it in her prefence, confirmed him much in her favour for the prefent. In 1706, he first moved for appointing commiffioners to treat of the union with Scotland, and was himself appointed one of the commiffioners for that purpofe; wherein he first projected the equivalent, without which that falutary incorporation of the two kingdoms had apparently never been accomplished. This equivalent amounting to near four hundred thousand pounds, was to be applied for the ufe of the Scottish nation in a particular manner; though it is well known that the chief ufe made of it was the diftributing it among the leading men of that nation, as an equivalent for the power and intereft employed by them in getting the act paffed by their countrymen. As foon as the act for naturalizing the house of Hanover, and fecuring, the fucceffion in the Proteftant line, was paffed, lord Halifax was pitched upon to carry it, together with the enfigns of the order of the garter, to the electoral prince, and was received there, and treated with extraordinary splendor and magnificence. In 1707 he obtained a decree in the houfe of lords, confirming his right to the auditor's place against the claim of the marquis of Caermarthen. In 1709 he gave his vote for the fentence which paffed against Dr. Henry Sacheverell, and the following year he wrote seasonable questions concerning a new parliament: and this was the laft ftruggle of his lordship and the Whig party, to retrieve the lofs of their power, which was then departing. He now faw himself, on this great change in the ministry, again out of the royal favour; however, he found means to defeat an attempt made by the new miniftry, to refume all king William's grants, and therein his own, of crown-lands, &c. During the rest of this reign, he ftrenuously oppofed the terms of the peace of Utrecht, and ftruggled upon all occafions to support the honour and intereft of the duke of Marlborough. He was very warm and zealous in fecuring the Hanover fucceffion, which he thought to be in fome danger; and in 714 projected the fcheme which fucceeded, of procuring a writ to call the electoral prince (our late fovereign king George II.) to the house of peers as duke of Cam bridge. In confequence of this conduct, he found himself, upon the decease of the queen, appointed one of the regency during her fucceffor's abfence from his kingdoms; and as foon as his majefty king George I. had taken poffeffion of his throne, he was created earl of Halifax, and installed knight of the garter: and having obtained a grant of the reverfion of the auditor's place for his nephew George Montague, Efq; he himself was a fecond time appointed first commissioner of the treasury. Thefe accumulated ho nours he enjoyed but a very short time, for while he appeared to be in a very vigorous state of health, he was fuddenly taken ill on the 15th of May, 1715, at the house of the Dutch ambaffador; and his dif temper increasing with great violence, put a period to his life the 19th of the same month. During his fhort illness, he was attended by Dr. Shadwell, principal phyfician to the king, and Dr. Seigerthall, his majesty's German physician, who confulting alfo with Sir Richard Blackmore, and Dr. Mead, agreed all in their opinion that his disorder was a pleurify: but, upon opening his body, it was found to be an inflammation of the lungs. On the 26th his corpfe was conducted from the Jerufalem chamber, and interred in general Monk's vault, in Henry VIIth's chapel, adjoining to Westminster-abbey, pursuant to his own request, where a handsome plain monument is erected according to his directions, with an inscription in Latin to his memory. He not only had a great fhare of polite and useful learning himself, but was likewife a general patron and Mæcenas to others, who in any degree poffeffed it *. Mr. Addison has remarked the familiar genius of his poetry: "How negligently graceful he unreins His verfe, and writes in loofe familiar ftrains." Of this particular his lordship himself was not ignorant, as evidently appears from thefe lines of his : "I know my compafs, and my mufe's fize, She loves to fport and play, but dares not rife; Namely, fuch as Stepney, Congreve, Addifon, Prior, Pope, Steele, Sir Ifaac New ton, Dr. Halley, and many others. Idly affects in this familiar way, We find many dedications, by different authors, of their works to him, with very great elogims, in particular by Sir Richard Steele, and Mr. Tickell: but we must not fearch for his real character in thefe fpecies of compofition, which are feldom looked upon as a true mirror of the patron, but fuch a one as beft fuits with the views and intentions of the client. That he was a confummate statesman, enterprizing, and indefatigable in politics, fufficiently appears from his life, and his conduct in thofe fcenes he was engaged in. Thefe qualities he certainly poffeffed in a very eminent degree. By his diligence he carried many points attended with extraordinary difficulties, and by his perfeverance happily brought them to a conclufion. The recoinage of the money, the general fund, the supporting the credit of the bank, the raising fo vast a fum by exchequer notes, in all which he was the original projector, as well as the great share he had in the union of the two kingdoms, will perpetuate his name to posterity with the highest honour. But it must not be diffembled that he has not