military career was of short duration: for he was soon after mortally wounded in a skirmish with prince Rupert in Chalgrove-field, near Thame in Oxfordshire; and, after languishing six days, died, to the unspeakable regret and consternation of his party. His incautious bravery precipitated his fate; and the royalists exulted in his death as if the dispute had thus been settled, and considered it as a just judgment on the most active partisan of rebellion. Yet the king, when he heard of Hampden's situation, sent his own physician to attend him, as a mark of personal respect; and to judge from the antecedent conduct of Hampden, this favour, if he had lived, would have been returned with addition. His natural disposition, the integrity of his heart, and the influence which he had acquired, would probably have co-operated to save both the king and the constitution from final destruction. Though he had resisted the encroachments of arbitrary power, he would have bowed to legitimate authority; and had his life been spared, it can scarcely be doubted that he would have opposed the usurpation of Cromwell with equal resolution and success. The credit which he had gained, would have speedily raised him to the command of the army; and as he was never known to exercise authority but for what he regarded as the public good, it may charitably be presumed that he would have listened with pleasure to the concessions which the unhappy Charles was afterwards induced to make.

Let the fate however of Hampden, and the consequences which ensued from his opposition, pure as it might be, teach the propriety of lenient measures, and the extreme danger of engaging in civil conflicts. The first agents in reform may possibly be influenced by the most patriotic views, but when once popular opposition is roused, and the bands of established government are loosened, the power may soon be wrested from the hands which before wielded it, and be usurped by men of the most corrupt

principles. Then flows in all the tide of misery which the virtuous seek to avoid, but the impetuosity of which they are unable to restrain. The history of all ages and of all nations confirms this incontrovertible maxim: "that violence may demolish, but cannot repair; and that every melioration of the constitution of a country must be effectuated by gradual and almost imperceptible means, in order to render it salutary and permanent."

The character of a man who stands so prominent on the historic canvass of the period in which he lived, and who may furnish both an incentive and a warning to future patriots, ought not to be dismissed without further notice. It is unnecessary, however, to attempt to draw a new character. The dark side has been forcibly delineated by the noble historian of the civil wars, and the bright by the celebrated Mrs. Macaulay. As a proof of impartiality, both are here subjoined; nor can either be read without advantage. "He was," says lord Clarendon, a man of great cunning, and, it may be, of the most discerning spirit; and of the greatest address and insinuation to bring any thing to pass which he desired, of any man of that time, and who laid the design deepest. He was of that rare affability and temper in debate, and of that seeming humility and submission of judgment, as if he brought noopinion of his own with him, but a desire of information and instruction; yet he had so subtle a way, and under the notion of doubts insinuating his objections, that he infused his own opinions into those from whom he pretended to learn and receive them. And even with them who were able to preserve themselves from his infusions, and discerned those opinions to be fixed in him with which they could not comply, he always left the charac ter of an ingenuous and conscientious person. He was indeed a very wise man, and of great parts; and possessed with the most absolute spirit of popularity, and the most absolute faculties to govern the people, of any man

I ever knew. For the first year of the parliament, he seemed rather to moderate and soften the violent and distempered humours, than to inflame them. But wise and dispassionate men plainly discerned that that moderation proceeded from prudence, and observation that the season was not ripe, rather than that he approved of the moderation: and that he begot many opinions and notions, the education whereof he committed to other men; so far disguising his own designs, that he seemed seldom to wish more than was concluded. And in many gross conclusions, which would hereafter contribute to designs not yet set on foot, when he found them sufficiently backed by a majority of voices, he would withdraw himself before the question, that he might seem not to consent to so much visible unreasonableness; which produced as great a doubt in some, as it did approbation in others, of his integrity. After he was among those members accused by the king of high-treason, he was much altered; his nature and carriage seeming much fiercer than it did before: and without question, when he first drew his sword he threw away the scabbard. He was very temperate in diet; and a supreme governor over all his passions and affections, and had thereby a great power over other men's. He was of an industry and vigilance not to be tired out or wearied by the most laborious, and of parts not to be imposed upon by the most subtle and sharp, and of a personal courage equal to his best parts; so that he was an enemy not to be wished, wherever he might have been made a friend; and as much to be apprehended where he was so, as any man could deserve to be. And therefore his death was no less pleasing to the one party, than it was condoled in the other. In a word, what was said of Cinna might well be applied to him; he had a head to contrive, a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute any mischief; or, as the historian says elsewhere, any good."

" has pre

“Clarendon,” remarks Mrs. Macaulay, tended to draw the exact portraiture of this eminent personage; but though marked with those partial lines which distinguish the hand of the historian, it is the testimony of an enemy to virtues possessed only by the foremost rank of men. With all the talents and virtues which render private life useful, amiable, and respectable, were united in Hampden, in the highest degree, those excellences which guide the jarring opinions of popular counsels to determined points; and whilst he penetrated into the most secret designs of other men, he never discovered more of his own inclinations than was necessary to the purpose in hand. In debate he was so much a master, that joining the art of Socrates with the graces of Cicero, he fixed his own opinion under the modest guise of desiring to improve by that of others; and, contrary to the nature of disputes, left a pleasing impression, which prejudiced his antagonist in his favour even when he had not convinced or altered his judgment. His carriage was so generally, uniformly, and unaffectedly affable; his conversation so enlivened by his vivacity, so seasoned by his knowledge and understanding, and so well applied to the genius, humour, and prejudices, of those he conversed with, and that his talents to gain popu larity were absolute. With qualities of this high nature, he possessed in council penetration and discernment, with a sagacity on which no one could impose, an industry and vigilance which were indefatigable, with the entire mastery of his passions and affections; an advantage which gave him infinite snperiority over less regulated minds. It was he whom the party relied on to animate the cold counsels of their general; it was his example and influence they trusted to keep him honest to the interest of the public, and to preserve to the parliament the affections of the army. Had he been at first appointed to the supreme military command, the civil war under

all the horrors of which the country languished more than three years, would have been but of a short continuance.

IN

DR. WILLIAM HARVEY.

Born 1578.-Died 1657.

From 20th Elizabeth, to 8th Charles II.

every walk of life, and in every profession, Britain has reason to be proud of her sons. The healing art,

in particular, has not only been carried to a very great degree of practical perfection by some of our illustrious countrymen, but many of the most valuable and salutary discoveries in physiology and anatomy exclusively belong to them. No medical author, however, has gained more glory than Harvey. His investigations led to the most important ends, and tend to the benefit of all mankind to the latest posterity. They throw a lustre on his profession and his name, which envy cannot tarnish, or malevolence conceal.

This celebrated physician was the eldest son of a genteel family settled at Folkstone in Kent. When he had reached his tenth year, he was sent to the grammarschool at Canterbury; where being well stored with classical learning, he was removed at an early age to Gonvil and Caius college, Cambridge. In this university he diligently applied to such studies as were fundament ally connected with medicine; and after six years spent here, he commenced his foreign travels, with a view solely to proficiency in his destined profession. Retiring to Padua in Italy, he attended the lectures of the famous Fabricius of Aquapendente, on anatomy; of Minodaus, on pharmacy; and of Casserius, on surgery. Under such distinguished masters, with a mind naturally inquisitive, and wholly devoted to medical studies and researches, his progress must have been rapid; but whether he had yet conceived the idea which led to his