1087] Mr. Leckie's Historical Survey of the Foreign Affairs of Great Britain. [1058 them to a general insurrection against the Turks. Had Buonaparte not been employed in the Russian war, his intention was to have brought his army to Aulona, on the coast of Epirus, from whence his march in a strait line would have been through Salonika to Constantinople, and the Greek people were ready to rise in his favour. Notwithstanding their present abject state, the Greek merchants of Constantinople, Salonica, Smyrna, Psyra, Hydra, Cos, Crete, Chios, as well as those of the Hellespont and sea of Marmora, have many of them amassed considerable riches by the corn-trade to Spain and Sicily, in both which countries there has been a scarcity for these twelve years past. These persons are many of them men of low extraction; but the influence of riches finds not only protection, but even power. Their commerce with Europe has extended their views, and the ideas of freedom and independence are become familiar to them. The many rich, and the learned few, are discontented with their lot; but the bulk of the people have too much to fear from the Turks to raise their heads, as they have no common rallying point; in this state they are a fit object for the enterprises of any power that will make the attempt. The common observation in the mouth of the more learned Greeks, is, that no nation among the moderns has ever resembled their ancestors by their institutions more than the British. The Tracts containing these and similar observations, purport to have been addressed at different times, during the last three or four years, to persons in high office, and command, in the British military and civil establishments, serving in those parts. What effect they might have, we cannot presume to say: but we find that a spirit of opposition and intrigue was far from dormant, among those establishments, and that it counteracted the intentions of our author, who pose bly was somewhat too sanguine in his expectations of convincing his superiors, by these efforts, that his judgment and foresight had recommended a more sagacious course of policy than that which they thought proper to adopt. Observations made on the spot, have always their value; and we place more confidence in such, than in all the finely spun theories of our politicians who have never been beyond the sound of Bow bell, yet favour us with loads of surmises, affirmations, assurances, and to the great amusement of those acquainted with foreign countries and the dispositions of their people and to the emolument of the stamp office,thereby, but thereby only, to the good of the nation. We cannot expect, that agents who have been employed in confidential situations by government, should divulge the remarks and communications they have made; but when those not thus employed favour us with their sentiments, we are usually under obligations to them for some new things: and in this number must rank Mr. Leckie. The plans that are getting forward, for execution in the east, augment the interest which we naturally take in the political situation of those countries, with which we have been familiar as subjects of our classical studies in early life, and to which we cannot but wish well from a variety of motives. The principles of distant establishments or colonization, as acted on by Britain, differ essentially from those of which the history has come down to us from antiquity, or of which we have any accounts from foreign parts. We are, therefore, not able to derive any advantage from their experience. But it is obvious, that too many such, must drain the parent state of that strength in population, and capital, which might be much more advantageously employed at home. The division of attention, too, in the government; the clashing of interests, and the rivalship, which is unavoidable between the contending parties for protection, and favour, are so many inevitable results, when this system is too extensively adopted. Let Spain, Portugal, Holland, bear witness to the truth of this principle: nor need we go out of the history of our own country, to find proofs fully competent to support it. While, therefore, we do not object to settlements, factories, comptinghouses, and other agents or facilities for the purposes of trade, we do object to establishments for the purposes of dominion. The most permanent welfare of a nation must be derived from the advantages of peace: those which dazzle the eye in war are false glories, mere theatrical pomp; not lasting blessings, not even durable magnificence: and we believe, that we are far from being singular in our conjecture, that the predominating military power in Europe, holds his superiority by a very uncertain tenure, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Sir Philip Sidney. By Thomas Zouch, D. D. F. L. S. Prebendary of Durham. 