with their naked deformity in the pages of the Leyden professor, have been withdrawn from our detestation under an embroidered and sparkling veil by the hand of the British politician. When Salmasius calls upon the monarchs, and indeed upon all the well instituted republics, or, in other words, the regular governments of Europe to extirpate the fanatic and the parricide English,—the pests and the monsters of Britain, we must necessarily be reminded of Mr. Burke's crusading zeal against the revolutionists of France; and be persuaded that he only blows the trumpet bequeathed to him by the antagonist of Milton, and sullied with the venal breath which was once purchased by Charles. Unquestionable resemblance is to be discovered in "the Royal Defence" to those pieces of Mr. Burke's which respect the French revolution; and if the former were to be translated, (but who would submit to so ungrateful a labour?) the English reader would be less struck with the novelty of the latter; and more disposed to assent to what was asserted by the wise man more than three thousand years ago, that "there is no new thing under the sun.”

turbaretur, omnia seditionibus et factionibus arderent, fomitibus subinde in faces ad totius status conflagrationem suppeditandis.' Def. Reg. p. 202.

On the causes of this obvious likeness I will not presume to offer an opinion. Similar thoughts might be suggested by similar subjects, and the same passions, however excited, might naturally rush into the same channel of intemperate expression: or the expatiating mind of Mr. Burke might range even the moors of Salmasius to batten on their coarse produce; and, finding them replenished with bitter springs, might be induced to draw from them to feed the luxuriancy of his invective."

* For the amusement of the curious reader, I will transcribe a few passages from Salmasius's work, to prove the resemblance which I have asserted; and at the same time to show that Milton's severity did not exceed the provocation.

P. 5. "Hac ratione quod in Angliâ factum facinus cum horrore accepimus, quia exemplo caret, tanto minus ignoscendum, magisque adeo execrandum, curandumque enixius ne hoc ipsotempore penetret ad plures et ne pro exemplo sit perniciem trahente veniens in ævum. Digni, itaque, omni odio et insectatione qui fecerunt, dignissimique porro quos flammâ, ferroque persequantur non solùm quoquot sunt in Europâ reges et principes jure regio imperantes, sed etiam omnes magistratus omnesque adeo republicæ bene constitutæ et moratæ. Нӕс enim fanaticorum factio non sola regum solia appetere gestit, sed omnes potestates quas ipsa non fecerit conatur subvertere, cum nihil aliud nisi mutationem captet et cupiat, non solum in republicâ sed in ecclesiâ cum perpetuâ novandi libidine, quâ sibi imperandi omnibus, nullique parendi licentiam adstruat.Non solum regnorum eversionem, sed etiam legum eversionem sibi cordi esse satis ostendunt," &c.

P. 6. "Vocari illi se quidem libertatis publicae custodes, in

But whatever might be the intrinsic me

actis publicis postulant. Æquè bono jure latro qui viatorem spoliâsset se crumenæ ejus custodem appellari vellet," &c.

P. 10. "Hoc alicui Cornelio Syllæ, hoc Julio Cæsari licuisse, principibus suæ ætatis viris, generis et virtutis merito, fortasse minus intolerandum. At idem Manios aliquos, terræ filios, vix domi nobiles, vix suis notos licere sibi credidisse quis ferat ?"

P. 11. "At istæ sicariorum viles et impuræ animæ optimatum consessum aboleverunt; locum ei nullum in parte procurandæ reipublicæ esse voluerunt, ad plebem in speciem totum regendi jus transtulerunt, sed reverâ sibi vindicârunt, id est paucis è face plebis ortis reservârunt, immo vel uni nebuloni, fanatico, homini obscuro, turbarum omnium quæ per tot annos Angliam dilacerârunt, autori, incentori, promotori."

P. 23. "Non odio regis, non metu, non criminibus ejus adducti de eo tollendo cogitârunt, sed quia reges ipsi esse volue

runt.

Nulli parere, et omnibus imperare jam pridem didicerant: hæc eorum disciplina; hæc secta, Multorum annorum molitionibus, machinationibus, meditationibus ad hoc detestandum et horrendum facinus patrandum sese compararunt. Ne casu putemus in execrationem omnium incurrisse, hoc vo luerunt," &c.