escaped cenfure, for playing the courtier too much to king William; efpecially in two points: first, by his endeavours to bring the house of commons into that king's measures, for keeping on foot more standing forces, after the conclufion of the peace of Ryfwick, than the ftated establishment; and fecondly, for the interest he made among them, for the continuance of his majesty's Dutch blue-guards; tho', whoever is acquainted with the nature of a court, must be fenfible that a minifter will be often obliged, in order to keep in favour with his prince, both to speak and act diametrically oppofite to his own inclinations and intentions; but we do not take upon us to fay that this was the cafe here. But what he is chiefly to be admired for, was that true English good nature, which was in a manner interwoven in his very frame, and which was a continual fource of general benevolence and kindnesses to all that had the least claim to it, and made him very much diflike and oppofe all violent measures in either party. This amiable quality, joined to his wit and learning, and the elegance of his manner, made him to be almost adored by every body. After the death of his lady he continued fingle to his death, being difappointed in his views of a fecond marriage to a lady of great birth and fortune. But this was lefs regretted, as he had caft his eyes upon the celebrated Mrs. Barton, niece of Sir Ifaac Newton, and the widow of one Colonel Barton, to be fuperintendant of his domestic affairs. This gentlewoman was a reigning toast, young, beautiful, and gay, fo that fhe did not escape cenfure, though very undefervedly, fince we are well affured fhe was a woman of strict honour and virtue. It is certain she was in every particular very agreeable to his lordship; and he gave her a fincere testimony of it in his will, by which he bequeathed to her his rangership, and lodge of Bushy Park, his manor of Apscourt in Surry, and a legacy of feveral thousand pounds, together with many other valuable effects. In a word, he was juftly the admiration and esteem of his own age, and so he will ever be of pofterity. His executor and refiduary legatee was his nephew George Montague of Horton, Efq; fon to his eldest brother Edward, and then member of parliament for Northampton; who, by virtue of king William's patent, fucceeded to the title of baron Halifax; and was afterwards created alfo earl of Halifax. He was the father of the prefent noble earl, George Montague Dunk, earl and baron Halifax, now lord-lieutenant of Ireland, to whom his country is fo much indebted for the establishment of the new colony of Nova Scotia, the prefent flourishing condition of which is entirely owing to his lordship's generofity, and unwearied attention to its welfare. HISTORY of AOUGE the Peafant. An Oriental Tale. N the reign of Quoutbeddin, king of I Aad, there lived near that city a poor pealant named Aouge, who, with the hardest labour, found it scarce poffible to fupport himself. One day, as he was quite overpowered with beating fardless he threw threw himself upon the ground, and uttered the following exclamation: "Wherefore was I fent into the world where I can never hope for happiness. Thirty eight years have I lived in conftant labour and diftrefs, and have every night prayed to God, and his holy prophet Mahomet, to take me out of this vale of mifery; yet still I live, though life is become altogether infupportable." Quoutbeddin, who was hunting, happened juft at that time to pafs by with his vifier and courtiers, and was fo ftruck by the pathetic tone wherewith they were pronounced, that he stopt to liften to them. Aouge was fo oppreffed with grief, that he never once perceived the king or his retinue, but continued to invoke the angel of death, and lament his hard lot in terms as ftrong as the former. Being at length quite exhaufted with laffitude and hunger, the king rode on a little farther with his retinue, having ordered one of his pages to prefent him with a potion of bueng, which the peasant very thankfully accepted; and having drank it with the utmoft greedinefs, was immediately feized with a profound fleep. Such is the effect of this liquor, that it immediately benumbs the faculties, and generally caufes those who take it to fleep, without dreaming, for twenty-four hours. Quoutbeddin then caused fome of his retinue to carry him to his palace, and lodge him in a magnificent apartment, which was done accordingly. Great was the furprize of Aouge to find himself, when he awaked, lying upon a velvet fopha, washed, perfumed, and clad in a rich robe, which fparkled with the richest jewels of Golconda. At first he thought himself in a dream; but two muficians, the ableft of Aad, having touched inftruments which uttered a moft exquisite harmony, his attention was farther roufed; and his furprize greatly increased, when he beheld, feated upon feveral fophas round him, Circaffian damfels, with whofe beauty he was dazzled to fuch a degree, that he took them to be Houris of Paradife, and thought himself already arrived in that happy place. He immediately returned thanks to Alla and his holy prophet Mahomet, for having at length delivered him from all his affictions. Whereupon one of the damfels, the luftre of whose beauty furpaffed that of the reft, informed bim that he was still upon earth; that they were benevolent fairies who took a pleasure in confoling