4to. pp. 389. Price 11, 1s. York; T. Wilson and Son. T. Payne, London, 1808. gulph, whereinto England is like to be swallowed by a French marriage if the Lorde forbid not the bands by letting her majestie se the sin and punishement thereof." 8vo. 1579. The former, Stubbs, a member of Lincoln's Inn, was condemned to lose his right hand as a libeller. Such were his constancy and loyalty, that when his hand was struck off, he waved his hat with the other, saying to the people, "God save the queen." Page, who printed the libel, had no sooner undergone the same cruel punishment, than he exclaimed, "There lies the hand of a true Englishman," Mr. Camden was present at these ghastly spectacles. He tells us that silent, either out of pity towards the men, the surrounding multitude were altogether being of most honest and unblamable report, or else out of hatred of the marriage, which most men presaged would be the overthrow of religion. Is there not cause to lament, that the annals of our country should be contaminated by the exhibition of such deeds of savage severity? Yet justice to the memory of the queen renders it necessary to remark, attributed to a perverted policy, originating that this asperity of punishment is to be in au improper deference to the French prince, rather than to her own disposition, which was naturally mild and compassionate. * TRUTH has been called the daughter of Time. It requires the lapse of many years before the worth of public characters can be duly estimated. While men of eminent rank are yet living, or within a little space after they have left the busy scene of the world, the envy of some, the malignity of others, the partiality of others, and the ignorance of others, give portraitures of them distorted in outline, and extravagant in colouring. Their foes decry them; their friends extol them above measure; and it is not till malice and prepossession have died away, that patient examination and unbiassed candour can perform their functions rightly, and exhibit them to mankind in due proportion," in their habit, as they lived." Sir Philip Sidney was exactly that sort of man whom we might expect to find sometimes the theme of panegyric, and sometimes the victim of libel. He was the son of an honest man of exalted reputation, Sir Henry Sidney, first lord president of Wales, and afterwards lord deputy of Ireland; and he was the nephew of the earl of Leicester, an ambitious, intriguing, jealous statesman, believed to have murdered his own wife. Sir Philip lived at a time when party ran high, when Popery and Protestantism were contending for the superiority; while Mary Stuart The young men of the university of Camwas a prisoner in Fotheringay castle; while bridge, who in their opinions on public the duke of Anjou was paying his ad- fectly averse from the queen's marriage." A measures are not often mistaken, were perdresses to Elizabeth, who, tyrannical as her father, had all the weaknesses of her ventured to declaim against the French prince bachelor of arts, Sir Morden, of Peterhouse, sex. Sidney's intellects were equal to with all the severity of invective. With the discussion of all the great questions whatever zeal the vice-chancellor and other of that age; and his probity and courage heads of houses seemed inclined to punish were such as led him to avow his senti- him, the plea was admitted, that it was only ments. The avowal, however temperate a scholastic exercise, in imitation of Tully's and guarded, was fraught with danger.orations against Verres and Catiline.-Strype's His letter to the queen on the subject of a Annals, Vol. iii. p. 48. match with the duke of Anjou," a Frenchman and a Papist," though a masterpiece of reasoning in the opinion of many competent judges, exposed him to infinite hazard. Says Dr. Zouch, A most rigid sentence was pronounced and executed on the author and printer of a tract entitled, "The discoverie of the gaping VOL. V. [Lit. Pan. March 1809] *It is scarcely credible, but the fact will adinit no doubt, that the queen's nativity was calculated according to the rules of astrology, then in vogue, to determine whether the It is unnecessary to add, that the result of marriage would prove prosperous or otherwise. this investigation was extremely favourable to the measure, and that every thing propitious to her was portended.