not merely his learning in the law, but the boldest and most inflexible integrity. At the Restoration he was returned to Parliament, without any solicitation on his part, for his native county; and when the courts of law came to be settled, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron. Eleven years he presided in the Court of Exchequer; and the only complaint for which he ever gave occasion was, that he did not determine causes quick enough; but the great care he used had this good effect, that causes tried before him were seldom tried again.

In the year 1671, he was promoted to be Lord Chief Justice of England, and discharged the duties of his high office for four years and a half; a period short indeed for the advantage of his country, but long enough to enable him to establish his character as one of the ablest and most upright magistrates that ever presided in the British courts of law. Suddenly, however, an inflammatory attack, which led the way to a most painful asthma, destroyed at once his hitherto sound constitution. After much intreaty with the King, who was most unwilling to lose so valuable a servant, he was permitted to resign his office in the month of February 1675. He lived only till the Christmas-day following, but all the while in so ill a state of health, that there were no hopes of his recovery; still he continued constant in the practice both of his studies and devotions. As the winter came on, he saw with great joy his deliverance approaching; for besides his being weary of the world, and longing for the blessedness of another state, his pains increased so on him, that no patience inferior to his could have borne them; yet he expressed to the last such submission to the will of God, and so equal a temper under them, that it was visible to all what mighty advantages he derived from religious consolation. He continued to enjoy the free use of his reason and senses till the last moment, which he had often and earnestly prayed for during his sickness; and when his voice was so weak that it could not be heard, his attendants could perceive, by the motion of

his hands and eyes, that he was still aspiring after that blessed state of which he was so soon to be possessed.

Thus lived and died Sir Matthew Hale, the renowned Lord Chief Justice of England; of whom it might truly be said, though his modesty forbade to engrave it on his tombstone, "that he was one of the brightest patterns any age has afforded, whether in his private deportment as a Cnristian, or in his public employment at the bar or on the bench.”

J. M. T.

It will perhaps enable us to form a more exact notion of this pious Christian's practice, if we subjoin a short extract from his journal, containing the Rules by which he endeavoured to regulate his daily life.

Morning.

1. To lift up my heart to God in thankfulness for renewing my life.

2. To renew my covenant with God in Christ.

3. Adoration and prayer.

4. Setting a watch over my own infirmities and passions; over the snares laid in our way.

Day Employment.

1. There must be employment of two kinds: our ordinary calling-to serve God in it, and perform it with faithfulness, diligence, and cheerfulness.

2. Our spiritual employments, mingling somewhat of God's immediate service in the business of every day. In refreshments, to observe great moderation. In recreations, to remember that they are not our business; to take care they are suitable. To engage in no games which lead to covetousness or passion.

If alone, beware of wandering, vain, and lustful thoughts; fly from thyself rather than entertain these.

Let thy solitary thoughts be profitable; view the evidences of thy salvation, the state of thy soul, the coming of Christ, thine own mortality: it will make thee humble and watchful.

In company, do good to them. Use God's name reverently. Beware of leaving an ill impression of

evil example. ing than thou.

Receive good from them if more know

Evening.

Cast up the accounts of the day. Beg pardon for every thing amiss. Gather resolutions of more vigilance. Bless the mercy and grace of God which have supported and preserved thee.

THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.

It was in the beginning of the year 1704, that the Duke of Marlborough obtained permission from the States General to lead the combined army, which was under his command, into the heart of Germany. He had, during the whole of the preceding campaign, been engaged in ineffectual warfare on the frontiers of the Netherlands, while the united forces of France and Bavaria threatened the Emperor of Germany even in his capital. The States General gave a very unwilling consent, as they were afraid they should leave themselves exposed to the inroads of the French; but the result shows that Marlborough's schemes were conceived with as much prudence, as they were executed with courage and alacrity. The march of his army, from the extremity of Flanders to the banks of the Danube, is almost unequalled in military history for its rapidity, secresy, and success. He arrived in time to save Vienna from insult, if not from capture; and manoeuvred so as to place the Elector of Bavaria entirely on the defensive. But he was not long allowed to maintain this superiority uncontested; the French commander, Marshal Tallard, hastened from the Rhine with all the forces he could bring together; and Marlborough quitting for the present his designs against the Bavarian territory, recrossed the Danube, effected a junction with the Imperial forces under the command of the celebrated Prince Eugene, and avowed his determination to give the enemy battle wherever he should meet him.

On the morning of the 12th of August, the French were descried from the outposts, marking out the ground for a camp on the little river Nebel, between the villages of Blenheim and Lutzingen. This discovery fulfilled the warmest wishes of the enterprizing commanders of the allied forces. Aware that the confusion which is almost inseparable from a change of camps presents the most favourable opportunity for attack, they determined to give battle before the enemy could have time to strengthen himself in his new position. In this conjuncture some officers, who were well acquainted with the superiority of the hostile forces in point of numbers and the strength of their position, remonstrated with Marlborough on the rashness of his purpose. Having listened to them with calmness and attention, he replied, "I know the danger-yet a battle is absolutely necessary; and I rely on the bravery and discipline of the troops, which will make amends for all our disadvantages." In the evening orders were issued for a general engagement, and received by the army with an alacrity that justified his confidence.

At this crisis Marlborough felt a deep and awful sense of his own responsibility, as well as of the impending peril. He devoted part of the night to prayer, and towards morning received the sacrament from the hands of his chaplain, Mr. Hare, with marks of the warmest devotion. He then took a short repose, and employed the remaining interval in concerting with Eugene the various arrangements for a battle, which appeared to involve the fate of the Christian world.

The scene of this great conflict was a valley on the northern, or left bank of the Danube, through which flows a little river, or rather rivulet, the Nebel. This valley is thickly studded with villages and dwellings; the small and insignificant town of Blenheim, which was destined to give its name to this renowned victory, stands just at the point where the Nebel (even there not above twelve feet broad) flows into the Danube. On the western bank of this rivulet was the position

of the French army; its extreme right resting on and protected by the Danube; its front strengthened throughout by the marshy, broken, and difficult ground, which extended to some distance from both banks of the rivulet; the left occupied the village of Lutzingen, and the woody eminences which overhang it. Marshal Tallard commanded, assisted by Marsin and the Elector of Bavaria; their whole force amounted to about 56,000. Marlborough had under his command about 52,000; but this disparity did not deter him from the bold design of dislodging the enemy from his chosen position.

At two o'clock in the morning of the memorable 13th of August, the allies broke up their camp, leaving the tents standing; and at three the troops began to advance in eight columns. The right wing was commanded by Eugene, the left by Marlborough; and the aggregate force amounted, as we have stated above, to 52,000 men, with 52 pieces of artillery, and a train of pontoons. The two commanders, escorted by forty squadrons, rode forward to observe the situation of the enemy; about six they descried his advanced posts, who fell back on their approach; and at seven they reached some high ground, whence they had a full view of the hostile camp. The morning being hitherto partially hazy, Tallard had received no intimation of their approach, but at first persuaded himself that the guard, which attended Marlborough and Eugene, was merely a body of cavalry pushed forward to conceal a retreat. As the fog cleared away, the heads of the columns were seen advancing over the distant hills, and he then discovered his mistake, and set himself to repair it. He lost no time in strengthening the most assailable parts of his line, placed his artillery where it might be most effectual, and stationed a strong body of his best cavalry, with orders to charge the allies whenever a certain number should have crossed the stream.

In the meantime Marlborough continued his advance, and at eight a heavy cannonade was opened on his columns from every part of the enemy's right