destruction; and as to its value-let the Englishman consider what Gibraltar is. Such at that time was considered Tangier. But "no money, no Tangier!" was the resolve of this Royal prodigal.

Yet to do him justice, the sensible observations of Sir William Temple, in 1679, in his speech before the Parliament, may have had some weight.

"As to Tangier," he observed, "I do agree with that worthy Member that spoke before (though many are of a different opinion), that it is not of any great use to us upon the account of any advantage we shall make by it: but, however, I think it very well worth our keeping, because of the disadvantages we should receive by it, if it should fall into the hands either of the Turk or Spaniard, but especially of the French, who will not only be enabled to fetter us as to our trade in the Levant, but to curb also all other nations whatsoever; and be such an addition to the too great power he hath acquired, both by sea and land, already, that I am of opinion we ought to be very cautious how we weaken the security we now have that it shall not fall into his hands. But if the MOLE and the TOWN could be BLOWN INTO AIR, or otherwise reduced to its first chaos, I think, considering the charge it will cost in keeping, England would not be much the worse for it."*

* There is a singular and interesting passage in Sir William's

We know not what was the result of Ken's inquiries into the state of slavery in Africa; but we know that, in the same ship in which he returned to England, was embarked a greater monster than Africa"leonum arida utrix "-ever produced. Among the motley band of Papal soldiers that manned that distant garrison, was embarked for

"Memoirs," relating to the then possible succession of the Prince of Orange to the throne of these Kingdoms, which I am tempted to transcribe. The words of an old prophecy, sent anonymously to Sir William at Nimeguen in 1679, seem to point to this great and fortunate event. Sir William's observations, after quoting the words of the prophecy, are these:"The scope of the whole discourse was to prove the Prince of Orange's being designed for the CROWN OF ENGLAND, and how much glory and felicity should attend that age and reign. I could but mention it, because I thought the interpretation ingeniously found out and applied, having otherwise very little regard for such a kind of predictions, that are so apt to amuse the world; and though the present state of the Royal family" (five years before the death of Charles the Second) "leave not this without APPEARANCE OF ARRIVING some time or other, yet it is at too great a distance for my eyes, which, by the course of nature, must be closed long before such an event is likely to succeed."-Sir William Temple.

The Bill of Rights, and the great accessions to the principles of defined political justice and freedom, seem to have verified the line

"Et changera en or le siècle d'airain.”

This amiable and accomplished man (Sir William Temple) died twelve years after this great national event, 1700, aged 72; his heart, it is well known, being deposited, according to his will, in a silver box, and buried under the sun-dial in the garden. An affecting circumstance, but far from being in accordance with our Christian feelings.

England that Kirk, who showed in the town of Taunton where and how well he had learned his trade of deceit, and lust, and murder-and he now accompanied home to the shores of Albion the humble, humane, and apostolic Ken. Such are the fortuitous admixtures of the world.

On Ken's return to Winchester, he found his old beloved brother-in-law, Piscator, sunk to the peace of death, in the very year he was absent, 1683. The expedition continued out six months, departing September 1683. Poor old Morley, full of years and honours, as quietly passed away the next year, closing his eyes on the vicissitudes of life at eighty-seven.

Ken was in some degree now alone at Winchester. Young Walton resided at Salisbury, Chaplain to Bishop Ward. But the scene is about to be changed. The death of his old Patron, Morley, made way, as we have related, for Ken's ascending, by Charles's command, the diocesan throne of Wells. When many applications were made, and the services of the Dean, Canon of Windsor, Vicar of Twickenham, &c. were put forth, the King's peremptory orders were-"Odds fish! who shall have Bath and Wells, but the little fellow who would not give 'POOR NELLY' a lodging?"

Of this unexpected elevation, in the dedication of his Hymns to Hooper, Ken thus speaks:

"Among the herdsmen I, a common swain,

Liv'd, pleas'd with my low cottage on the plain;
Till up, like Amos, on a sudden caught,

I to the pastoral chair was trembling brought."

Thus, then, Thomas Ken, Fellow of Winchester College, and Prebendary of the Cathedral, by the command of the King alone—that King whom he thought, by his uncompromising virtue, he had implacably offended - was raised to the episcopal

throne of Bath and Wells. Before we attend him in his elevation there, we must turn our eyes on an awful and unexpected scene, the chamber of death in a voluptuous palace; for, even before Ken took possession of his temporalities - in the midst of his careless and libertine career, his imperial Patron, leaving his Castle of Indolence at Winchester unfinished, was summoned to the JUDGMENT-SEAT of the KING OF KINGS.

CHAPTER VI.

KEN BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS- DEATH OF CHARLES

"The glories of our birth and state

Are shadows, not substantial things;

There is no armour against fate

DEATH lays his icy hand on KINGS." SHIRLEY.

We have shown in the last chapter that "old Morley" died at the age of eighty-seven, in his palace at Winchester-poor old Izaak, with whoni he had lived so long and so cordially, dying the year before at the age of ninety- and as Mew, Bishop of Bath and Wells, succeeded Morley, Ken was nominated, as we have seen, to Bath and Wells by Charles the Second, on his return from the expedition to Tangier, but not put into possession of his temporalities till the succession of James the Second. The following is Burnet's account of this succession:

"Ken succeeded him (Mew) in Bath and Wells; a man of an ascetic course of life, and yet of a very lively temper, but too hot and sudden.

"He had a very edifying way of preaching, but it was more apt to move the passions than instruct; so that his sermons were rather beautiful than solid; yet his way in them was very taking.