-See Strype's Annals," Vol. ii. p. 175, and the " Appen dia," No. iv. George Buchanap in a letter written from Edinburgh, Nov. 9, 1574, to Mr. Daniel Rogers, the intimate friend of Sidney, expresses his astonishment at the proposal of this marriage. He believed that the French prince would murder the queen of England and marry the queen of Scotland. Quorsum ad Britanniam eo? Ad nuptias ais; et id ego credo. Ad quas? Cum reginâ vestrâ, 2 P Sir Philip Sidney, in the discharge of, try gentleman, (Sir Robert Walpole,) an Englishman's duty, was not afraid to imbibed his principles of taste, letters, encounter her "tender mercies." Then, virtue and religion from the French school, too, his manners were highly cultivated; already tainted, in his days, with those he kept aloof from every thing base and dangerous doctrines which at length have degrading; his demeanor was of a lofty distracted the whole civilized world. character; his literary attainments were considerable; his intimacy with statesmen and scholars abroad was great; he held his honour inviolable-no wonder if rude men should hate him, if buffoons should ridicule him, if the vulgar should scorn him, or the ignorant despise him, or cowards calumniate actions which they durst not attempt to emulate.Dr. Zouch, well read in the history of the age of Elizabeth, has used a sound discretion, and has exercised admirable judgment; and he who reads his book atten tively, cannot fail to form a correct idea of Sidney. The masterly work of Dr. Zouch is divided into chapters; the 1st extends from the birth of Sidney, Nov. 29, 1554, (the 2d of queen Mary) to the com mencement of his travels in 1572; the 2d to his return into England in 1575; the 3d chapter reaches from this last year to his arrival from his embassy in Germany in 1577; the 4th from the termination of his embassy, to his appointment to the government of Flushing in 1585; and the 5th finishes with his death, Oct. 17, 1586, when he was within one month of 32 years. A 6th chapter gives us his character, an account of his friends, and a list of his writings. Sir P. Sidney was born at Penshurst in Kent. He was named after queen Mary's consort Philip the II. of Spain. Of his father we have already spoken. King Edward VI. died in his arms. Sir Henry, (son of Sir William Sidney who distinguished himself in the battle of FloddenField) "Some severe animadversions on the character of Sir Philip Sidney gave rise to the work." The author refers to lord Orford's works, Vol. I. p. 342. We have ever deemed Horace Walpole a coxcomb of the first order. Nature intended him for a collector, the flattery of a set of people about him led him to set up for a connoisseur. Being the son of a prime minister, he concluded he was born to treat of high characters. He compiled a catalogue of royal and noble authors. As an amateur, we are willing to listen to what he says on the picture of a great man; but we cannot defer to his authority respecting the genius of the man himself. His anecdotes amuse us, but his dicta are not to be trusted. His applause and his censure are often misplaced; by reason of the same fantastic perversion of intellect which led him to decorate his house at Strawberry-Hill with chimney-pieces modelled after the tombs of deceased worthies! Freaks like these are the deliria of feverish antiquaries. His religion we pity; it was clouded with error;-his morality (see Walpoliana) revolts our best feelings. Inconsistent being! he left the poor lad who gave us Rowley's poems to his fate; and composed, himself, the Castle of Otranto! The son of an English coun-in Was from his infancy the companion and bosom-friend of Edward VI., who conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, constituted him ambassador to France, and afterward promoted him to several appointments versally beloved and admired, as the most near his person. He was at this time uniaccomplished gentleman in Edward's court. This young prince died at Greenwich, on the fifth day of July, 1553, in the sixteenth year of his age, and the seventh of his reign. When the pangs of death came upon him, he said to Sir Henry Sidney, who was holding him in his arms: "I am faint: Lord, have mercy on me, and receive my spirit." And thus he breathed out his innocent soul. Sir Philip's mother was a daughter of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, beheaded by queen Mary, and a sister of Guilford Dudley, husband of lady Jane Grey. Alienated from the follies and vanities of life, by those tragical events his own family, of which she had been The excellent prayer which this goed Alii, ut volunt, accipiant. Ego prorsùs ejus prince uttered three hours before his death, consilium esse reor, ut vestram trucidet, with his eyes closed, thinking that no one nostram ducat formâ, ætate, et amicorum heard him, is inserted in Hollingshed's Chro opibus florentem, et expertæ jam fœcundi- nicle, Vol. II. p. 1084: and Burnet's History tatis."