submit to it; and to disinherit him for his religion, is not only to act according to the Popish principles, but to give cause for a war with all the Catholic princes in Europe; and that must occasion a standing army, from whom there will be more danger of Popery and arbitrary government, than from a Popish successor, or a Popish king."" (Vol. i. p. 216-218.) Hampden's chief argument in favour of the bill, and which our noble author denominates "the best ground upon which it could be placed," was that the principles of Popery tend to the alteration of the government and religion of this nation, and to introduce superstition, idolatry, and a foreign arbitrary power." Mr. Fox's reasoning on the subject is that "the question of what are to be the powers of the crown, is of inferior importance to that of who shall wear it;" so that excluding James Stuart was a slighter and less important innovation on the constitution, than admitting him and abridging his power. "If the people," Mr. Fox argues, "be the sovereign, and the king the delegate, it is better to change the bailiff than to injure the farm; but if the king be the proprietor, it is better the farm should be impaired, nay, part of it destroyed, than that the whole should pass over to an usurper." We shall only say upon this, as we have not space to go into the question, that a símile is not necessarily an argument. The most serious objection to the measure in our minds would have been that it was virtually rendering the monarchy elective instead of hereditary, and thus giving countenance to those injurious principles which of late years have so greatly agitated society. It is seldom safe to argue respecting the rights of man," ab ovo; we must contemplate rights as they actually exist in civil society; we must also balance one man's rights with another's; for a Manchester manufacturer or tradesman has as great a "right to be protected in his person and property, and in the exercise of his calling free from intimidation, as a Manchester radical to assemble his neighbours to hear speeches and sign petitions. " It is some relief to the succession of painful scenes which characterized the age of Charles the Second, to reflect that there was probably much retired virtue and private tranquillity existing in the kingdom, and that many of the public disasters fell but lightly on those who were not immediately exposed to the storm. Russell's own family scene, was one of exquisite attractions. We could dwell on it with melancholy interest, but must pass it by for the present, as we may have occasion in another number to introduce to our readers an original volume of Letters, by Lady Russell, lately published, and which display a picture of connubial and domestic felicity of the most simple and touching kind. The reader will, however, be pleased It is from with one short specimen from the volumes before us. "To see any body preparing and taking their way to see what I long to do a thousand times more than they, makes me not endure to suffer their going, without saying something to my best life, though it is a kind of anticipating my joy when we shall meet, to allow myself so much before the time. But I confess I feel a great deal, that though I left London with great reluctancy, (as 'tis easy to persuade men a woman does,) yet that I am likely to leave Stratton with greater. They will tell you how well I got hither; and how well I found our dear treasure here. Your boy will please you; you will, I think, find him improved, though I tell you so before-hand: they fancy he wanted you; for as soon as I alighted, he followed, calling Papa: but I suppose 'tis the word he has most command of, so was not disobliged by the little fellow. The girls were in remembrance of the happy 29th September, and we drank your health after a red-deer pye, and at night the girls and I supt on a sackposset; nay, master would have his room, and for heat burnt his fingers in the posset; but he does but rub his hands for it....... I do propose going to my neighbour Worsley's to-day. Would fain be telling my heart more things,-any thing to be in a kind of talk with him; but I believe Spencer stays for my dispatch. He was willing to go early; but this was to be the delight of the morning, and the support of the day. 