rised by the parliament of Scotland, respecting BOOK IV. an UNION of the two kingdoms, "than which the 1702. king declared he was satisfied that nothing could more contribute to the present and future security and happiness of England and Scotland, and to which he now hoped there would be found a general disposition." To this step he was probably encouraged by the recent declaration of the earl of Nottingham, who, when the abjuration bill was before the house of lords, took occasion to say, "that though he had differed from the majority of the house in many particulars relating to it, yet he was such a friend to the design of the act, that, in order to the securing a protestant succession, he thought an union of the whole island very necessary, and would heartily join in any proper measures to effect it."On the Monday a commission was issued to give the royal assent to such bills as were ready; amongst which was the bill for attainting the pretended prince of Wales. Flattering hopes were still entertained or professed of a speedy and perfect recovery; but on Wednesday, March the 3d, the king, falling asleep on a couch in the gallery of the palace, on his awaking, was seized with a shivering fit, which, as usual, was followed by a paroxysm of fever; and these fits returning every day with increasing violence, on the sixth his case was es BOOK IV. teemed very dangerous. And the lords having 1702. expedited the abjuration bill, a second commis sion was issued to give the royal assent to this favourite measure of national security. But the king being no longer able to make perfect use of his hand, a stamp was provided to supply the defect. On the same day, Saturday (March 6th), the earl of Albemarle arrived from Holland, and, being immediately admitted to the king's presence, gave such an account of the posture of affairs on the continent as must have afforded him the highest satisfaction had he been capable of attending to any temporal concerns. But he received the intelligence without any visible emotion; and soon afterwards said, "Je tire vers ma fin." He was attended during the latter period of his illness by the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of Sarum. His reason and all his senses were entire to the last minute. Early on Sunday morning he desired the sacrament; after which, several of the lords of the council and other nobles attending were called in, to whom the king labored to speak with cheerfulness. When lord Auverquerque appeared, he raised his voice, and thanked him for his long and faithful services. He took an affectionate leave of the duke of Ormond and others, and delivered to the earl of Albemarle the keys of his escritoire. Breathing with the King, great difficulty, he asked his first physician, Dr. BOOK IV. Bidloo, "How long this could last?" to which 1702. he answered, "Perhaps an hour." But the king, offering his pulse, said, "I do not die yet!" After a little interval, he enquired for the earl of Portland; but before he came, his voice totally failed, though his lips were seen to move; and taking him by the hand, he carried it to his heart with much tenderness. Throughout his illness no symptoms of weakness appeared which might sully the tenor of his former life. His firm and steady mind raised him far above the ignoble terrors of those "who vainly fear inevitable things." The conflict between life and death Death of continued till about eight o'clock the ensuing morning, when the commendatory prayer was said for him; and, as it ended, the king, who had been supported all night in his bed, expired in the arms of one of his pages, March 8th, 1702, after a reign of thirteen years and a month, and in the fifty-second year of his age. On his left arm was found a ribband, to which was fastened a ring, enclosing a lock of the late queen Mary's hair-a proof of the tender regard he entertained for her memory. On being opened, in order to his embalment, the left lobe of the lungs was found inflamed to a degree of mortification; but the head and the heart were perfectly sound. BOOK IV. 1702. Character of King William. Thus lived and died WILLIAM III. king of Great Britain and stadtholder of Holland; a monarch on whose great actions and illustrious character history delights to dwell. In his person he was not above the middle size, pale, thin, and valetudinary. He had a Roman nose, bright and eagle eyes, a large front, and a countenance composed to gravity and authority. All his senses were critical and exquisite. His words came from him with caution and deliberation; and his manners, excepting to his intimate friends, were cold and reserved. He spoke Dutch, French, English, and German, equally well; and he understood Latin, Spanish, and Italian. His memory was exact and tenacious, and he was a profound observer of men and things. He perfectly understood, and possessed a most extensive influence over the political concerns and interests of Europe. Though far above vanity or flattery, he was pertinacious in his opinions; and, from a clear perception or persuasion of their rectitude, was too impatient of censure or control. He attained not to the praise of habitual generosity, from his frequent and apparently capricious deviations into the extremes of profusion and parsimony. His love of secrecy was perhaps too nearly allied to dissimulation and suspicion; and his fidelity in friendship to partiality and prejudice. Though resentful and irritable by nature, he harboured no very obnoxious malice, and disdained the meanness of revenge, BOOK IV. He believed firmly in the truth of religion, and 1702. entertained an high sense of its importance. But his tolerant spirit, and his indifference to the forms of church government, made him to the great body of the clergy. He appeared born for the purpose of opposing tyranny, persecution, and oppression: and for the space of thirty years it is not too much to affirm that he sustained the greatest and most truly glorious eharacter of any prince whose name is recorded in history. In his days, and by his means, the first firm and solid foundations were laid of all that is most valuable in civil society. Every vin- 1 dication of the natural and unalienable rights of mankind was, till he ascended the throne of Great Britain, penal and criminal. To him we owe the assertion and the final establishment of our constitutional privileges. To him the intellectual world is indebted for the full freedom of discussion, and the unrestrained avowal of their sentiments on subjects of the highest magnitude and import To sum up all, his character was distinguished by virtues rarely found amongst princesmoderation, integrity, simplicity, beneficence, magnanimity. Time, which has cast a veil over his imperfections, has added lustre to his many great and admirable qualities. His political views were in the highest degree laudable and upright |