of despatch, are only anxious for the credit of Mary, as described by bishop Burnet* and having done a great deal in a little time; and Fowler, seems to have been a model. Her who abbreviate, not by contracting, but by goodness was the most unostentatious, her cutting off.'-On the other hand, procras- gentleness the most unaffected, her piety the tination wears out time, and accomplishes most inwoven into her habits, her charity nothing. Indistinctness also in the framing the best principled, and her generosity the of ideas, and confusion in the disorderly most discriminating! Vanity and self-love disposition of them, perplex business as much seem to have been not merely outwardly reas irresolution impedes it. Julius Cæsar pressed from a sense of decorum, but to have was a model in this respect; with all his been inwardly extinguished; and she did not turbulence of ambition, with all his eager- want the veil of art to conceal faults which ness of enterprise, with all his celerity of were not working within. She seems to despatch, his judgment uniformly appears have united consummate discretion, with the to have been cool and serene; and even in most conscientious sincerity. She could the midst of the most complicated transac- deny, says her admiring biographer, the most tions, no perplexity is ever manifest in his earnest solicitations, with a true firmness, conduct, no entanglement in his thoughts, when she thought the person for whom they no confusion in his expressions. Hence, we were made, did not merit them. She poscannot but infer, that an unambiguous sessed one quality of peculiar value in her clearness in the planning of affairs, a lucid station, a gentle, but effectual method of order in arranging, and a persevering but discouraging calumny. If any indulged a not precipitate, despatch in conducting them, spirit of censoriousness in her presence, conare the unequivocal marks of a superior tinues he, she would ask them if they had read archbishop Tillotson's sermon on evilspeaking? or give them some other pointed, but delicate reproof.

mind.

Yet though distribution, order and arrangement, are the soul of business, even these must not be too minute, for he that does not divide,' says the great authority above cited. will never enter clearly into business, and he who divides too much, will not come out of it clearly '

Princes should never forget, that where sincerity is expected, freedom must be allow ed; and, that they who show themselves displeased at truth, must not be surprised if they never hear it. In all their intercourse, they A prince should come to the transaction should not only be habituated to expect from of business, with a prepared, but not with a others, but to practise themselves, the most prejudiced mind: and the mind which is best simple veracity; they should no more emfurnished for the concern which it is about ploy flattery, than exact it. It will be neto investigate, while it will be least liable to cessary for them to bear in mind, that such be drawn aside by persuasion, will be most is the selfishness of the human heart, that we open to truth, and most disposed to yield to are not disinterested in our very praises; conviction, because it will have already and that, in excessive commendation, we weighed the arguments, and balanced the commonly consider ourselves the more than difficulties. the person we commend. It is often rather real admiration of the person we extol That a disguised effect of our own vanity, than any flattery which appears so liberal is, in fact, one of the secret artifices of self-love; it

A great statesman of that nation to which we are rather apt to ascribe steadiness than rapidity, has bequeathed a valuable lesson to princes for the despatch of business. It is well known that De Wit assigned as the chief reason why he had himself been enabled to prosecute such a multiplicity of con cerns so easily was, by always doing one thing at a time.

looks generous, but it is in reality covetous; and praise is not so much a free gift, as a mercenary commerce, for which we hope to receive, in return, more than an equivalent. Is there not something far more cunning It is therefore important, not only fully to recommends, to be liberal of praise to anoththan noble, in that popular art, which Pliny possess the mind with the affair which is er for any thing in which you yourself excel?" under consideration, but to bestow on it an-The motive is surely selfish, that whether undivided attention, an application which cannot be diverted by irrelevant or inferior you deserve it or not, you may thus either objects; and to possess a firmness which yourself.-If censure wants the tenderness of way, be certain of securing the superiority to cannot be shaken from its purpose by art or flattery; cautions the more necessary, as modesty of truth, and the sanctity of justice charity to make it useful, praise requires the we are assured by a penetrating observer, to render it safe. It is observable, that in that even the strong mind of Elizabeth was the sacred Scripture, which we should do not always proof against such attacks. One well always to consult as our model, though of the secretaries of this great queen never came to her to sign bills, that he did not first take care to engage her in deep discourse about other weighty business, that, by thus pre-occupying her mind, he might draw off her attention from the bills to which he wanted her signature.