P. 25. "Tetræ istæ belluæ et molossis suis ferociores.".

P. 35. Sæculum certe nostrum hanc notam ex eo sibi inustam nunquam eluet, quod homines tulerit, quibus crudelitate et immanitate pares nulla retro sæcula tulerunt. Natio ipsa Anglicana, quæ talia monstra produxit, maculam hanc sibi eo nomine imprimendam nunquam deleverit."

P. 40. Ea est harum pestium doctrina, ut etiam audeant affirmare se solos sapere et rectè sentire-dum regum coronas pedibus conculcant, sceptra confringunt, thronos destruunt, paludamenta conscindunt sed etiam exitiale hoc dogma im

*The overthrow of the established government: neither Sal masius nor Mr. Burke seems to object to this measure, provided that it be accomplished by noble hands.

rit of this defence of Charles, it was elevated

bibet (posteritas,) nisi obviam prompte eatur. Nam vel propter hanc impiam doctrinam, non solum ex omnibus regnis, ubicunque invenientur, exturbandi sunt, sed omnia etiam regna conspirare debent, ut ex eo regno quod intolerandâ tyrannide oppressum nunc occupant ejiciantur."

P. 85. Si credimus novis evangelistis, novitiisque sanctis, doctrinæ parricidalis et Anti-Christianæ autoribus, rex minister est populi et servus. Non bella sua, sed populi gerit. Populi creatura est, ut vas fictile figuli, &c. &c.- -inde sequeretur in democratiâ, quæ populi principatum agnoscit, populum vice versâ servire debere. Sed cui serviet? cerivisiæ coctoribus, cerdonibus, ærariis fabris, et aliis ejusmodi furfuraceis tyrannis," &c.

P. 97. "Quam adversis frontibus pugnát hæc veterum doctrina Christiana cum istâ fanaticorum, verè Anti-christianâ, quæ sancit populum esse figulum regis, regem autem vas esse a populo fictum ut figulo suo?"

P. 195. "Hæc est fanaticorum Angliæ de regibus et regendi diversis generibus in republicâ sententia et doctrina quæ omnia ad populum revocat ut ad fontem et originem totius potestatis et autoritatis quæ leges rogat et abrogat, quæ pacem et bellum sancit, quæ fœdera firmat, quæ religionem dirigit, ecclesiamque cum republicâ regit.-Sed quicquid illi perditi homines dicunt ac docent de populari administratione, cui omnia vindicant gubernationis genera, ad populum decipiendum pertinent, cui fucum hoc modo faciunt: nihil enim minus reverâ cogitant, quam ut populum ipsum populis imperio regendis destinent, nihil etiam minus præstant. Forma regiminis quam introduxere planè nova est et priscis inaudita," &c.

P. 323. "Nunc tanta rerum nominumque permutatio viget apud illos sectarios, ut servus pro domino exeat, dominus pro servo: tyranni multi pro rege uno legitimo imperent. Пovagxia cum dvaşxx sit mixta.—Respublica consistat sine libertate; religio sine fide; enthusiasmus sine veritate; ecclesia sine disciplinâ. Omnia in eâ inversa ac perversa: omnia monstruosa, capite in pedes dejecto, pedibus in caput erectis. Infirma sum

by the name of Salmasius too highly to the notice of Europe to be overlooked by the government of England. The Council immediately perceived the necessity of replying to it; and as immediately discovered the powers adequate to the occasion in their secretary, Milton. He was present, as he tells us, when the question was agitated, and the unanimous voice of the meeting committed to him the charge of repelling the acrimonious and mercenary attack. His compliance with the honourable requisition was instant; and inattentive to the suggestions of his friends, who were fearful of his reputation, committed against so renowned an adversary; undeterred by the remonstrance of his physicians, who predicted that the loss of his sight would be the infallible result of his labour; and unrestrained by the dissuasion of his bad health, which allowed him to compose only at intervals and with hourly interruptions, he persevered in the duty

mis, dextra lævis, recta pravis, religiosa profanis mutata. Merum denique omnis generis confusionum chaos. Hic status est regni Anglicani sub dirâ et immani Independentium tyrannide."

P. 365." Pactio, quam fingunt inter regem et subditos intercedere, non minus futilis est. Certe nulla est in imperiis vi armorum partis, qualia sunt hodiè fermè omnia."

P. 269. Sed belluæ et feri molossi hominum facie et ha bitu," &c.