[MAY, pressed by General Bertrand, of course under | only of the malice and vindictiveness which acBonaparte's direction. Again, Sir Hudson tuated him, but also of his ingenious mendacity.

Governorship, immediately on his return from to Count Bertrand, who had been the principal

ANDREW MARVELL.

From the Edinburgh Review.

The Life of Andrew Marvell, the celebrated
Patriot with Extracts and Selections

from his Prose and Poetical Works. By

JOHN DOVE. 12mo. London: 1832.

ANDREW MARVELL was a native of Kingston-upon-Hull, where he was born Nov. 15, 1620. His father, of the same name, was master of the grammar school, and lecturer of Trinity Church in that town. He is described by Fuller and Echard as 'facetious,' so that his son's wit, it would appear, was hereditary. He is also said to have displayed considerable eloquence in the pulpit; and even to have excelled in that kind of oratory which would seem at first sight least allied to a mirthful temperament-we mean the pathetic. The conjunction, however, of wit and sensibility, has been found in a far greater number of instances than would at first sight be imagined, as we might easily prove by examples, if this were the place for it: nor would it be difficult to give the rationale of the fact. Both, at all events, are amongst the

his studies with diligence. About this period he lost his father under circumstances peсиliary affecting.

The death of this good man forms one of these little domestic tragedies-not infrequent in real life-to which imagination itself can scarcely add one touching incident, and which are as affecting as any that fiction can furnish. It appears that on the other side of the Humber lived a lady (an intimate friend of Marvell's father) who had an only and lovely daughter, endeared to all who knew her, and so much the idol of her mother that she could scarcely bear her to be out of her sight. On one occasion, however, she yielded to the importunity of Mr. Marvell, and suffered her daughter to cross the water to Hull, to be present at the baptism of one of his children. The day after the ceremony, the young lady was to return. The weather was tempestuous, and on reaching the river's side, accompanied by Mr. Marvell, the boatmen endeavored to dissuade her from crossing. But, afraid of alarming her mother by prolonging her absence, she persisted. Mr. Marvell added his importunities to the arguments of the boatmen, but in vain. Finding her in

most general, though far from universal ac- flexible, he told her that as she had incurred companiments of genius. The diligence of this peril to oblige him, he felt himself ' bound Mr. Marvell's pulpit preparations has been in honor and conscience' not to desert her; celebrated by Fuller in his 'Worthies' with and, having prevailed on some boatmen to characteristic quaintness. He was a most hazard the passage, they embarked together. excellent preacher,' says he, 'who never As they were putting off, he flung his goldbroached what he had new brewed, but preach-headed cane on shore, and told the spectators ed what he had pre-studied some competent that, in case he should never return, it was time before, insomuch that he was wont to say, to be given his son, with the injunction 'to that he would cross the common proverb, remember his father.' The boat was upset, which called Saturday the working day and Monday the holyday of preachers.' The lesAs soon as the mother had a little recoversons of the pulpit he enforced by the persua-ed the shock, she sent for the young orphan, sive eloquence of a devoted life. During the pestilential epidemic of 1637, we are told that he distinguished himself by an intrepid discharge of his pastoral functions.

and both were lost.

intimated her intention to provide for his education, and at her death left him all she possessed.

One of his biographers informs us that young Marvell took his degree of B. A. in

Having given early indications of superior talents, young Andrew was sent, when not the year 1638, and was admitted to a scholarquite fifteen years of age, to Trinity College, ship. If so, he did not retain it very long. Cambridge, where he was partly or wholly Though in no further danger from the Jesuits, maintained by an exhibition from his native he seems to have been beset by more formida

He had not been long there, when, ble enemies in his own bosom. Either from like Chillingworth, he was ensnared by the too early becoming his own master, or from proselyting arts of the Jesuits, who, with sub- being betrayed into follies to which his lively tilty equal to their zeal, commissioned their temperament and social qualities readily exemissaries specially to aim at the conversion posed him, he became negligent in his studies; of such of the university youths as gave indi- and having absented himself from certain cations of signal ability. It appears that he 'exercises, and otherwise been guilty of sunwas inveigled from college to London. Hav-dry unacademic irregularities, he, with four ing been tracked thither by his father, he was others, was adjudged by the masters and discovered after some months in a bookseller's shop, and restored to the university. During the two succeeding years he pursued 1726.

seniors unworthy of 'receiving any further this period was spent, and a considerable benefit from the college,' unless they showed though indeterminate portion at the close of just cause to the contrary within three months. it. The record referred to is a recommenda

The required vindication does not appear to have been found, or at all events was never offered. The record of this transaction bears date September 24, 1641.