there is sometimes simple commendation, yet there is no excessive praise, nor even the slightest tincture of exaggeration.

flattery, which should with equal vigilance be But there is a fault, the direct opposite to guarded against. There is nothing which

*See especially bishop Burnet's essay on queen

For the private habits of life, and propriety of conduct to those around her, queen Mary.

more effectually weans attachment, and ob- finding, that the frankest reproofs, instead of structs popularity, than the indulgence of in-generating a formality too fatally indicative temperate speech, and petulant wit. And of decaying affection, are productive, even they who in very exalted stations, unfortu- when they may be conceived to be misplaced, nately feel a propensity to impetuosity or of warmer returns of cordiality. sarcasm, would do well, if they will not repress the feeling (which would be the shortest way) not to let it break out in pointed sentences, or cutting sayings, sharp enough to give pain, and short enough to be remembered. It has this double disadvantage, every wound made by a royal hand is mortal to the feelings of those on whom it is inflicted; and every heart which is thus wounded, is alienated. Besides, it is an evil, which gathers strength by going.' The sayings of princes are always repeated, and they are not always repeated faithfully. Lord Bacon records several instances of sovereigns who ruined themselves by this sententious indiscretion. The mischief of concise sayings, he observes, is that they are darts, supposed to be shot from their secret intentions, while long discourses are flat, less noticed, and little remembered.'

CHAP. XXIII.

But kings, whether actual or expectant, must not hope, in general, to find this honest frankness. They must not expect to have their opinions controverted, or their errors exposed directly or openly. They should, therefore, accustom themselves to hear and understand the still small voice, in which any disapprobation will be likely to be conveyed; they should use themselves to catch a hint, and to profit from an analogy: they should be on the watch to discover the sense which is entertained of their own principles or conduct, by observing the language which is used concerning similar principles and conduct in others. They must consider themselves as lying under special disadvantages, in respect to the discovery of truth, wherever they are themselves concerned; and must, therefore, strive to come possessed of it, with proportionate diligence and caution.

If an insinuating favourite find it more advantageous to himself to flatter than to counsel his prince, counsel will be withheld, and obsequiousness will be practised. The On the choice of society.—Sincerity the bond prince, in return, will conclude himself to of familiar intercourse-Liberality.-In- is never opposed; and the remembrance of be always in the right, when he finds that he stances of ingratitude in princes.--On his faults, and the duty of correcting them, raising the tone of conversation—and of will be obliterated in the constant approbation which he is confident of receiving.

manners.

PRINCES can never fall into a more fatal Discretion is a quality so important in the error, than when, in mixing with dishonour- royal person, that he should early be taught able society, they fancy, either that their the most absolute control over his own choice can confer merit, or their presence mind! He should learn, that no momentacompensate for the want of it. It is, howev-ry warmth of feeling should ever betray a er, sometimes very difficult for them to dis- prince into the disclosure of any thing which cover the real character of those around wisdom or duty requires him to conceal. them, because there may be a kind of con- But, while he is thus vigilantly careful not spiracy to keep them in the dark. But there to commit himself, he should seldom appear is one principle of selection, which will in to entertain any distrust of those, in whom general direct them well, in the choice of prudence forbids him to confide. There is their companions, that of choosing persons, scarcely a more unquestionable evidence of who, in their ordinary habits, and in select-sound sense and self-possession, than never ing the companions of their own hours of re- to seem burthened with a secret of one's laxation, show their regard for morality and own; nor a surer mark of true politeness, virtue. From such men as these, princes than not to pry curiously into that of anothmay more reasonably expect to hear the lan-er. "The perfection of behaviour,' says guage of truth. Such persons will not be naturally led to connive at the vices of their master, in order to justify their own; they have no interest in being dishonest.

