Oct. 21:-"I crave leave to advertise you, that Mr. CRESSETT this afternoon discoursing with me, said he had received a letter from the Mayor and seven or eight of the Aldermen, giving him notice that you had received a letter from me of three sides, partly concerning Parliament business, which makes me presume to advertise you, and though I object nothing to Mr. Cressett's fidelity and discretion, neither do I write any thing deliberately that I fear to have divulged, yet seeing it possible in writing to assured friends, a man may give his pen some liberty, for the times are somewhat criticall; beside that, I am naturally, and now more so by my age, inclined to keep my thoughts private, I desire that what I write down to you, may not easily, or unnecessarily, return to a third hand at London; if in saying this I have used more freedom than the occasion requires, I beg your pardon."

After he had received an answer to the above letter, he again writes, Nov. 4th:-" And now, as to your's of the 26th, occasioned by my complaint of intelligence given hither of my letter, I must profess that whosoever did it hath very much obliged me, though I believe beyond his intention, seeing it hath thence happened that I have received so courteous and civil a letter from you, that it warms my very heart, and I shall keep it, as a mark of your honour, always by me, amongst whatsoever things I account most precious and estimable; for it would be very hard for me to tell you at how high a rate I value all expressions of your kindness to me, or how sensibly I should regret the loss of it by any mistake that might chance on either side. I am very well satisfied by your letter, that it was none of you, but it seems there is some sentinell set upon both you and me,

and to know it therefore is a sufficient caution; the best of it is, that none of us, I believe, either do, say, or write, any thing but what we care not if it be made public, although we do not desire it."

About this time, in a letter to a friend, Marvell observes, that "the EARL OF CLARE made a very bold and rational harangue, the King being present, against his Majesty's sitting among the Lords, contrary to former precedents, during their debates, but he was not seconded."* In the same letter we find the following passage, from whence it appears to what a height corruption had arrived in the reign of Charles II. "The King having, upon pretence of the great preparations of his neighbours, demanded £300,000. for his navy, (though in conclusion he hath not sent out any) and that the Parliament should pay his debts, which the ministers would never particularize to the House of Commons, our house gave several bills. You see how far things were stretched beyond reason, there being no satisfaction how those debts were contracted, and all men foreseeing that what was given would not be applied to discharge the debts, which I hear are at this day risen to

* It is presumed that such a hearer, in the House of Lords, would not now have a vote of thanks tendered to him "for the honour he had done them." With respect to courts of justice, it is almost certain, that in early times our Kings, in person, often heard and determined civil causes. EDWARD I. frequently sat in the King's Bench: and in later times, JAMES I. is said to have sat there, but was informed by his Judges that he could not deliver an opinion. Dr. HENRY, in his excellent " History of Great Britain," informs us, that he found no instance of any of our Kings sitting in a court of justice, before EDWARD IV. who, in the second year of his reign, sat three days together in the Court of King's Bench; but, as he was then a very young man, it is probable he was there merely for instruction. In criminal cases, however, it would be a great absurdity if the King personally sat in judgment; because, in regard to these, he appears in another capacity, that of prosecutor. All offences are either against the "King's peace," or "his crown and dignity," though, in the eye of the law, his Majesty is always present in all his courts, he cannot personally distribute justice. It is the regal office, and not the royal person, that is always present in court; and from this ubiquity it follows, that the King can never be nonsuit. For the same reason also, in legal proceedings, the King is said, not to appear by his attorney, as other men.

four millions. Nevertheless, such was the number of the constant courtiers, increased by the apostate patriots, who were bought off for that turn, some at six, others at ten, one at fifteen thousand pounds, in money; besides what offices, lands, and reversions, to others, that it is a mercy they gave not away the whole land and liberty of England. The DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM is again £140,000. pounds in debt, and, by this prorogation, his creditors have time to tear all his lands in pieces.

