to conceive," "was the only child of Robert Hale,† Esq. Barrister, who threw up his practice at the bar,

Angel the prophecy of man's redemption, follows it with that solemn and beautiful admonition addressed in the poem to our first parent, but intended as an address to his posterity through all generations:

• This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum
Of wisdom: hope no higher, though all the stars
Thou knew'st by name, and all th' ethereal powers,
All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works,
Or works of God in heaven, air, earth, or sea;
And all the riches of this world enjoy'd'st,
And all the rule, one empire. Only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable: add faith;
Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love,
By name to come call'd Charity,' the soul
Of all the rest. Then wilt thou not be loth
To leave this paradise, but shalt possess
A paradise within thee, happier far.'

“Thus you find all that is great or wise or splendid or illustrious among created beings, all the minds gifted beyond ordinary nature, if not inspired by it's universal Author for the advancement and dignity of the world, though divided by distant ages and by clashing opinions, yet joining as it were in one sublime chorus to celebrate the truths of Christianity, and laying. upon it's holy altars the never-fading offerings of their immortal wisdom."

*East's Reports, V. 17.

The father of Robert Hale was an eminent clothier at Wotton Under Edge, where he and his ancestors had lived for many descents, and had given to the poor several parcels of land enjoyed by them to this day. His wife, the mother of Matthew Hale, was a Poyntz of Alderly, descended from the noble family of Poyntz at Acton. On his death, out of his small estate of 100l. per ann. he gave one fifth to the poor of Wotton, which his son confirmed and increased, with this regulation, that it should be distributed among such poor housekeepers as did not receive the alms of the parish:' for to give it to such as did, was only to

because he could not regard what is called giving colour in pleadings,' and some other chicanes common to the profession, as reconcilable to the scrupulous veracity and justice required in a Christian;

*

save so much money to the rich, who were bound to provide for them.'

* In Mr. Edgeworth's admirable work, on Professional Education,' occur the following judicious remarks:

"Whether he should defend a cause which he knows to be unjust, or a client whom he believes to be guilty, is a question which every man should consider and determine for himself before he goes to the bar. He cannot take a better time to settle it, than while he is attending courts and trials, where he will continually see examples, that must show him the necessity of forming rules for his own conduct. There is a certain sort of morality by courtesy, which bodies of men establish for the mutual ease and convenience of their conscience and their interest; and there is a jocular sort of convivial wit, which is current among professional latitudinarians, and which sometimes imposes upon those who have really some conscience. By hearing certain breaches of common honesty and certain arts of deception spoken of every day without any censure, and even in a stile of jovial triumph, young men insensibly confound their notions, and deaden their sense of right and wrong. Instead of judging themselves by the universal standard of morality, they are satisfied if they do nothing that is counted dishonourable by the body corporate, into which they have entered.

"In the heyday of youthful spirits, in the flow of convivial conversation, in the bustle and triumph of professional business and success a man might be deaf to the small still voice of conscience; but it speaks in thunder in retirement, and in the declining years of life. It is said, that a celebrated Barrister, after he had retired from the bar, was observed to grow extremely melancholy; and one day, when a friend noticed the dejection of his countenance, and inquired what he was thinking of?' he replied, "I am thinking how many honest families I have sacrificed to Nisi Prius victories."

"To prevent the irremediable misery of such a reflexion, a man of feeling and sense, who intends to practise at the bar,

retired into the country, and lived upon the income of a small estate at Alderly in Gloucestershire, where his son Matthew was born November 1, 1609. Both parents dying while he was a child, the care of his education devolved upon his maternal uncle Poyntz, who consigned him to the care of his next kinsman, Antony Kingscot, Esq. By him he was placed under the tuition of Mr. Staunton, the puritanical vicar of Wotton Under Edge, till the year 1626, when he was sent to Magdalen Hall, Oxford. Here, he became a great proficient in learning; and continued for some time very assiduous at his studies. But some strolling players arriving at the university, his manners were corrupted by frequenting theatrical amusements; and he fell into many levities, which for a time turned him aside from his literary pursuits.* He now began to learn manly exercises; and being robust and active, succeeded so well in fencing and the management of military weapons, that he was induced to accompany Mr. Sedgwick his tutor,

