"I am now on the shady side of three-score years: I write to you what First Letter. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR TAYLOR AND HESSEY, 93, FLEET STREET. 1817. ADVERTISEMENT. BJ1661 H3 Bishop, SIR MATTHEW HALE was twice married; a M808350 Of these children, Robert died in 1670, Matthew in 1675, and Thomas, in May, 1676, half a year before his father. These were sad blows to a sinking man, whose children appear to have been most dear to him. But he had other cares to occupy his latter days, and other claims upon him as a parent. His son Robert had married Frances, daughter of Sir Francis Chokke, of Avington, Berkshire, Knight. But she dying at nearly the same time with her husband, the charge of their five orphan children, all of them infants, devolved upon Sir Matthew and his second wife. Thus he had another young family to protect and educate in his old age. With these he pursued the same system which he had adopted towards his own children; writing to them a long letter of sound advice, which was become the more necessary, as in the common course of events he could not hope much longer to superintend their conduct. It is preserved among his MSS. in Lincoln's Inn library, and is entitled, "A Letter of Advice to my Grand |