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This is so far from be

purse, that it is unfit for our purposes. ing true, that we maintain, that in many instances the commonest books are the least known, and we could point out numerous instances of works, which, though in every body's hands, are in the minds of very few. The Letters of Lord Bacon nearly fill two bulky octavo volumes: they chiefly relate to matters of business, suits at law, cases of treason, the king's revenue, private advice to him and his favourite Buckingham, with numerous applications for advancement and consideration, both in his rise, during his elevation as chancellor, and after his fall; and are written in the style of the age, full, formal, and ponderous, but dignified, stately, and pregnant with images and allusions. Being, however, on the whole, little more amusing than statepapers, and rather adapted to the purposes of the historian than the general reader, we propose sifting out of them the fragments of gold which they contain, and thus, as usual, save the labour and time of those who wish for a royal road to knowledge. We have, moreover, a farther end in view. These letters are the most authentic materials for ascertaining the real character of this mighty man, concerning which, so many various opinions have been held, and which, to say the truth, presents so many various and contradictory views to the observer. To the discussion of the moral as well as intellectual character of this illustrious ornament of our country, we intend to devote some pages in a future number, and we consider that the body of extracts which we shall select in the present article, will form an excellent ground-work, and furnish apt materials for constructing a fair and equitable judgement of his virtues, his weakness, and his strength. The articles which we have as yet introduced on the Works of Bacon, were intended as an analysis of some of his greatest efforts, rather than a philosophical appreciation of his merits; rather as a stepping-stone to the student, than a broad and expansive view of all he did, all he caused to be done-the darkness in which he rose, the light which he beamed forth the streams which flowed from his source-the extent of his capacity, the fertility of his genius, the elevation or the depression of his sentiments, the height, depth, and magnitude, of his invention. This must be the theme of a future paper. We turn at present to the compilation of the scattered passages which we find in his letters, and only premise that we shall bind ourselves by no arrangement, chronological or systematical, but introduce them as we happen to think of them, or turn to them. To some of our readers, we hope to furnish an agreeable table-talk; to others, to supply food for reflection, and the materials of wisdom.

In the course of these letters, the scene changes more than

When Bacon was young, and was just making his voice

heard in parliament, we have groupes with Elizabeth, Burleigh, and Essex, in the fore-ground; and young Cecil, Lord Keeper Puckering, and Fulke Grevil, in the back. The scene soon changes to King James, and Somerset and Coke, and Northumberland, and Southampton. King James remains to the end a principal personage, and is meanwhile surrounded by Villiers, who rapidly becomes Viscount, then Earl, then Duke of Buckingham, and Salisbury, and Egerton; and their friend Bacon, now grown great in power. The scene again changes, and we have Bacon, old, poor, fallen and deserted, with the prince, afterwards Charles I., introduced upon the old king, and Buckingham still firm in favour with both father and son, nicely balancing between the " sol orient and occident." The curtain drops, and the cessation of the letters distinctly informs us what has taken place behind it.

But to begin with the beginning. We observe in the earlier letters a growing connexion between Bacon and Essex, which became very intimate and close, and ended with Essex's arraignment, and Bacon managing the trial against him as the queen's advocate.

"My Lord,

"I did almost conjecture by your silence and countenance a distaste in the course I imparted to your lordship touching mine own fortune; the care whereof in your lordship, as it is no news to me, so nevertheless the main effects and demonstrations past, are so far from dulling in me the sense of any new, as contrariwise every new refresheth the memory of many past. And for the free and loving advice your lordship hath given me, I cannot correspond to the same with greater duty, than by assuring your lordship, that I will not dispose of myself without your allowance, not only because it is the best wisdom in any man in his own matters, to rest in the wisdom of a friend (for who can by often looking in the glass discern and judge so well of his own favour as another with whom he converseth?) but also because my affection to your lordship hath made mine own contentment inseparable from your satisfaction."

In Bacon's youth, his tone is firmer and more independent than in the sycophantic times of James; and in his earliest essays in parliament, he spoke with a freedom which offended Elizabeth. The manliness of the following letter forms a lamentable contrast to those of an after date.

"To Sir John Puckering, Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal.

"My Lord,

"It is a great grief unto me, joined with marvel, that her majesty should retain an hard conceit of my speeches in parliament. It might please her sacred majesty to think what my end should be in those speeches, if it were not duty, and duty alone. I am not so simple, but I know the common beaten way to please. And whereas

popularity hath been objected, I muse what care I should take to please many, that take a course of life to deal with few. On the other side, her majesty's grace and particular favour towards me, hath been such, as I esteem no worldly thing above the comfort to enjoy it, except it be the conscience to deserve it. But if the not seconding of some particular person's opinion shall be presumption, and to differ upon the manner shall be to impeach the end; it shall teach votion not to exceed wishes, and those in silence. Yet notwithstanding, to speak vainly as in grief, it may be her majesty hath discouraged as good a heart, as ever looked toward her service, and as void of selflove. And so in more grief than I can well express, and much more than I can well dissemble, I leave your lordship, being as ever, your lordship's entirely devoted, &c."

my de

In a letter to Essex, he thus speaks of this Sir John Puckering, whom he suspected of only pretending to serve him.

"And though it may seem strange, considering how much it importeth him to join straight with your lordship, in regard both of his enemies and of his ends; yet I do the less rest secure upon the conceit, because he is a man likely to trust so much to his art and finesse (as he, that is an excellent wherryman, who, you know, looketh towards the bridge, when he pulleth towards Westminster) that he will hope to serve his turn, and yet to preserve your lordship's good opi

nion."

We find striking traits of the temper of the Queen scattered over Essex's Letters. As for instance, Essex wished to persuade her to advance Bacon, with whom she was displeased, to be her solicitor.

"She said she was neither persuaded nor would hear of it till Easter, when she might advise with her council, who were now all absent; and therefore in passion bid me go to bed, if I would talk of nothing else. Wherefore in passion I went away, saying while I was with her, I could not but solicit for the cause and the man I so much affected; and therefore I would retire myself till I might be more graciously heard; and so we parted. To-morrow I will go hence of purpose, and on Thursday I will write an expostulating letter to her. That night or upon Friday morning I will be here again, and follow on the same course, stirring a discontentment in her, &c."

Again :

"I have now spoken with the queen, and I see no stay from obtaining a full resolution of that we desire. But the passion she is in by reason of the tales, that have been told her against Nicholas Clifford, with whom she is in such rage, for a matter, which I think you have heard of, doth put her infinitely out of quiet; and her passionate humour is nourished by some foolish women. Else I find nothing to distaste us, for she doth not contradict confidently; which they, that

know the minds of women, say is a sign of yielding. I will to-morrow take more time to deal with her, and will sweeten her with all the art I have to make benevolum auditorem."

Again, when pressed to appoint him.

"The queen's speech is after this sort. Why? I have made no solicitor. Hath any body carried a solicitor with him in his pocket? But he must have had it in his own time (as it were but yesterday's nomination) or else I must be thought to cast him away: then her majesty sweareth thus; "If I continue this manner, she will seek all England for a solicitor rather than take me. Yea, she will send for Heuston and Coventry to-morrow next," as if she would swear them both. Again she entereth into it, that " she never deals so with any as with me (in hoc erratum non est) she had pulled me over the bar (note the words, for they cannotbe her own) she hath used me in her greatest causes. But this is Essex; and she is more angry with him than with me." And such like speeches so strange, as I should lose myself in it, but that I have cast off the care of it. My conceit is, that I am the least part of mine own matter. But her Majesty would have a delay, and yet would not bear it herself. Therefore she giveth no way to me, and she perceiveth her council giveth no way to others; and so it sticketh as she would have it. But what the secret of it is, oculus aquilæ non penetravit. My lord continueth on kindly and wisely a course worthy to obtain a better effect than a delay, which to me is the most unwelcome condition."

Bacon bore the delay exceedingly ill. The disappointment seems to have depressed him more than befits the occasion, and affords the first instance of that despondency and faintness of heart, which always seized him in the moments of failure or apprehension of it.

"My Lord,

"To the Earl of Essex.

"I thank your lordship very much for your kind and comfortable letter, which I hope will be followed at hand with another of more assurance. And I must confess this very delay hath gone so near me, as it hath almost overthrown my health; for when I revolved the good memory of my father, the near degree of alliance I stand in to my lord treasurer, your lordship's so signalled and declared favour, the honourable testimony of so many counsellors, the commendations unlaboured, and in sort offered by my lords the judges, and the master of the rolls elect; that I was voiced with great expectation, and, though I say it myself, with the wishes of most men, to the higher place; that I am a man that the queen hath already done for; and that princes, especially her majesty, love to make an end where they begin; and then add hereunto the obscureness and many exceptions to my competitors: when I say I revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a more exquisite disgrace; and

therefore truly, my lord, I was determined, if her majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune, and yet with that comfort of the good opinion of so many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and contemplations without looking back. I humbly pray your lordship to pardon me for troubling you with my melancholy. For the matter itself, I commend it to your love; only I pray you communicate afresh this day with my lord treasurer and Sir Robert Cecil; and if you esteem my fortune, remember the point of dency. The objections to my competitors your lordship knoweth partly. I pray spare them not, not over the queen, but to the great ones, to shew your confidence, and to work their distrust."

prece

The next extract shews the terms on which Essex treated the queen, and affords an instance of considerable shrewdness in her judgment of Bacon's talents.

Sir,

"I went yesterday to the queen through the galleries in the morning, afternoon, and at night. I had long speech with her of you, wherein I urged both of the point of your extraordinary sufficiency proved to me not only by your last argument, but by the opinion of all men I spake withal, and the point of mine own satisfaction, which, I protested, should be exceeding great, if, for all her unkindness and discomforts past, she should do this one thing for my sake. To the first she answered, that the greatness of your friends, as of my lord treasurer and myself, did make men give a more favourable testimony than else they would do, thinking thereby they pleased us. And that she did acknowledge you had a great wit, and an excellent gift of speech, and much other good learning. But in the law she rather thought you could make show to the uttermost of your knowledge, than that you were deep. To the second she said, she shewed her mislike to the suit, as well as I had done my affection in it; and that if there were a yielding, it was fitter to be of my side. I then added, that this was an answer, with which she might deny me all things, if she did not grant them at the first, which was not her manner to do. But her majesty had made me suffer and give way in many things else; which all I should bear, not only with patience, but with great contentment, if she would but grant my humble suit in this one. And for the pretence of the approbation given you upon partiality, that all the world, lawyers, judges, and all, could not be partial to you; for somewhat you were crossed for their own interest, and some for their friends; but yet all did yield to your merit. She did in this as she useth in all, went from a denial to a delay, and said, when the council were all here, she would think of it; and there was no haste in determining of the place. To which I answered, that my sad heart had need of hasty comfort; and therefore her majesty must pardon me, if I were hasty and importunate in it."

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