his conduct gave some colour to DRYDEN'S lampoon— just at

the height of the fiend. Of his eloquence no really an-

Him in the anguish of his soul he serv'd,

The frauds he learnt in his fanatic years, Much of this restless versatility is to be attributed to the peculiar appreciate his skill in personal conduct and political intrigue, character of the man—a good deal, perhaps, to the circumstances in must take upon himself the office of his biographer; for SH AFTES- which he was placed. When he first appeared in life, the Monarchal auttv.s life was passed in the exercise of these, and his life has politicians wereextinct with the times that had formed them. When yet to be written. Of his wit and readiness, a few specimens, he rose to power, the statesmen who had excited and directed the badly as they are told, will be better than any general remark. first English Revolution were dead ; and, whilst the intellec- It will be seen that, in compliance with his maxim, they are tual condition of the gentry and the people rendered it imposSible merely defensive. to promote good government systematically, their growing power The King being at dinner at Lord Shaftesbury's, the Duke of Lauderdale, made it necessary to corrupt one or cajole both. The mere favour- going out of his sphere, attempted to play upon Lord Shaftesbury, and in a itism of the Crown might still perhaps raise a man to power; manner which did no great honour to his wit or politeness. " I think, Sir,'" but it required some qualities of his own to keep him there. He wise men eat them.' " " There is another," said Lord Shaftesbury. "is had to comply with the Court, to influence the Parliament, within good, ' Wits make jests, and fools repeat them :'" upon which the King, certain limits to coerce or to humour the People as best he might, turning to the Duke, said, " Take my advice; know your men before you en- and to break or resist an opposition which not merely aimed at his deavour to be witty on them." • • • • place but his life; for such men lived in the days of impeachments, Two or three days after he was committed to the Tower, one of the Popish and a displaced Minister, instead of seeing his sympathizing lords pretending surprise at seeing him there, asked him what had brought opponents cross over the House to shake hands with him, had* * • Traitor's Gate and Tower Hill in perspective. The proposal to The people were so unruly in their joy [on Monk's declaration], that, as apply philosophical principles to the more executive branches of Sir Anthony and Colonel Popham were going through the streets, the mob

government might have saved a man's life by the odious ridicule

they would have drawn upon him ; their theoretical advocacy to rudeness, "Down with the Rumps!" Sir Anthony looked out, and, smiling, government itself, brought ALGERNON SIDNEY to the block. The with their usual fickleness, were taken with the jest, and attended him and the examples of CLARENDON and TEMPLE prove how little honest Colonel with loud acclamations. ability availed a man, even when accompanied with what we must Shaftesbury was one day conversing in a whisper with a friend, while a lady term an unreasoning and servile loyalty. And the instance of related to him was in aliother part of the room. As the conversation proceeded. SUNDERLAND (and many others might easily be added) shows the Earl became leas conscious of the lady's presence ; and at last observed, loud how little unprincipled tergiversation and enough to be heard, " Men of sense are all of one leligion." " And what re- • This seems an allusion to some half-unknown or merely suspected scheme bowing, replied, " That, Madam, men of sense never tell." Settersseusr might have indulged is previous to the Restoration. It is possitile that he dreamed of "vain hopes, vain aims. inordinate desires," under the Protectorate. There is humorous revenge and equanimity in this— According to BURNET. he used to tell a story of CROMWELL'S having' offered to make him King." His admirers throw doubt upon the truth of this statement, or consider On Sunday morning, the 9th of November, when Lord Shaftesbury went to the offer was made es a joke. If it were a jest, there might be more fearful meaning Court, he judged from several circumstances that the Seals were then to be Is the manner and circumstances than met the ear. If SR/MAI:DRURY were suspected taken from him. He _presently attended the King in his closet, while the At- li,' say pLut. it was the most humane way of checking it; for even his genius must hate tome -General and others were in expectation of his returning without the )sit rebuked under the sarcasm of the Protector. purse. Being alone with the King, he said, " Sir, I know you Intend to giro SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY. tician, if he had only the power of " doing good servire" to those

