this fubject, was fo long and fo particular, that nothing could be added to it for your highnefs's information or fatisfaction: and therefore I refolved not to trouble you with the fame thing by that poft, and from fo much a worfe hand. I fuppofe my lord-ambaffador Hyde will have fhewed your highness his inftructions, and Mr. fecretary's letter upon that occafion; which agreeing fo fully with what my lord-treafurer writ, muft have left you in no doubt of those refolutions being taken here: and yet I thought your highness would not be difpleafed to know from me, that I am of opinion they are fo; and, which is more, that the duke will go up to as great a height in them as any man, in cafe France gives them the occafion, by their anfwer to what Mr. Mountague goes away with to day; and that his highness will abfolutely conclude from thence, what their good intentions are or have been to the king.

Though I have this fecond time excufed myfelf from attending upon your highness, and thereby devolved his majesty's commands upon Mr. Hyde once more, yet, I hope, your highnefs will pardon me, fince I have only referved myfelf for the next occafion, which, I expect, will be of more moment, and within a very little time. For the prefent, I only defire your highness will pleafe to give your answer to what Mr. Hyde carries you, in fuch manner as may be fully to his majefty's fatisfaction; and if you should fcruple the doing it to any E 2 other

other hand, that you would, at least, do it in a private letter to his majefty's own, which may not go farther than to thofe hands by which all your highness's concerns have been hitherto tranfacted.

I hope your highnefs will think to write particularly to the duke, as well as the king, in acknowledgment and applause of these late refolutions; and my lord-treasurer will deferve it too by the great part he has had in them.

I ask your highnefs's pardon for the length and confidence of this letter, and your juftice in believing me ever what I fhall ever be, with a perfect devotion,

SIR,

Your Highness's, &c.

After having performed all thefe fervices to the crown and kingdom, in the year 1679. Sir William Temple was again follicited to enter upon the office of fecretary of state, but he declined it upon account of the uncertain fituation of affairs; at the fame time advising the king to form a new council, of which he was appointed one; though afterwards,. upon the change of measures at court, and the freedom with which he delivered his opinion, his name was ftruck out of the councilbook.

This gave him occafion to fend the king. word, That he would live the rest of his life as good a fubject as any in his kingdoms, but. never meddle again with public affairs: A refolution which he inviolably maintained, fpending the remainder of his days at MoorPark, near Farnham, in Surry, without having the leaft previous knowledge of the prince of Orange's expedition to England in 1688; and refufing the earneft follications of that prince, when he was advanced to the throne, to engage him in his fervice, and to be secretary of flate, though he was often confulted by him in Kis moft fecret and important affairs. Indeed it is a common thing for men, who live in the fplendor and hurry of courts, fometimes to wifh for a retreat, where they may relieve themselves after the fatigue of ftate and bufinefs; yet they feldom do retire but when they -Know not how to ftay any longer: fo that the contempt of a court is, in many men, but a contrivance of felf-love to aleviate the mortification of being excluded by undervaluing greatnefs and thofe that are in power. On the other hand, nothing is more difficult, to the generality of men, who have enjoyed the pomp and pleasures of a court, than to finish the remainder of their lives in privacy and retirement; for few perfons have fo rich a fund in themselves, as to fupply and fill up the great. chafms which the want of public bufinefs and diverfion leaves on their minds: but Sir William

E 3

Jiam Temple had the happinefs to escape both thefe inconveniencies; and, as his retiring from bufinefs was in all appearance voluntary, fo his contempt of greatnefs and fplendor was the refult of a thorough knowledge of the emptinefs and vanity of thofe glaring objects. He was fenfible, that there was little in a court but a perpetual exchange of falfe friendship, pretended honefly, feeming confidence, and defigning gratitude fo that thofe, who, as Sir William, acted upon a fincere bottom, and gave realities inflead of fhews, profeffled themfelves as great bubbles as fuch as gave good money when counterfeit coin paffed for current payment.

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He had, by long experience, made the estimate of the advantages of a private life above those of a public; and was thoroughly convinced, That the bleflings of innocence, fecurity, meditation, good air, health, and found fleep, were clearly preferable to the fplendor of courts; confidering the flavish attendance, the invidious competitions, fervile flattery, and the mortal difappointments that ufually attend them. He fet the frowns of princes, the envy of thofe that judge by hearfay, and the innumerable temptations, vices, and exceffes of a life of pomp and pleafure, in ballance against the fmiles of bounteous nature, the diverfion of healthful exercifes for the body, and the folid and lafting entertainments of the mind; and concluded, That he

that

that is a flave in the town, is a kind of pettyprince in the country.

To be very particular in annalyzing his. works, would be foreign to our purpofe; yet we must not omit mentioning his Memoirs, which have not been equalled by any that have writ fince him. They are the more useful. becaufe they take in the principal parts of the reign of Charles II. and without them we fhould have but an imperfect account of many particulars in that unequal adminiftration. The fecond part flipt firft into the world, without the knowledge, as it was faid, though most believe without the connivance, of the author.: They confit not only of many domeftic affairs relating to the court of England, but of the principal foreign negotiations began in 1673, and ended in 1678, in the treaty of Nimeguen, and with the general peace of Eu-. rope; all laid open with firmnefs and impartiality, as well as clearness and fimplicity.

The first part was never publifhed at all, but is very well supplied by a great number of letters and public papers; which fufficiently fhews what a vigorous actor Sir William Temple was, how great a statesman he proved, and how much a mafter of bufinefs and poli-. ticks.

The third part appeared fome years after his death; which, though complained of as being published without confent of relations, was never charged with being the least spurious. This, though shortest in compass, both