mercial intercourse, have been enlarged beyond all precedent, by the arduous and expensive Voyages of Discovery, which have been effected by Great Britain. The late King invariably supported these national undertakings with the whole weight of his authority; his enterprising people have ever been ready to avail themselves of the advantages he thus presented to them.

The late King's reign has been more distinguished than that of any Monarch since Charles I. for a magnificent support of the Fine Arts. The King founded the Royal Academy. His personal patronage went perhaps to the extent of his resources;-but he did more for the Arts, by leading their professors to aspire to those honours which would give a value and dignity to their occupation, in the eyes of those who had been unaccustomed to feel the intrinsic worth of unpretending merit. The King's taste in these matters was per haps not critically correct; but he had a quick perception of talent, and a liberal policy in rewarding it When Sir W. Chambers, the Surveyor General, died, an architect of professional emittence was earnestly recommended to his Majesty, by some persons high in office, for the vacant appointment. The King had noticed the extraordinary talents of the late Mr. Wyatt, then a young candidate for celebrity. His Majesty sent for that gentleman, who was perfectly unconscious of the honour intended him. I present you,' said the King, with the vacant office of Surveyor General; and my reasons are, first, that I think it a proper reward for your merit; and, secondly, that I am greatly pleased with your modesty in not soliciting it.'

The late King rewarded literary merit with equal liberality. He gave pensions to Johnson and Cowper-men who have taken their stations amongst the greatest names of our country. But he did more for the literary character of his age. The moral feelings of the Court became reflected in the writings which aspired to the support of the polite. This is perhaps negative praise; but we may understand the value of it, when we look back upon the literature of the age of Charles the Second.

The influence of the late King's personal character upon the principles and manners of the long period during which he reigned, cannot be estimated at a time when the authentic materials for his life are deposited only in the recollections and correspondence of eminent individuals, and in the official documents which perhaps may not be exhibited till another generation has passed away. But we are convinced that the name of our late Monarch will be found in future times amongst the venerated roll of Patriot Kings;-that his failings will be obscured by the splendour of his virtues;-and that if England has one of her illustrious Sovereigns who particularly claims the name of Great, she will delight to associate with that of GEORGE III. the not less glorious epithet of THE GOOD.

EDITOR-K

The Fireside Companion;

NO. II.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF SIR MATTHEW HALE, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND.

FEW men have been placed in more difficult circumstances than Sir Matthew Hale; nor can any one be pointed out who has maintained more successfully a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man. There can be none of our readers disinclined to take an interest in this good man's story.

Matthew Hale was born at Alderly, in Gloucestershire, the 1st of November, 1609. His grandfather was Robert Hale, an eminent clothier at Wotton-under-Edge, in the same county, who acquired by trade a large property, which he divided equally amongst his five sons. Robert, the second of them, studied the law; but feeling an objection in conscience to the practice of the courts in some points, he quitted the profession, and betook himself to his estate in the country, where the subject of our narrative was born. He lost his mother before he was three years old, and his father before he was five, and was committed to the guardianship of his near kinsman, Anthony Kingscot, Esq., of Kingscot. Great care was taken of his education, as he was intended for holy orders; and his guardian being inclined to the way of those who were then called Puritans, put him to school with some members of that party. In his 17th year he was sent to Magdalen-Hall, Oxford, where he proved himself a good scholar; but the stage-players coming there, he was so much corrupted by intercourse with them, that he almost forsook his studies. He was afterwards so sensible of the evil which he had suffered in this matter, that upon coming to London he resolved never to see a play again, to which resolution he steadily adhered.

The corruption of a young man's mind in one particular, generally draws on a great many more after it: he quickly gave himself up to all the follies incident to youth, retaining however his outward purity and probity of mind. These courses gradually led him to give up his purpose of becoming a scholar and a divine, so he resolved to be a soldier; and as his tutor and friend, Obadiah Sedgwick, was about to proceed to the Low Countries as chaplain to the famous Lord Vere, who commanded the British troops then serving with the Dutch, he determined to try his fortune as a volunteer in the army. But a happy stop was put to this resolution. He was engaged in a

suit of law with Sir William Whitmore, who laid claim to some part of his estate; and his guardian being a man of retired temper, and not liking business, he was forced to leave the University, and go himself to London to manage his own affair. He had been recommended to the celebrated Sergeant Glanville for his Counsellor, who soon perceiving in him a great fitness for business, took great pains to persuade him to give up his design of turning soldier, and to apply himself to the study of the law. He complied; and at 20 years of age entered himself of Lincoln's Inn, where, being sensible how much time he had lost, he betook himself to his studies with a diligence which could scarcely be believed, if the signal effects of it did not gain it credit. It is recorded of him, that for many years he studied at the rate of sixteen hours a-day; yet he did not at first break off from keeping company with idle people, till a sad accident drove him from it; for being invited with some other young students to a jovial party, one of the company called for so much wine, that notwithstanding all Mr. Hale could do to prevent it, he drank. to such excess that he dropped down as dead before them. This awful occurrence particularly affected him, so that he went into another room, and shutting the door, fell on his knees, and prayed earnestly to God that his friend might be restored, and that himself might be forgiven for giving countenance to such excess; and he made a solemn vow that he would never again indulge in that manner, or drink a health whilst he lived. His friend recovered, and he most religiously observed his vow until his dying day. This wrought an entire change in his conduct; he forsook all idle company, and divided himself between the duties of religion and the study of his profession. In the former he was so regular, that for six-and-thirty years he never once failed going to church on the Lord's Day. This observation he made when an ague first interrupted that constant course; and he reflected on it as an acknowledgment. of God's great goodness to him in so long a continuance of his health.