Livy, though he said it on another occasion, is for a man (he might have said a prince) to retain his own dignity without intruding on the liberty of another.'

The people are not unnaturally led to form Those who have solicitations to make, their judgment of the real principles and should never have reason given them to suscharacter of the prince, from the conduct and pect, that they can work their way to the manners of his companions and favourites. royal favour by flatteries which sooth rather Were not the subjects of the unhappy Charles than by truths which enlighten. Above all, I. in some degree excusable for not doing a prince should avoid discovering such weakfull justice to the piety and moral worth, nesses as may encourage suiters to expect which really belonged to his character, when success in their applications, by such a spirthey saw that those who were his most stren-it of accommodation, such silly compliments, uous advocates, were, in general, avowedly servile sacrifices, and unworthy adulation, profligate and profane ?-If a monarch have as are derogatory to his understanding, and the especial happiness of possessing a friend, disgraceful to his character.* let him be valued as the most precious of all * It would seem superfluous to guard the royal his possessions. Let him be encouraged to mind against such petty dangers, did not history discharge the best office of friendship, by furnish so many instances of their ill effects. How VOL. II.

10

A royal person should early be taught that could be derived from making the promise. it is no small part of wisdom and virtue to Even the wiser worldly politicians have been repel improper requests. But while firm in aware of this. Cardinal Richelieu, overthe principle, as Christian duty requires, it bearing as he was, still preserved the attachis no violation of that duty to be as gentle in ments of his adherents by never violating the expression, as christian kindness de- his engagements; while Mazarin, whose viinands; never forgetting the well known ces were of a baser strain, was true to no circumstance, that of two sovereigns of the man, and, therefore, attached to no man. house of Stuart, one refused favours in a There was no set of people on whom he could more gracious manner than the other grant- depend, because there was none whom he ed them. It is, therefore, not enough that a had not deceived. Though his less elevated prince should acquire the disposition to con- capacity, and more moderate ambition, enafer favours, he should also cultivate the tal- bled him to be less splendidly mischievous ent. He should not only know how and than his predecessor, yet his bad faith and when to commend, and how and when to be- want of honour, his falsehood and low cunstow, but also how and when to refuse; and ning, as they prevented all men from confishould carefully study the important and ding in him during his life, so have they happy art of discriminating between those consigned his memory to perpetual detestawhose merit deserves favour, and those whose tion. necessities demand relief. It should be established into a babit, to make no vague promises, raise no false hopes, and disappoint no hopes which have been fairly raised.