mortals in diftrefs; that they had caufed him to be conveyed thither by inchantment; and that he should refide there till he had forgot all his cares. Aouge, rejoiced hereat, returned thanks with a fervour which teftified the tranfport of his heart; and foon after feverar courtiers entered, who having been inftructed by the king, faluted him, and gave him to understand, that they had been, like him, delivered from their afflictions, by the kindness of the benevolent fairies; whereupon a converfation enfued, in which all prefent difcovered equal joy and fatiffaction, and foon after they fat down to a repast, confifting of viands of the most exquifite flavour, and a defert of the most delicious fruits. They drank the richest wines of the Ea, which were presented to them in golden goblets fet with diamonds, by deautiful youths richly attired. During the repait, their ears were delighted by a concert fo harmonious, that it raifed the foul to heaven; and when it was grown late, they retired to their apartments with the utmoft ferenity of mind. This life of pleasure was varied and heightened by the most exquifite contrivances to gratify the fenses; and new amusements daily invented to prevent that fatiety, which arifes from a repetition of But Aouge, whờ the fame enjoyments. carried in his breaft an enemy to peace, was at length tormented by the reflection, that he muft fometime or other be deprived of all this happiness by death, and carried his impiety fo far, as to renounce in his heart the paradife which the holy prophet promifes to the faithful, and wish to refide for ever in this feat of terrestrial blifs. His former gaiety almost entirely forfook him, and his mirth was forced and constrained; which the courtiers obferving, informed king Quoutbeddin thereof. Whereupon the monarch directed them to give Aouge a fecond potion of bueng, and cloathing him in his former habit, carry him to the place where he had been found. The peafant, upon waking, was furprized to find himself in his former condition, and the comparison of his tranfitory happiness with his prefent mifery made him fo frantic, that he ran to the top of an hill which overlooked a neighbouring pool, and was juft going to precipitate himself therein, when a lion, which rushed upon him from the oppo fite fite fide of the bush, terrified him to fuch a degree, that his defperate refolution was immediately converted into fear: fo he ran down with as much rapidity as he had afcended; and as extreams generally produce each other, he was glad to have efcaped the death he had fought. A calm ferenity of mind is always the refult of an escape from a great danger; Aouge returned to his cottage, and renewed his toil with the utmost refignation. Sometimes, however, he could not help fighing after his paft felicity, and as he one day fell into a profound reverie in reflecting thereon, he was all on a sudden surprifed with the appearance of a glorious vifion. There stood before him an angelical figure, whofe graceful locks were irradiated with a refplendent brightness; in his right hand he held a filver wand, and in his left an olive branch; his eyes fhone lambent with celestial day, and the mildness with which he beheld Aouge, having diffipated his aftonishment, he addreffed him in terms like thefe : "Know, Aouge, that I am Effendiar, the spirit of peace, my pacific sway is equal to that of Afmong, the angel of difcord; but as his delight is to occafion wars and tumults, by exciting turbulent paffions in the breafts of men, my care is to appease both the broils and feditions which difturb the collective body of mankind, and to allay the ftorms which make fuch ravages in the breafts of individuals. You have hitherto been under the influence of the malignant spirit Afmong, and therefore constantly at variance with yourfelf. My power has been too strong for his. It was I that fent the lion that prevented you from committing an action, which would have caufed your eternal perdition. Depart in peace, labour with unceasing industry, and, above all, be affiduous in your devotions to the Almighty, and the holy prophet will not let you go unrewarded." This faid, the angel difappeared, and Aouge continued to labour with a perfect refignation to Providence. He found himself now more happy than when in the midft of luxury and pleasure, which evidently proves that it is not fo much the circumstances of men, as their fentiments concerning them, that render men happy or miferable. Quoutbeddin paffing again by the hut of Aouge, was furprised to obferve this change in his difpofition, and offered to carry him to his court, and receive him as one of his domeftics. Aouge, who now felt no joy at a promifed elevation, made answer as fol lows: "O king! may the holy prophet lengthen thy days, and pour upon thee all manner of bleffings. I have been used to an humble ftation, and I fear I am incapable of bearing profperity." This an wer determined Quoutbeddin to receive him into his fervice. Aouge was never elated by his good fortune; but acquitted himfelf fo much to the fatisfaction of his mafter, that he conferred upon him a confiderable place of truft. Having experienced the extreams of profperity and adversity, he was not to be fhaken by the one, or dazzled by the other, but by his prudent conduct in all the places he occupied, at last rofe to the dignity of vizier. INSTRUCTIONS given by Henry VII. to his Ambassadors, fent to the Queen of Naples, his intended Confort. Inftructions geven by the King's Highnese, to bis trufty and wel-beloved fervants Frunceys Marfyn, James Braybroke, and John Stile, fhewing bowe they shall ordre tbeymfelf when they come to the prefence of the old Quene of Naples, and the young Quene bir daughter. con, and declaracon of fuche charges and words, as fhall bee fhewed and committed unto theym by the faid princeffe, to be openned and declared on hir behalf to the faid quenes, they shall well note and marke the state that they kepe, and howe they be accompanied with nobles and ladies. 