who might find it convenient to employ him. Such a conjuncture

M of circumstances almost necessarily gave rise to what may not The Lite of the First Earl of Shaftesbury. from Original Documents in the Posses- unaptly be called the class of empirical politicians. Like a .ion of the Family. Hy Mr. B. Marlyn and Dr. Kippis. Now first published. mountebank ascending a sloping tight-rope, their grand object lu 4 vuts, was to keep themselves from falling as they rose; and this could &PA y . -TaaveLa only be effected by qualifications more serviceable than respectable. A Saunter in Belgium. in the Summer of 1835; with Traits, Historical and Deserip- A dauntless confidence—or, more properly speaking, impudence .14c-riorr. which nothin could abash or discompose—was a prime essential; • The Three Eras of Woman's Life. By Elizabeth Elton Smith. In 3 vols Bentley. as were, singly or in conjunction, great readiness of speech, great The Mascareuhas ; a Legend of the Portuguese in India. By the Author of "'lte

flexibility in conduct, and boundless fertility in expedients f. for, living from hand to mouth, it was requisite that as fast as one nostrum was out of vogue, another should be ready to supply its

MARTYR'S LIFE OF THE FIRST EARL OF place. Most of them were adepts in negotiation and intrigue; all S H AFTESB U RY. of them had a rat-like instinct in foreseeing and providing for itn- LORD SHAFTESBURY was unquestionably one of the most extra- pending change. But, of all the band of political quacks who have ordinary men in English history. To the character of a good man flourished from 1660 to 1836, SHAFTESBURY alone had that pre- he had no pretensions,*and slender claim to that of a great one. saging sagacity which enabled him to mark the shadow of coming Although living in times when the tirst struggles between des- events, and turn before the tide. It is true, that Fortune and the potism and freedom produced a religious and political fermentation Court were too strong for him, and he lost his last game : but the such as the world bad never yet seen, he appears to have derived " Glorious Revolution" proved his prophetic posers, and, had no principle of government from the mingled mass of facts and he lived a few years longer, would have rewarded them.

theories which thrust themselves upon his observation, but to Of this class—not yet extinct, although, with one exception,

have continued to the last a man of expedients. Although en- sadly degenerated—SHAFTESBURY was the first and the greatest. gaged from his boyhood in public affairs, and mixing in and influ- He was personally less indecorous than BouaroettoxE, with more encing great events, he seems never to have considered the future excuse for licentiousness : and chance or inclination prevented consequences of his actions and his measures, or to have been him from becoming an open traitor to his country : as disinterested able to look far beyond the ignorant present. His indifference in money matters as BROUGHAM, be had more penetration and to religion induced, indeed, a theoretical love of toleration,—which sagacity, and, as a consequence, less gratuitous trick : in the more he never respected if it opposed his interests; his experience of striking qualities of the craft he equalled or excelled them troth. arbitrary imprisonment led him to assist materially in the passing Left at ten years old (1631) heir to a baronetcy and 8000f. a. of the Habeas Corpus Act,—being, however, at the time in oppu- year, and shortly involved by the rapacity of his relations in a suit sitiou ; and his keen perception of the character of the future in the Court of Wards, which he in a measure managed himself; JAMES the Second, and of the popular horror of Popery, led him not proceeding to the University till sixteen years old; shortly to oppose the Duke of YORK systematically,—unless (which is not after entering at Lincoln's Inn as a law student; marrying at improbable) JAMES might have taken some disgust to SHAFrES- eighteen; and elected a Member of Parliament at nineteen,—it BURY. The only comprehensive plan he ever appears to have was not to be expected that his scholar-like acquirements could be conceived, was his boyish scheme for composing the differences considerable. They were, however, sufficient for his purposes; between CHARLES the First and the Parliament. The necessary furnishing him with illustrations; impressing the world with an failure of this impracticable theory, seems to have rendered him opinion of his learning; and adapted to the fashion of the times,— henceforth a practical man who looks very little further than his from the more erudite books of which he probably gleaned much nose. Survey him afterwards in any period of his life, the loam- that he knew, as he had the faculty of reading rapidly and dude seems to be the only object of his care. Whether as a judging truly of what he quickly skimmed. Of his penetration it commander under the Long Parliament, a plotter against the is scarcely necessary to remind the reader ; for it was perhaps his Interregnum upon CaomwEEes death, an intriguer against the most striking quality, shown equally in his detection of the mar- Republicans in favour of the Restoration, a subservient minister riage of Mistress ANNE HYDE to " one of the brothers," by " the of CHARLES the Second for thirteen years, or an active oppo- concealed respect, however suppressed, in the looks, voice, and nent of the Court, his end was still limited, as his means were un- manner wherewith her mother carved to her or offered her of every scrupulous. And alter every allowance for the imputation of dish," as in his withdrawal from every party,—CHARLES the First, motives and the exaggeration of satire, it cannot be denied that the Parliament, the Republicans, and even CHARLES the Second " Power was his aim; • but, thrown from that pretence, thentic specimens have conic down to us ; and if they had, as Mr. The wretch turn 'd loyal in his own defence, COOKE truly observes, we should miss the presence and energy And malice reconciled him to his Prince. of the speaker : but, if we rate them by their effects, both upon Rewarded faster still than he deserv'd. friends and foes, they must have had the two great qualities of Behold him now exalted into trust ; aptness and distinctness, for they stung enemies to rage and sti- His counsels oft convenient, seldom just ; mu!ated followers to rebellion. In caution, temper, and courtesy, E'en in the most siucere advice he gave, he equalled if be did not excel every statesman of his class. Ac- lie had a grudging still to be a knave ; cording to Lord DARTMGUTH, it was a maxim with him never to Made him uneasy in his lawful gears ; fall out with anybody, let the provocation be ever so great ; and At least, as little honest as be could, his reason for it was, that he did not know how soon it might be And, like white witches, mischievously good." necessary to have them again fin. friends. The reader who would said he to the King, " there is a very good saying, ' that fools make feasts, and his Lordship thither ? He answered, "That he had been lately indisposed with

