won over by curiosity first, then by gratification; that saved Newton from being lost in a substantial grazier, and Adam Smith in vagrant mender of old kettles!

he remained till a late hour hanging upon Priestley's lips; he took his departure at length, and told the host as he quitted the house, that never The genius of Davy was of course not to be had he passed so delightful an evening, though contained by the bounds of an apothecary's he admitted that he had begun it "by behaving shop. He had the metallic bases of the alkalies (and there are many current) is of more force to to discover, chlorine to fix in its place in scidescribe its subject than a hundred labored pan-ence, the safety-lamp to invent, and the homegyrics.

like a fool and a brute." One such anecdote

Priestley's character is thus summed up :

age of both foreigners and his countrymen to earn and obtain. When the war between England and France was at its fiercest, the French National Institute honored itself and His character is a matter of no doubt, and it is its country by nevertheless crowning an Engof a high order. That he was a most able, most lishman-Davy-with the first honor founded Of the industrious, most successful student of nature, is by Napoleon for scientific desert. clear; and that his name will forever be held in homage he received among his own countrygrateful remembrance by all who cultivate phys

ical science, and placed among those of its most men, take the following for an example; addeminent masters, is unquestionable. That he ing the fact that the coal-owners, at a public was a perfectly conscientious man in all the dinner to the inventor of the safety lamp, preopinions which he embraced, and sincere in all sented him with a service of plate worth two he published respecting other subjects, appears thousand pounds. equally beyond dispute. He was, also, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and justly beloved by his family and friends as a man spotless in all the relations of life. That he was governed in all his public conduct by a temper too hot and irritable to be consistent either with his own dignity, or with an amiable deportment, may be freely admitted; and his want of self-command, and want of judgment in the practical affairs of life, was manifest above all in his controversial history; for he can be charged with no want of prudence in the management of his private concerns. His violence and irritability, too, seem equally to have been confined to his public life, for in private all have allowed him the praise of a mild and attractive demeanor; and we have just seen its great power in disarming the prejudices of his adversaries.

In the volume, too, is Cavendish, the patritian philosopher, discoverer of the composition of water, and of nitrous acid, who shrank with a faint cry of distress from any stranger by whom he was accosted, and, shy before women, dared not face his housekeeper, but gave his orders to her by notes left on the hall

table.

Retiring home one evening he observed an ordinary man showing the moon and a planet through a telescope placed upon the pavement. He went up and paid his pence for a look. But "That's Sir no such thing would they permit. Humphry," ran among the people; and the exhibitor, returning his money, said with an im portant air which exceedingly delighthed him, that he could not think of taking anything from a brother philosopher.

Finally, great among mathematicians, portly among men, there was Simson, who, among all the storms of life from youth upward, when, teased by controversy upon every side, he took refuge in the sure science of necessary truth, said that he "always found himself refreshed with rest." Probably no sort of philosopher devotes himself with a more singleminded enthusiasm to his favorite pursuit than the mathematician. The earnestness of Simson carries our minds back to the sixteenth century, when there were scholars working each in his own groove with an enormous industry, and a zeal which in these days of more desultory study appears absolutely awful. That Simson is Euclid every schoolboy knows. In Simson alone Euclid lives. In Lord Brougham's volume we are also told how he restored the Propositions of Apollonius, and nearly broke his heart as he quite broke his health in poring over the mystery of Porisms; so that at last, as he writes, "firmiter animum induxi hæc nunquam in posterum investigare. Unde quoties menti occurrebant, toties eas

The shyness of Cavendish, by right of its excess, may pair with Adam Smith's absence of mind. The biographer devotes much space to an analysis of the Wealth of Nations, but does not omit to show us the philosopher in the Fishmarket of Edinburgh walking as usual with his hands behind his back and his head in the air, while a quean of the caller herring, taking him to be an idiot in charge of nobody: is crying out "Heigh! Sirs, to let the like of him be about!" The like of him might not have been about, had not his uncle missed It happened, however, about the month of him in good time and rescued him, when, as a April, 1722, that while walking on the banks child of three years old, he was stolen by the of the Clyde with some friends, he had fallen tinkers. It seems but the intervention of a behind the company; and musing alone, the very little chance-if one believed in chance rejected topic found access to his thoughts. Af

arcebam."

stood.