Mr. Hale did not long remain undistinguished. Noy, the AttorneyGeneral, who was considered to be one of the profoundest lawyers of his day, soon sought him out; and he likewise formed a friendship with the learned Mr. Selden, which was terminated only by death. It was this acquaintance that first set Mr. Hale upon a more enlarged pursuit of knowledge; and in time he made himself thoroughly acquainted with all the branches of learning but his favourite pursuit was the study of divinity, in which he made a progress truly wonderful, as is proved by the writings which he left. behind him. But we must call to mind, that as his parts were quick, his memory great, and his judgment strong, so his industry was indefatigable. He rose always betimes in the morning; was never idle,; in eating and drinking he observed always the greatest plainness and moderation. He had also an admirable equality of temper, which enabled him to apply himself to whatever studies he thought fit te turn himself to.

About the time he was called to the bar, the troubles of the great Rebellion began to break out, so that it became no easy thing for a man to preserve his integrity, and yet live free from vexation. This he endeavoured to do, by avoiding not only all public employment, but even to talk of news. He shewed himself always favourable and charitable to those who were depressed; and took pains never to utter censures or reflections on any one.

He was engaged in his practice for all the King's party-being assigned as Counsel to the Earl of Strafford, to Archbishop Land, and afterwards to the King himself, for whom he would doubtless have pleaded with all the courage such a cause should have inspired, but he was not permitted to appear.

Cromwell soon perceiving that he was not only one of the most eminent men at the bar, but that he was not afraid of doing his duty even in the most critical times, resolved to take him off from it by making him a Judge. Mr. Hale saw well enough the snare that was laid for him, but he determined to accept the offer on this ground :— That it being absolutely necessary to have justice and property kept up at all times, it would be no sin to take a commission from an usurper, provided he never acknowledged his authority; which he never did. He discharged the duties of his office till Cromwell's death; and constantly showed not merely his learning in the law, but the boldest and most inflexible integrity. At the Restoration he was returned to Parliament, without any solicitation on his part, for his native county; and when the courts of law came to be settled, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron. Eleven years he presided in the Court of Exchequer; and the only complaint for which he ever gave occasion was, that he did not determine causes quick enough; but the great care he used had this good effect, that causes tried before him were seldom tried again.

In the year 1671, he was promoted to be Lord Chief Justice of England, and discharged the duties of his high office for four years and a half; a period short indeed for the advantage of his country, but long enough to enable him to establish his character as one of the ablest and most upright magistrates that ever presided in the British Courts of Law. Suddenly, however, an inflammatory attack, which led the way to a most painful asthma, destroyed at once his hitherto sound, constitution. After much intreaty with the King, who was most unwilling to lose so valuable a servant, he was permitted to resign his office in the month of February 1675. He lived only till the Christmas-day following, but all the while in so ill a state of health, that there were no hopes of his recovery; still he continued constant in the practice both of his studies and devotions. As the winter came on, he saw with great joy his deliverance approaching ;, for besides his being weary of the world, and longing for the blessedness of another state, his pains increased so on him, that no patience inferior to his could have borne them; yet he expressed to the last 'such submission to the will of God, and so equal a temper under them, that it was visible to all what mighty advantages he derived from

religious consolation. He continued to enjoy the free use of his reason and senses till the last moment, which he had often and earnestly prayed for during his sickness; and when his voice was so weak that it could not be heard, his attendants could perceive, by the motion of his hands and eyes, that he was still aspiring after that blessed state of which he was so soon to be possessed.

Thus lived and died Sir Matthew Hale, the renowned Lord Chief Justice of England; of whom it might truly be said, though his modesty forbade to engrave it on his tombstone, that he was one of the brightest patterns any age has afforded, whether in his private deportment as a Christian, or in his public employment at the bar or on the bench.'

J. M. T..

It will perhaps enable us to form a more exact notion of this pious Christian's practice, if we subjoin a short extract from his journal, containing the Rules by which he endeavoured to regulate his daily life.

Morning.

1. To lift up my heart to God in thankfulness for renewing my life. 2. To renew my covenant with God in Christ.

3. Adoration and prayer.

4. Setting a watch over my own infirmities and passions; over the snares laid in our way.

Day Employment.

1. There must be employment of two kinds : our ordinary callingto serve God in it, and perform it with faithfulness, diligence, and cheerfulness.

2. Our spiritual employments, mingling somewhat of God's immediate service in the business of every day.

In refreshments, to observe great moderation. In recreations, to remember that they are not our business; to take care they are suit, able. To engage in no games which lead to covetousness or passion. If alone, beware of wandering, vain, and lustful thoughts; fly from thyself rather than entertain these.

Let thy solitary thoughts be profitable; view the evidences of thy salvation, the state of thy soul, the coming of Christ, thine own mortality it will make thee humble and watchful.

Be

In company, do good to them. Use God's name reverently. ware of leaving an ill impression of evil example. Receive good from them if more knowing than thou.

Cast up the accounts of the day. Beg pardon for every thing amiss. Gather resolutions of more vigilance. Bless the mercy and grace of God which have supported and preserved thee.