it is his intention to publish, at distant intervals, the Lives of some of the most eminent Yorkshiremen-for which he possesses ample materials.

Though it has been the endeavour of the Compiler of this Life to make it as perfect as possible, he will esteem it a favour (through the medium of his Publisher) to be furnished with, or directed to, further information respecting the illustrious Patriot who is the subject of the present Work.

August 24th, 1832.

ANDREW MARVELL.

It is the privilege of posterity to adjust the characters of illustrious persons:-ANDREW MARVELL has therefore become a celebrated name, and is now known as one of the most incorruptible patriots that England, or any other country, ever produced. The "British Aristides" has been long the great exemplar of public and private integrity. A character so exalted and pure astonished a corrupt age, and overawed even majesty itself. His manners were Roman: he lived on the turnip of Curtius, and would have bled at Philippi.

As a Poet, too, Marvell possesses considerable merit, and as a Satirist he was one of the keenest in the luxuriant age of Charles II. It is not matter of surprise, when the literary character of MILTON was so long in struggling into public admiration, that the poetical fame of Marvell should experience a similar fate.* If the humiliating and sturdy prejudices of Dr. JOHNSON were so far overcome, or overawed, as charitably to admit the biography of Milton among his "Lives of the Poets," he could hardly be expected to chronicle the stern patrio

The following proof of political prejudice, earlier than Johnson's day, may not be known:-"JOHN MILTON was one whose natural parts might deservedly give him a place amongst the principal of our English Poets, having written two heroic poems and a tragedy, viz:-Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes; but his fame is gone out like a candle in a snuff, and his memory will always stink, which might have ever lived in honourable repute, had he not been a notorious traitor, and most impiously and villanously belied that blessed martyr, King Charles I.”—Lives of the most famous English Poets, &c. 1687, by Wm. Winstanley.

B

tism, or fugitive poetry, of Marvell; nor, indeed, would it have been desirable that Johnson should have shown him such a distinction, if the price of it had been injustice proportionate to that lavished on Marvell's illustrious friend and coadjutor in office.

MARVELL was born at Kingston-upon-Hull, on the 15th of November, 1620; and discovering a genius for letters, was sent, at the early age of fifteen, with an exhibition belonging to his native place, to Trinity College, Cambridge. He had not been long, however, before (like Chillingworth) he was enticed from his studies by the JESUITS, who were then seeking converts with industrious proselytism among the young men of distinguished abilities-especially in the Universities; and they succeeded in inveigling Marvell from college to London, where his father followed and quickly restored him to the University. It appears that, like every mind of ardent and undisciplined feeling, he went through the usual course of rapidly succeeding extremes and inconsistent opinions. So powerful and vigorous an intellect, however, soon subsided into rational and wise views of the principles of human conduct, showing that, in proportion to the difficulty of discovering truth, is the usual estimation of its value. On the 13th of April, as appears from his own hand-writing, Marvell was again received at Trinity College, and, during the two following years, it seems that he pursued his studies with unremitting application, when his father's lamentable death gave a new turn to his mind.*

The Rev. ANDREW MARVELL, A.M. father of the patriot, was born at Mildred, in Cambridgeshire, in 1586. He was a Student of Emanuel College in that University, where he took his degree of Master of Arts, in 1608. Afterwards he was elected Master of the Grammar School at Hull, and in 1624, Lecturer of Trinity Church in that town. "He was a most excellent preacher," says FULLER, "who, like a good husband, never broached what

In the year 1640, a melancholy accident put an end to this good man's life, the particulars of which are thus related:"On that shore of the Humber opposite Kingston, lived a lady whose virtue and good sense recommended her to the esteem of Mr. Marvell, as his piety and understanding caused her to take particular notice of him. From this mutual approbation arose an intimate acquaintance, which was soon improved into a strict friendship. This lady had an only daughter, whose duty, devotion, and exemplary behaviour, had endeared her to all who knew her, and rendered her the darling of her mother, whose fondness for her arose to such a height that she could scarcely bear her temporary absence. Mr. Marvell, desiring to perpetuate the friendship between the families, requested the lady to allow her daughter to come over to Kingston, to stand godmother to a child of his; to which, out of her great regard to him, she consented, though depriving herself of her daughter's company for a longer space of time than she would have agreed to on any other consideration. The young lady went over to Kingston accordingly, and the ceremony was performed. The next day, when she came down to the river side, in order to return home, it being extremely rough, so as to render the passage dangerous, the watermen earnestly dissuaded her from any attempt to cross the river that day. But she, who had never wilfully given her mother a moment's uneasi

he had new-brewed, but preached what he had studied some competent time before insomuch that he was wont to say that he would cross the common proverb, which called 'Saturday the working day, and Monday the holiday of Preachers.' His excellent comment on St. Peter," Fuller continues, "was then daily desired and expected, if the envy and covetousness of private persons, for their own use, deprive not the public of the benefit thereof." -Fuller's Worthies, p. 159.

Mr. Marvell greatly distinguished himself during the plague in 1637, by a fearless performance of his clerical duties, amid all the grim horrors of that devastating period; and his Funeral Sermons are said to have been most eloquent specimens of pathetic oratory.

ness, and knowing how miserable she would be, insisted on going, notwithstanding all that could be urged by the watermen, or by Mr. Marvell, who earnestly entreated her to return to his house, and wait for better weather. Finding her resolutely bent to venture her life rather than disappoint a fond parent, he told her, as she had brought herself into that perilous situation on his account, he thought himself obliged, both in honour and conscience, to share the danger with her; and having, with difficulty, persuaded some watermen to attempt the passage, they got into the boat. Just as they put off, Mr. Marvell threw his gold-headed cane on shore, to some of his friends, who attended at the water-side, telling them, that as he could not suffer the young lady to go alone, and as he apprehended the consequence might be fatal, if he perished, he desired them to give that cane to his son, and bid him remember his father. Thus armed with innocence, and his fair charge with filial duty, they set forward to meet their inevitable fate. The boat was upset, and they were both lost."

Thus perished Mr. Marvell, in the 54th year of his age, a man eminent for virtue and learning, universally lamented by his friends, and the people of Hull in general. The son gives this character of his father, in “The Rehearsal Transprosed:”—“ He died before the war broke out, having lived with some reputation both for piety and learning; and was, moreover, a conformist to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, though I confess none of the most over-running, or eager in them."

ECHARD, in his history, styles Mr. Marvell "the facetious Calvinistical Minister of Hull." The extreme grief in which this melancholy event plunged the young lady's mother may be conceived: