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opinion, that laws can do every thing! and how weak and pernicious the maxin founded upon it,

that measures, not men, are to be attended to!"

CHARACTER OF CHARLES THE SECOND.

[From the same.]

"WITH respect to the charac- satires against the monarch himself,

ter of this Prince, upon the delineation of which so much pains have been employed by the various writers who treat of the history of his time, it must be confessed that the facts which have been noticed in the foregoing pages, furnish but too many illustrations of the more unfavourable parts of it. From these we may collect, that his ambition' was directed solely against his subjects, while he was completely indifferent concerning the figure which he or they might make in the general affairs of Europe; and that his desire of power was more unmixed with the love of glory than that of any other man whom history has recorded; that he was unprincipled, ungrateful, mean, and treacherous, to which may be added, vindictive and remorseless. For Burnet, in refusing to him the praise of clemency and forgiveness seems to be perfectly justifiable, nor is it conceivable upon what pretence his Partizans have taken this ground of panegyric. I doubt whether a single instance can be produced, of his having spared the life of any one whom motives, either of policy, or of revenge, prompted him to destroy. To alledge that of Monmouth, as it would be an affrout to human nature, so would it like wise imply the most severe of all

and we may add too an undeserved one. For in order to consider it as an act of meritorious forbearance on his part, that he did not follow the example of Constantine, and Philip the Second, by imbruing his hands in the blood of his son, we must first suppose him to have been wholly void of every natural affection, which does not appear to have been the case. His declara-: tion, that he would have pardonedEssex, being made when that noble-" man was dead, and not followed by any act evincing its sincerity, can surely obtain no credit from men of sense. If he had really had the intention, he ought not to have made such a declaration, unless he accómpanied it with some mark of kindness to the relations, or with some act of mercy to the friends, of the deceased. Considering it as a mere piece of hypocrisy, we cannot help looking upon it as one of the most odious passages of his life. This illtimed boast of his intended mercy, and the brutal taunt with which he accompanied his mitigation (if so it may be called) of Russel's sentence, show his insensibility and hardness to have been such, that in questions where right and feelings were concerned, his good sense, and even the good taste for which he has been so much extolled, seemed wholly to desert him.

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"On the other hand, it would be want of candour to maintain, that Charles was entirely destitute of good qualities; nor was the proprie ty of Burnet's comparison between him and Tiberius ever felt, I ima gine, by any one but its author. He was gay and affable, and, if incapable of the sentiments belonging to pride of a laudable sort, he was at least free from haughtiness and insolence. The praise of politeness which the Stoics are net perhaps wrong in classing among the moral virtues, provided they admit it to be one of the lowest order, has never been denied him; and he had, in an eminent degree, that facility of temper which, though considered by some moralists as nearly allied to vice, yet, inasmuch as it contributes greatly to the happiness of those around us, is, in itself, not only an engaging, but an estimable quality. His support of the Queen during the heats raised by the Popish plot, ought to be taken rather as a proof that he was not a monster, than to be ascrib ed to him as a merit; but his stea diness to his brother, though it may and ought, in a great measure, to be accounted for upon selfish prins ciples, had at least a strong resem blance to virtue.

The best part of this Prince's character seems to have been bis kindness towards his mistresses, and his affection for his children, and others nearly connected to him by the ties of blood. His recommen dation of the Duchess of Ports mouth and Mrs. Gwyn, upon his death-bed, to his successor, is much to his honour; and they who censure it seem, in their zeal to show themselves strict moralists, to have suffered their notions of vice and virtue to have fallen into strange confusion, Charles's connection with those ladies might be vicious,

but at a moment when that connec tion was upon the point of being finally and irrevocably dissolved, to concern himself about their future welfare, and to recommend them to his brother with earnest tenderness, was virtue. It is not for the interest of morality, that the good and evil actions, even of bad mea, should be confounded. His affection for the Duke of Gloucester, and for the Duchess of Orleans, seems to have been sincere and cordial. To attribute, as some have done, his grief for the loss of the first to political considerations, founded upon an intended balance of power between his two brothers, would be an absurd refinement, whatever were his general disposition; būt when we reflect upon that carelessness which, especially in his youth, was a conspicuous feature of his character, the absurdity becomes still more striking. And though Burnet more covertly, and Ludlow more openly, insinuate that his fondness for his sister was of a criminal nature, I never could. find that there was any ground whatever for such a suspicion; nor does the little that remains of their epistolary correspondence give it the smallest countenance. Upon the whole, Charles the Second was a bad man, and a bad king; let us not palliate his crimes; but neither let us adopt false or doubtful imputations, for the purpose of making him a monster.

Whoever reviews the interesting period which we have been discussing, upon the principle recommended in the outset of this chapter, will find, that, from the consideration of the past, to prognosticate the future, would, at the moment of Charles's demise, be no easy task. Between two persons, one of whom should expect that the country would remain sunk in slavery, the other,

that

that the cause of freedom would révivé and triumph, it would be difficult to decide, whose reasons were better supported, whose speculations the more probable. I should guess that he who desponded, had looked more at the state of the public, while he who was sanguine, had fixed his eyes more attentively upon the person who was about to mount the throne, upon reviewing the two great parties of the nation, one observation occurs very forcibly, and that is, that the great strength of the Whigs consisted in their being able to brand their adversaries as favourers of Popery ;

that of the Tories, (as far as their strength depended upon opinion, and not merely upon the power of the crown) in their finding colour to represent the Whigs as republicans. From this observation ws may draw a further inference, that in proportion to the rashness of the Crown, in avowing and pressing forward the cause of Popery, and to the moderation and steadiness of the Whigs, in adhering to the form of monarchy, would be the chance of the people of England, for changing an ignominious despotism for glory, liberty, and happiness."