In habituating princes to delight to confer favours on the deserving, it should be remembered, that where it is right to bestow them at all, it is also right not to wait till they Princes should never shelter their meaning are solicited But, while the royal person is under ambiguous expressions: nor use any taught to consider munificence as a truly of those equivocal or general phrases, which princely virtue, yet an exact definition of may be interpreted any way, and which, ei- what true, and especially what royal, muafither from their ambiguity, or indeterminate cence is, will be one of the most salutary leslooseness, will be translated into that lan- sons he can learn. Liberality is one of the guage, which happens to suit the hopes or brightest stars in the whole constellation of the fears of the petitioner. It should ever virtues; but it shines most benignantly, be remembered that a hasty promise, given when it does not depend on its own solitary to gain time, to save appearances, to serve a lustre, but blends its rays with the confluent pressing emergency, or to avoid a present radiance of the surrounding lights. The inimportunity, and not performed when the oc-dividual favour must not intrench on any su casion occurs, does as much harm to the pro-perior claim; no bounty must infringe on miser in a political, as in a moral view. For its neighbouring virtues, justice, or discrethe final disappointment of such raised ex- tion; nor must it take its character from its pectations will do an injury more than equiv- outwardly resembling vices, ostentation, alent to any temporary advantage, which vanity or profusion. Real merit of every kind should be remunerated; but those who much the weak vanity of king James I. laid him possess merits foreign from their own profesopen to these despicable flatteries, we have some sion, though they should be still rewarded, curious specimens in a letter of lord Thomas How- should not be remunerated out of the reard to Sir John Harrington, from which we extract Nor should talthe following passage. In advising his friend how sources of that profession to conduct himself in the king's presence, in or- ents, however considerable, which are irreder to advance his fortune, after some other coun- levant to the profession, be made a motive sel, he adds, Touch but lightly on religion. Do for placing a man in it. Louis XIV. chose not of yourself say, "this is good or bad;" but if father la Chaise for his confessor, because he it were your majesty's good opinion, I myself understood something of medals! should think so. In private discourse, the king There is an idea of beautiful humanity seldom speaketh of any man's temper, discretion, or good virtues; so meddle not at all; but find out suggested to princes in the Spectator,* in a a clue to guide you to the heart, most delightful to fictitious account of the emperor Pharahis mind. I will advise one thing: the roan Jen- mond, who made it his refreshment from the net, whereon the king rideth every day, must not toils of business, and the fatigues of cerebe forgotten to be praised, and the good furniture mony, to pass an hour or two in the apartabove all. What lost a great man much notice the ment of his favourite, in giving audience to other day, a noble did come in suit of a place, and the claims of the meritorious, and in drying saw the king mounting the roan, delivered his pe- the tears of the afflicted. The entrance by tition, which was heeded and read, but no answer which the sorrowful obtained access, was given. The noble departed, and came to courte

A mu

the next day, and got no answer again. The lord called THE GATE OF THE UNHAPPY. treasurer was then pressed to move the king's nificent prince may, in some degree, realize pleasure touching the petition. When the king this idea. And what proportions in archiwas asked for answer thereto, he said in some tecture, what magnificence in dimensions, wrath, "shall a king give heed to a dirty paper what splendour of decoration, can possibly when the beggar noticeth not his gilt stirrups?" adorn a royal palace so gloriously, as such a Now it fell out, that the king had new furniture, when the noble saw him in the courte yard, but he gate of the unhappy?

being overcharged with confusion, passed by ad- A royal person should be early taught, by miring the dressing of the horse. Thus, good an invincible love of justice, and a constant aight, our noble failed in his suit.'

Nuga Antiqua.

* Number 84.

exercise of kindness, feeling, and gratitude, To confer dignity and useful elegance on to invalidate that maxim, that in a court les the hours of social pleasure and relaxation, absens et les mourans ont toujours tort. He is a talent of peculiar value, and one of should possess the generosity, not to expect which an highly educated prince is in more his favourites to sacrifice their less fortunate complete possession than any other human friends in order to make their court to him. being. He may turn even the passing toExamples of this ungenerous selfishness pics of the day to good account, by collecting should be commented on in reading. Ma- the general opinion; and may gain clearer dame de Maintenon sacrificed the exemplary views of ordinary events and opinions, by cardinal de Noailles, and the elegant and hearing them faithfully related, and fairly virtuous Racine, to the unjust resentment of canvassed. Instead of falling in with the the king, and refused to incur the risk of prevailing taste for levity and trifles, he may, displeasing him by defending her oppressed without the smallest diminution of cheerfuland injured friends. ness or wit in the conversation, insensibly We have already mentioned the remuner- divert its current into the purest channels. ation of services. In a reign where all was The standard of society may be gracefully, baseness, it is not easy to fix on a particular and almost imperceptibly raised by exciting instance; else the neglect manifest by the attention to questions of taste, morals, Charles II. towards the author of Hudibras, ingenuity, and literature. Under such aucarries on it a stain of peculiar ingratitude. spicious influence, every talent will not only It is the more unpardonable, because the be elicited, but directed to its true end. Evmonarch had taste enough to appreciate, and ery taste for what is excellent will be awakenfrequently to quote with admiration the wit ed; every mental faculty, and moral feeling of Butler: a wit not transiently employed to will be quickened; and the royal person, by promote his pleasure, or to win his favour; the urbanity and condescension with which but loyally and laboriously exercised in com- he thus calls forth abilities to their best exposing one of the most ingenious and origin-ercise, will seem to have infused new powers al, and unquestionably, the most learned po- into his honoured and delighted guests. em in the English language. A poem, A prince is the maker of manners;' and which, independently of its literary merit, as he is the model of the court, so is the did more to advance the royal cause, by stigmatizing with unparalleled powers of irony and ridicule, the fanaticism and hypocrisy of the usurper's party, than had perhaps been effected by all the historians, moralists, divines, and politicians put together. It is not meant, however, to give unqualified praise to this poem. From the heavy charges of levity, and even of profaneness, Hudibras cannot be vindicated: and a scrupulous sovereign would have wished that his cause had been served by better means.Such a sovereign was not Charles. So far from it, may it not be feared, that these grievous blemishes, instead of alienating the king from the poet, would too probably have been an additional motive for his approbation of the work and consequently, could not have been his reason for neglecting the author.*