-Buchanani Epistolæ, Londini, 1711.of the Reformation, Vol. II. p. 224. in eye-witness, the mother of Sir Philip dney, devoted herself, profession of lyf that yow are born to live in. And, since this ys my first letter that ever I Like Cornelia the mother of the Gracchi, to emptie of some advyses, which my naturall did write to yow, I will not that yt be all an employment equally pleasing, useful, and honourable: the instruction of her children. folowe, as documents to yow in this yowr care of yow provokethe me to wishe yow to It was her delight to form their early habits; tendre age. Let your first actyon be, the to instil into their tender minds the principles lyfting up of yowr mynd to Almighty God, of religion and virtue; to direct their passions by harty prayer; and felingly dysgest the to proper objects; to superintend not only woords yow speake in prayer, with contynual their serious studies, but even their amusemeditation and thinkinge of him to whom ments. It must indeed be allowed that yow praye, and of the matter for which female excellency was never more conspicuous yow praye. And use this at an ordinarye than at this period. Lady Jane Grey and hower. Whereby the time ytself will put hersisters the princess Elizabeth, the disciple yow in remembrance to doe that, which yow of Roger Ascham-Mary the learned countess are accustomed to doe in that tyme. Apply of Arundel the four daughters of Sir An-yowr study to suche houres, as yowr discrete thony Coke the three sisters, ladies Ann, master dothe assign yow, earnestlye: and Margaret, and Jane Seymour-the eldest the time, I knowe, he will so lymitt, as daughter of Sir Thomas More-these and shal be both sufficient for yowr learninge, many others, whose names are recorded in and saf for yowr health. And mark the sens, the pages of biography, were the ornaments and the matter of that yow read, as well as of their sex; not more ennobled by their the woordes. So shal yow both enrieche high rank, than by their literary acquire- your tonge with woordes, and yowr wytte ments, and their habits of virtuous employment. with matter; and judgement will growe as We give a letter from Sir Henry Sidney to his son, then twelve years of age, by which our readers will at once see the pains which he took to form him to habits of virtue, prudence, and piety, and also the early ripeness of his son's understanding, in which he resembled, says his learned biographer, Bellarmine, Cardinal du Perron (misprinted Perrou), Tasso, Picus di Mirandola, Jos. Scaliger, Lipsius and Pascal. The candid reader will excuse the references which I have made to Sir Walter' Raleigh's admonitions to his son, and Sir Matthew Hale's epistles to his children. May the examples of such excellent men, as Sir Henry Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, and lord chief justice Hale, have their due effect on all parents! Nor can young persons apply to themselves more salutary rules of moral conduct, than those which are here inculcated. Let not these maxims of prudence be slighted, as if they were subservient only to the purposes of common life, and beneath the notice of men of superior genius and abilities. Nothing is contemptible, which tends to meliorate our condition in this world, or to render our journey through life less painful and less irksome. * This rule affords a proof of the piety of the father, and probably had the happiest effect on the son, who retained to the end of his life the deepest tincture of genuine piety. Every morning and every evening, upon your knees humbly commend yourselves to Almighty God in prayer, begging his mercy to pardon your sins, his grace to direct you, his providence to protect you, returning him humble thanks for all his dispensations towards you, yea even for his corrections and afflictions, entreating him to give you wisdom and grace to make a sober, patient, humble, profitable use of them, and in his due time to deliver you from them, concluding your prayer with the Lord's prayer. This will be your certain mean to bring your mind into a right frame, to procure you comfort and blessing, and to prevent thousands of inconveniences and mischiefs, to which you will be otherwise subjected."-Sir Matthew Hale. "Serve God, let him be the author of all thy actions, commend all thy endeavours to him that must either wither or prosper them; please him with prayer, lest, if he frown, he confound all thy fortunes and labours. Like the drops of rain on the sandy ground, let my experienced advice and fatherly instructions sink deep into thy heart."-Sir Walter Raleigh's instructions to his son. The most virtuous and accomplished English nobleman in the 17th century gave his last advice to his only son, the day before he suffered death: Serve God diligently, morning and evening, and recommend yourself unto him, and have him before your eyes in all your ways."