2. Item, To take good hyde, and marke FIRST, after prefentacion and dely- theftats that the faid quenes kepe, and verance of fuche lettres as they fhall have with theym, to be delyvered to the faid quenes, from the ladie Katheryn, princeffe of Wales, making her recommendaAugust, 1761. whether they kepe their eftats and houfolds apart, or in oon houfe togedres, and howe they be accompanyed, and what lords and ladies they have abouts theym. Ecc 3. Item, 3. Item, If it fhall fortune the king's faid fervants to fynde the faid quenes keping their eftats togedres, they shall well and affuredly note and marke the maner of keping and ordering theym in their eftats, with the countenance and maner of every of theym, and fuche answer as they fhall make upon the fpeche and communicacion as they fhall have with theym, at the delyverance of the faid letters, and declaracion of thother matiers before-mencioned; and to marke hir defcrecion, wifedom, and gravitie, in her faid communicacion and answer in every behalf. 4. Item, They fhall in like wife endevor theym to understand, whether the yong quene fpeke any other langages than Spaynyfhe and Itelyon, and whether fhe can fpeke any Frenfhe or Laten. 5. Item, Specially to marke and note well the age and ftature of the faid young quene, and the feturys of hir bodye. 6. Item, Specially to marke the favor of hir vifage, whether the bee paynted or not, and whether it be fatte or leene, harpe or rownde, and whether hir countenaunce bee chierfull and amyable, frownyng or malincolyous, ftedefaft or light, or blushing in communicacion. 7. Item, To note the clereneffe of hir fkynne. 8. Item, To note the colours of hir here. fpeke with the faid young quene fafting, and that the may telle unto them fome matier at lengthe, and to approche as nere to hir mouthe as they honeftly maye, to thentent that they may fele the condicion of her brethe, whether it be fwete or not, and to marke at every time when they fpeke with hir, if they fele any favor of fpices, rofe waters, or muske, by the brethe of hir mouthe, or not. 19. Item, To note the height of hir stature, and to enquere whether the were any flippars, and of what height hir flippars bee, to thentent they be not deceyved in the veray height and ftature of hir; and if they may come to the fight of hir flippar, then to note the faffion of hir foote. 20. Item, To enquere whether the have any fekenneffe of hir nativitie, deformitie or blemmys he in hir bodye, and what that should bee; or whether the hath been communely in helthe, or fomtyme seke, and fomtyme hole; and to know the fpecialties of fuch difeafes and fekenneffe. 21. Item, Whether fhe be in any fingu ler favor with the king of Aragon hir uncle, and whether the have refemblance in vifage, countenaunce, or complexion to him. 22. Item, to enquere of the manor of hir diet, and whether the bee a grete fedar or drynker, and whether the ufeth often to ete or drynke, and whether the drynketh 9. Item, To note well hir ies, browes, wyne, or water, or bothe. tethe, and lippes. 10. Item, To marke well the faffion of hir nofe, and the heithe and brede of hir forehedde. 11. Item, Specially to note hir complexion. 12. Item, To marke hir armes, whether they bee grete or fmale, long or fhorte. 13. Item, To fee hir hands bare, and to note the fafcion of theym, whether the palme of hir hand be thikke or thynne, and whether hir hands bee fatte or leene, long or shorte. 14. Item, To note hir fyngers, whether they be long or fhorte, fmale or grete, brode or narrowe before. 15. Item, To marke whether hir nekke bee longe or fhorte, finale or greie. 16. Item. To marke hir brefts, and pappes, whether they be bigge or fmale. 17. Item, To marke whether ther appere any here about hir lippes or not. 18. Item, That they endevor theym to 23. Item, The king's faid fervants fhall alfo at their comyng to the parties of Spayne, diligently enquere for fome conynge paynter, havyng good experience in making and paynting of vifages and portretures, and fuche oon they shall take with theym to the place wher the faid quenes make their abode, to thentent that the faid paynter maye drawe a picture of the vifage and femblance of the faid young quene, as like unto hit as it can or maye bee conveniently doon; whiche picture and image they fhall fubnancially note, and marke in every pounte, and circumflance, foo that it agree in fimilitude and likeneffe as near as it may possible to the veray vifage, countenance, and femblance of the faid quene; and in cafe they may perceyve, that the paynter at the furft or fecond making thereof, hath not made the fame perfaite to hir fimilitude and likeneffe, or that he hath omitted any feture or circumftance, either in colours, or other proporcions of the faid vifage,. then |