From the following letter it appears that Marvell soon after arrived in England to attend his duty in Parliament. In his letter he alludes to the request of Lord Bellasis to the town of Hull, that they should proceed to elect another Burgess, on account of his absence.

GENTLEMEN,

"Westminster, April 2, 1663.

Being newly arrived in town, and full of businesse, yet I could not neglect to give you notice that this day I have been in the House, and found my place empty; though it seems that some persons would have been so courteous, as to have filled it for me. You may be assured that as my obligation and affection to your service hath been strong enough to draw me over, without any consideration of mine own private concernments, so I shall now maintain my station with the same vigour and alacrity in your business which I have always testify'd formerly, and which is no more than is due to that kindnesse which I have constantly experienced from you. So at present, though in much haste, saluting you all with my most hearty respects,

I remain,

Gentlemen, my very worthy friends,

Your most affectionate Friend to serve you,
ANDREW MARVELL."

In reference to this expedition to Holland he frequently speaks of his private concernments, but we can find no clue to lead us to the nature of them. Marvell does not seem settled this session, and reasons with his friends, that the vigilance and sufficiency of his partner might have excused his absence. Three months were scarcely elapsed before we find him stating his intention to his constituents, of going beyond sea with Lord Carlisle, who was appointed ambassador extraordinary to Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. By accepting this appointment, Marvell did not then appear to be much at variance with government, though by the manner of his expressing himself, he seems in a great measure to have been influenced by a friendship for Lord Carlisle.

London, June 16, 1663.

GENTLEMEN, The relation I have to your affaires, and the intimacy of that affection I owe you, do both incline and oblige me to communicate to you, that there is a probability I may very shortly have occasion to go beyond sea; for my Lord Carlisle being chosen by his Majesty Ambassador Extraordinary to Muscovy, Sweden, and Denmark, hath used his power, which ought to be very great with me, to make me goe along with him, as Secretary in these embassages. It is no new thing for

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members of our House to be dispensed with, for the service of the King and the nation, in foreign parts. And you may be sure I will not stirre without speciall leave of the House, so that you may be freed from any possibility of being importuned, or tempted, to make any other choice in my absence. However, I cannot but advise with you, desiring also to take your assent along with me, so much esteeme I have both of your prudence and friendship. The time allotted for the embassy is not much above a year; probably may not be much lesse, than betwixt our adjournment, and next meeting; however, you have Col. Gilby, to whom my presence can make little addition, so that I cannot decline this voyage. I shall have the comfort to believe, that, all things considered, you cannot thereby receive any disservice. I shall hope herein to receive your speedy answer. I remain,

Being this day taking barge for Gravesend, there to embark for Archangel, thence to Sweden, and last of all to Denmark; all which I hope, by God's blessing, to finish within twelve months' time: I do hereby, with my last and most serious thoughts, salute you, rendering you all hearty thanks for your great kindness and friendship to me upon all occasions, and ardently beseeching God to keep you all in his gracious protection, to your own honour, and the welfare and flourishing of your Corporation, to which I am, and shall ever continue, a most affectionate and devoted servant. I undertake this voyage with the order and good liking of his Majesty, and by leave given me from the House, and entered in the journall; and having received, moreover, your approbation, I go, therefore, with more ease and satisfaction of mind, and augurate to myself the happier success in all my proceedings. Your known prudence makes it unnecessary for me to leave my advice or counsell with you at parting; yet can I not forbear, out of the superabundance of my care and affection for you, to recommend to you a good correspondence with the Garrison, so long as his Majesty shall think fit to continue it; unto which, and all your other concerns, as Colonel Gilby hath been, and will be, always mainly instrumentall, and do you all the right imaginable; so could I wish, as I do not doubt that you would, upon any past or future occasion, confide much in his discretion, which he will never deny you the use of. This I say to you

with a very good intent, and I know will be no otherwise understood by you. And so renewing and redoubling my most cordial thanks, my most earnest prayers, and my most true love and service to and for you all, I remain, as long as I live,

Gentlemen,

Your most affectionate Friend to serve you,
ANDREW MARVELL."

This embassy continued nearly two years, after which we find Marvell attending the Parliament, at Oxford, in 1665. On the 22d of October, in that year, he thus writes::- "There is a bill in good forwardnesse to prohibit the importation of Irish Cattle; the fall of lands and rents being ascribed to the bringing them over into England in such plenty." And again, a few days after, he writes,-" Our bill against the importation of Irish Cattle was not passed by his Majesty, as being too destructive to the Irish interest." But it appears the bill did afterwards pass, for he writes,-" Our House has returned the bill about Irish Cattle to the Lords, adhering to the word NUISANCE, which the Lords changed to detriment, and mischief: but at a conference, we delivered the reasons of our adhering to the word nuisance.”

November 2, he says, "The bill for preventing the increase of the Plague could not pass, because the Lords would not agree with us, that their houses, if infected, should be shut up."

