in the Greek dramatists. But if the classic quotations of Sir James Mackintosh were too profuse and far sought to be always pointed, -if they sometimes descended to hackneyed erudition, as in his repeated use of nec meus hic sermo,—they were often happy, effective, and applauded. With the many disadvantages of his action and enunciation, and the fewer vices of his cast of mind and style of eloquence, his faults and deficiencies were redeemed by an accent so sincere, information so extensive, so utter an oblivion of self, in his zeal for truth and his cause, humanity so redundant allied with passionless wisdom, such an union of superior talent with knowledge and meditation, that though some speakers were more popular performers, and others were heard with more of electric sympathy, not one commanded more attention and respect.

Conversation was a talent in the last century. It has become an art. No one would now be tolerated who made private society an arena for displaying the vigour and expertness of his faculties, and the extent of his acquirements. Conversation has ceased to be an exhibition of intellectual gladiatorship or declamatory power. It is regarded as a proper occasion for displaying only the lighter graces and accomplishments,-wit, fancy, knowledge of the world, a sense of the humorous and ridiculous, in social manners or individual character. It is become essentially an art in which, more than in any other, perfection and success depend upon its concealing itself. Few arts are, therefore, more difficult; and Sir James Mackintosh had the reputation of a master in it. He was rich and various, without being ambitious or prolix. He had known many eminent or remarkable persons in public life, literary and political, of whom he related anecdotes and traits of character with facility and à-propos. He avoided long speeches in the form of dissertation or narrative, which, however clever, are sure either to fatigue attention or to provoke self-love, by encroaching upon that tone of conventional equality, social and intellectual, in company, which is one of the improvements of the age. His conversation was not laboured or ostentatious, whilst it displayed, or rather implied, the powers of a superior mind; and, though undistinguished by brilliant wit or vivacity, was enlivened and relieved by a certain quiet pleasantry, sly humour, and innoxious malice, which became a manly and vigorous exercise of sarcastic power in his speeches. Some pretended memoranda of his conversation have been printed in an American periodical work. He is made to say, "Homer is

the finest ballad writer in any language." Sir James Mackintosh, like most Scotchmen, had an imperfect education in Greek. He must, however, have known enough of Greek and of Homer, as well as of epic poetry and of ballads, to avoid an absurdity so outrageous. The reported conversations, on the whole, would grievously let down Sir James Mackintosh. They are not those of a man whose success was unquestionable in the most fastidious and intellectual society of the British capital.

But what are these fugitive successes of society and conversation to the sacrifices of time and thought which he must have made to them? It was a melancholy weakness to have frittered away those precious hours which might be devoted in solitude to the proper labours of a man of letters, who was capable of leaving imperishable monuments of his capacity behind him. If any thing could compensate this abuse of his faculties, it is the impression, far beyond the circles in which he moved, of his engaging social character, joined with his eminent talents, and many virtues.

Sir James Mackintosh died at his house in London, on the 30th of May, and was buried in the parish church of Hampstead, on the 4th of June, 1832.

* The person who thus chose to make Homer a ballad writer had, doubtless, heard something of the foolish paradox that the several books of the Homeric poems were unconnected rhapsodies, recited through the cities of Greece.

HISTORY

OF

THE REVOLUTION

IN 1688.

CHAPTER I.

General State of Affairs at Home.-Abroad.-Characters of the Ministry.→→Sunderland. Rochester. - Halifax.—Godolphin. —Jeffrey. Feversham. His Conduct after the Victory of Sedgemoor.-Kirke.-Judicial Proceedings in the West. Trials of Mrs. Lisle.-Behaviour of the King.-Trial of Mrs. Gaunt and others,-Case of Hampden.-Prideaux-Lord Brandon.-Delamere.

THOUGH a struggle with calamity strengthens and elevates the mind, the necessity of passive submission to long adversity is rather likely to weaken and subdue it: great misfortunes disturb the understanding perhaps as much as great success; and extraordinary vicissitudes often produce the opposite vices of rashness and fearfulness by inspiring a disposition to trust too much to fortune, and to yield to it too soon. Few men experienced more sudden changes of fortune than James II.; but it was unfortunate for his character that he never owed this prosperity, and not always his adversity, to himself. The affairs of his family seemed to be at the lowest ebb a few months before triumphant restoration. Four years before the death of his brother, it appeared probable that he would be excluded from the succession to the crown; and his friends seemed to have no other means of averting that doom, than by proposing such limitations of the royal prerogative as would have reduced the government to a merely nominal monarchy.

But the dissolutions by which Charles had safely and successfully punished the independence of his last parliament, the destruction of some of his most formidable opponents, and the general discouragement of their adherents, paved the way for his peaceable, and even popular, succession; the defeat of the revolts of Monmouth and Argyle appeared to have fixed his throne on immoveable foundations; and he was then placed in circumstances more favourable than those of any of his predecessors to the extension of his power, or, if such had been his purpose, to the undisturbed exercise of his constitutional authority. The friends of liberty, dispirited by events which all, in a greater or less degree, brought discredit upon their cause, were confounded with unsuccessful conspirators and defeated rebels: they seemed to be at the mercy of a prince, who, with reason, considered them as the irreconcilable enemies of his designs. The zealous partisans of monarchy believed themselves on the eve of reaping the fruits of a contest of fifty. years' duration, under a monarch of mature experience, of tried personal courage, who possessed a knowledge of men, and a capacity as well as an inclination for business; whose constancy, intrepidity, and sternness were likely to establish their political principles; and from whose prudence, as well as gratitude and good faith, they were willing to hope that he would not disturb the security of their religion. The turbulence of the preceding times had more than usually disposed men of pacific temper to support an established government. The multitude, pleased with a new reign, generally disposed to admire vigour and to look with complacency on success, showed many symptoms of that propensity which is natural to them, or rather to mankind,—to carry their applauses to the side of fortune, and to imbibe the warmest passions of a victorious party. The strength of the Tories in a parliament assembled in such a temper of the nation, was aided by a numerous reinforcement of members of low condition and subservient character, whom the forfeiture of the charters of towns enabled the court to pour into the House of Commons. In Scotland the prevalent party had ruled with such barbarity, that the absolute power of the king seemed to be their only shield against

"Clerks and gentlemen's servants." Evelyn, i. 558. The Earl of Bath carried fifteen of the new charters with him into Cornwall, from which he was called the Prince" Elector. " "There are not 135 in this House who sat in the last," 562. By the lists in the Parliamentary History they appear to be only 128.