his friend Leonard Philaras; adding, that his left eye began to fail some years before the other. Of that eye he is accordingly said to have lost the use in 1651. But he still exercised the duties of his station in which, however, about this time, the nephew, whom we have just seen as a controversialist in behalf of his uncle, probably became, in the quality of clerk, a considerable assistant.'

“1651-2. Jan. 2. Ordered, that Mr. Milton doc prepare a Letter in Latine, of the substance of what was now read here in English, to be sent to the Duke of Tuscany, to be brought to the Councell, to be there read, for the approbation of the Councell.

"1651-2. Jan. 23. Ordered, that Mr. Milton doc make a translate of the paper this day sent in to the Councell from the lords ambassadors of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces; which the Committee for Foreign Affaires are to take into consideration, and prepare an answer thereto, to be reported to the Councell.

"1651-2. March 3. Ordered, that the Letter now read, which is prepared to be sent to the Queen of Sweden along with the agent intended to be sent thither, be humbly represented to the Parliament; and the lord Commissioner Whitelocke is desired to doe it accordingly; and that the copie of this Letter be translated into Latine.

"1651-2. March 8. Ordered, that the remainder of the Articles to bee offered to the Dutch ambassadors, which were not taken up this day, be taken up to-morrow in the afternoone the first businesse.

"That soe many of the Articles, as are already passed, bee sent to Mr. Milton to be translated into Latine.

"1651-2. March 9. Ordered, that the Articles now read, in answer to the thirty-six Articles offered to the Councell by the Dutch ambassadours, bee translated into Latine by Thursday next in the afternoone.

"1652. March 31. Ordered, that the Paper, now prepared to be given in answer to the Spanish ambassadour, bee approved, translated, signed, and sent to him:

"That Mr. Milton doe translate the said Paper out of English into Latine, to be sent along, as a copie.

"1652. April 7. Ordered, that the answer to the King of Denmarke, now read, bee approved of, and translated into Latine by Mr. Weckerlyn.

"1652. April 15. Ordered, that the Paper, now read, to be sent to the Dutch ambassadours, bee approved of, and sent to Mr. Milton to be translated into Latine.

"1652. April 21: Ordered, that the Latine letter, now read, to be sent to the Duke of Savoy, be approved, faire written, signed, and sent; and delivered to the parties concerned.

“1652. April 27. Ordered, that the Paper, which was read in answer to the last Paper from the Dutch ambassadours, be approved of, faire written, and signed.

"That the Latine translation of the Paper, now read, be approved, and sent alonge with the other:

"1652. April 28. Ordered, that the Paper, now read, to be given to the Dutch ambassadours by the Commissioners appointed to treat with them, bee approved of; and that it be translated into Latine,

the English copye signed, and both Latyne and English copyes are to be kept untill they shall be called for by the lord Commissioner Whitelock.

"1652. May 26. Ordered, that the answere to the Paper, delivered unto the Commissioners of the Councell, appointed on that behalfe, by Monsieur Applebom, Publique Minister of the Queene of Sweden; and also the answere to the Queene of Sweden, now reported to the Councell from the Committee of Foreigne Affaires; be translated into Latine, and humbly represented to Parliament for their approbation. "1652. July 6. Ordered, that the Articles now read, and reported from the Committee of Forreigne Affairs, in answere to the proposalls of the Danish ambassadours; and alsoe the Articles, prepared to be given to the said ambassadours from the Councell; be approved of, and translated into Latine.

“1652. July 13. Ordered, that Mr. Thurloe doe appoint fitt persons to translate the Parliament's declaration into Latine, French, and Dutch.

“1652. July 20. Memorandum, send to Mr. Dugard to speake with Mr. Milton concerning the printing the declaration.

"Mem. send to Mr. Milton the order, made on Lord's Day last was sevennight, concerning doctor Walker.

"1652. July 29. Ordered, that a copie of the Declaration of Parliament, concerning the business of the Dutch, bee sent to each of the ambassadours and publique ministers in town, and also to the publique ministers of this Commonwealth abroad.

"1652. Aug. 10. Ordered, that the Paper, now read, in answer to the Paper of the Spanish ambassadour, be approved of, translated into Latin, and sent to the lord ambassadour of Spaine by Sir Oliver Fleming.

"1652. Oct. 1. Ordered, that the Answer, now read, to be given to the Danish ambassadours from the Councell, be approved of; and that it be translated into Latine, and sent to the said ambassadours.

"1652. Oct. 7. Ordered, that the Paper, this day given in to the Councell by the lord ambassadour from the King of Portugall, be translated by Mr. Milton into English, and brought in to the Councell to-morrow afternoone.