an ague, and was come to take some Jesuits' powder.

surrounded the coach, and knowing them to be Members, cried out with some said to them, " What, gentlemen, not one good piece in a rump?" The mob, re- nd treachery injured a poli- ligion is that?" unexpectedly inquired the lady. The Earl, turning round and

the Seals to the Attorney-General ; but I am sure your Majesty never designed

to dismiss me with contempt." The King replied, " fish, my Lord, I will not do it with any circumstance that may look like an affront." " Then," said he, " your Majesty will permit me to carry the Seals before you to chapel, and send for them afterwards from my own house ? " The King, who had still a regard for him, and probably was not displeased with the humour of his de- sign, readily complied, and told him he would send for the Seale at four o'clock in the afternoon. Lord Shaftesbury entertained his Majesty in conversation, purposely to amuse the courtiers and the Attorney- General, who, he believed, was in the greatest anxiety for fear the King should be prevailed on to change his mind. The King and the Chancellor came out of the closet smiling and talking together, as they went to the chapel ; which was so contrary to the expectation of those who were present, that some went immediately and told the Duke of York that all their measures were Woken.

The following relates to a dispute about a claim of JAMES to sit on the right-hand side of the throne in the seat of the Prince of Wales— Some )ears afterwards, upon the Queen's apparent barrenness, the Duke of York being looked on as the certain successor to the Crown, and his power in- creasing at Court, he took the chair on the right-hand of the throne. Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury, the first day he sat as Speaker, resolved to replace the Doke in his proper seat. Ile informed him that he was in the wrong chair, and that his place was on the other side of the throne, as only hell presumptive. The Duke being unwilling to quit his seat, Lord Shaftesbury told him that he could nut proceed upon business till the House was in form. At length the Duke ivam obliged to submit, hut said, in a passion, "My Lord, you are a rascal and a villain." He, with great composure, immediately replied, " I am much obliged to your Royal Highness for not calling me likewise a coward and a Papist."

The allusion to courage leads us to remark, that his personal spirit throughout life was of a stronger kind than sometimes dis- tinguishes wits and politicians. Here is an anecdote of' his boldness at College, which includes a picture of ancestral Uni- versity practices— His courage making him the leader of all the young men of his college, he showed several instances of that spirit which he so remarkably maintained throughout the whole course of his life. Among others, one was in opposing and breaking a custom extremely absurd, but of great antiquity in the College, which was called tucking the Fresh-men. On a particular day, the Senior Under-Graduates, in the evening, called the Fresh-men to the tire, and made them hold out their chins ; whilst one of the Seniors, with the nail of his thumb (which was left long for that purpose) grated off all the skin from the lip to the chin, and then obliged bins to drink a beer-glass of water and salt. The time approaching when Sir Anthony was to be used thus, he, finding the Freshmen a numerous body, engaged them to stand stoutly in defence of their chins. Accordingly, they all appearing at the fire in the hall, one of the Seniors (who was the tyrantof that day) called Sir Anthony; when he, according to agreement, gave the signal to the Juniors by striking the Senior a box on the ear, and immediately a skirmish ensued, in which some of the Seniors were severely beaten ; nor was an end put to the combat till Sir Anthony had made proper terms for the Juniors.