In November, 1666, he writes,-"Since my last we have, in a manner, been wholly taken up with instructions for the Poll Bill. The chief of which the House voted, were, besides that of twelve pence on every head, and double on Aliens, and Nonconformists, twenty shillings in the £100 for personal estates, three shillings in the pound for all offices and public employments, except military; Lawyers and Physicians, proportionable to their practice. There is one bill ordered to be brought in of a new nature;-that all persons shall be buried in woollen for the next six or seven years. The reason propounded is, because a matter of £100,000 a year of our own manufacture will be employed, and so much money kept at home from buying foreign linen, till our own trade of flax, &c., be grown up."

And again, Jan. 12, 1667:-"We have not advanced much this week; the alterations of the Lords upon the Poll Bill have kept us busy. We have disagreed in most: aliens, we adhere to pay double; Nonconformists, we agree with the Lords, shall not pay double, carried by 126 to 91."

In writing again, he says,-" To-day his Majesty writ to us, to quicken us, and that we should conclude his business without any

recesses. Thereupon our House called all the defaulters, and the Sergeant at arms to send for them, and they not to sit till they have paid their fees."

A few days afterwards he thus writes, "To-day the Duke of Buckingham and the Marquesse of Dorchester were, upon their petitions, freed from the Tower, having been committed for quarrelling, and scuffling the other day, when we were at the Canary conference."

January 26, 1667, he writes, "At eleven o'clock we went up to the Lords, to manage the impeachment against Lord Mordant. Our managers observed that he sat in the House, and that he had counsell, whereas he ought to stand at the barr as a criminal, and to have no counsell to plead or manage his cause.”

Marvell's attention to the business of Parliament, and in writing to his constituents, appears to have been excessive, for we find from a letter, dated November 14, 1667, in which he says:-" Really the business of the house hath been of late so earnest, daily, and so long, that I have not had the time, and scarce the vigour, 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. The Earl of Clarendon hath taken up much of our time, till within these three days: but since his impeachment hath been carryed up to the House of Lords, we have some leisure from that business."

December 3d, he writes, "Since my last to you we have had a free conference with the Lords, for not committing the Earl of Clarendon upon our general charge. The Lords yesterday sent a message by Judge Archer, and Judge Morton, that they were not satisfyed to commit him, without particular cause specifyed; whereupon our house voted that the Lords, not complying with the desire of the House of Commons, upon the impeachment carried up against him, is an obstruction to public justice in the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, and is the president of evill and dangerous consequences. To-day the Lords sent down by Judge Twisden, and Judge Brown, another message to us, that they had received a large petition from the Earle of Clarendon, intimating that he was withdrawn. Hereupon our House forthwith ordered addresses to his Majesty, that care might be taken for securing all the Sea ports less he should pass there. I suppose he will not trouble you at Hull."

March 17, 1668, he says, "To-day the House, before a Committee of the whole House, sat and voted that towards the King's supply of £300,000 they will raise at least £100,000 upon wines and strong waters."

Respecting the King sitting in person in the House of Lords during

the debates, Marvell thus writes, March 26, 1670, " His Majesty hath for this whole week come every day in person to the House of Lords, and sate there during their debates and resolutions. And yesterday the Lords went in a body to Whitehall, to give him thanks for the honour he did them.” To William Ramsden, Esq., a few days after, he states the particulars of the King's visit more fully. "The King about ten o'clock took boat, with Lauderdale only, and two ordinary attendants, and rowed awhile as towards the bridge, but soon turned back to the Parliament stairs, and so went up into the House of Lords, and took his seat. All of them were amazed, but the Duke of York especially. After the King was seated, his Majesty told them it was a privilege he claimed from his ancestors, to be present at their deliberations. After three or four days' continuance, the Lords were well used to the King's presence, and sent the Lord Steward, and Lord Chamberlain, to enquire when they might render him their humble thanks for the honour he did them. The hour was appointed, and they thanked his Majesty, who took it well. The King has ever since continued his session among them, and says, ' it is better than going to a play." And in the same letter Marvell adds," There is some talk of a French Queen to be invented for our King. Some say a sister of the King of Denmark; others, a good virtuous Protestant, here at home. The King disavows it, yet he has sayed in public, he knew not why a woman may not be divorced for barrenness, as a man for impotency."

April 9, 1670, he writes,-" Sir John Pritiman, who serves for Leicester, was yesterday suspended from sitting in the House, and from all privilege, till he find out one Hume (a most notorious fellow), whom he suggested to be his meniall servant; whereas he was a prisoner for debt, and thus, by Sir John's procurement, has escaped his creditors. The Sergeant was sent into the Speaker's chamber with the mace, to bring Sir John, to receive the sentence upon his knees, at the barre: Hereupon the House was disappointed; for in the mean while he was escaped by the back doore; it was then ordered, that that doore be nailed up for the future."

Also of a similar escape he thus writes:- "Sir James Norfolk, Sergeant of the House of Commons, was by them voted to be sent to the Tower; and that his Majesty be desired to cause a new Sergeant to attend, he having betrayed his trust, &c., but Sir James forthwith escaped from the House while they were penning the order."

December 8th he says, "The bill for Conventicles hath been twice read, and committed; it makes them henceforth, riots; and orders that those who cannot pay 5s., or who shall refuse to tell their names, or abode, shall work it out, in the House of Correction."