ANECDOTES, &c. L A N HISTORICAL ANECDOTE. ORD BROGHILL (afterwards Earl of Offory) who might be properly called the common friend of King Charles and the Protector, endeavoured to effect a reconciliation between them, by the former's marrying Frances, the fourth and youngest daughter of the Protector, to which not only the King, but also she herself, and her mother, gave their affent; but as it was a delicate point to obtain Oliver's concurrence, it was not thought adviseable to be too precipitate, but to let the report circulate abroad before it was mentioned to the Protector. When it was judged proper to be broke out to him, Broghill went as usual to the Palace, and being introduced to his Highness B (2) Highness in his clofet, he asked, "Whence he came, and what news he had brought ?" His Lordship replied, from the city, where I have heard ftrange news indeed!' haps your Highnefs will be What is it?' Peroffended.' I will not,' replied Oliver, haftily, be it what it will.' Broghill then, in a laughing way, faid, 'All the city news is, that you are going to restore the King, and marry him to Lady Frances.' Oliver fmiling, faid, And what do the fools think of it?' They like it, and think it is the wifeft thing you can do, if you can accomplish it.' Cromwell, looking steadfastly at Broghill, Do you believe fo too?' who finding the propofal pleafing to him, went on, I do really believe it is the beft thing you can do, to fecure yourself.' The Protector walking about the room with his hands behind him, in a musing pofture, turned about to his lordship, 'Why do you believe it?' Upon which he endeavoured to convince Oliver of the expediency and neceffity of the thing; that nothing was more eafy to bring about the restoration, and that he would have the King for his fon-in-law, and, in all probability, become grandfather to the heir of the Crown. To this the Protector liftened with attention, and traverfing the apartment twice or thrice, faid, the King will never forgive me the death of his father.' Sir,' replied his Lordfhip, 'you 'you were one of many who were concerned in it, but you will be alone in the merit of restoring him employ fomebody to found him upon it, and fee how he will take it: I'll do it, if you think fit.' 'No, he will never forgive me his father's death; befides, he is fo debauched, he cannot be trufted.' His Lordship was fearful of proceeding further, and fo the difcourfe took another turn. Broghill did not abfolutely defpair yet of effecting his purpofe; he therefore applied to the Protectress, and the Lady Frances; and after acquainting them of the ill fuccefs of his negociation, defired them to prefs his Highness ftrongly to confider of it again, which they both promised; and the former afterwards affured his lordship, that fhe had done it more than once, but to no purpose ; for the Protector never returned her any other anfwer, than the King is not fuch a fool as to forgive me the death of his father.' R READING. EADING is to the mind what exercife is to the body, as by one health is preserved, ftrengthened and invigorated; by the other, virtue (which is the health of the mind,) is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed. There are perfons who feldom take a book in their hand, but to dif cover the faults it may in their opinion contain; the merit of the work is the laft of their confideration; they can pafs over many fine fentiments, and rhetorical expreffions, without the leaft regard; but to whatever they think obfcure, abfurd, or impertinent, they are fure to afford no quarter: many perfections cannot atone for a few imperfections with them, they must have a perfect piece or none; fuch perfons ought not to read at all, they are not fit to judge of what they do read. For every man of fenfe and candour, who reads in order to reap the benefit of reading, will give merit its due, wherever he finds it, and be cautious how he commends. When I meet with a great many beauties in a piece, I am not offended with a few faults, which might have escaped the author thro' inadvertency, or which the impotence of human nature could not fo well provide againft. Sometimes too, what is very clear in a book, feems to us obfcure, for want of reading it with fufficient attention. We should not read a book on purpose to find its faults; but, purely to understand it. Whoever thinks a faultlefs piece to fee, Of |