"likewife that he would take care of me and of " mine. "I presented the King, Queen, Duke of York, "and Duke of Cambridge, with two dozen of amber fkins, and fix dozen of gloves. I like"wise presented my Lord Arlington with amber "skins and chocolate, and a great picture, a copy "of Titian, to the value of one hundred pounds; " and I made presents to Sir William Coventry " and several other persons then in office. I spent Сс my time in foliciting and petitioning my Lord "Southampton for the prefent dispatch of my ac"counts, which did pass the Secretary, the Lord Arlington; and within two months I got a privy feal for my money, without either fee or present which I could fasten on my Lord. Now "I thought myself happy, and feared nothing less "than further trouble. God, that only knows "what is to come, fo difpofed my fortune, that lofing that good man and friend Lord South"ampton, my money (which was 5600l. was "not paid me until December 1669, notwithstanding I had exchequer tallies for it above "two years before. This was above two thousand pounds lofs to me. Befides, these Commiffion"ers, by the inftigation of one of their Fellow"Commiffioners (my Lord Shaftesbury, the worst " of men), perfuaded them that I should pay for the Embaffy Plate, for which I paid two thou " "fand "fand pounds, and fo maliciously did he opprefs me, as if he hoped in me to destroy that whole fpark of honesty and innocence which he hates." * "I bought ground in St. Mary's Chapel in "Ware Church of the Bishop of London; and "there I made a vault for my husband's body, " in which I had him laid by most of the same "perfons who had laid him before in my father's " vault in Hertford Church, where he was depo"fited until I could make this vault and monu ment, which coft me two hundred pounds; and "where, if it pleases God, I intend to lie my" felf." Thefe Memoirs contain several very curious particulars relative to the Civil Wars, the fate of the exiled Cavaliers, Lord Clarendon, &c. They are exquifitely entertaining, and, differing from moft of the celebrated French Memoirs, evince most clearly, that the trifling and foppish resource of intrigue is not neceffary to render a narrative interesting. The French Memoirs, indeed, abound with ટ • “My husband," continues Lady Fanfhawe, " had the "good fortune to be first chofen, and the first returned Mem"ber of the Commons' Houfe of Parliament, after the King "came home; and this coft him no more than a letter of thanks, "a brace of bucks, and twenty broad pieces of gold, to purchafe wine for the Voters."` with hiftories of this kind; and perhaps one of the most productive caufes of the ill-behaviour of our women in high life may be attributed to the early and the constant reading of those productions, where adultery and intrigue are universally stiled gallantry, and are never treated as crimes. It is much to be wished, that one of the descendants of the antient and illuftrious family of Sir Richard Fanfhawe, who poffeffes the most perfect copy of these Memoirs, would cause them to be printed, for the amusement and inftruction of mankind. By the kindness of Mr. FANSHAWE, of Bedford-Row, the Compiler is enabled to present the Public with an ENGRAVING of LADY FANSHAWE, from a Portrait of that excellent woman in his poffeffion. SIR MATTHEW HALE, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE COURT OF KING'S BENCH. EVERY thing relating to this great and good man must be interefting to his countrymen. The following account of his method of study is by the kindness of BENNET LANGTON, Efq. the friend of the late excellent Dr. Johnson, permitted to decorate this Collection. It is copied from a MS. in |