to have been restrained from venturing at all upon this debate, the subject itself being so farr above the pitch of my literature; and the person with whom I presume to argue the difference of opinion, confestly very superiour in all advantages both of nature and acquisition, beyond all hopes of comparison; considerations, either of them able to deterr a much confidenter man then my self. But friendship, which always findes or makes men equall, hath long since licenc't me from the latter, and hardened me to impart my conceptions (how low so ever) as freely to you, as I could doe to any inferiour wit of mine own level. Answerable to them is this discourse, weak I confess, disjoynted, and without nerves; and yet I doubt not but it may be so evictuated by truth, and the goodness of my cause, that I shall not be ashamed to have encountered a Goliah with a sling. A straw kept in a right line, might batter a tower ; from which right line of truth and reason, I may safely protest I have not so much as once voluntary swarved in this treatise, through any partaking passion, or forlaid designe. And truly, the strongest opposition that I can possibly make to your opinions, will derogate no more from your unquestionable excellency of judgment, then it would conclude either of us ill-sighted, should you affirm such a garment to be red, and I that it were green, the object being a changeable taffaty, and we seated in contrary lights, or looking through mediums diversly tincted. A like effect upon the soul to these upon the sense, hath diversity of education, and discrepance of those

principles wherewith men meet the first imbued, and whereon all our after reasonings are founded."

Much of the conduct of the earl of Bristol, as a political character, may be gathered from the private letters of lord Clarendon, printed in the second volume of Evelyn's Memoirs.]

RICHARD SACKVILLE,

FIFTH EARL OF DORSET,

[THE eldest son of Edward, earl of Dorset, succeeded to the title and honours of his father, in May 1652; and on the meeting of the house of lords in 1660 (after being laid aside by Cromwell) was admitted with other noble peers, who having succeeded to their paternal honours had never sate in the upper house of parliament. He took a considerable share in the restoration of monarchy and episcopacy, and concurred with general Monk in procuring peace for this distracted nation. He was chairman of the committee for considering the privileges of peers; for the king's reception; for settling the militia; and for several others. He held no public situation however in the court of Charles the second; though he was constituted joint lord lieutenant of Middlesex and Westminster, and was put into commission with other lords for the trials of the regicides of Charles the first. He had to wife Frances, daughter of Lionel first earl of Middlesex, and deceased August 27. 1677; being esteemed in his private capacity for an indulgent husband, a tender father, and a generous friend. 2

The following elegiac tribute by this nobleman, was not noticed by lord Orford, though he had cited the

2 Collins's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 357, 4th edit.