A somewhat similar imputation of ingratitude sowards Philip de Comines, though on different grounds of service, detracts not a little from the far more estimable character of Louis XII. As it was this monarch's honourable boast, on another occasion, that the king of France never resented the injuries offered to the duke of Orleans, it should have been equally his care, that the services performed for the one should never have been forgotten by the other.

court the model of the metropolis, and the metropolis of the rest of the kingdom. He should carefully avail himself of the rare advantage which his station affords, of giving, through this widely extended sphere, the tone to virtue, as well as to manners. He should bear in mind, that high authority becomes a most pernicious power, when, either by example or countenance, it is made the instrument of extending and establishing corruptions.

We have given an instance of the powerful effect of example in princes, in the influence which the sincerity of Henry IV. of France had on those about him. An instance equally striking may be adduced of the eagerness with which the same monarch was imitated in his vices. Henry was passionately addicted to gaming, and the contagion of the king's example unhappily spread with the utmost rapidity, not only through the whole court, but the whole kingdom.

And when, not gaming only, but other irregularities; when whatever is notoriously wrong, by being thus countenanced and protected, becomes thoroughly established and fashionable, few will be ashamed of doing wrong. Every thing, indeed, which the court reprobates will continue to be stigmatized; but unhappily, every thing which it countenances will cease to be disreputable. *Dryden also materially served the royal cause And that which was accounted infamous unby his admirable poem of Absalom and Achitophel, der a virtuous, would cease to be dishonourwhich determined the conquest of the tories, after able under a corrupt reign. For, while vice the exclusion parliaments. But Dryden was a profligate, whom no virtuous monarch could pat- is discouraged by the highest authority, notronise. Though, when a prince refuses to remu- withstanding it may be practised, it will still nerate the actual services of a first rate genius, because he is an unworthy man, it would be acting consistently to withhold all favour from those who have only the vices without the talents.

be accounted disgraceful; but when that discountenance is withdrawn, shame and dishonour will no longer attend it. The contamination will spread wider, and descend

lower, and purity will insensibly lose ground, when even notorious deviations from it are no longer attended with disgrace.

CHAP. XXIV.

On the art of moral calculation, and making a true estimate of things and persons.

