"placed Mr. Morrice, a poor Country Gentleman "of about 2001. a-year, a fierce Presbyterian, and

one who never faw the King's face; but still "promises were made of the reverfion to Sir "Richard. Now it was the bufinefs of the "Chancellor to put Sir Richard as far from the "King as he could, because his ignorance in State "affairs was daily difcovered by Sir Richard, who "fhewed it to the King; but at that time the "King was fo content that he, Lord Clarendon, «fhould almost alone manage his affairs, that he "might have more time for his pleasures, that his "faults were not so visible as otherwise they would "have been, and afterwards proved.

"1665. The Articles concluded on between "England and Spain by Sir Richard Fanshawe,

and the Articles for the adjustment between "Spain and Portugal, were cavilled at by Lord "Chancellor Clarendon and his party, that they "might have an opportunity to fend the Earl of "Sandwich cut of the way from the Parliament "which then fat, and as he and his friends feared "would be feverely punished for his cowardice in "the Dutch fight. He neither understood the "customs of the Court nor the language, nor "indeed anything but a vicious life; and thus "was he fhuffled into Sir Richard's employment, "to reap the benefit of his five years negociation

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"of the peace of England, Spain, and Portugal, "and after above thirty years studying State affairs, "and many of them in the Spanish Court. So "much are Ambaffadors flaves to the public "Minifters at home, who often through ignorance "or envy ruin them."

Charles the Second wrote to the Duke of Ormond, giving his reasons for difmiffing Lord Clarendon from his fervice. This Letter Mr. Carte could never find amongft those written to that illuftrious Nobleman. It has been faid, that Lord Clarendon's temper was bad and peevish, and that Charles was glad to get rid of him on that account.

The COMPILER has been favoured, by the MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM (a name dear to Literature and to the Arts) with the Original of the following Letter of Lord Clarendon, addreffed to the Juftices of the Peace for the County of Buckingham; which, from the excellent fenfe it contains, and the good advice it gives, seems particularly fuited to the fituation of affairs in thefe times of alarm and danger *.

* In the Summer of 1794.
B4

MY

<6 MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"HIS Majestie being well affured, as well by ❝ the confeffion of fome desperate persons lately "apprehended, as by other credible informations, “that, notwithstanding all his unparalleled lenity " and mercy towards all his subjects for their past "offences, how greate foever, there is still amongst "them many feditious perfons, who, instead of "being forry for the ill they have done, are still "contriving, by all the means they can, to involve "the Kingdom in a new civill warre; and in order "thereunto have made choice of a small number, "who, under the title of a Council, hold cor"refpondence with the forraigne enemyes to this "Kingdom, and distribute therein orders to fome "fignal men of their party in the feveral Counties, "who have provided armes and lifted men to be "ready upon any fhort warning to draw together "in a body, by which, with the helpe they promise "themselves from abroad, they presume to be "able to doe much mischiefe; which his Majestie "hopes. (with the bleffing of God upon his greate "care and vigilance) to prevent, and to that "purpose hath writt to his Lords Lieutenants of "the several Counties, that they and their Deputy "Lieutenants may doe what belongs to them: "But his Majeftie, taking notice of greate neg

"ligence

ligence and remiffneffe in too many Juftices of "the Peace *, in the exercise of the trust com"mitted to them, hath commanded me, who

(ferving him in the province I hold) am in "fome degree accountable for the faults of those "who ferve him not fo well as they ought in that

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* James the First, who, like his grandfon Charles the Second, perhaps never faid a foolish thing, nor ever did a wife one, in one of his fpeeches in the Star Chamber, directs the Judges to take notice, in their feveral Circuits, of thofe Juftices of the Peace that were most active for the good of the Country, that they might "find encouragement from him: for" (adds Wilson), “to make use of his Majesty's own words, I value thofe "that ferve me faithfully there with those that attend (6 my perfon; therefore let none be ashamed of his office, or be difcouraged in being a Juftice of the Peace, if he "ferve worthily in it. The Chancellor (continued the "King) under me, makes Juftices, and puts them out; "but neither he nor I can tell what they are: and there"fore the Judges múst inform us, who only can tell who "do well and who do ill, without which how can the "good be cherished, and the bad put out. The good

Juftices are carefull to attend the fervice of the King "and Country; the bad are idle flow-bellies, given to

a life of eafe and delight, liker ladies than men, and "think it is enough to contemplate juftice; when, as virtus "in actione confiftit, contemplative justice is no justice, and therefore contemplative Juftices are fit to be put out."?

WILSON'S "Life and Reign of King James."

"Com

Commiflion, to write to the Justices of the "Peace of all the Counties in England, and to "lett them know of all his Majeftie expects at

their hands: I do therefore choose this time to "obey his Majefty's commands, and take the best "care I can that this Letter may find you toge.. "ther at your Quarter Seffions, presuining that "you who are prefent will take care that it be communicated to those who are abfent, at your next monthly meetings, which it is most necef"fary you keep conftantly. I am forry to heare many perfons who are in the Commiffion "of the Peace neglect to be fworne, or, being "fworne, to attend at the Affizes and Seffions, or

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indeed to doe any thing of the office of a Justice. For the former fort, I defire that you caule the "Clerke of the Peace forthwith to return to mee

the names of those who are in the Commiffion "and are not fworne, to the end that I may prefent

their names to the King, who hath already given order to his Attorney-General to proceed "against them. For the reft, I hope, upon this "animadverfion from his Majeftie, they will re"collect themselves, feriously reflect upon their "breach of trust to the King and Kingdom, and

how accountable they must be for the mischiefs and inconveniences which fall out through their “remiffness, and not discharging of their dutyes. "I affure