-The Earl of Straf fora's Letters. Vol. II. p. 416. yeares growyth in yow. Be humble and obedient to yowr master, for unless yow frame yowr selfe to obey others, yea, and feale in your selfe what obedience is, yow shall never be able to teach others how to obey yow. Be curteese of gesture, and affable to all men, with diversitee of reverence, accordinge to the dignitie of the person. There ys nothing, that wynneth so much with so lytell cost. Use moderate dyet, so as, after yowr meate, yow may find yowr wytte fresher and not duller, and yowr body more lyvely, and not more heavye*. Seldom drinke wine, and yet sometimes doe, least, being enforced to drinke upon the sodayne, yow should find your self' inflamedt. Use exercise of bodye, but suche as ys without peryll of yowr yointes or bonest. It will encrease yowr force, and enlardge yowr breathe. Delight to be cleanly, as well in all parts of your bodye, as in your garments. It shall make yow grateful in yche company, and otherwise lothsome. Give your self to be merye, for yow degenerate from yowr father, yf yow find not your self most able in wytte and bodye, to doe any thinge when yow be most mery: But let your myrthe be ever void of all scurilitee, and bittinge woords to any man, for an wound given by a woorde is oftentimes harder to be cured, then that which is given with the swerd. Be yow rather a herer, and bearer away of other mens talke, then a begynner or procurer of specche, otherwise yow shal be counted to delight to hear yowr self speake||. Yf yow "If ever you expect to have a sound body, as well as a sound mind, carefully avoid intemperance: the most temperate and sober persons are subject to sickness, and diseases, but the intemperate can never be long without them."-Sir Matthew Hale. : + "The Rechabites were commanded by their father not to drink wine; and they obeyed it, and had a blessing for it my command to you is not so strict. I allow you the moderate use of wine, and strong drink at your meats. I only forbid you the excess, or the unnecessary use of it, and those places and companies, and artifices, that are temptations to it."-Ibid. "Beware of too much recreation. Some bodily exercise is necessary for sedentary men, but let it not be too frequent or too long."Sir Matthew Hale. "He that cannot restrain from much speaking, is like a city without walls; and less pain in the world a man cannot take, than to hold his tongue. Therefore if thou observest this rule in all assemblies, thou shalt seldom err; restrain thy choler: hearken much, and speake little, for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and heare a wise sentence, or an apt phrase, commytte yt to yowr memorye, with respect to the circumstance, when yow shal speake yt. Let never othe be hard to come out of your mouthe, nor woord of rybaudrye; detest yt in others, so shal custom make to yowr selfe a lawe against hit in your self** Be modest in yche assemble, and rather be rebuked of light fellowes for meden Irke shamefastnes, then of yowr sad friends for pearte boldness. Thinke upan every woorde that yow will speake, before yow utter hit, and remembre how nature hath rampared up, as yt were, the tonge with teeth, lippes, yea and here without the lippes, and all beto kening raynes or bridles, for the loose use of that menibre. Above all thinngs tell no greatest evil, that is done the world."—Sir Walter Raleigh. age "You will particularly practice that first and greatest rule for pleasing in conversation as well as for drawing instruction and improvement from the company of one's superiors in and knowledge; namely, to be a patient, attentive, and well bred hearer, and to answer with modesty.-Pythagoras enjoined his scholars an absolute silence for a long noviciate. I am far from approving such a taciturnity: but I highly recommend the end and intent of Pythagoras's injunction, which is to dedicate the first parts of life more to hear and learn, than to be presuming, prompt, and flippant in hazarding one's own rude notions of things."-Lord Chatham's letters to his Nephew. "Avoid swearing in your ordinary communication, unless called to it by the magistrate, and not only the grosser oaths, but imprecations, earnest and deep protestations as you have the commendable example of good men to justify a solemn oath before a magistrate, so you have the precept of our Saviour forbidding it otherwise."—Sir Matthew Hale. : ↑ "Be not over earnest, loud, or insolent in talking, for it is unseemly and earnest and loud talking makes you overshoot and lose your business; when you should be considering, and pondering your thoughts, and how to express them significantly to the pur pose, you are striving to keep your tongue going, and to silence an opponent not with reason but with noise."-Sir Matthew Hale. + Hair. "You have two eyes and two ears, but one tongue. You know my meaning. This last you must imprison, as nature hath already done with a double fence, and lips; or else she may imprison you. According to ant countryman Mr. Hoskin's advice, when he was in the Tower. "Vincula da linguæ, vel tibi vincla dabit."-Ilowel's familiar, letters, Vol. II. p. 5. |