Soon after this, probably at the commencement of 1642, Marvell seems to have set out on his travels, in the course of which he visited a great part of Europe. At Rome he stayed a considerable time, where Milton was then residing, and where, in all probability, their lifelong friendship commenced. With an intrepidity, characteristic of both, it is said they openly argued against the superstitions of Rome within the precincts of the Vatican. It was here, also, that Marvell made the first essay of his satirical powers in a lampoon on Richard Flecknoe. It is now remembered only as having suggested the terrible satire of Dryden on the laureate Shadwell. At Paris he made another attempt at satire in Latin, of about the same order of merit. The subject of it was an Abbé named Lancelot Joseph de Maniban, who professed to interpret the characters and prognosticate the fortunes of strangers by an inspection of their handwriting.

After this we have no trace whatever of Marvell for some years; and his biographers have, as usual, endeavored to supply the deficiency by conjecture-some of them so idly, that they have made him secretary to an embassy which had then no existence.

Mr. Dove* says, that this lack of information respecting Marvell extends over eleven years-not quite, however, even on his own showing; for the very next record he supplies, tells us at least how the first four years of

tory letter of Milton to Bradshaw, dated Feb. 21, 1652. It appears that Marvell was then an unsuccessful candidate for the office of assistant Latin Secretary. In this letter, after describing Marvell as a man of 'singular desert,' both from 'report' and personal 'converse,' he proceeds to say 'He hath spent four years abroad, in Holland, France, Italy, and Spain, to very good purpose, as I believe, and the gaining of those four languages; besides, he is a scholar, and well read in the Latin and Greek authors, and no doubt of an approved conversation; for he comes now lately out of the house of the Lord Fairfax, where he was entrusted to give some instructions in the languages to the lady, his daughter.' Milton concludes the letter with a sentence which fully discloses the very high estimation he had formed of Marvell's abilities- This, my lord, I write sincerely, without any other end than to perform my duty to the public in helping them to an humble servant; laying aside those jealousies and that emulation which mine own condition might suggest to me by bringing in such a coadjutor.'

In the following year, 1653, Marvell was appointed tutor to Cromwell's nephew, Mr. Dutton. Shortly after receiving his charge, he addressed a letter to the Protector, from which we extract one or two sentences characteristic of his caution, good sense, and conscientiousness. 'I have taken care,' says he, 'to examine him [his pupil] several times in the presence of Mr. Oxenbridge, as those who weigh and tell over money before some witness ere they take charge of it; for I thought there might be possibly some lightness in the coin, or error in the telling, which hereafter I should be bound to make good.' 'He is of a gentle and waxen

* We gladly admit that Mr. Dove's little volume is a tolerably full and accurate compilation of what is known to us of Andrew Marvell's history, and contains some pleasant extracts from his writings. disposition; and God be praised, I cannot But we must express our regret that he has been, in say he hath brought with him any evil ima trifling degree, misled, by adhering too literally to pression, and I shall hope to set nothing into the etymology of the word compilation.' It is true that compilation' comes from compilatio, and his spirit but what may be of a good sculpequally true that compilatio means 'pillage; but it ture. He hath in him two things that make does not follow that compilation' is to be literally youth most easy to be managed-modesty, 'pillage.' A considerable number of his sentences, which is the bridle to vice-and emulation, sometimes whole paragraphs, are transferred from which is the spur to virtue. Above Mr. D'Israeli's Miscellanies, and from two articles on Andrew Marvell which appeared in the Retro- all, I shall labor to make him sensible of his spective Review some twenty years ago, without al- duty to God; for then we begin to serve teration and without any sort of acknowledgment. faithfully when we consider He is our masHad they been printed between inverted commas, ter.' and the sources specified, we should have called it compilation' but no 'pillage '-as it is, we must call it pillage, and not compilation. Mr. Dove may, it is true, have been the author of the articles in question. If so, there was no conceivable reason why he should not have owned them, and we can

only regret that he has omitted to do it. If not,

we cannot justify the usé he has made of them.

