hement disposition, partly from art and diffimulation, to establish an unlimited monarchy. Though not infenfible to generofity, he was hardened against compaffion, and feemed equally oftentatious and ambitious of eclat in his clemency and his severity. The maxims of his adminiftration were fevere; but might have been useful, had they been folely employed in preferving order in an established government: they were ill calculated for foftening the rigours which under the moft gentle management are infeparable from conquest. His attempt against England was the laft enterprize of the kind, which, during the course of seven hundred years, has fully fucceeded in Europe; and the greatnefs of his genius broke through thofe limits, which first the feudal inftitutions, then the refined policy of princes, have fixed on the feveral states

of

of Chriftendom. Though he rendered himself infinitely odious to his English fubjects, he tranfmitted his power to his pofterity, and the throne is still filled by his defcendants; a proof that the foundation which he laid was firm and folid, and that amongst all his violences, while he feemed only to gratify the prefent paffion, he had still an eye towards futurity. Died September 9, 1087, aged 63 *. HUME.

ANOTHER CHARACTER OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

FROM the tranfactions of William's reign, he appears to have been a prince of great courage, capacity and ambition; politic, cruel, vindictive, and rapacious; ftern and haughty in his de

Smollett fays, 61.

portment,

portment, referved and jealous in his difpofition. He was fond of glory, and, though parfimonious in his household, delighted much in oftentation. Though fudden and impetuous in his enterprizes, he was cool, deliberate, and indefatigable, in times of danger and difficulty. His afpect was nobly fevere and imperious, his stature tall and portly; his constitution robust, and the compofition of his bones and muscles ftrong; there was hardly a man of that age, who could bend his bow, or handle his arms.

SMOLLETT.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

WE obferve very little variation in the character which the hiftorians have given of this prince, except what arises from

from difference of expreffion; and the fame obfervation may extend to many other characters here felected: for in thefe dark ages, when hiftorians were fcarce, facts were but indifferently preferved. As therefore the accounts handed down to pofterity were few, and fucceeding writers must collect from the fame fource; they could only delineate features from the fcanty materials given, according to their conception of the facts, and by the powers of their feveral abilities: it is in vain to expect any particular tints, other than fuch as are derived from the colouring of imagination.

WILLIAM was duke of Normandy, a province in France. His pretenfions to the crown of England were grounded on a will Edward the Confeffor was said to have made in his favour. In fupport of this claim, he entered the king

dom

dom with a powerful army; and defeated the English in a hard-fought battle, which continued, as hiftory informs us, from morning till fun-fet, and which decided the fate of a mighty kingdom. William had three horfes killed under him, and there fell fifteen thousand on the fide of the NORMANS, with a much greater lofs on that of the vanquished, besides the death of the king (Harold) and his two brothers: and thus WILLIAM obtained the crown of England, with the name of Conqueror.

Why the GIVER of life fhould endow his frail mortals with fuch cruel propenfities we know not; but, fince he is a God of MERCIES, we are to fuppofe for fome ufeful purpose, to us at prefent unknown. Yet HUMANITY fhudders at the recital of thirty thousand fellowcreatures facrificed in one day at the fhrine of ambition.-But when we take