The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-06

l MASSACHUSETTS HisToRIcAL oLLEcrroNs-A
| tenth volume of these important documents (says
the New York Eoeusng Post) has just been issued by
| the Historical Society of Massachusetts. We find
it noticed at length in the Cambridge Clroniel<
which regards it as a valuable contribution to the
| carly history Of the colonies It contains, among
other articles, continuation of the g Winthrop
Papers, which are a collection of letters in the
possession of the Winthrop family, mainly adj
dressed to John Winthrop, jr., by different ind
viduas.
Among these arc Roger Williams, who says in
one of the letters, written after his return from
England, in 1864:
.sIt pleased the Lord TO call me for some time,
(while in Engand,) TO practice the Hebrew, the
Greeke, Latino, French, and Dutch The Secre-
tary Of the Councell, (Mr. Milton,) for my Dutch
read him, read me many more languages"
Here we see Roger Williams returning fora
son from his wilderness home, to the great capitol
Of Europe and, while there, reading Dutch to John
Milton.
One or two letters from the celebrated Sir Kenelm
Digby bear ample testimony 70 his love for those
peculiar pursuits, the results of which appear in
his various philosophical treatises, the most of
which written in the spirit of the corpuscular
philosophy. He was addicted to alchemy and the
occult art He introduced into England the sym
from his instructions. He has some infalhble re-
medies for certain diseases, which he generously
communicates to Winthrop. Among the most no
table is the following; "For all sorts of agewes,
[aguesl have of late tryed the following magneti
cal experiment with infallible Pare the pa
tents nayles when the fit is coming on; put the
parings into little bagge of fine linenof sarsenet;
and tye that about i've eels nccke, in tubbe of
water. The eele will die, and the patient will re-
cover" Sir Kenelm made benefaction to Har-
ward College, in twenty nine books, valued at-&60.
Though educated Protestant, he was converted
To the Catholic faith while visit to France. He
was in many respects a remarkable man, and led
by the Long Parliament, at Winchester House, in
l642, during which period he wrote observations
upon the Religio Medici of Sir Thomas Brown, a
surreptitious edition Of which appeared that year..
He was soon after sent out of the country, but was
subsequently restored by Cromwell In 1856 he
writes My restitution TO my country and estate
owe wholly to my lord Protectors goodness and
the unfortunate Sir Everard Digby, who was the
handsomest man of his time. He was engaged in
the Gunpowder Plot-the anniversary of which was
celebrated in the colonies, up to the Revolution
and pleading guilty ut his trial, he was hanged,
drawn and quartered, in London, in 1605, at the
age oftwcnty- four years. The following anecdote
has been told concerning him: aiH
"At his execution, after his head was cut of, the
executioner proceeded, according to the barbarous
usages of the day, TO pluck the heart from his body;
and when he had done 3d. he held il up in full view
OF the numerous assemblage OF people who had
gathered around the scafold to witness the exhibi-
ton, and shouted with loud voice, This is the
heart of a traitorv Upon which, the head, which
was resting on a scafBold at the distance Of a few
ing its mouth, audibly exclaimed, That is liep"
portion Of the material of this story is furnished
by Anthony Wood, who gives Bacon for his
thority. 49,