Lady Temple, it may be presumed, did not criticise her husband's poetry very fastidiously; but a piece of prose which he probably composed at this time must have been still more acceptable to his wife, who held in just abhorrence a man without religion. This is, "A family prayer, made in the fanatic times, when our servants were of so many different sects; and composed with the design that all might join in it, and so as to contain what was necessary for any to know, and to do."* In this prayer, although intended to be comprehensive, there is no evasion of the essential doctrines of Christianity; the atonement by the Son of God is put forward as the ground of hope, and His holy Spirit is invoked for assistance.

But the domestic joys of Temple and his wife were greatly clouded by the loss of five children successively, and this misfortune perhaps rendered

never published. It is there entitled "Virgil's O Fortunati, &c., translated, or rather imitated, upon the desire of my Lady Temple." Take a specimen :

Virgil (2d Georgic, 1. 495.) Illum non populi fasces, &c.

DRYDEN.

"Whose mind unmoved the bribes of Courts can see,
Their glittering baits and purple slavery;

Nor hopes the people's praise nor fears their frown,
Nor when contending kindred tear the Crown
Will set one up or pull another down."

TEMPLE.

"Him move not princes' frowns, nor people's heats,
Nor faithless civil jars, nor foreign threats;
Nor Rome's affairs, nor transitory crowns,
The fall of Princes, or the rise of Clowns:
All's one to him; nor grieves he at the sad
Events he hears, nor envies at the bad."

* This prayer is at Coddenham, in the hand-writing of Sir William Temple. See Appendix A.

him less unwilling to obey the call which was now made upon him, "to leave the cares of his sheep and game," and enter upon political life.

*

He had hitherto sought no public employment." "The native love of my country," says Temple himself, "and its ancient constitutions, would not suffer me to enter into public affairs till the way was open for the King's happy restoration."+

This event now occurred, and according to Lady Giffard, from whose language the feelings of the family circle may be deduced, "turned every body's thoughts, and almost their brains, with a joy so sudden and surprising, from the damp and melancholy, the disorders and confusion of the scene had cast them into."

*The printed life says, "He refused all solicitations of entering into any employment under the usurper." There is no evidence of an offer. Lady Giffard only says "The scene still continuing the same in England, and his resolution with it of never entering into business with that government."

+ Address to his son, April, 1683. — I. 247.

TEMPLE was chosen, without his previous knowledge, into the Irish Convention as member for the county of Carlow.* He was sent with an address to General Monk, which was delivered to him just at the time of the voluntary dissolution of the Long Parliament, which Monk had restored.

Sir John Temple, it would appear, had come to England at an earlier period, and was not only in parliament, but in the council of state t, "by the friendship and favour of the General." Most of those who were in the same situation, took care to make their private applications to the King, in order, as it may be presumed, to secure his favour. This application Sir John Temple forbore to make. William Temple had doubts of the prudence of his father's course, particularly recollecting what had passed when Sir John opposed the Duke of Ormond's cessation. We have no precise knowledge

*This was apparently a convention called together by a self-elected council of officers in Dublin. It sat in spite of the orders from the council of state in England to dissolve itself. - Leland, iii. 505, 506.

↑ A council of state was appointed in Feb. 1659-60.-Jour. vii. 849.

of the nature of Temple's doubts; probably, he thought that his father's opposition to Ormond might have raised a prejudice against him in the mind of Charles, whom it was therefore desirable to conciliate by an early declaration. He resolved to ask advice of his uncle and former tutor, Dr. Hammond, who had now retired to the house of Lady Packington, in Worcestershire.* Arriving

late and tired at the house, he asked if Dr. Hammond lived there, when he found that his journey was in vain; the man of loyalty was not permitted to share in the triumph of loyal principles, having on that very morning been committed to the earth. From the fatigue of his journey, and the news of his sad loss, Temple fell sick, but soon returned to London; where he did not stay for the coming of the King, but went back to take his share in the affairs of Ireland.

Lady Giffard tells a story, which, if true, furnishes a memorable proof of his independence, and importance, as a member of the Convention. "Whilst every body was vying who should pay most court to the King, a Poll Bill was read. Though he and many others thought it to the height of what the nation could bear, the Lords Justices whilst it was debating sent a message to the house to desire it might be doubled, which,

* Westwood, still the seat of the conservative family of Packington. Lady P. was the daughter of Lord Keeper Coventry, and wife to Sir John Packington, a distinguished loyalist. She is one of the reputed authors of "The Whole Duty of Man."-Nash's Worcestershire, i. 351. + Dr. Hammond died on the 25th of April, 1660, and was buried the next day.

amongst a great many that disliked it, Temple only opposed, though the rest afterwards joined with him. The Lords Justices* that heard whence the difficulty came, sent some to reason it with him; his answer was that he had nothing to say to it out of the house, where they chose a time to pass it in his absence. This made a great deal of talk, and brought him into more conversation and business than he had been used to in that country."

Soon afterwards, a regular parliament was summoned, and it is clear that the family had now obtained influence in Ireland, as Sir John Temple and his son William were the members for the county, and another Sir John, the brother of William, and Solicitor-General, was returned for the borough, of Carlow. Our Temple became immediately a distinguished member of the House of Commons. There are no proofs of his eloquence as a speaker; but Lady Giffard tells us, perhaps with a little of sisterly exaggeration, that "he often turned the house in their warmest debates by never entering into any of the parties or factions, and that a considerable person, Sir John Perceval, illustrated his influence by observing that he was glad he was not a woman, as he was sure that Temple might have persuaded him to any thing."

If he had not been eminent as a man of business, he would not have been constantly selected for the most important committees. He was an

* Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor; Coote, Earl of Mountrath; Boyle, Earl of Orrery. — Carte's Ormond, ii. 202.