"1652. Oct. 21. Ordered, that the Paper, now read, to be sent to the Portugall ambassadour, bee approved of, translated into Latine, and carried to the said ambassadour by Sir Oliver Fleming, Master of the Ceremonies.

"1652. Oct. 22. Ordered, that the Paper, signed by Mr. Speaker, to be sent to the Danish ambassadours, bee translated into Latine, and sent unto them by Sir Oliver Fleming.

"1652. Oct. 28. Ordered, that the Paper, now read to the Councell, to be given in to the Portugall ambassadour to-morrow in the afternoone by the Committee of the Councell appointed to that purpose, bee translated into Latine, and delivered by them to the said ambassadour.

"1652. Nov. 3.

Ordered, that the Letter, now read, which is to bee sent to the King of Denmark, bee approved of and translated into Latine, and offered to Mr. Speaker to bee signed by him; and the lord President is desired to offer it to him.

"1652. Nov. 15. Ordered, that it be referred to Mr. Thurloe to consider of a fitt reward to be given to Mr. Durie for his pains, in translating into French the book written by Mr. Milton, in answer to that of the late king's entitled His Meditations.

"1652. Nov. 19. Ordered, that the Paper, now read at the Councell, in answer to the Paper delivered in to the Councell from the Portugal ambassador, bee approved of and translated into Latine, and delivered by the Committee of this Councell to the Portugall ambassadour.

"1652. Dec. 1. Ordered, that Mr. Milton be continued in the employment he had the last yeare, and have the same allowance for it as he had the last yeare."

In the year 1652 Milton became totally blind. Mr. Philip Meadowes is mentioned, in the year 1653, as sharing the duties of translation with him, which Milton appears still to have continued to perform, even after the total loss of sight.

“1653-4. Feb. 1. Ordered, that Friday next in the afternoone be assigned for receiving from Mr. Secretary Thurloe what he shall offer in reference to an establishment of the clerks and officers to attend the Councell.

"1652-3. Feb. 2. Ordered that the Letter, now read to the Duke of Venice, bee approved of, translated into Latine, and sent to the Secretary of that Commonwealth, in order to be sent by him to Venice.

"1653-4. Feb. 3. According to an order of Wednesday last, Mr. Secretary Thurloe did this day present to the Councell an establishment of under-clerkes and officers for attending and dispatch of the affaires of the Councell, viz.

£ 8. d.

“Mr. Philip Meadowes, Latine Secretary, at per } 200

annum

"The Serjeant at Armes, at twenty shillings per diem "Mr. Gualter Frost, Treasurer for the Councell's

Contingencies, at per annum

"Mr. Milton. [No salary is specified.]

"Seaven Under-Clerks, &c.

0 0

365 0 0

}

400 0 0

“1652-3. Feb. 4. Ordered, that the Articles, now read, to be propounded to the Portugall ambassadour, bee approved of, translated into Latine, and delivered to the said lord ambassadour.

"1653. April 1. Ordered, that the Commissioners of the Customs doe permitt certain bookes, written by Mr. Milton, in answer to the booke called the late king's, being translated into French, to bee transported into France custom-free.

"1653. June 28. Ordered, that the Paper, now read, in answer to the Paper of the lords Deputyes from the United Provinces, bee approved of, translated into Latin, and delivered unto them.

"1653. Aug. 10. Ordered, that the Answer to the Paper of the lord Lagerfeldt, Publique Minister of the Queen of Sweden, of the 3d of August, now read in the Councell, bee translated into Latin, and delivered unto the said lord Lagerfeldt by the Committee of the Councell to-morrow in the afternoone.

"1653. Oct. 17. Ordered, that Mr. Philip Meadowes, now emNov. 1826.

2 D

ployed by the Councell in Latin translations, doe alsoe assist Mr. Thurloe in the dispatch of the Forreigne businesse; and that he have in consideration thereof one hundred pounds per annum, to be added to the one hundred pounds per annum he now receives of the Councell.

"1653. Oct. 18. Ordered, that the Councell for Forreigne Affaires doe meet to-morrow morning, and take into consideration the several Papers which have been given in to this Councell from the lord Lagerfeldt, and what is fitt to be returned in answer to them; and to give order for the preparing of such answers as they shall think fitt, and to report them to the Councell with all convenient speed; and Mr. Meadowes is to be sent unto to attend that Committee, who are to sit to-morrow morning by eight of the clocke.

