As we have adhered to our engagements with the most fcrupulous regard, in collecting a variety of original pieces from the different ftores of art and literature; as we have continued four entirely new works through the fucceffive numbers of the Magazine without interruption, and added a fifth on the fubject of the Belles Lettres, which we flatter ourselves will meet with peculiar approbation; as we have taken measures for procuring a greater number of curious materials than have hitherto appeared, and employed perfons properly qualified to felect entertaining articles from manufcripts depofited in libraries both public and private; in a word, as we are determined to exert all our faculties in the profecution of the work, fo as to render it equally productive of utility and amufement, we do not despair of enjoying a continuation of fuccefs; nor can we refign our pretenfions to the favour and protection of the community. The LIFE of LORD CHANCELLOR BACON. [Concluded.] HE laft article of the charge against him is fo very remarkable, and the matter of it fo important, that it is neceffary to stop a little here, and make a few reflections. It alledged, "That he had given way to great exactions in his fervants, both in respect of private feals and otherwife, for fealing injunctions." He gave no other anfwer to it than this: "I confefs that it was a great fault of neglect in me, that I looked no better to my fervants." Now, this indulgence to his domeftics, which was certainly extreme, has been generally and truly, reckoned the principal cause of thofe irregularities that drew on his difgrace. One day, during his trial, as he was paffing through a room where feveral of his domestics were fitting; upon their getting up to falute him, "Sit down, my mafters, he cried, your rife hath been my fall." For himself, or his family, he treasured up nothing; but, liberal in his own temper, or rather profufe beJanuary, 1762, yond the condition of a man who means to preferve his integrity, he allowed in his house every kind of extravagance: and as many of his retinue were young, diffipated, giddy, and headftrong in the purfuit of pleasure, they fquandered without measure, where they were indulged without controul. Whether he did not difcover this error till it was too late, or whether a foul like his, loft in the greatnefs and immenfity of its own views, could not attend to that detail of little and difagreeable particulars, which yet oeconomy requires; certain it is, to fupport his ordinary train of living, he thus fell into corruption himself, and connived at it in his dependents. Such inconfiftencies in human nature cannot but alarm and terrify even those who are most confirmed in a habit of virtue. For the honour of the lord St. Alban's memory, it is generally believed that his decrees were always confonant to justice, and that he fcrupled not to decide even against thofe very perfons who had given him bribes, How far he might be tempted to foften or palliate his decrees, it is impoffible to know. But that they were in general just and equitable, appears from this undeniable testimony, that not one of them was ever reverfed. This manifefts the natural uprightnefs of his mind. How much is it to be lamented, that it was not ftrong enough to avoid all appearances of evil, or the imputation of it, though in the fmalleft degree! He feems ever to have had a very particular notion of bribery. He thought it could not be feparated from injustice; and, therefore, if his decrees were upright, he perfuaded himself he was not guilty of that offence, notwithstanding he had taken money or prefents of great value. This diftinétion runs through all his writings on this fubject. He was willing to own corruption, though he did not think it amounted, ftrictly speaking, to the taking of bribes *. The extreme feverity of the fentence, which his humble submission and application, for tenderness and mercy, had been thus unable to abate, must have been felt beyond expreffion, by a man of fuch nice honour and fenfibility as the viscount St. Alban. Yet his fpirits, though dejected and caft down with the preffure of his misfortunes, were not broke. He was carried to the Tower, where he was confined but a very short time, when his majesty fent him his discharge from thence. In a little time after, he applied himself to the king and Buckingham, for access to the former, which he obtained; and because his fentence restrained him from coming within the verge of the court, the king Some perfons have taken great pains to infinuate, that my lord St. Alban was more fufpeated than guilty; that he was facrificed to the court, and the safety of Buckingham, and not a victim to public juftice. They alledge that he would have delivered himself, by a prudent and circumfpect defence, had he not been actually restrained by king James; who, fay they, was afraid to trust him before the house of peers, left, in the courfe of fuch defence, he should have been forced to lay open and unfold the many fcenes of bad administration he had been privy to, and fo divert the odium from himself øn Buckingham: for fome of the charges against the chancellor were of a mix d nature, and obliquely glanced at the king and his minifter. Therefore, by abfolutely commanding him to forfake his defence, James abandoned him to the fury of the house of commons. The pretence is plaufible. But whoever will take the trouble to examine deeply into this matter will find little foundation, in truth, for such allegations; or, at least, that to call my lord St. Alban a court facrifice is highly unjust. The greatest number of the charges concerned the chancellor only. With thefe, neither James nor his favourite had the least connection. No one will deny that he was cri minal as to these. Can we fuppofe he would have confeffed the charges, and avowed them to be true in the most folemn manner, if they had not been actually fo? Such perfons fhould confider, that by fuppofing any thing like this, they are not befriending, but loading with infamy, my lord St. Alban's character. "But, fay they, we do not fuppofe him abfolutely innocent, but lefs guilty than is generally imagined." If he was guilty at all, how was he a court facrifice? He did foften and extenuate many of the charges. That was making a defence in writing. Would he have confeffed the others to be true, if there had been any room for extenuation? Had he not the like power to foften, mitigate, or even day all, as well as fome, if that could have been done confiftently with veracity? Many more questions, like thefe, might be asked, very difficult to be answered. These things duly confidered, it is manifeft, that the viscount of St. Alban was not made the fcape goat of Buckingham, nor facrificed to the arts of a court, or the weakness of his fovereign; (a prince who, with all his follies, furely doth not deserve the treatment he has met with from certain perfons who have wrote of the lord chancellor Bacon) but that the whole was entirely owing to a strict and steady pursuit of justice. An author who tranfmits the actions of great men to pofterity, ought, undoubtedly, to have no fervile complaifance, no party views, in favour of a court; because that would be inconfiftent with a regard for truth, the great and chief thing required in an historian. But then, as a like regard ought always to be paid to truth, there can be no merit in facrificing courts, kings, and nations, to any favourite character of a man, though ever fo great, in refpect to parts; or high, in reference to his station. thought |