It is the fashion to exalt the politicians of the present century at the expense of those of former ages, especially in the matter of personal corruption and political fidelity. But if the question be examined with a searching and unbiassed mind, it will be dis- covered that the difference is chiefly one of mode. A Member of Parliament would now, indeed, be insulted by the naked bribe of a hundred or two of hard guineas ; but are our Senators inacces- sible to the offers of commissions or clerkships or secretaryships? —which things, if they take a more delicate shape than the ready cash of our plain-spoken ancestors, are much more per- manent and profitable to the apostate, and very much more ex- pensive to the nation. Is the difference between ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, commandant of Parliamentary Forces against CHARLES the First, and Lord ASHLEY, the accommodating minis- ter ofICnsatEs the Second, very much greater in effect than the change from Jacobin COPLEY to Ultra-Tory LYNDHURST? Look at the Orange Nan of 1816; track him through his manifold eel-like evolutions, till you see him transmuted into the Reform- ing Premier of 1834; and match him if you can, so far as poli- tical tergiversation is concerned, among the most profligate politicians of the later STUARTS. But how much milder is our political warfare! True—and how much more timorous ! Cour- tiers as we call our ancestors, and formally submissive as they doubtless were, they were not, when they took it in their heads, deterred by the frowns of a court, much less by the whispers of a club or a coterie, from couching harsh truths in bitter terms, although speaking face to face. To say that our modern politi- cians are superior to those of former times in acquired knowledge and liberal views, is not suggesting the true point of comparison. The question is, are they up to or beyond their age: and, judged by this. test, they fall below the standard. The "mimic states- men and their merry king" did not merely acquire the dry husk of what they aimed at—no one can deny them the accomplish- ments of wits and gentlemen. If they did not instruct their hearers, they did not weary or disgust them. It will have been seen by the titlepage, that Mr. WINGROVE Coons is only the editor of the volumes which have given rise to this notice. The biography itself was projected upwards of a century ago, under the patronage of the fourth Earl of SHAFTES- BURY. The greater part of it, or perhaps the whole, was drawn up by Mr. MARTYN, a protege of his Lordship's, from papers in the possession of the family ; Dr. BIRCH assisting by his criticism and his touches. On the death of the fourth Earl, his successor consigned the manuscript to Dr. Kiwis, the editor of the Bio- graphta Britannica ; who corrected, revised, and enlarged a con- siderable part of it: but circumstances having prevented the con- clusion of the design, he seems to have infused the knowledge he possessed into the life written for the work he edited. Soon after this period (1789), a private edition of the production of MARTYN and his successors was printed; but it is said that the whole impression, except two copies, was immediately destroyed. " One of the copies is in the library of the present Earl ; from the other copy this edition is printed the task of Mr. Coons having been confined to seeing it through the press, occasionally adding some explanatory notes, interweaving some passages in the text to supply deficiencies or omissions, and winding up the whole with a final chapter on SHAFTESBURY'S character. Looking at the sources whence the original biography was de- rived, and the auspices under which it was written, no one can expect a very high degree of spirit and impartiality. SHAFTES- BURY was not very likely to accuse himself in his private papers ; nor was a person writing under the eye and patronage of his great-grandson very likely to scan his conduct with a judge-like eye. Ilence the work is, in spirit, rather an apology than a life. SHAFTESBURY appears a greater and a better man than he was hitherto divined; for his exploits and his merits are heightened, his failings suppressed, glossed over, or explained away ; and he stands forth as the sole originator and contriver of the Resto. ration, in whose hands MONK was but a puppet. In a literary point of view, the volumes exhibit the accurate and orderly disposition of a scholar of a more formal time, and are agree- ably but somewhat feebly written. The part of Mr. COOKE has been executed with sense and moteration, but with an obvious leaning to SHAFTESBURY. To suppose him a believer in the Popish plot, would be a justification of his virtue at the expense of his understanding ; and when Mr. Coons defends the reputed gallantries of his hero under the plea of a reputation ter de- bauchery being advantageous in a debauched court, he is merely using an argument of ROCHESTER'S, who replied to some friendly representations of SHAFTESBURY on his injurious course of life, " My Lord, it is true, and I am obliged to you ; but I have really no other way of making my interest at court."