ter some time a sudden light broke in upon him; interest is treated as of mean or of great ac-it seemed at length as if he could descry some-count in proportion to its influence upon the thing of a path, slippery, tangled, interrupted, history of civilization; and this circumstance but still practicable, and leading at least in the adds not a little to the effect with which each direction towards the object of his research. He character is discussed, still from the stateseagerly drew a figure on the stump of a neigh- man's point of view. In the introduction to boring tree with a piece of chalk; he felt assured that he had now the means of solving the great the volume Lord Brougham remarks:problem; and although he afterwards tells us that he then had not a sufficiently clear notion of the subject (eo tempore Porismatum naturam that there is no higher object in submitting these It would be a very great mistake to suppose non satis compertam habebam), yet he accom- Sketches to the world than the gratification of plished enough to make him communicate a pa- curiosity respecting eminent statesmen, or even per upon the discovery to the Royal Society, the a more important purpose-the maintenance of first work he ever published (Phil. Trans. for a severe standard of taste respecting Oratorical 1723). He was wont in after life to show the Excellence. The main object in view has been the spot on which the tree, long since decayed, had maintenance of a severe standard of Public Virtue, by constantly painting political profligacy in those hateful colors which are natural to it, though sometimes obscured by the lustre of talents, especially when seen through the false glare shed by success over public crimes. To show manthem the wisdom of only exalting the friends of kind who are their real benefactors. peace, of freedom, and of improvement warn them against the folly, so pernicious to themselves, of lavishing their applauses upon their worst enemies, those who disturb the tranquility, assail the liberties, and obstruct the improvement of the world-to reclaim them from the yet worser habit, so nearly akin to vicious indulgence, of palliating cruelty and fraud committed on a large scale, by regarding the success which has attended those foul enormities, or the courage and the address with which they have been perpetrated. these are the views. which have guided the pen that has attempted to sketch the History of George III's times, by describing the statesmen who flourished in them. With these views a work was begun many years ago, and interrupted by professional avocations

company

Simson died with his book of Porisms still unpublished. He could never satisfy himself of its perfection, though the world so readily acknowledged it when it was made public after his decease. His restoration of the Propositions of Apollonius he kept eight years before he suffered it to go to press. Then, when it was printed, his own higher sense of perfection caused him with a nervous haste to stop the publication and buy up what copies had been sold. It was not till after the lapse of another three years that the work appeared. This great mathematician loved the of friends, dined very regularly with his Saturday Club at Anderston by Glasgow, took pleasure in whist, was strict with his partner, and was fond of calculating chances, at which he generally failed. He was fond of music too, we find, and sometimes would sing a Greek ode to a modern air. "Professor Robison says he twice heard him sing in this manner a Latin hymn 'to the Divine Geometer,' and adds, that the tears stood in his eyes as he gave it with devotional rapture." Truly one needs to be told that there were men of this mould to adorn and redeem the days of George the Third.

to teach

- to

the history of two reigns in our own annals, those of Harry V and Elizabeth, deemed glorious ing largely the admiration of the vulgar, justly for the arts of war and of government, commandfamous for the capacity which they displayed, but extolled upon the false assumption that for eign conquest is the chief glory of a nation, and that habitual and dexterous treachery towards all What other kind of men there also were, mankind is the first accomplishment of a soverLord Brougham illustrates in the second and eign. To relate the story of those reigns in the third volume of the re-publication of his works, language of which sound reason prescribes the by notices of men of letters and statesmen; the detestation of cruelty which the uncorrupted use-- to express the scorn of falsehood and but such further space as we can at present feelings of our nature inspire to call wicked give restricts us to the latter of these subjects. things by their right names, whether done by Among important additional matter now first princes and statesmen, or by vulgar and more printed in the edition before us, we find the harmless malefactors was the plan of that volume of Sketches of Statesmen enriched by work. Longer experience of the world has only a copy of the remarkable letters addressed by excited a stronger desire to see such lessons George the Third to Lord North when the inculcated, and to help in tearing off the veil latter was first minister, and we propose to which the folly of mankind throws over the give some curious extracts from them.

crimes of their rulers. But it was deemed better

to direct the attention of the people, in the first re-characters, and more interesting events. In this instance, to more recent times, better known opinion these Historical Sketches had their origin. The other work will probably (at least as regards the author's name) be posthumous; it

We shall merely premise, of the execution of these political sketches generally, that gard is always had much more to the progress of society than to the success of this or that party or even national interest. Every such

must, from its nature, be too dull to be patiently | no difficulty in placing the second son's name borne from a living writer. instead of the father's, and making up the pension 3,000l."