'Tis written in bed, thy pillow at my back, where thy dear head shall lie, I hope to-morrow night, and many more, I trust in his mercy, notwithstanding all our enemies, or ill-wishers. Love and be willing to be loved by, scene. R. RUSSELL." (Vol. ii. p. 2, 3.) The author's access to family papers, with his zeal in investigating and weighing whatever could be found in print relative to his illustrious ancestor, have enabled him to give a copious and peculiarly interesting account of his life, trial, and closing The principal occurrences are too well known as historical facts to need our recapitulation. With regard to the Ryehouse plot, at least to Lord Russell's alleged concern in it, we do not differ materially from our author that" the consultations in which Lord Russell took a part, related to the means of resisting the government, but that no plan of rebellion was anywise matured; "---we mean by his Lordship, for we think it quite clear that some unprincipled agents in that conspiracy were for carrying matters to any excess. Our noble author having acquitted his ancestor of the crime of high treason, proceeds to examine" how far he was justified in consulting and debating on the practicability of raising an insurrection;" and after a review of the circumstances of the times, defends him on every other ground but that of "prudence;" the people not being then ripe for such a scheme. In all cases of resistance to govern * Lord Russell's birth-day. ment, remarks the noble author, "prudence is more, perhaps, than any other, a moral duty; for by a mistake in calculation, the lives of thousands may be hazarded, and the chains of the people more completely rivetted." We could imagine that when his Lordship perused this sentence he had in his eye the celebrated declaration of Mr. Fox, before-mentioned, except, indeed, that Mr. Fox contra-distinguishes "prudence prudence" and "morality," while his Lordship makes the one the measure of the other. Against sentiments of this kind, especially at a feverish moment like the present, we cannot too strongly protest; we look upon them with abhorrence. Trembling for the state of the country and the aspect of the times, we feel the necessity of exhorting all classes of society to inculcate in others, and to practise themselves, the sound, christian, and we hesitate not to say constitutional doctrine, that submission to authority is an affair of duty as well as expediency. We must pass over Lord Russell's trial with a single exculpatory passage from his Lordship's address to the court, which our author has copied from the original manuscript in Lord Russell's hand-writing, endorsed by Lady Russell "My Lord's own-hand ;---concerns his trial : " "To answer, in short, what is laid to my charge, I do in the first place declare, that I have ever had a heart sincerely loyal and affectionate to the King and government, (which I look up to as the best of governments,) and have always as fervently wished and prayed for His Majesty's long life, as any man living." "And now to have it intimated, as if I were agreeing or abetting to his murder, (I must needs say,) is very hard; for I have ever looked upon the assassination of any private person as an abominable, barbarous, and inhuman thing, tending to the destruction of all society; how much more the assassination of a prince! which cannot enter into my thoughts without horror and detestation: especially considering him as my natural prince, and one upon whose death such dismal consequences are but too like to ensue. An action so abominably wicked, rash, and inconsiderate, that none but desperate wretches, or mad men could contrive. And can it be believed that, my circumstances, and the past actions of my life considered, I should be capable of being guilty of so horrid a design? Certainly it cannot." "As for going about to make or raise a rebellion; that, likewise, is a thing so wicked, and withal impracticable, that it never entered into my thoughts. Had I been disposed to it, I never found, by all my observation, that there was the least disposition or tendency to it in the people. And it is known, rebellion cannot be now made here as in former times by a few great men." "I have been always for preserving the government upon the due basis, and ancient foundation; and for having things redressed in a legal parliamentary way; always against all irregularities and inno vations whatsoever; and so I shall be, I am sure, to my dying day, be it sooner or later." (Vol. ii. p. 59, 60.) Every possible effort was made by his affectionate and heroic lady to save his life; the king and the duke were petitioned, but in vain. The act of petitioning was against Lord Russell's own wish, but he did not choose to afflict his wife with the appearance of a haughty silence towards his sovereign; though he remarked to Bishop (then Dr.) Burnet on the subject of his petition: "This will be printed, and will be selling about the streets when I am hanged." He would not however yield in any article of his opinions to save his life; he strenuously, but modestly and with great gentleness, resisted the efforts of his friends and spiritual advisers, Burnet and Tillotson, to induce him to acknowledge that resistance was unlawful, though buoyed up with the hope of pardon in case of compliance. His wife, that incomparable woman, in whom were united firmness and tenderness, of the most melting affection and the most inflexible principle, supported him in his imprisonment, as she had heroically assisted