"1653. Oct. 27. Ordered, that the Recredentiall, prepared for the lord Lagerfeldt, be approved of, translated into Latine, and reported to the Parliament, in pursuance of a former order of the Councell.

"1653. Nov. 3. Ordered, that Mr. John Milton doe remayne in the same capacity he was in to the last Councell, and that he have the same allowance for it as formerly."

Mention now ceases to be made of Milton in the council book, in the performance of his duties. On 17th April, 1655, we find an entry respecting his salary:

"1654. Oct. 19. The English and Latin draught of a Letter from his Highnesse the lord Protector to the States Provinciall of Zealand was this day read. Ordered, that it be offered to his Highnesse, as the advice of the Councell, that the said Letter (according to the Latin copie) be signed by his Highnesse, and sent to the said States Provinciall, in answer of theirs to his Highnesse of the 7th of August last.

"1655. April 17. The Councell resumed the debate upon the Report made from the Committee of the Councell, to whom it was referred to consider of the establishment of the Councell's contingencies.

"Ordered, that the salary of fower hundred pounds per annum granted to Mr. Gualter Frost, as Treasurer for the Councell's contingencies, be reduced to three hundred pounds per annum, and be continued to be paid after that proportion till further order.

"That the former yearly salary of Mr. John Milton, of two hundred eighty eight pounds, &c., formerly charged on the Councell's contingencies, be reduced to one hundred and fiftie pounds per annum, and paid to him during his life out of his Highness's Exchequer.

"That it be offered to his Highness, as the advice of the Councell, that several warrants be issued under the Great Seale for authorising and requiring the Commissioners of his Highness's treasury to pay, by quarterly payments, at the receipt of his Highness's Exchequer, to the several officers, clerkes, and other persons afternamed, according to the proportions formerly allowed them for their salaryes, in respect of their severall and respective offices and imployments, or till his Highness or the Councell shall give other order: That is to say,

£. 8. d.

his}

"To John Thurloe, Esq. Secretary of State, for his 800 0 0 own fee, after the proportion of per annum.

for}

"For the fee of Mr. Phillip Meadowes, Secretary for) 200 0 0 the Latin Tongue, after the rate of

"For the salary of

per diem apiece," &c.

per annum.

Clerkes attending the office, at 6s. 8d.

It is supposed by Dr. Sumner, that at this time Milton ceased to perform the functions of his office, and it is urged that the diminished salary of one hundred and fifty pounds, being only half the full sum, is to be considered as his retiring pension. This position Mr. Todd successfully combats, and shews that Milton, though wholly blind, was employed in his office even after the death of Cromwell. We cannot, however, follow him through his proofs. The space occupied by the documents themselves is so great as to compel us to withhold all comment or illustration, and to leave our readers to form their own conclusions respecting many points of the literary history of the poet which they illustrate.

We shall conclude our extracts with a highly interesting letter from Milton, for the Honourable Lord Bradshaw, in recommendation of Marvel to be his colleague in the duties of Latin Secretary. This letter has very lately been discovered, and was sent to Mr. Todd, from the State Paper Office, while the sheet which contains it was passing through the press.

"My Lord,

"But that it would be an interruption to ye. publick, wherein yor. studies are perpetually imployed, I should now and then venture to supply this my enforced absence wth. a line or two, though it were my onely busines, and that would be noe slight one, to make my due acknowledgments of yr. many favoures; wch. I both doe at this time, and ever shall: and have this farder, wch. I thought my parte to let you know of, that there will be wth. you to morrow, upon some occassion of busines, a Gentleman whose name is Mr. Marvile; a man whom both by report, and ye. converse I have had wth. him, of singular desert for ye. State to make use of; who alsoe offers himselfe if yere be any imployment for him. His father was ye. Minister of Hull, and he hath spent foure yeares abroad in Holland, France, Italy, and Spaine, to very good purpose, as I beleeve, and ye. gaineing of those four languages; besides he is a scholler, and well read in ye. Latin and Greek anthors; and noe doubt of an approved conversatiou, for he com's now lately out of ye. house of ye. Lord Fairefax, who was Generall, where he was intrusted to give some instructions in ye. Languages to ye. Lady his Daughter. If upon ye. death of Mr. Wakerley, ye. Councell shall thinke yt. I shall need any assistant in ye. performance of my place (though for my pt. I find noe encumbrances of that weh. belongs to me, except it be the point of attendance at conferences wth. Ambassadors, wch. I must confeese, in my Condition, I am not fit for,) it would be hard for them to find a Man soe fit every way for yt. purpose as this Gentleman, one who I beleeve in a short time would be able to doe them as good service as Mr. Ascan. This,