From the truly savage feelings which this letter That is indeed a kind of history much wanted, and here are touches not likely to be displays, it is agreeable to turn the eye upon so amiable a constrast as the following affords, forgotten when contemporary incidents shall written to the minister whom he ever loved bebe treated after such a fashion. The addi-yond all his other servants, and only quitted tions made comprise several new sketches, when the Coalition united him to the Whigs:among which are promised Lords Plunket and 'Having paid the last arrears (Sept. 1777) on Abinger, and Sir A. Pigot; but we must not the Civil List, I must now do the same for you. detain the reader longer from George the I have understood, from your hints, that you Third's private letters to his favorite minister. have been in debt ever since you settled in life. Of their authenticity there can be no question I must therefore insist that you allow me to assist you with £10,000 or £15,000 or even £20,whatever, though Lord Brougham does not 000 if that will be sufficient. It will be easy for explain in what way the copy from which they you to make an arrangement, or at proper times are printed appears to have been taken. That to take up that sum. You know me very ill if a copy has been used, and not the originals, you think not that, of all the letters I ever wrote we think clear-indeed the originals are some- to you, this one gives me the greatest pleasure: times abridged, and only the salient points of and I want no return but your being convinced them preserved, in such a way as to make this that I love you as well as a man of worth, as I ovident. There is a note at p. 132 which esteem you a minister. Your conduct at a critiwould seem to connect it with Sir James cal moment I never can forget." Mackintosh.

We will at once show the character of the

letters by showing the use Lord Brougham makes of them in the following passage, which concludes his sketch of the king:

That this Prince in his private life had many virtues, we have already stated, with the qualification annexed of these being always, even as regarded his strong domestic affections, kept in subjection to his feelings as a sovereign. With regard to his general disposition, it must be added that he belonged to a class of men, not by any means the worst, but far beneath the best, in the constitution of their hearts, those who neither can forget a kindness nor an injury. Nor can this sketch be more appropriately closed than with two remarkable examples of the implacable hatred he bore his enemies, and the steady affection with which he cherished his friends.

It is not necessary for us to preface our further extracts by any views of our own upon the character of George the Third. writes down unmistakably in these letters, under his own hand, whatever was bad in him and whatever was good. We have no need to say that he meddled in everything; that with sleepless activity he strove to seize and secure for the Crown the utmost possible patronage and power; that he was obstinate and narrow-sighted, yet also conscientious and really courageous; how much decorum there was in his mode of life, or how little logic in his modes of reasoning; for is not all of it here written down by himself, in the most life-like way?

Observe his watchful eye to patronage:

"16 June, 1770.

"As Mr. Wallace declines the vacant seat on

the K. bench, authorize you to enable Ld Mansfield to sound Mr. Ashurst: if he declines, the preference must be given to Sergt Burland, whom La Mansfield thinks superir in talents to Sergt Nares, particularly as I find the nomination of the latter wd be very detrimental to the interest of the D. of Malbh, as his Influence at Oxford wd be much shook by opening that Borough for so many months."

"2d January, 1772.

Among the former, Lord Chatham held the most conspicuous place, apparently from the time of the American question; for at an earlier period his correspondence with that great man was most friendly. But the following is his answer to Lord North's proposal that Lord Chatham's pension should be settled in reversion on his younger son, afterwards so well known as the second William Pitt. It bears date August 9th, 1775. "The making Lord Chatham's family suffer for the conduct of their father is not in the least agreeable to my sentiments. But I should choose to know him to be totally unable to appear again on the public stage before I agree to any offer of that kind, lest it should be wrongly construed into a fear of him; and indeed his political conduct the last winter was so abandoned, that he must, in the eyes of the dispassionate, have totally undone all the merit of his former conduct. As to any gratitude to be expected "I wish a List cd be prepared of those that from him or his family, the whole tenor of their went away and of thos that deserted to the Milives has shown them void of that most honora-nority (on Division in the Comee). That wd be a ble sentiment. But when decrepitude or death puts rule for my conduct in the Drawing Room toan end to him as a trumpet of sedition, I shall make morrow."

"Has heard from Ld Bellamont of the intention of Col. Luttrel to come over to resign his seat for Middx. Suggests a private intimation to Lord Townshend (Ld Lt) not to give the Col. leave."

