SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
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knowledge of the ingenuity and activib^ of woman's affection. Her mind never for a moment Io6t sight of this favourite project, and every circumstance that might favour it was watuied with intense interest.
Grotius had been permitted to borrow books of bis friends in a neighbouring town ; and when they had been pnnsed, they were sent back in a chest, which conveyed his clothes to the washer- woman. At first his guards had been very par- ticular to search the chest ; but never finaing any thing to excite suspicion, they grew care- less. Upon this negligence, Mrs. Grotius founded hopes of having ner husband conveyed away in the chest. Holes were boied in it to admit the air, and she persuaded him to try how long he could remain in such a crampea and confined situation. The commandant of the fortress was absent, when she took occasion to inform his wife that she wished to send away a large load of books, because the prisoner was destroying his health by too much study. At the appointed time Grotius entered the chest, and was with difficulty carried down a ladder by two soldiers. Finding it very heavy, one of them said, jestingly, "there must be an Ar- minian in it." She answered very coolly that there were indeed some Arminian books in it. The soldier thought proper to inform the com- mandant's wife of the extraordinary weight of the chest; but she replied that it was filled with a load of books, wbicn Mrs. Grotius had asked her permission to send away, on account of the health of her husband. A maid, who was in the secret, accompanied the chest to the house of one of her master's friends. Grotius came out uninjured; and, dressed like a mason, with trowel in hand, he proceeded through the mar- ket-place to a boat, which conveyed him to Brabant, whence he took a carriage to Antwerp. This fortunate escape was effected in Marcn, 1021. His courageous partner managed to keep up a belief that he was very ill in his bed, until she was convinced that he was entirely beyond the power of his enemies. When she acknowledged what she had done, the command- ant was in a furious passion. He detained her in close custody, and treated her very rigorously, until a petition, which she addressed to the states-general, procured her liberation. Some dastardly spirits voted for her perpetual imprison- ment ; but the better feelings of human nature prevailed,and the wife was universally applauded for her ingenuity, fortitude, and constant affec- tion. Grotius found an asylum in France, where he was reunited to his family. A residence in Paris was expensive ; and for some time he struggled with pecuniary embarrassment. The king of France at last settled a pension upon him. He continued to write, and his glory spread throughout Europe.
He was unable to obtain any public permis- sion to return ; but relying on a recent change in the government, he, by his wife's advice, boldly appeared at Rotterdam. His enemies were still on the alert ; they could not forgive
the man who refused to apologise, and whose able vindication of himself had thrown disgrace upon them. Many private persons interested themselves for him ; but the magistrates offered rewards to whoever would apprehend him. Such was the treatment this illustrious scholar met from a country which owes one of its proudest distinctions to his fame !
He left Holland, and resided at Hamburgh two years; at which place he was induced to enter the service of Cnristina, queen of Sweden, who appointed him her ambaJsmdor to the court of France. After a residence of ten years, during which he continued to increase his reputation as an author, he grew tired of a situation, which circumstances rendered difficult and embarrass- ing. At his request he was recalled.
He visited Holland, on his way to Sweden, and at last met with distinguished honour from his ungrateful country. After delivering his papers to Christina, he prepared to return to Lubeck. He was driven back by a storm ; and being impatient, set out in an open waggon, exp<»ed to wind and rain. This imprudence occasioned his death. He was compelled to stop at Rostock, where he died suddenly, in the sixty- third year of his age. His beloved wife, and four out of six of his children, survived him.
One of the most interesting circumstances in the life of Grotius, which strongly marks his genius and fortitude, is displayed in the manner in which he employed his time during his im- prisonment. Other men, condemned to exile and captivity, if they survive, despair ; the man of letters mayreckon those days as the sweetest of his life. The life of this great man shows the singular felicity of a man of letters and a states- man ; and how a student canjpass his hours in the closest confinement. The gate of the prison has sometimes been the porch of fame. Another circumstance worthy of imitation was his uninterrupted literary avocations, when his hours were frequently devoted to the public func- tions of an ambassador. " I only reserve for my studies the time which other ministers sive to their pleasures, to conversations often useless, and to visits sometimes unnecessary."
1645, Jm. 10. A True ColUettm of WeMy Pauagei.
1645, Jan. 16. The Phanix of Europe, No. 1.
1645, Jan. 16— 19. GoodNevpt for England; or, a Relation of more Victories obtained by the Sweads against the king of Denmark.
1645, Feb. 3. The ModeraU Metunger, No. 1.
1645, March 2. The Weitem Informer, No. 1.
1645, March 6. The Moderate Intelligencer.
1645, Mercurius Hibemicut. At London.
1645, April 13. The Weekly Pott Matter.
1 645, j4»n7 12-19. Mercuriui Veridicut,No.\.
1645, May 6—13. The Parliamenei Putt.
1645, May 15. The Exchange Intelligencer.
1645, July 26. Mr. Peter' t Report from the Army, No. 1.
1645, Aug. 19. The City Scout, No. 4.
1645. Aulieui hit Hue and Cry tet forth cfler Britannieut. They were bedfellows in the Fleet.
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