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EXPULSION OF JOHN LOCKE FROM OXFORD.

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MONG the oppressions of this period, most of which were attended with consequences so much more important to the several objects of persecution, it may seem scarcely worth while to notice the expulsion of John Locke from Christ Church College, Oxford. Bat besides the interest which every incident in the life of a person so deservedly eminent, naturally excites, there appears to have been something in the transaction itself characteristic of the spirit of the times, as well as of the general nature of absolute power. Mr. Locke was known to have been intimately connected with Lord Shaftesbury, and had very prudently judged it advisable for him, to prolong for some time his residence upon the Continent, to which he had resorted originally on account of his

health, A suspicion as it has been since proved, anfounded, that he was the author of a pamphlet which gave offence to the government, induced the King to insist upon his removal from his studentship at Christ Church. Sunderland writes; by the King's command, to Dr. Fell, Bishop of Oxford, and Dean of Christ Church. The reverend prelate answers, that he has long had an eye upon Mr. Locke's bea haviour; but though frequent attempts had been made, (attempts of which the Bishop expresses no dis approbation) to draw himinto im prudent conversation, by attacking, in his company, the reputation, and insulting the memory, of his late patron and friend, and thus to make his gratitude, and all the best feelings of his heart, instrumental to his ruin, these attempts all proved

unsuccessful.

unsuccessful. Hence, the Bishop infers, not the innocence of Mr. Locke, but that he was a great master of concealment, both as to words and looks; for looks, it is to be supposed, would have furnished a pretext for his expulsion, more decent than any which had yet been discovered. An expedient is then suggested, to drive Mr. Locke to a dilemma, by summoning him to attend the college on the first of January ensuing. If he did not appear, he shall be expelled for contumacy; if he come, matter of charge may be found against him, for what he shall have said at London, or elsewhere, where he will have been

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less upon his guard than at Oxford. [In the hands of the late Anthony Col

Some have ascribed. Fell's hesitation, if it can be so called, in executing the King's order, to his unwillingness to injure Locke, who was his friend; others, with more reason, to the doubt of the legality of the order. However this may have been, neither his scruple nor his reluctance was regarded by a court who knew its own power. A peremptory order was accordingly sent, and immediate obedience ensured. Thus, while without the shadow of a crime, Mr. Locke lost a situation attended with some emo-lument and great convenience, was the university deprived of, or rather thus, from the base principles of servility, did she cast away the man, the having produced whom is now her chiefest glory; and thus, to those who are not determined to be blind, did the true nature of absolute power discover itself, against which the middling station is not more secure than the most exalted. Tyranny, when glutted with the blood of the great, and the plunder of the rich, will condescend to hunt

lins, Esq.]

"From Birch's papers in the British Museum-Copies in Birch's handwriting.

"To the Lord Bishop of Oxford.

Whitehall, November 6, 1684. "MY LORD,"

The King being given to understand that one Mr. Locke, who belonged to the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and has, upon several occasions, behaved himself very facuously and undutifully to the government, is a student of Christ Church; his Majesty commands me to signify to your Lordship, that he would have him removed from being a student, and that in order thereunto, your Lordship would let me know the method of doing it.

"I am, my Lord, &c.

SUNDERLAND.”

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"To the light Honourable the Earl of Sunderland, 'Principal' Secretary of State.

" November 8, 1684.
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"RIGHT HON.

"I have received the honour of your Lordship's letter, wherein you are pleased to enquire concerning Mr. Locke's being a student of this House, of which I have this account to render; that he being, as your Lordship is truly informed, a person who was much trusted by the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and who is suspected to be ill affected to the government, I have for divers years had an eye upon him; but so close has his guard been on himself, that after several strict enquiries, I may confidently affirm, there is not one in the college, however familiar, with him, who had heard him speak a word either against, or so much as concerning, the, government. And although very frequently, both in public and private, discourses have purposely been introduced,, to the disparagement of his, master, the Earl of Shaftesbury, his party, and designs, he could never be provoked to take any notice, or discover in word or

shall be found to have done amiss; it being probable, that though he may have been thus cautions here, where he knew himself to be suspected, he has laid himself more open in London, where a general liberty of speaking was used, and where the execrable designs against his Majesty and his government were managed and pursued. If he does not return by the first day of January next, which is the time limited to him, I shall be enabled of course to proceed against him to expulsion. But if this method seem not effectual, or speedy enough, and his Majesty, our founder and visitor, shall please to command his immediate remove, upon the receipt thereof, directed to the Dean and Chapter, it shall accordingly be executed by,

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Having communicated your

look, the least concern; so that I Lordship's of the 8th to his Majesbelieve there is not in the world suchy, he has thought fit to direct me to send you the enclosed, concerning his commands for the immediate expulsion of Mr. Locke.

a master of taciturnity and passion. He has here a physician's place, which frees him from the exercises. of the college,, and the obligation which others have to residence in it,. and he is now abroad upon want of health; but notwithstanding that, I have summoned him to return home, which is done with this prospect, that if he comes not back, he will be liable to expulsion for contumacy, and if he does, he will be answerable to your Lordship for what he

"SUNDERLAND."

"To the Right Reverend Father in

God, John Lord Bishop of Oxon,
Dean of Christ Church, and to
our trusty and well-beloved, the
Chapter there.

"

Right Rev. Father in God, and trusty and well-beloved, We greet

you

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