Life of Algernon Sidney: With Sketches of Some of His Contemporaries and ... - George Van Santvoord - Google Bøger

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern

District of New York.

C. W. BENEDICT, Stereotyper and Printer,

201 William st., N. Y.

CONTENTS,

Family of Sidney-His birth and early education-Travels with

his father on the Continent-Goes to France-Returns to Eng-

land in 1641-Commencement of the Civil War-Appointed to

the command of a Troop in Ireland-Serves in Ireland-Returns

to England in 1643-His political sentiments at this time-

Enters into the service of Parliament-Appointed a Colonel un-

der Manchester-Battle of Naseby-Sidney wounded, and sent to

London-Appointed Governor of Chichester-Retires from ac-

tive service-Progress of the Civil War-The Independents get

control of the army-Appointed Colonel under Fairfax-Elected

Member of Long Parliament-Goes with his brother to Ireland

Appointed Lieutenant-General and Governor of Dublin-Service

in Ireland-His return-Receives the thanks of Parliament-

Apointed Governer of Dover Castle-Reflections on his military

The Long Parliament-Its history-Difficulty attending the elec-

tion of new members-Sidney elected from Cardiff-Does not

take an active part in its deliberations-Events which led to the

trial of the King-Conference with the King at the Isle of Wight

-Treacherous conduct of Charles-" Pride's purge"-Proceedings

to bring the King to trial-Sidney nominated one of the commis-

sioners Declines to sit-His reasons-His opinions of the King's

guilt-Reflections on the trial and execution of the King-Con-

duct of the judges-Sidney retires to Penshurst-Returns to Lon-

don after the King's death-Resumes his seat in Parliament, and

sustains the government-Establishment of the Commonwealth

-Installation of the new Council of State-Sidney opposes the

"test" oath in Parliament-Difficulty with Cromwell-Question

respecting the dissolution of Parliament-Sidney a member of

the committee to which it was referrea-Labors of the commit-

tee-Subject referred to committee of the whole-Difficulty be-

tween Sidney and his officers-Resigns the command of Dover-

Visits Holland-Quarrels with the Earl of Oxford-Returns to

England and resumes his parliamentary duty-Appointed on va-

rious committees-His colleagues- Vigor of the Commonwealth

government-Sidney's account of it-Ambition of Cromwell-

His hostility to Sidney-Contest between the military and civil

power-The Republicans oppose Cromwell-Plan of the Repub-

licans to dissolve Parliament and call a new one-Plan of Crom-

well-Vane's Bill-Is defended by Sidney-Crisis in public af-

fairs-Long Parliament dissolved by Cromwell-Sidney forced

out-Retires to Penshurst-Refuses to take any further part in

the government-Cromwell-Vane.

Sidney's contemporaries: Bradshaw; Milton; Marten; Scot; Blake;

Fairfaz; St. John; Ireton-Sidney in retirement at Penshurst-

Again visits the Hague-John De Witt-His character as a

statesman-Meeting between him and Sidney--Patriotism and

ability of De Witt-His death-Sidney returns from the Hague-

Retires again to Penshurst-His literary pursuits-His amuse-

ments-Continued hostility to Cromwell and his government-

Incurs the displeasure of his brother, Lord Lisle-Letter of Lord

Lisle to his father-Downfall of the protectoral government-Re-

assembling of the Long Parliament-Sidney again a member of

Parliament-In the executive council-Close of his legislative

career-Reflections on the counter Revolution.

Appointed on the embassy to Denmark and Sweden-Importance

and nature of the mission-Arrives at Copenhagen-Goes to

Stockholm-His conduct in the discharge of his duties as ambas-

sador-Embarrassment of Sidney at the Restoration-Letters

respecting it to his father-Progress and close of his negotiations

-Prepares to return from Sweden-Letters to his father-His

equivocal position with the government at home-Letters to his

father respecting it-Returns to Copenhagen-Goes to Hamburg

-Letter of Lord Leicester-Discouraging prospects of Sidney-

He abandons the idea of returning to England, and refuses to sub-

mit to the terms required of him at home-Letter of Sidney

from Hamburgh-Letter from Augsburgh-He acknowledges

and justifies the offences charged against him-His views of the

act of indemnity-Cause of the hostility of the government

against Sidney-Letter of Sidney in respect to it-He submits

to voluntary exile-Conduct of the government in the execution

of the regicides-Scrope, Sir Arthur Hazelrig, and Lambert

-Partial statement of Hume respecting the execution of the

regicides-Reflections on the trial and execution of General

Harrison-Reasons of Sidney's refusal to return to England-His

letter to his father on that subject-His views of the govern-

ment at home, and his relation to it--Letter to a friend.

