*

prose, chiefly political, and some poems. These, originally printed at different times and in various forms, were published collectively by Dr. Birch, in two volumes 8vo., in the year 1751. They are now become scarce. 66 They contain," says Sir Egerton Brydges, "a rich fund of political wisdom, applicable beyond the great occasions which gave birth to them, expanded by general axioms, and filled with the germs of that noble science of political economy, which the latter half of the eighteenth century cultivated with such success." One of the Tracts, entitled, • The Cabinet Council,' had the honour to be first published

We have left it flourishing in the middle of the field; having rooted up, or cut down, all that kept it from the eye and admiration of the world. But, after some continuance, it shall begin to lose the beauty it had; the storms of ambition shall beat her great boughs, and branches, one against another; her leaves shall fall off, her limbs wither, and a rabble of barbarous nations enter the field and cut her down."

*

*

*

"It is death alone, that can suddenly make man to know himself. He tells the proud and confident, that they are but abjects, and humbles them at the instant; makes them cry, complain, and repent; yea, even to hate their fore-passed happiness. He takes the account of the rich, and proves him a beggar, a naked beggar, which hath interest in nothing, but in the gravel that fills his mouth. He holds a glass before the eyes of the most beautiful, and makes them see therein their deformity and rottenness; and they acknowledge it. O eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded: what none hath dared, thou hast done: and whom all the world hath flattered, thou only hast cast out of the world, and despised; thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelty, and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, Hic jacet."

* Of these, perhaps, his Instructions to his Son and to Posterity' deserve a distinct specification.

by Milton* in 8vo., 1668. Of all of them, as well as of his MS. Remains, scattered in various public libraries, Mr. Cayley has given an accurate list.

But, although it was generally acknowledged in the following reign that Ralegh's death was an act of cruel and cowardly policy in James I., his second and only surviving son, Carew Ralegh, was compelled by that monarch to confirm the title of his father's valuable estate at Sherborne to Sir John Digby, who had been created Earl of Bristol. † And upon that condition alone would Charles restore Mr. Ralegh in blood; alleging, that he had promised the manor of Sherborne to Digby, when he was Prince of Wales, and that now he was King, he was bound to confirm it.'

* With this prefatory address: "Having had the MS. of this Treatise, written by Sir Walter Ralegh, many years in my hands, and finding it lately by chance among other books and papers, upon reading thereof I thought it a kind of injury to withhold longer the work of so eminent an author from the public: it being both answerable in stile to other works of his already extant, as far as the subject will permit, and given me for a true copy by a learned man at his death, who had collected several such pieces. JOHN MILTON."

The estate had been originally bestowed upon him by James I., at the request of the Prince after the disgrace of So

merset.

EXTRACTS

From his Cabinet Council,' first published by Milton in 1658.

CHAP. XI.

Observations intrinsically concerning every Public State in points of Justice, Treasure, and War.

The first concern matter intrinsic; the second touch matter extrinsic. Matters intrinsic are three : the administration of justice, the managing of the treasure, the disposing of things appertaining to war. Matters extrinsic are, also, three: the skill how to deal with neighbours, the diligence to vent their designs, the way how to win so much confidence with some of them, as to be made partakers of whatsoever they mean to enterprise.

Touching Administration of Justice.

The good and direct administration of justice is, in all places, a principal part of government: for seldom or never shall we see any people discontented and desirous of alteration, where justice is equally administered without respect of persons; and in every state this consideration is required, but most of all in countries that do front upon other princes, or were lately conquered. Hereunto the prince's vigilancy, and the magistrate's uprightness, are especially required for oftentimes the prince is deceived, and the magistrates corrupted. It behoveth, also, the prince to maintain the judges and ministers of justice in their

reputation, and yet to have a vigilant eye upon their proceedings; and the rather, if their authority do include equity, and from their censure be no appeal. And if their office be during life, and they are men born and dwelling in the same country, all these things are duly to be considered of the prince: for as to call the judges into question is, as it were, to disgrace the judicial seat; so, to wink at their corrup tions, were matter of just discontent to the subject. In this case, therefore, the prince cannot do more than by his wisdom to make choice of good men; and being chosen, to hold them in good reputation, so as the ordinary course of justice may proceed: for otherwise great disorder, contempt, and general confusion will ensue thereof. Secondly, he is to keep his eye open upon their proceeding; and, lastly, to reserve unto himself a supreme power of appellation.

Touching the Treasure.

The want of money is in all states very perilous, and most of all, in those which are of least strength, and do confine upon nations with whom they have commonly war, or unassured peace; but most perilous of all to those governments, which are remote from the prince, or place, where they are to be relieved.

'The means to levy treasure are four. First, the customs and impositions upon all sorts of merchandise and traffic is to be looked unto, and advanced. Secondly, the excessive exacting of usury must be suppressed. Thirdly, all superfluous charges and expenses are to be taken away. Lastly, the doings and accounts of ministers are severally to be examined.

Touching the matter of custom and impost thereof, assuredly, a great profit is in every state to be raised, chiefly where peace hath long continued, and where the country affordeth much plenty of commodities to be carried out, and where ports are to receive shipping.

*

"The moderating of interest is ever necessary; and chiefly in this age, by reason that money aboundeth in Europe, since the traffic into the Indies: for such men as have money in their hands great plenty, would in no wise employ the same in merchandise, if lawful it were to receive the utmost usury, being a course of the most profit and greatest security.

:

• The taking away of superfluous expenses is no other thing than a certain wise and laudable parsimony, which the Romans and other well-governed states did use. These expenses consist in fees, allowances, and wages granted to ministers of little or no necessity also in pensions, rewards, entertainments, and donaries, with small difficulty to be moderated, or easily to be suppressed. By abridging or taking away of these needless expenses, a marvellous profit will be saved for the prince; but if he continue them, and by imposing upon the people do think to increase his treasure or revenue, beside the loss of their love, he may also hazard their obedience with many other inconveniences.

Touching War.

'Whatsoever prince or commonweal is neighbour to any people which can, will, or were wont to offend,

* See, upon this subject, however, an ingenious Tract by Bentham,