will begin by determining what he ought and what he ought not to do in his professional character: he will not leave the decision of his conduct to chance, to the cry of a party, or the half-inebriated intellects of a set of jovial companions. He will observe, by what rules the best of his profession have governed themselves; he will consider, on what their rules are founded; he will examine what is most for the interest of society, as well as for the honour of individuals; and by this he will be guided, free from vain scruples or profligate temerity."

*This, however, is denied by Mr. Stephens, who published his Contemplations:' and with regard to his love of the theatre, it was not long before he found it relaxed his habits of seriousness, disconcerted his plans of study, and above all (as he apprehended) hazarded the loosening, if not the eradicating, of his religious principles: upon which he made a solemn vow, during his whole life most strictly observed, never to see a play more.'

another noted puritan,* who was appointed chaplain to Lord Vere (then serving in the Low Countries, under the Prince of Orange) with the intention of offering himself to that nobleman as a volunteer. But from this purpose he was diverted by a law-suit commenced against him, for part of his paternal inheritance, by Sir William Whitmore; in consequence of which having consulted Serjeant Glanville † upon the case, he was persuaded by that gentleman, who had observed his extraordinary capacity, to apply himself to the law as a profession. Hale took his advice, and entered himself a member of Lincoln's Inn, in 1629.

From this time, he renounced his disorderly com

* See Wood's Ath. Oxon.' II. 138.

"Of this eminent lawyer (says Burnet) I shall mention one passage, which ought never to be forgotten: His father had a fair estate, which he intended to settle on his elder brother; but he being a vicious young man, and there appearing no hopes of his recovery, he settled it on him that was his second son. Upon his death his eldest son, finding that what he had before looked on as the threatenings of an angry father was now but too certain, became melancholy; and that by degrees wrought so great a change on him, that what his father could not prevail in while he lived, was now effected by the severity of his last will, so that it was now too late for him to change in hopes of any estate that was gone from him. But his brother, observing the reality of the change, resolved within himself what to do: so he called him with many of his friends together with a feast, and after other dishes had been served up to the dinner, he ordered one that was covered to be set before his brother, and desired him to uncover it; which he doing, the company was surprised to find it full of writings. So he told them that he was now to do, what he was sure his father would have done, if he had lived to see that happy change, which they now all saw in his brother: and, therefore, he freely restored to him the whole estate.""

pany, and with it every kind of dissipation; studying (it is said) for many years, in order to make up for the time which he had lost by idleness, at the rate of sixteen hours a day. He had, previously, been extremely expensive in his apparel: but this he now so wholly neglected, that he was even seized by a press-gang as a fit person to serve his Majesty!

His resolution to reform his life was confirmed by another extraordinary incident: having left town with a party of students on an excursion of pleasure, one of them drank so much wine, that he fell down before them to all appearance dead, and was only with great difficulty recovered. Upon this occasion Hale retired into another room, and fervently prayed to God, not only that his friend might be spared, but that he himself also might be forgiven for having countenanced such excess;' after which he made a solemn vow, that he would never again drink a toast to his dying day.' And he religiously kept his word.

While pursuing his studies, he not only punctually attended the Hall during the term, but also continued his regularity throughout the vacation. It was only by indefatigable application, indeed, that he could have acquired so vast a stock of knowledge. He left his bed early, was at no moment idle, scarcely ever conversed about the passing events of the day, or corresponded except upon necessary business or matter of literature, and spent very little time at his meals; never attending public feasts, and giving entertainments (in literal obedience to his Saviour's injunctions) only to the poor. He always rose from dinner with an appetite, and able to enter with an unclouded mind upon any business, however serious or abstruse.