"14 March, 1772.

"16 Feby. 1774.

"11 Feby. 1782.

"I am greatly incensed at the presumption of Applies for Mr. Barnard, the K's Librarian, Charles Fox in forcing you to vote with him last to be appointed to the sinecure Office of Comptnight, but approvement of your making yr roller or Collr of Customs at Bristol, just vaFriends vote in ye majy. Indeed that young cant." man has so thoroughly cast off every Principle "17 Feby. 1782. of common honor and honesty that he must become as contemptible as he is odious. I hope you will let him know you are not insensible of his conduct towards you."

"If Deanery of St. Paul's not mentd to Bp of Oxfd, begs it for Dr. Thurlow."

From many letters on the American ques

The young man soon ceased to be a member tion we select two that appear to us highly of the administration. In the next appoint- characteristic:— ment care was to be taken, it will be seen, to ascertain beforehand whether the recipient meant "to be grateful."

"21 April, 1775.

"I consent to Sir Wat. Willms being Lieutt of Mereoneth if he means to be grateful. If other wise, favors granted to Persons in opposition is not very politic."

"22d Feby. 1779.

"I do not see any reason to create a nominal office of Deputy Ranger of Greenwich for a Pension to be given with more eclat to M. Eden. The Pension in Trustees for the life of Mrs. Eden is the properest mode.

"If Dr. Priestley applies to my Librarian, he will have permission to see the Library, as other men of Science have had. But I can't think his character as a Politician or Divine, deserves my appearing at all in it. I am sorry Mr. Eden has any intimacy with that Doctor, as I am not overfond of those who frequent any Disciples or Companions of the Jesuits of Berkeley Square."

The Jesuits of Berkeley square were the habitués of Lansdowne house. Here we observe a curious note upon Francis:

"12 May, 1779.

"I have carefully read the two letters from Mr. Francis. The Company is ruined and Parliament ridiculed, unless Hastings is instantly removed from his situation."

"2nd July, 1779.

"I am confident my language was the only one fit to be held to the Attorney. The shewing him that if he continues to support in his present Office he will meet with my Countenance in his Profession as Events naturally arise. In short, I shewed him by inference, not words, it was more his interest to be faithful than to take any other line of conduct wh wd destroy him with me and make him not rise in the opinion of any party. His quickness seemed without saying anything to feel the weight of all I meant to convey."

a

"31 Jany. 1778.

"I shd have been greatly surprised at the inclination expressed by you to retire, had I not known that, however you may now and then despond, yet that you have too much personal affection for me and sense of honor to allow such thought to take hold of yr mind. (Great praise followes). You must remember that before the recess I strongly advised you not to bind yourself to bring forward any Plan for restoring tranquillity to N. Amer., not from any absurd ideas of unconditional submission, which my mind never harboured, but from foreseeing that whatever can be proposed will be liable not to bring Amer. back to her attachment, but to dissatisfy this Country, wh so cheerfully and handsomely carries on the Contest, and has a right to have the struggle continued until convinced that it is vain. Perhaps this is the minute that you ought to be least in hurry to produce a plan, for every letter from France adds to the probability of a speedy declaration of War. Shd that happen, it might be wise to withdraw the troops from the Revolted Provinces, and, having strengthened Canada, etc., to make war on the French and Spanish Islands. Success in that object will repay our exertions; and this Country, having had its attention diverted to a fresh object, wd be in a better temper to subscribe to such terms as Administration might offer to Amer. I dont mean to reject all ideas, if a Foreign War shd not arise this Session, of laying a Proposition before Parlt, etc."

"7th March, 1780.

"Approves Budget. In answer pretty evidently to a hint about American independence. 'I can never suppose this Country so far lost to all ideas of self-importance as to be willing to grant Amer. independence. If that cd be ever universally adopted, I shall dispair of this Country being preserved from a state of Inferiority. I hope never to live to see that day, for however I am treated I must love this Country."

We add a number of communications exhibiting, all of them, the strong grasp by which the king sought to retain Lord North in office, That attorney who showed such commend- and the vain efforts of the minister-tied by able "quickness" was Churchill's "sly prim false notions of loyalty and duty-to effect prater of the Northern race," the unscrupu- his escape. All this has never before been lous Wedderburne. set so clearly before the world.

