to make patriotism and public spirit the themes of his ridicule; he was also addicted to lewdness in his conduct, and obscenity in his conversation, and was so abandoned as to glory in his shame. His house was often filled with disorderly company, and exhibited a disgusting scene of intemperance and riot, which was called keeping up old English hospitality, and probably was intended to strengthen his interest by increasing his popularity.

Whatever were his faults, his skill in finance, his ability in protecting and promoting commerce, and bove all bis love of peace and his determination to preserve it, were capital qualities, on account of which he deserves commemoration; and Mr. Coxe was eminently qualified for the service. The sources of information to which he had access, were important and curious, and have enabled him to throw much light on a period of more than forty years of our history. He has displayed much diligence of investigation, judgment in discriminating motives and causes of action, and an unusual degree of candour and impartiality. His opinions are derived from such extensive knowledge, and display such sagacity of mind, that they usually command the assent, and often excite the admiration, of the reader. But his great talent, and that for which I most admire him, is his skill in delineating characters. In the portraits which he has drawn of the principal public men of that age, he has discovered the hand of a master, and pre

sents a striking groupe of faithful and spirited likenesses. When we are pleased with a work, we sometimes inquire after the other productions of the same author; and the approbation and delight with which I have read Mr. Coxe's memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole, have given me a partiality for whatever bears his name. Lord Walpole was the brother of Sir Robert, and was distinguished for the soundness of his understanding, his indefatigable application to business, and his talents for negociating important and difficult affairs. For a long period he was trusted with the secrets of government, and intimately acquainted with the motives and springs of action, and had great influence in the direction of domestic and foreign concerns. Mr. Coxe's memoirs of Lord Walpole may be considered a companion and supplement to this work: they are written with the same research and ability, are marked with the same characteristics, and deserve the same commendation.

His memoirs of the Kings of Spain may be justly deemed a standard authority for Spanish history, during the period of which he treats. He has consulted all the historians and memoir-writers who have preceded him, and immense numbers of manuscript documents, especially the letters of ambassadors; and his book affords nearly all the information that the general reader can desire.

The volumes of his travels rank among the best specimens of that kind of composition; and, in an

age of travelling, and among more modern publications, maintain their credit for various and valuable information. Those which relate to Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, contain more than may expected from the title. Besides the usual narratives and details of travellers, Mr. Coxe has entered largely into the history, the polity, the laws, and the government, of the countries through which he passed; and sometimes has given biographical accounts of the eminent men who resided in them. Many of these sketches are so graphical and curious, so interesting and amusing, that they have been much admired and often quoted.

His travels in Switzerland describe a country which is on many accounts worthy of attention. Its picturesque, diversified, and romantic scenery; the remarkable events of its early history; the peculiarities in the government of its several cantons; and the manners and customs of the people, make it attractive to a traveller, and supply excellent materials for narrative and description. Mr. Coxe has proved his attachment to it by visiting and traversing it four times, and the result of his observations and inquiries is a work which does honour to its author, and imparts gratification to its reader; which was well received on its publication, and will not be slighted in after years.

I

Having read thirteen of Mr. Coxe's volumes, may be supposed to have formed an opinion of his

1

merits. On religion, though he be a clergyman, he seldom treats; and the few instances in which he does advert to it, indicate that it is not at all in his way. His archaiological researches, and disquisitions on natural history, I have not read, because I have no taste for them. On all the events and characters of the times on which he has written, I know no man to whose judgment I pay greater deference. His works are very valuable, and his memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole are the best of them; and I think the best work we have in political biography.

LORD BOLINGBROKE.*

WRITTEN AFTER READING THE MEMOIRS OF HIM BY G. W. COOKE.

“He was a brilliant but an unprincipled character."

Dr. Drake. "His passions impaired both his constitution and his character; and his ambition destroyed both his fortune and his reputation.”

Lord Chesterfield.

"No land can have greater pests than such men as care not how much the welfare and repose of their country are sacrificed to their revenge and affectation of dominion.”

Matthew Henry.

Among the statesmen in English history, Lord Bolingbroke stands as one of the most conspicuous. He is celebrated for the gracefulness of his person, the sprightliness of his wit, the vivacity of his manners, the power of his talents, and the splendour of his eloquence; and he was notorious for the depravity of his character and the wickedness of his conduct. These qualities were accompanied with the inconsistency which is often observable in such men. In theory he was the philosophical defender of good taste and morality; and in practice he was a rake and a libertine. His vices occasioned much uneasiness to his connections; and they caused a separation between him and

• It may not be improper to state that this essay, which has some affinity to the preceding one, was written more than ten years after it.