All parties are striving, in their public papers, which shall profess the highest esteem and honour for him; and they mention his behaviour in his great office, with the warmest gratitude and applause. These praises, which prove the greatness of our misfortune, bring, at the same time, a consolation with them. It gives me a lovely view of mankind, to observe, that they can drop their prejudices, and unite to reverence a truly great and admirable character. Nothing is universally popular but goodness! And every action of his life, in public or private, towards his friends or his enemies, flowed from that divine principle, in which alone we can obey that sublime precept of our Lord, (the sublimest that can be given to men or angels,) "Be ye perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Did I say his enemies? -he had none; he hated none but ill men; nay, even for them, he felt not hatred, but pity.

It has been observed, that the world seldom does justice to characters, till after men have been some time dead; but it has not been so now. The chancellor was dear to his prince and to the people, whilst he lived; and he is equally mourned by both, as soon as he is dead. He was trusted by the prince, as his most faithful and zealous servant; and regarded by the jealous nation, as the warmest and most intrepid lover of their liberties: both thought their rights secure in his hands. To be a popular minister of state, is a felicity scarcely before exampled. But though scarcely before exampled, nothing seems more easy to any person, who has his abilities, and the will to imitate his integrity.

You knew the chancellor, and loved him as well as I have done; but had I been writing to a stranger, I should have soothed my concern, by transcribing a sketch of his life. I could repeat almost every action, from his childhood to his death: and show that he was

uniform in his progress to virtue, and steadfastly adhered to the severest of her precepts; severe, in the judgment of the many, but to him an uninterrupted source of cheerfulness and tranquillity. I could mention such instances of filial piety, as would be hardly believed by others; you know them to be true. How amiable a husband he was! how tender and generous a parent! His sons have often said, he never refused either of them any thing in his life; but that is their own, as well as his praise. He lived with them as a brother and a friend; familiarized his wisdom into chit chat; and instructed them more effectually by common conversation, than others could do by solemn precepts. The nation, by their common sorrow, show what a judge and statesman they have lost. My name will be ever a proof to posterity, how warm and intrepid a friend he could be to one whom he thought fit to honour and reward with that dear and voluntary relation to him. His distressed and melancholy family show what a master he was to them all. In all these various relations, he was superior to any person whom I ever knew, or of whom I ever read.

The day before he died, he said to his son John : "It is indifferent and equal as to myself, whether I die now, or some years hence; but it will not be the same to you for the sake of my children, I could be pleased to remain longer with them." The night he died, his servants offered him a medicine; "It is in vain," he answered: "death cannot be resisted. God's will be done! I am satisfied!" He immediately fell into a calm sleep; continued three hours in it; then awaked, looked round him a few moments; and died without the least struggle or pain.

His distemper was an inflammation on the lungs. The natural cure of it is large bleeding; but, on taking from him only eight ounces, he sunk so much, that the

doctor durst not proceed.-On opening him, a large polypus was found in his heart. Thence, probably, proceeded his not being able to lose blood. A polypus, say physicians, is the effect of care and intenseness of thought; if that is so, no man ever did more to cause it. He sacrificed his life for the good of others; and who will not envy a death so glorious? He lived enough to make himself beloved, whilst living; and revered and lamented by good men of every party and denomination, now he is gone. He lived to perfect his temper to a love of goodness, and adorn it with every Christian, as well as natural grace, that can make virtue either divine or amiable!

Adieu !-Perhaps I may be alive when these lines come to your hands:more probably not!— Believe me, my friend, there is no comfort in this world, but a life of virtue and piety; and no death supportable, but one comforted by Christianity, and its real and rational hope. The first, I doubt not, you experience daily may it be long before you experience the second! -I have passed through good report and evil report: I have not been injured more than outwardly, by the last; and I have been solidly benefited by the former.May all who love the truth in Christ Jesus, and sincerely obey the Gospel, be happy!

Adieu !I have no more strength.-My affectionate, last adieu to your lady! Thomas Derry.

CHAPTER V.

LETTERS OF MR. (AFTERWARDS LORD) LYTTELTON.

Dear sir,

LETTER I.

To his father.

January 17, 1747.

It is a most sensible and painful addition to my concern and affliction for my dear wife, to hear of your being so ill with the stone; and, loaded as my heart is with my other grief, I cannot help writing, to tell you how much I feel for you, and how ardently I pray to God to relieve you.

Last night all my thoughts were employed on you; for, when I went to bed, my poor Lucy was so much better, that we thought her in a fair way of recovery: but my uneasiness for you kept me awake great part of the night; and, in the morning, I found she had been. much worse, so that our alarm was as great as ever. She has since mended again, and she is now pretty nearly as you heard by the last post; only that such frequent relapses give one more cause to fear that the good symptoms, which sometimes appear, will not be lasting. On the other hand, by her struggling so long, and her pulse recovering itself so well as it does, after these violent flurries, and great sinkings, one would hope that nature is strong in her, and will be able at last, to conquer her illness. Sir Edward Hulse seems now inclined to trust to that, and to trouble her with no more physic. Upon the whole, her case is full of uncertainty, and the doctors can pronounce nothing positively about her; but they rather think it will be an affair of time.

H

My own health is yet tolerably good, though my heart has gone through as severe a trial as it can well sustain ; more indeed than I thought it could have borne. You may be assured, dear sir, I will make use of all the supports that religion or reason can give me, to save me from sinking under it. I know the interest you take in my life and health: and I know it is my duty to try not to add to your other pains that of my loss; which thought has as great an effect upon me as any thing can. And I believe God Almighty supports me above my own strength, for the sake of my friends who are concerned for me; and in return for the resignation with which I endeavour to submit to his will.' If it please him, in his infinite mercy, to restore my dear wife to me, I shall most thankfully acknowledge his goodness; if not, I shall most humbly endure his chastisement, which I have too much deserved.

These are the sentiments with which my mind is replete: but, as it is still a most bitter cup, how my body will bear it, if it must not pass from me, is impossible for me to foretell. I hope the best.

Gilbert West would be happy in the reputation his book has gained him, if my poor Lucy were not so ill. However, his mind leans always to hope; which is an advantage both to him and me, as it makes him a better comforter. To be sure, we ought not yet to despair; but there is much to fear, and a most melancholy interval to be supported, before any certainty comes.— God send it may come well at last!

I am, dear sir,

Your most afflicted, but most affectionate son,

George Lyttelton.