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from him either in politicks or in learning; and in both, perhaps, without his being the aggreffor.

In the latter cafe, we think he was too hardly, if not too defignedly, attacked, first by Mr. Wotton, and then by Dr. Bentley; and, that he was treated after a too rigid manner, and too fcholaftical and critical a way, for a gentleman of his refined genius and fuperior education, and one who was fo ready to oblige the public in an easy, free, and beautiful way of delivering his thoughts and fenti

ments.

This a little raifed His indignation, and forced him to fay, in his anfwer, That the critics are a race of scholars I am very little acquainted with; having always efteemed them but like brokers, who, having no stock of their own, fet up and trade with that of other men buying here, and felling there, and commonly abufing all fides, to make out a little paltry. gain, either of money or credit, for themfelves, and care not at whose cost.

Then, after acknowledging the usefulness. of fuch perfons at the first restoration of learning, and the copies after the antients, he could. but look upon the latter fört as a degenerate. race; and was provoked to declare,

"There is, I think, no fort of talent fo defpicable as that of such common critics who can, at beft, pretend to value themselves by difcovering the defaults of other men, rather than any worth or merit of their own; a fort

of levellers, that will needs equal the best and richest of the country, not by improving their own eftates, but reducing thofe of their neighbours, and making them appear as mean and wretched as themselves."

In 1694, he had the misfortune to lofe his lady, who was eminent for the highest accomplishments, and particularly esteemed by queen Mary, with whom the had the honour to keep a conftant correspondence by letters, in which the had an admirable turn of wit, and a pecu-, liar elegance and beauty of expreffion.

Sir William furvived her four years, and died in January, 1698, in his feventieth year, at Moor-Park; where, according to the plain directions in his will, his heart was depofited in a filver box, and buried under the fun-dial in his garden, oppofite to the window from whence he used to contemplate and admire the glorious works of nature, with his beloved fifter, the ingenious lady Giffard; a lady who, as he had fhared and relieved the fatigues of his voyages and travels during his public negotiations, fo fhe was the principal delight and comfort of his last retirement and old age.

His character is given by Dr. Burch as follows:

"He had an extraordinary vivacity, with fo agreeable a vein of wit and fancy in his converfation, that no body was welcomer in all forts of company; but his humour was greatly affected by the spleen in fudden changes

of

of weather, and especially from the croffes and difappointments which he fo often met with in his endeavours to contribute to the honour and fervice of his country.

He was an exact obferver of truth, thinking none, who had failed once, ought ever to be trusted again; of great humanity and good nature; his paffions naturally warm and quick, but tempered by reason.

"He never feemed bufy in his greatest employments, was devoted to his liberty, and therefore averfe to the fervitude of courts. He had been a paffionate lover, was a kind husband, an indulgent father, a good matter, an excellent friend, and, knowing himfelf to be fo, was impatient of the least suspicion or jealoufy from those he loved.

"He was not without ftrong averfions, fo as to be uneafy at the first fight of fome whom. he disliked, and impatient of their converfation; apt to be warm in difputes and expoftulations, which made him hate the one and avoid the other; being used to say, That they might fometimes do well between lovers, but never between friends.

"He had a very familiar way of converfeing with all forts of people, from the greatest princes, to the meaneft fervants, and even children, whofe imperfect language, and natural innocent talk, he was fond of, and made entertainment of every thing that could: afford it.

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"He was born to a moderate eftate, and did not much encrease it during his employ

ments.

"His religion was that of the church of England, in which he was born and educated ; and, how loose foever bishop Burnet, who was not acquainted with him, in the History of his own Time, reprefents his principles to have been; yet there is no ground for fuch a reflection given in his writings; among which his excellent letter to the countefs of Effex is a convincing proof hoth of his piety and eloquence.

He was rather tall in ftature; his shape, when young, very exact; his hair dark brown, and curled naturally; and, whilft that was esteemed a beauty, no body had it in greater perfection: his eyes grey, but lively; and his body lean, but extremely active; so that none acquitted themfelves better at all exercifes..

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