PAGE 296 . 296 Certain observations upon a libel, entitled, “A Declaration of the true Causes of the great Troubles presupposed to be intended against A true report of the detestable treason, intended by Dr. Roderigo Lopez, a physician attend- ing upon the person of the queen's Majesty The proceedings of the earl of Essex A declaration of the practices and treasons at- tempted and committed by Robert earl of Es- sex, and his complices, against her Majesty and her kingdoms; and of the proceedings as well at the arraignment of the said late earl and his adherents, as after, together with the very confessions, and other parts of the evi- The writer's prayer The characters of a believing christian, in para- .301 302 . 302 303 303 304 . 304 . 306 .308 doxes, and seeming contradictions 341 An advertisement touching the controversies of Certain considerations touching the better paci- Circumstances in the government of bishops scription Touching a preaching ministry. Touching the abuse of excommunication The translation of certain psalms into English 310 331 334 334 A speech in parliament, 39 of Elizabeth, upon A proclamation drawn for his Majesty's first com- A draught of a proclamation touching his Majes- 337 A speech made by Sir Francis Bacon, knight, chosen by the commons to present a petition 340 341 341 343 351 353 355 357 358 358 359 WORKS POLITICAL. 364 Of the state of Europe The apology of Sir Francis Bacon, in certain A brief discourse of the happy union of the king- Certain articles or considerations touching the PAGE 376 398 408 A speech in the house of commons, concerning the article of the general naturalization of the A speech in the lower house of parliament, by occasion of a motion concerning the union of Considerations touching the plantation in Ire- A report in the house of commons, of a speech delivered by the earl of Salisbury; and another speech delivered by the earl of Northampton, at a conference concerning the petition of the merchants upon the Spanish grievances 474 . 360 A certificate to his Majesty touching the projects of Sir Stephen Proctor relating to the penal 362 A speech used to the king by his Majesty's so- licitor, being chosen by the commons, as their mouth and messenger, for the presenting to his Majesty the instrument or writing of their 470 The king's prerogative in matter of money 646 The king's prerogative in matters of trade and The king's prerogative in the persons of his # An explanation what manner of persons those should be, that are to execute the power or ordinance of the king's prerogative The office of constables, original and use of courts leet, sheriff's turn, &c. with the answers to the questions propounded by Sir "LORD BACON was the greatest genius that England, or perhaps any other country, has ever produced." So says POPE, after he had penned that bitter couplet upon Bacon, which has passed into a proverb; and the saying is related by Spence. This is the judgment expressed by a favourite poet, concerning an English writer of the seventeenth century, the formation of which pre-supposes the most exalted qualifications. To be entitled to assert such an opinion absolutely, would require almost supernatural endowments, and a universal acquaintance with the famous characters of all countries. It would involve the collation of eras and cycles; it would be, to raise the dead and scrutinize the living—to examine the long muster-roll of the sons of genius, and make a doomsday book of it-to weigh libraries and ransack universities-to glance at all, and single out one, and say, that "this man was the greatest of men-the greatest not of a city, but of the world-not of one age, but of all time." But although it may not be possible to come to any such absolute conclusion; and to assert it roundly would be as extravagant as gravely to refute it would be ridiculous; and even if it were feasible we have no security for its justice;-the dictum is nevertheless a very remarkable one; and, construed in the probable sense in which it was evidently spoken, it is a most interesting one. It is the deliberate opinion of a man, who united great genius with consummate judgment, and had won his way to the summit of reputation as a poet; of one who was a vigorous thinker, acute observer, accomplished scholar, and, in short, the foremost man in the most brilliant circle of our Augustan age. He was, also, totally devoid of enthusiasm; and his associations were all of the nil admirari caste : with Swift, the bitterest of our satirists, Bolingbroke, the most satiated of libertines and the most disappointed of politicians, Arbuthnot, one of the strongest-minded men of his time,-and many others of contemporary repute; in fact, all his chosen friends were, like himself, professed wits and nothing more-men who could not have done what they did, or been what they were, the ablest critics of life and manners in the language, without throwing away every thing that savoured of strong feeling, zealous affections, or passionate admiration. He was, moreover, not only versed in ancient learning, but well acquainted with modern speculations and discoveries. Locke is always mentioned with the respect of a disciple; he prepared an epitaph for Newton, which speaks for itself; and, when we recollect that the controversy between the ancients and moderns was then raging, it must not merely be admitted that he was entitled to pronounce the opinion which we have quoted, but it may be inferred that the opinion which he gave was that of his age. b |