The House of

Commons has run almost to the end of their time, and are grown extremely chargeable to the King, and odious to the people. They have signed and sealed £10,000. a year more to the DUTCHESS OF CLEVELAND, who has likewise near £10,000. out of the excise of beer and ale; £5,000. a year out of the post-office; and, they say, the reversion of all the King's leases; the reversion of all places in the custom-house: and, indeed, what not? All promotions, spiritual and temporal, pass under her cognizance."

In November, 1675, Marvell again commences his correspondence with the Mayor and Corporation of Hull: he says, "I am here in good health and vigour, ready to take that station in the House which I obtain by your favour, and have so many years continued; and therefore desire that you will consider whether there be any thing that particularly relates to the state of your town. I shall strive to promote it to the best of my duty; and in the more general concerns of the nation, shall maintain the same uncorrupt mind, and clear conscience, free from faction, or any self ends, which, by the grace of God, I have hitherto preserved." There are not many men at the present day who would obtain credit with their constituents, were they to speak thus of themselves; but

MARVELL had for many years given such convincing proofs of the purity of his mind, that his words were an oracle to all who knew him.

Upon the assembling of Parliament on February 15, 1677, he writes:- “I think it befits me to acquaint you, that this day the Parliament assembled, in obedience to his Majesty, he being pleased, in a most gracious manner, to proffer, on his part, all things that might tend to the libertyes of the subject, and the safety of the nation; mentioning also his debts: but most of all he recommended a good agreement between the two Houses, calling heaven and earth to witness, that nothing on his part should be wanting to make this a happy session."

February 17:-"Yesterday the House of Lords ordered the EARL OF SALISBURY and LORD WHARTON to the Tower, during his Majesty's and their House's pleasure. The DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM had retired before his sentence, but, appearing the day afterwards, was also sent to the Tower. The warrant bears for their high contempt of the House, for they refused to ask pardon as ordered. To-day I hear they are made close prisoners."

March 3:-" SIR HARBOTTLE GRIMSTON, Master of the Rolls, moved for a bill to be brought in, to indemnify all Countyes, Cityes, and Burrows, for the Wages due to their Members for the time past, which was introduced by him upon very good reason, both because of the poverty of many people not being able to supply so long an arreare, especially new taxes now coming upon them; and also, because SIR JOHN SHAW, the Recorder of Colchester, had sued the town for his Wages; several other Members also having, it seems, threatened their Burrows to do the same, unless they should chuse them

upon another election to Parliament.* This day had been appointed for grievances: but, it being grown near two o'clock, and the day being, indeed, extraordinary cold, to which the breaking of one of the House windows contributed, it was put off till next Tuesday."

March 13, 1677:-"To-day was read the bill against transporting Wool out of England or Scotland, into forain parts, and ordered a second reading. Then the bill for indemnifying Countyes, Cityes, and Burrows from the Parliament Wages now due, until the first day of this session, was read the first time, and indured a long argument, insomuch, that when the question was put for a second reading, a gentleman, who had disapproved of the bill, deceiving himself by the noise of the negative vote, required the division of the House; but so considerable a number of the affirmatives went out for it, that all the rest in a manner followed after them, notwithstanding their own votes; and there were scarce either tellers, or men to be told left behind, so that it will have a second reading."

March 17:-"I must beg your pardon for paper, pens, writing, and every thing; for really I have, by ill chance, neither eat nor drank, from yesterday at noon, till six o'clock to-night, when the House rose: and by good chance I have now met with Mr. Skyner, so that betwixt both, you may easily guesse I have but little time, and write but at adventure."

April 12:-"We sit again to-morrow, being Good

It is said, that Marvell was the last person in this country that received Wages from his constituents; two shillings a day being allowed for a burgess, and four shillings for a knight of the shire. This was thought so considerable a sum in ancient times, that there are many instances where boroughs petitioned to be excused from sending Members to Parliament, representing, that they were engaged in building bridges, or other public works, and therefore unable to bear such an extraordinary expense.-Blackstone's Commentaries, 1st vol.