Some are not to be judged by their actions merely. They must be associated with the age in which they live. After this manner we must judge of Wickliffe, and a multitude of others.

It is, also, to be remembered, that injury in governments is produced by error in judgment, much more often than by design; and that skill is more often wanted to discover right than virtue to propose it, or to cause it to be maintained.

The Spaniards acted upon the idea, that all, who would not be converted to Christianity, might be hunted like wild beasts*; and the Greeks seem to have been actuated by a similar spirit, when those they conquered would not consent to be slaves. Even Plato† and Aristotle entertained ‡ analogous ideas.

countenanced slavery!

They both

CLXIX.

WHO ARE CONDEMNED FOR THE WANT OF GIVING EXPLA

NATION.

THE eggs of a glow-worm shine in the dark as well as herself.

I cannot agree with Madame de Stael, that a lie, a fortnight old, is as good as truth; for then there would be little or no use in offering explanations.

Men, who are too high, or too proud, to enter into explanations, are exceedingly unfortunate. Charles I., for

*Solonzanus.

† De Leg.

Polit. i. c. 3. vii. 14.

instance, laboured long, and his memory is still pursued by a belief, on the part of many, that he caused the massacre of the Protestants in Ireland.

The late Duke of Portland seldom condescended (as it would be termed) to explain any thing. • His 'Grace,' wrote Burke to Laurence*, ' is not in the habit ' of explaining and defending his conduct; and, therefore, he is wholly at the mercy of others in every step ' he sets.'

Explanation is, at all times, worthy the attention and even skill not only of a statesman but of a warrior. Nelson's conduct at Naples, in regard to the execution of Caraccioli, for a long time disgraced not only his name, but his nation. It is now well known, that a deception was practised upon him by the Queen of Naples; and that through the medium of Lady Hamilton, wife to the British ambassador. Explanations are beneath no one even kings might gain by them.

There are some statements, I say, let them be ever so untrue, that demand a prompt, unequivocal contradiction for unless they are denied, they descend to posterity. That of Antomarchi, in regard to Sir Hudson Lowe, may be cited as an example. That physician relates, that Governor Lowe, when he learnt the death of Napoleon, informed him and others of the deceased Emperor's suite, that the British government had become so much more favourably disposed, that he had even been ordered to announce to Napoleon, that the time was approaching when his liberty might, possibly,

*May 18, 1797.

be restored to him; and that his Majesty, George IV., would not be the last to accelerate the term of his captivity. This account has never been denied; at least to my knowledge; and I have kept myself on the watch to hear it. It may descend, therefore, to posterity.

If true, Sir Hudson ought to have communicated the intelligence to the person whom he long knew to be dying; as it might have tended to lighten the burden of his captivity. To communicate it to his attendants, after his death, was but a sorry, nay, an indigent delivery of conscience indeed! Lord Byron used to say, · Be any thing rather than mean.’

CLXX.

WHO NEGLECT SMALL THINGS.

THERE is a maxim, highly important to all those who desire to be easy and comfortable in their respective spheres; and it is this:- Take care of small mat'ters; and do not disdain minute particulars ;' and this reminds me of the late Lord Clermont. When I was young, this excellent nobleman, then generally called 'Old Lord Clermont,' grey-headed, and, altogether, one of the most venerable looking of men, frequently passed the village, in which I was then living. There were two bridges, over which every one that passed that way was compelled to go; but his lordship would never ride over them, whether on horseback or in a carriage. He always walked. In these peregrinations he frequently found me angling upon one or other of these bridges; and being exceedingly affable, he would every now and then enter into conversation with me; and

one day he even condescended to give me advice. 'Young man,' said his lordship, take care of small matters. You are in the way of handling compara'tively large sums; but do not let that make you re'gardless of little ones. Lord Orford and I, many years ago, were not sufficiently attentive to this rule; but I have learned to know better; and let my advice 'be as an example to you: for, depend upon it, shil'lings are more powerful than pounds in effecting the 'ruin of a man in the middle station of life.'

As this maxim is a very important one, I desire to fix it steadfastly in the minds of the younger portion of my readers. The better to do so, I transcribe a passage from Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, by which they may learn what kind of a personage this excellent adviser was. I ' have scarcely known a man more fitted for a compa'nion of kings and queens than Lord Clermont. Nature had formed his person in an elegant mould, uniting delicacy of configuration with the utmost bodily activity, the soundest constitution, and uninterrupted ' health. His manners easy, quiet, even, yet lively and

ingratiating, never varied. Endowed with great sua'vity and equality of temper, possessing a very ample 'fortune, almost a stranger to bodily indisposition, and 'having no issue, male or female, he enjoyed every hour ' of human life.' A little farther on, Sir Nathaniel says: Notwithstanding a close connexion with the 'Prince of Wales, few noblemen were better received at 'St. James's, and scarcely any were detained a longer time in conversation by his majesty (George the Third) ' whenever he appeared at the drawing-room; nor was

'he less acceptable at the court of Versailles, where he ' and Lady Clermont repaired almost every year.' His death was happy :-' an augmenting weakness and extenuation, which left undiminished all his faculties, 'senses, and powers of conversation, gently conveyed, 6 or rather wafted him out of life.'

The name of Lord Clermont is associated, in my mind, with that of Mr. Fox; for near the spot in which Lord Clermont gave me the advice described, that celebrated person one day passed,-in his way to the Earl of Albemarle's,-when his chaise broke down; and it was with some difficulty that I extricated him from the danger in which he was placed. He ordered another chaise at the neighbouring inn, and then inquired of the landlord who 'the young gentleman' was, that had assisted him out of the carriage. Having learned it, he came smiling up, with his left hand in his breeches pocket, and his right in the fold of his waistcoat, and accosted me thus: Young gentleman, I am · very much obliged to you; and the more so on ac'count of your name.' On hearing this, I blushed, and felt overwhelmed with confusion. 'My name, 'sir ?' 'Yes,' answered the good-humoured statesman, your name; for though many a buck has led me into a scrape, you are the only Buck (e) that ever got me out of one!'

Had Mr. Fox attended to little things, he had been the first man of his age.

We must not, however, respect small things too much; for by saving one sovereign we may, occasionally, lose ten. On journeys, for instance, how often have I