Anne of Austria has been flattered by historians, for having introduced a more refin- A ROYAL person should early be taught to ed politeness into the court of France, and act on that maxim of one of the ancients for having multiplied its amusements. We that the chief misfortunes of men arise from hardly know whether this remark is meant their never being learned the true art of calto convey praise or censure. It is certain culation. This moral art should be employthat her cardinal, and his able predecessor, ed to teach him how to pay the comparative had address enough to discover, that the value of things; and to adjust their respectmost effectual method of establishing a des- ive claims; assigning to each that due propotic government, was to amuse the people, portion of time and thought to which each by encouraging a spirit of dissipation, and will, on a fair valuation, be found to be ensedulously providing objects for its gratifica- titled. It will also teach the habit of setting tion. These dexterous politicians knew, the concerns of time, in contrast with those that to promote a general passion for pleas- of eternity. This last is not one of those ure and idleness, would, by engaging the speculative points on which persons may difminds of the people, render them less dan- fer without danger, but one in which an ergerous observers, both of the ministers and roneous calculation involves inextricable of their sovereigns. This project, which misfortunes. had perhaps only a temporary view, had lasting consequences. The national character was so far changed by its success, that the country seems to have been brought to the unanimous conclusion, that it was pleasanter to amuse than to defend themselves.

It is prudent to have a continual reference not only to the value of the object, but also to the probability there is of attaining it ; not only to see that it is of sufficient importance to justify our solicitude; but also to take care, that designs of remote issue, and It is also worth remarking, that even projects of distant execution, do not superwhere the grossest licentiousness may not be sede present and actual duties. Providence, pursued, an unbounded passion for exquisite by setting so narrow limits to life itself, in refinement in pleasure, and for the luxuri- which these objects are to be pursued, has ous gratification of taste, is attended with clearly suggested to us, the impropriety of more deep and serious mischiefs than are forming schemes, so disproportionate in their perhaps intended. It stagnates higher ener- dimensions, to our contracted sphere of acgies; it becomes itself the paramount prin- tion. Nothing but this doctrine of moral ciple, and gradually, by debasing the heart, calculation, will keep up in the mind a conboth disinclines and disqualifies it for nobler stant sense of that future reckoning, which, pursuits. The court of Lewis XIV exhib- even to a private individual, is of unspeakaited a striking proof of this degrading per-ble moment: but, which to a prince, whose fection. The princes of the blood were so responsibility is so infinitely greater, inenchanted with its fascinating splendors, that they ignominiously submitted to the loss of all power, importance, and influence in the state, because with a view to estrange them from situations of real usefulness and dignity, they were graciously permitted to preside in matters of taste and fashion, and to become the supreme arbiters in dress, spectacles, and decoration.*

་

pray

creases to a magnitude, the full sum of which, the human mind would in vain attempt to estimate This principle will afford the most salutary check to those projects of remote vain-glory, and posthumous ambition, of which in almost every instance, it is difficult to pronounce, whether they have been more idle, or more calamitous.

History, fertile as it is in similar lessons, does not furnish a more striking instance of It is humiliating to the dignity of a prince, the mischiefs of erroneous calculation, than when his subjects believe that they can recommend in the character of Alexander. How falsely themselves to his favour by such low qualifications did he estimate the possible exertions of one as a nice attention to personal appearance, and mo- man, and the extent of human life, when, in dish attire. Of this we shall produce an instance the course of his reign, which eventually from another passage of lord Thomas Howard's proved a short one, he resolved to change Letters to sir John Harrington. The king,' says the face of the world; to conquer its kinghe, doth admire good fashion in cloaths. you give good heed hereunto. I would wish you to be well trimmed; get a good jerkin well bordered, and not too short: The king saith, he liketh a flowing garment. Be sure it be not all of one sort, but diversely coloured; the collar falling somewhat down, and your ruff well stiffened and bushy. We have lately had many gallants who have failed in their suit for want of due observance in these matters. The king is nicely heedful of such points, and dwelleth on good looks and handsome accoutrements.'-Nuge Antiquæ.

doms, to enlighten its ignorance, and to redress its wrongs! a chimera, indeed, but a glorious chimera, had he not, at the same time, and to the last hour of his life, indulged passions inconsistent with his own resolutions, and subversive of his own schemes. His thirty-third year put a period to projects, for which many ages would have been insufficient! and the vanity of his ambition forms a forcible contrast to the grandeur of his designs. His gigantic empire, acquired by unequalled courage, ambition, and success, did not gradually decay by the lapse of time; it did not yield to the imperious control of