an honourable pension the whole time he represented them.*

He seldom spoke in the house, but he had great influence on many of the members; and Prince Rupert esteemed him so highly that he frequently paid him private visits. When the prince voted in the House of Peers according to the sentiments of Marvell, which he often did, it was commonly said by the court party, that "he had been with his tutor."

Our author attacked Dr. Parker, afterwards Bishop of Oxford, and a zealous advocate for arbitrary power, in a witty piece entituled "The Rehearsal transprosed," of which Swift says, "we still read Marvell's answer to Parker, with pleasure, though the book it answers be sunk long ago."†

On account of his poetical satires against the debaucheries of the court, Marvell was obliged to conceal the place of his abode, to prevent being assassinated, his life having been often threatened.

Notwithstanding this opposition, Charles the second took great delight in his conversation, and tried all means to gain him over to his side, but in vain; his inflexible steadiness was proof against all temptations, either of his own distresses, or of

*This was the last instance of a member of parliament being paid for his services by his constituents.

Tale of a Tub.

the

the large offers made him by the court.

And how earnest they were in their endeavours to gain a man of his ability, the following relation evinces; The king having entertained him one night, sent the Lord Treasurer Danby, the next morning to find out his lodgings; which were up two pair of stairs, in one of the little courts in the Strand, where he was busily engaged in writing, when the treasurer abruptly opened the door upon him: surprised at seeing such a visitor, he told his lordship, that he believed he had mistaken his way;" Not now I have found Mr. Marvell," replied Lord Danby, who assured him that he was expressly sent to him from his majesty, and his message was to know what he could do to serve him?" It is not in his majesty's power to serve me," said Mr. Marvell, jocularly; but the Lord Treasurer making a serious affair of it, our author told him, that he well knew the nature of courts, having been in many; and that whoever is distinguished by the favour of the prince, is always expected to vote in his interest. Lord Danby told him, "that his majesty, from the just sense he had of his merit alone, desired to know whether there was any place at court he could be pleased with." To which he replied, with the utmost steadiness, "that he could not with honour accept the offer, since if he did, he must be either ungrateful to the king in voting against him, or false to his country, in supporting the measures of the court: the only favour therefore

which he begged of his majesty was, that he would esteem him as dutiful a subject as any he had, and acting more truly in his proper interest while thus he refused his offers, than he could possibly do should he accept them." The Lord Treasurer finding his solicitations quite fruitless, and that no arguments could prevail on him to accept any post under the government, told him the king had ordered him a thousand pounds; which my lord hoped he would accept, till he could think what farther to ask of his majesty.

But Marvell still continued inflexible and rejected the money with the same firmness with which he had refused the offer of a place; though he was at that time so reduced as to be obliged, when his lordship was gone, to borrow a guinea of a friend.

He died August 16, 1678, aged fifty-eight, and was buried in the church of St. Giles in the Fields. The inhabitants of Hull subscribed for a handsome monument, to be erected in their church, to his memory, with a well written and just inscription upon it, but the minister of the parish would not suffer it to be put up.

ISAAC BARROW.

PARENTS are but too apt to indulge unreasonable expectations or fears with regard to their children, from the disposition indicated by them in early life. Many a youth has been ruined by neglect because he appeared too dull for learning, and had not that readiness of conception, which is accounted the sure sign of native genius. The example of the great Dr. Barrow, the tutor of Newton, may serve to correct this fatal error, and teach every parent to watch with patience, and to cultivate with diligence the minds of those whom providence has committed to his care.

Isaac Barrow was born in London, in 1630. His father was a respectable citizen, and so zealous a loyalist that he greatly injured his circumstances to aid his king, whom he followed to Oxford, when rebellion drove him from his capital. The son was placed first at the Charter Housc School, where his greatest recreation was in such sports as brought on fighting among the boys. He was also very negligent of his cloaths, and what was worse, of his book, which made his father solemnly wish, "that if it pleased God to take away any of his children it might be his son Isaac."

Finding