On the publication of Milton's second 'Defence,' Marvell was commissioned to present it to the Protector. After doing so, he addressed a letter of compliment to Milton, the terms of which evince the strong admiration with which his illustrious friend had inspired him. His eulogy of the 'De-not too late.'* In one letter we find him fence' is as emphatic as that of the Paradise saying 'I am something bound up, that I Lost, in the well known recommendatory cannot write about your public affairs; but lines prefixed to most editions of that poem. I assure you they break my sleep.'†

In 1657, Marvell entered upon his duties as assistant Latin Secretary with Milton. Cromwell died in the following year; and from this period till the Parliament of 1660, we have no further account of him. We have seen it stated that he became member for Hull in 1658. But this is not true, and would be at variance with the statement in his epitaph, where it is said that he had occupied that post nearly twenty years. Had he been first elected in 1658, he would have been member somewhat more than that period.

During his long parliamentary career, Marvell maintained a close correspondence with his constituents-regularly sending to

Of his minute attention to all their local interests, and his watchful care over them, these letters afford ample proof; and in this respect are well worthy of the study of honorable members of the present day. He usually commences each session of Parliament by requesting his constituents to consider, whether there were any local affairs in which they might more particularly require his aid, and to give him timely notice of them. His prudence is equally conspicuous in his abstinence from any dangerous comments on public affairs; he usually contents himself with detailing bare facts. This caution was absolutely necessary at a period when the offi

them, almost every post night during the cials of the Post-office made no scruple of sittings of Parliament, an account of its pro- breaking the seal of private correspondence, ceedings. These letters were first made pub- for the purpose of obtaining information for lic by Captain Thompson, and occupy about the Government. On one occasion this seems four hundred pages of the first volume of his to have been done in his own case, as he edition of Marvell's works. They are writ- tells his constituents that a letter of his had ten with great plainness, and with a business- been shown about town. They vehemently like brevity, which must have satisfied, we disclaimed all knowledge of any breach of should think, even the most laconic of his trust, in a very complimentary reply. In merchant constituents. They are chiefly acknowledging this letter, he says-' I am valuable now, as affording proofs of the very well satisfied, gentlemen, by your letter, ability and fidelity with which their author that it was none of you; but it seems, theredischarged his public duties; and as throw-fore, that there is some sentinel set both upon ing light on some curious points of parlia- you and upon me, and to know it therefore is mentary usage and history. Some few sen- a sufficient caution: the best of it is, that tences, interesting on these accounts, may be none of us, I believe, either do say or write worth extracting. Of his diligence, the co- any thing, but what we care not though it piousness and punctuality of the correspond- be made public, although we do not desire ence itself are themselves the best proofs; it.'‡ He, notwithstanding, repeatedly caubut many of the letters incidentally disclose tions them not to let his letters be seen by others not less significant. The following any but themselves. In this respect, there evidence of it, few members now-a-days is a striking yet perfectly natural contrast would be disposed to give, and no constitu- between the cautious statements of facts in ency, we should imagine, would be unrea- his public correspondence, and the lively sonable enough to expect:- 'Sir, I must comments upon them in his private letters; beg your excuse for paper, pens, writing, and in which his indignant patriotism expresses every thing; for really I have by ill chance itself with characteristic severity against the neither eat nor drank from yesterday at noon corruptions of the court. Thus in a letter till six o'clock to-night, that the House rose.'* And again 'Really the business of the House hath been of late so earnest daily, and

to a friend in Persia, we find the following memorable passage-'Now, after my usual method, leaving to others what relates to

so long, that I have not had the time and business, I address myself, which is all that

scarce vigor left me, by night, to write to you; and to-day, because I would not omit any longer, I lose my dinner to make sure of this letter.'t On another occasion he says -' 'Tis nine at night, and we are but just now risen; and I write these few words in the Post-house, for sureness that my letter be