him during his trial, and never, by the slightest intimation, urged him to sacrifice his sincerity for the sake of his life, or of those he loved far better than life itself. The week which elapsed between his trial and execution was chiefly employed in drawing up a paper containing an avowal of his principles and conduct. Every sentence was deeply weighed, and submitted to the criticisms of Dr. Burnet, who published the journal of his conversation. The Woburn MSS. contain other interesting particulars. "Of his own death, he spoke with calmness and deliberate resignation. He often said that he had passed over the best part of his life, for he had lived two parts in three; and he could not think that. the remaining third would have been as comfortable as the two former had been. He told his wife that he was so willing to leave the world, he was even willing to leave her. Yet upon receiving a letter from her, when he first went to the Tower, concealed in a cold chicken, he had said that he was at that moment above all earthly things; above Lieutenant, Constable, King, or Duke." "When alone with Dr. Burnet, he spoke with the greatest seriousness. He said, that, as for death, he thanked God, that as a man, he never was afraid of it; and did not consider it with so much apprehension as the drawing of a tooth. But he said he found the courage of a man that could venture in the heat of blood, was very different from the courage of a dying Christian, and dying in cold blood. That must come from an inward peace of conscience, and assurance of the mercy of God; and he had that to such a degree, that though, from the first day of his imprisonment, he reckoned he was a dead man, it had never given him any sort of trouble. He added, that God knew the trouble he had been in some weeks before, when his son was ill, had gone nearer his heart, and taken more of his rest from him, than his present condition had done; and that he had had a cholic a little while before, which had so oppressed his spirits, that he saw how little a man could do, if he came to die in such a manner; whereas he had now all his thoughts perfectly about him, and had no other apprehensions of death than being a little gazed at by his friends and enemies, and a moment's pain. Though he had been guilty of many defects and failings (amongst which he reckoned the seldom receiving the sacrament), yet, he thanked God he had a clear conscience, not only in relation to the public (in which he had gone so sincerely, that he was sure he had nothing to answer for but sins of ignorance, and some indecent discourses, in which he had been generally more guilty by hearing them, and being pleased with them, than by much speaking) but in relation to all his other concerns. (Vol. ii. p. 89, 91.) He could not readily suppress his scorn for the infamous Lord Howard, who had been his betrayer, and had informed against him, and (probably by perjury,) taken away his life. He said, he would not injure him if it were in his power; but he could not help thinking very ill of him and despising him. Burnet satisfied his conscience by quoting to him the fifteenth Psalm, with a view to shew that it is lawful to despise a vile person. He felt no difficulty in writing a letter to the king to be presented after his death; for, he said, that though he never did any thing which he thought contrary to the royal interest, he had used many railleries and other indecent expressions, for which he prayed God to forgive him, and for which he resolved to ask the king's pardon. His preparation for death, and his last interviews with his wife and children, must not be passed over. "Friday being the day he had fixed for receiving the sacrament, he determined to pass the day as he would have done the Sunday, had he lived so long. The sacrament was given him early in the morning, (his servant receiving it with him) by the Dean of Canterbury (Tillotson.) After he had received it, the Dean asked him if he believed all the articles of the Christian religion, as taught by the church of England. He answered, "Yes, truly." Then he asked him if he forgave all persons. That he said he did from his heart. Then the Dean told him, he hoped he would discharge his conscience in full and free confession. He said that he had done it. Upon which the Dean left him; and Dr. Burnet, in the course of the morning preached two sermons to him. In the interval he told him, he could not pretend to such high joys and longings as Dr. B. had spoken of, but on an entire resignation of himself to the will of God, and a perfect serenity of mind. He said he was sometimes troubled because he had not those longings which were felt by Mr Hampden, a friend for whom he had great kindness and esteem. Mr. Hampden had a few days before, given him, from Mr. Baxter, his book of Dying Thoughts, then lately published, from which he derived great comfort. He said he was |