Sidney at Hamburgh-Interview with Queen Christina-Travels

through Europe-Arrives at Rome-His residence there and his

description of it-Various letters from Rome-Cardinal Pellavi-

cini-Sidney's pecuniary embarrassments in Italy-His despon-

dency of mind-Letters to his father-He removes to Frascati-

His residence at the villa of Belvidere-His letters from that

place-Seclusion of Sidney from the world-His employments

and studies at this period, and his account of them-Attempts of

some English emissaries to assassinate him-He leaves Italy-His

further travels in Europe-Goes to Flanders-His visit to Lud-

low-Attempts to enter into some foreign service, but is thwarted

by government-War between England and Holland in 1665-

Sidney at the Hague-Counsels an invasion of England-Repairs

to France-Views of that government-Its final abandonment of

the exiles-Retires to an obscure residence in the south of France

-Anecdote-Causes of, and circumstances attending his return-

Erroneous views of Hume respecting it-Sidney returns to Eng-

land-Death of his father,

Political views of Sidney-His opinion of the danger of a standing

army-Project of a war with France-Opposition of Sidney-

Corruption of the King-Sidney charged with being a pensioner

of France-The charge examined and refuted-Character of Ba-

rillon, and Sidney's views of it-The Popish plot-Sidney's op-

position to Papacy-A new Parliament-Sidney a candidate-

Is defeated by the court-Bill excluding the Duke of York from

the throne-Passes the House of Commons, and defeated in the

House of Lords-Sidney's opinions as to the succession-Treach-

ery of the King with the new council-Sidney's letter to Neville

-A new Parliament summoned-Sidney a candidate and again

defeated-His position with respect to the court-Attempt to in-

volve him in a conspiracy of the non-conformists-The King's

opinion of Sidney-Fate of the exclusion bill-Dissolution of Par-

liament, and spirited conduct of the Commons,

New Parliament summoned at Oxford-Differs with the King, and

is dissolved-Proclamation of the King-Pamphlet of Sidney in

reply-Prosecution of College-Shaftesbury-His character-His

connection with the popular party-His quarrel with Sidney-

Lord Howard and the Duke of Monmouth-Sidney introduced to

the duke by a fraud of Howard-Sidney's intercourse with Mon-

mouth, Russel, Essex, and Hampden-Nature of the conferences

between the patriots-Council of six-Sidney's connection with

it-The Rye-house plot-The conspirators betrayed to the gov-

ernment-Rumors of Sidney's connection with it-Arrest of the

conspirators-Sidney arrested-His conduct before the council-

Committed to the Tower-Is waited upon by a committee to be

examined-Refuses to answer questions-Efforts to obtain evi-

dence against him-Arrest of Lord Howard-He turns King's

evidence-Trial and execution of Lord Russell-His life and

character-Death of Essex-The court resolves to bring Sidney

to trial-Hampden tried for a misdemeanor and convicted-Pre-

parations for the trial of Sidney-Difficulties in the way of his

Arraignment of Sidney-Lord Jeffries and his associates-Sidney

excepts to the indictment-His exceptions overruled-Oppressive

conduct of the Court-Sidney forced to plead to the indictment

and remanded to prison-Appears at the bar of the King's Bench

for trial-Means taken to secure his conviction-Selection and

character of the jury-The judge refuses him a challenge-

Sidney demands counsel and is refused-The trial-Oppressive

and tyrannical conduct of the Court-The evidence-Its insuffi-

cient nature-Objections of Sidney-They are overruled by the

Court-Lord Howard of Escrick-His character-His evidence

-Testimony of Foster and Atterbury-The writings of Sidney.

introduced in evidence-Defence of the prisoner-His objections

overruled by the Court-He introduces testimony-Impeachment
of Lord Howard-Contest with the Court-Brutal conduct of

Jeffries-Sidney's argument to the jury-Speech of the Solicitor

General-Charge of the Judge-Verdict of the jury-Surrender

of the Duke of Monmouth after the trial-Hopes of a new trial

-Petition of Sidney to the king-Its failure-Sentence of Sidney

-Scene between the prisoner and the Court-Heroic conduct of

Sidney-Condemned to be executed-Petition of Sidney to the

king to commute his sentence to banishment-Is refused-His

fortitude and resolution in his last hours-Description of his exe-

cution by the sheriff-Is beheaded-Buried at Penshurst-Reflec-

tions upon his trial, condemnation, and execution, .

The writings of Sidney-Introductory remarks-Extracts-Com-

mon notions of liberty are derived from nature-Men are by na-

ture free-Choice of forms of government originally left to the

people-The social contract considered-Such as enter into society

in some degree diminish their liberty-The natural equality of

man-Virtue only gives a preference of one man to another-

There is no hereditary right of dominion-Men join together and

frame greater or less societies, and give them such forms and laws

as they please-They who have the right of choosing a king,

have the right of making a king-As to the forms of government

-Those best which comprise the three simple elements-Democ-

racy considered-Sidney in favor of a popular or mixed govern-

ment-Civil governments admit of changes in their superstruc-

ture-Man's natural love of liberty is tempered by reason-

Seditions, tumults, and wars considered-In what cases justified-

When necessary to overthrow a tyranny, or depose a wicked

magistrate-The right of insurrection traced to the social con-

tract-The contracts between the magistrates and the nations

which created them were real, solemn, and obligatory-Same

subject continued-The general revolt of a nation cannot be

called a rebellion-Duties of magistrates as representatives of

the people-No people that is not free can substitute delegates-

The representative system-Legislative power not to be trusted

in the hands of any who are not bound to obey the laws they

make-Reflections on the writings and political opinions of Sid-

ney-The sincerity of his motives-His religious sentiments-

His private character-Conclusion,

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