I am good for, to be your gazetteer. The King having, upon pretence of the great preparations of his neighbors, demanded three hundred thousand pounds for his navy, (though, in conclusion, he hath not set out any,) and that the Parliament should pay his debts, (which the ministers would never particularize to the House of Commons,) our House gave several bills. You see how far things were stretched, though beyond reason, there being no satisfaction how those debts were contracted, and all men foreseeing that what was given would not be applied to discharge the debts, which I hear are at this day risen to four millions; but diverted as formerly. Nevertheless, such was the number of the constant courtiers increased by the apostate patriots, who were bought off for that turn-some at six, others ten, one at fifteen thousand pounds in money, besides what offices, lands, and reversions to others, that it is a mercy they gave not away the whole land and liberty of England.'*

Marvell's stainless probity and honor every where appear, and in no case more amiably than in the unhappy misunderstanding with his colleague, or 'his partner' as he calls him, Colonel Gilby, in 1661, and which seems to have arisen out of some electioneering proceedings. With such unrivalled talents for ridicule as Marvell possessed, one might not unnaturally have expected that this dispute would have furnished an irresistible temptation to some ebullition of witty malice. But his magnanimity was far superior to such mean retaliation. He is eager to do his opponent the amplest justice, and to put the fairest construction on his conduct. He is fearful only lest their private quarrel should be of the slightest detriment to the public

have is, lest by our mis-intelligence your business should receive any disadvantage. Truly, I believe, that as to your public trust and the discharge thereof, we do each of us still retain the same principles

In the same letter he thus speaks of the shamelessness with which the Parliament service. He says 'The bonds of civility emulated the profligacy of the court-prosti- betwixt Colonel Gilby and myself being untuting its own and the nation's honor as happily snapped in pieces, and in such manvilely as the royal mistresses it enriched had ner that I cannot see how it is possible ever prostituted theirs :-They have signed and to knit them again: the only trouble that I sealed ten thousand pounds a-year more to the Duchess of Cleveland, who has likewise near ten thousand pounds a-year out of the new farm of the country excise of beer and ale, five thousand pounds a-year out of the Post-office, and they say, the reversion of all upon which we first undertook it; and that, the King's leases, the reversion of all places though perhaps we may sometimes differ in in the Custom-house, the green wax, and in- our advice concerning the way of proceeding, deed what not? All promotions, spiritual yet we have the same good ends in the genand temporal, pass under her cognizance.'t eral; and by this unlucky falling out, we On the King's unwelcome visits to the House shall be provoked to a greater emulation of

serving you.'* Yet the offence, whatever it was, must have been a grave one, for he says at the conclusion of the same letter-' I would not tell you any tales, because there are nakednesses which it becomes us to cover, if it be possible; as I shall, unless I be obliged to make some vindications by any false report or misinterpretations. In the mean time, pity, I beseech you, my weakness; for there are some things which men ought not, others

of Peers, he says-' Being sat, he told them it was a privilege he claimed from his ancestors to be present at their deliberations. That therefore they should not, for his coming, interrupt their debates, but proceed, and be covered. They did so. It is true that this has been done long ago; but it is now so old that it is new, and so disused that at any other but so bewitched a time as this, it would have been looked upon as an high usurpation and breach of privilege. He indeed sat still, that they cannot patiently suffer.'t for the most part, and interposed very little, Of his integrity even in little things-of sometimes a word or two. After his desire to keep his conscience pure and three or four days continuance, the lords were his reputation untarnished-we have some very well used to the King's presence, and sent the Lord Steward and Lord Chamberlain to him (to know) when they might wait, as a House on him, to render their humble thanks for the honor he did them! The him with a purse containing 'six broad pieces' hour was appointed them, and they thanked as an honorary fee. He says' He had before him, and he took it well. So this matter, of I came in, as I was told, considered what to such importance on all great occasions, seems do with the gold; and but that I by all means riveted to them and us, for the future, and to all posterity. The King has ever since continued his session among them, and says it is better than going to a play.‡ * Marvell's Letters, p. 405. + Ibid p 406. Ibid. p. 417-419.

striking proofs. On one occasion he had been employed by his constituents to wait on the Duke of Monmouth, then governor of Hull, with a complimentary letter, and to present

prevented the offer, I had been in danger of
being reimbursed with it.' ‡ In the same
letter he says-'I received the bill which

* Marvell's Letters, p. 33, 34.
† Ibid. p. 36.