Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-28
LITERARY NOTICE.

OF his contemporaries ana eTfrdcfs from has c0resp0I
dence and political writings By G. Fun Santvoord Ne
York. pubishedby Charles Scribner. Washington, so
By Taylor q MnIry One pohsme, pages 1884,
We were grat6ed opening this work to find at this la
day the most perfect life Of ALsKRsos sDsxr is the u
Of American authorship tits exceedingly well written an
cannot fail command the attention of those whose tas
rises above the cheap literature of the day. We have he
notices, brief but highly interesting of Vans, Bradshaw
Maren, and Ludow--names, fear, unknown to many
the present generation, but who giants in the land
those days. when the foundations Of civil and religious free
dom were laid and the grandest efforts made to create
public in Eoglsnd.
j "Sidney," says Mr.. Van santvoord, "was pure an
enlightened republican statesman Like Vane he died
the scad faithful among the faithess and bearing wnes
in his death the truth Of the principles he maintained wit
naeIible consancy through life. Not only was Sidney
republican statesman and patriot, but he was philosopher
scholar and Of genius. His writings, 90 little appre
ciated, and, indeed in day little known were at on
time extensively read and widely influential. The dis
courses Government political textbook with tn
Father Of Republic and the who achieved the Anne
can Revolution Their influence upon the first Statesman
of that age plainly apparent Between the views Of Sid
ney and the political doctrines Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence striking resemblance be traced indeed they
are almost identical" Sir Henry Vane, among the grea
and the good of those days. stands in the foremost rank
We quote this extract from pages 81 to SO
"Vsne's noble stand against Cromwels usurpstioD, bis
efforts to pass the bill for popular representation and bis
courageous conduct the day Of the dissolution of the Long
Parliament have been already spoken Of Like Sidney, be
refused TO accept Office employment under the Protector
and remained in private life until the reasssmbng Of the
Long Parliament So bitter CIomwes feelings against
him that he caused him to be arrested and imprisoned the
publication Of Of his ablest works. "A Healing Cues
tion, addressed to Cromwell wherein he urges the Potsc-
tor to establish the public liberties by fundamental conai-
tuition and popular representation.
On the Restoration, Vane excepted from the gene
raj amnesty but not until the King had pledged the Commons
sentence of death should be passed upon him. The
pledge was shamelessy violated Vane, after suffering i'm
prsonment nearly two years. arragned and td for
high treason He conducted his defence with the mos
summate ability and manly courage II every way go-
rous He fearessy and proudly justified his political sen
ments and his whole public career in the face Of rann
cal Government and abject Court He had defended the
liberties Of Engshmen against the formidable power Of
Charles i he had boldly faced Oliver Cromwell his march
to arbitrary power; he had denounced with scn and
tempt the feeble Richard in his Parliament; it
for such man to purchase favor life by an ADAM
donmen Of principle or trucking sycopha.cy to the re-
stored monarch Vane contended with great force Of argu
ment that he had acted under the authority Of parliament
of the people, which could commit treason and that
Charles H. being out of possession and not de fao King,
no treason could be committed against him. For several
days he bafled bis judges and the lawyers but Cla
rendon and Charles had resolved that Yane, Of
mischievous activity must de- He was condemned
ray to aw,f and sentenced to be executed He walked
with "a serene, calm and almost divine composure to
the scaold His last thoughts rested upon the scause
which often his lips, and for which be cheer
fully laid down his life. bless the Lord have not de-
serted the righteous for which suffer- he heard
to say For moment he prayed upon the scafod that God
would enable his who about suffer to gloriy
thee in the discharge Of his duty to thee ando country
then stretching his hands, the execuoner blow
ed his head from his body" o
Sidney, at the restoration Of Charles H. mission
ambassador Of England in Denmark and his colleague,
Sir Robert Honeywood, had returned, and gracious
admitted into the presence Of royalty His friends
aged by this, urged Sidney and throw himself on
the cemency of Charles. We give his reply, which is,
author staes stkngy characteristic Of his lofty and
independent spirit; such is worthy the pen Of
the who, in his character and actions emulate
the virtues and heroic cons.ancy Of Bruus. It gives
view Of the sentiments he then entertained toward
the Government of England, and otherwise Of peculiar in
teres opening clearer and broader insight into bis
character: !"
Sir am sorry cannot in all things, conform myself
to the advces of my friends If theirs had any joint con-
cernmen with mine, should willingly submit my interest
to theirs but when alone interested and they only
wise to come over soon the act of indemnity pass
ed because they think it is best for me, cannot wholly lay
aside my judgment and choice. confess we are nau
rally inclined to delight in country, and have
particular love TO mne hope have given tesmo-
ny Of it. think that being exiled from is great evil
and would redeem myself from with tie loss Of great deal
Of my blood But when that country Of ine which used
to be esteemed paradise, is like to be made stage Of
injury; the liberty which hoped establish oppressed
luxury and ewdness set up in its height instead Of pey
virtue, sobrey and modesy, which hoped God, by our
hands, would have introduced the best Of nation
made prey to the worst the Parliament Court and the
army corrupted; the people enslaved all things vendibe
safe but by such evil and infamous attey
and bribery; ,1hatjoy haze my country this
condition Is pleasure to that all love in the world
is sold and destroyed Shall renounce all my old prnci-
pes learn the vile court arts and make my peace by brb-
ing of them Shall their corruption and vice be my
safety All no; better is life among strangers than in
my country upon such conditions. Whilst live will
endeavor 10 preserve my liberty, least to
the destroying of it. hope shall die the same princi-
piles which hare ived, and ,eH ive no longer than then
preserve have in my life been guilty of many
foies but as think, of meanness. will not blot and
dee that which is past by endeavopg to provide for the
future have had in my mind that when God should
cast me into such condition that my life
but by doing indecent thing, he shoes me the come
,ohen should resign it. When cannot live in my own
country but by such than dying in it
think he shows ought TO keep myself of il. Let
them please themselves with making the King glorious who
think whole people may justly be sacrificed for the interest
and pleasure Of and few of his followers lei
them rejoice in their subey who, by betraying the former
powers have gained the favor Of this and only presev
ed but advanced themselves in these dangerous changes
Nevertheless perhaps, they may find the Kings glory he
shame his plenty the peoples misery and that the gaining
Of office, little money is poor reward for destroy
ing nation, which, If preserved in liberty and
tue would truly be the most goriou, in the world tina
others may find they have with much pains purchased the
own shame and misery, dear price paid for that which