1

"19th May, 1770.

proof of my desire to forward your wishes than "You cannot doubt that I recd wh pleasure the the strongest and most solemn manner that I do taking this unpleasant step. But I declare in account of Mr. Burke's bill having been defeated. not object to your addressing yourself to Ld But you cannot be surprised at my real sorrow Chatham; yet that you must acquaint him that in seeing you persist in the idea that your health I shall never address myself to him but through will not permit you to remain in yr present situation. Had I the power of Oratory of the Pen of an Addison, I cd say no more than what I can convey in the few follg Lines, viz.: that I am conscious, if you will resolve wh spirit to continue in your prest employt, that, with the assistance of a new Parliament, I shall be able to keep the present Constitution of the Country in its pristine Lustre; that there is no means of letting you retire from taking the lead that will not probably end in evil, and, therefore, that till I see things change to a more favorable situation, I shall not think myself at liberty to grant your request. You must be the Judge wr you can honorably desert me when infaillible Evil must

ensue."

"At length the fatal day is come, which the misfortunes of the Times, and ye sudden change of Sentiments of the H. of C. have driven me to, of changing my Ministers, and a more general removal of other Persons than I believe ever was known before. I have to the last fought for Individuals; but the number I have saved, except my Bed Chamber, is incredibly few. You wd hardly believe that even the D. of Montague was strongly run at; but I declared that I wd Booner let confusion follow, than part wh the late govr of my Sons, and so unexceptionable a man; so that he and Ld Ashburn remain. The effusion of my sorrows has made me say more than I intended; but I ever did, and ever shall, look on you as a Friend as well as a faithful scrvt."

you, and on a clear explanation that he is to step forth to support an administration wherein you are first Lord of the Treasury, and that I cannot consent to have any conversation with him till the Ministry is formed; that if he comes into this I will, as he supports you, receive him with open arms. I leave the whole arrangement to you, provided Lord Suffolk, Lord Weymouth, and my two able Lawyers are satisfied as to their Situations; but chuse Ellis for Secy at War in preference to Barré, who in that event will get a more lucrative Employment, BUT WILL NOT BE SO NEAR MY PERSON.

Having said this, I will only add, to put before your eyes my most inmost thoughts, that no advantage to my Country nor personal danger to myself can make me address myself to Lord Chatham or to any other branch of opposition. Honestly, I would rather lose the Crown I now wear than bear the ignominy of possessing it under their shackles. I might write volumes if I would state the feelings of my mind; but I have whole of my mind and what I will never depart honestly, fairly, and affectionately told you the from. Should Lord Chatham wish to see me before he gives an answer, I shall most certainly refuse it. I have had enough of personal negotiations, and neither my dignity nor my feelings will ever let me again submit to it.

"Men of less Principle and honesty than I pretend to may look on public measures and opinions as a game. I always act from conviction; but I am shocked at the base arts all those men have used, therefore cannot go towards them. If they come to your assistance, I will accept them."

"16 March, 1778.

"I am fully convinced that you are actuated alone from a wish not to conceal the most private corners of your breast in writing the letter you have just sent unto me; but my dear Lord, it is not private pique, but an opinion formed on an experience of a Reign of now Seventeen years, that makes me resolve to run any personal risk, rather than submit to Opposition wh every plan deviating from strengthening the present administration is more or less tending to. I am cer tain, while I can have no one object in view but to be of use to the Country, it is impossible I can be deserted, and the road opened to a set of men Not dated, but written on 15th March, 1778. who certainly wd make me a Slave for the re"On a subject which has for many months en-mainder of my Days, and, whatever they may grossed my thoughts, I cannot have the smallest pretend, we go to the most unjustifiable lengths difficulty instantly to answer the letter I have just of cruelty and destruction of those who have received from you. My sole wish is to keep you stood forth in public offices, of wh you wd be the at the head of the Treasury, and as my Con- first Victim.' fidential Minister. That end obtained, I am willing through your Channel to accept any description of Person that will come avowedly to the Subject of your administration, and as such do not object to Ld Shelburne and Mr. Barré, who personally perhaps I dislike as much as Alder-it shews no sign of personal fear; but my dear A man Wilkes; and I cannot give you a stronger no consideration in life shall make me stoop to

"17 March, 1778.

"I am grieved at your continually recurring to a subject on which we never can agree. Your letter is certainly personally affectionate to me: (Lord)