to him; one to be General of the affociation; and another, to be General of all the |