The truth is, here is very little matter for a letter, and no discourse but of elections, who is like to
in that age." — Chalmers' Univ. Biog. Subsequent discoveries, by which it appears that Godolphin, whilst in the service of his master, William III., kept up a correspondence with James, would have probably induced Burnet to qualify this high praise.
Godolphin and Evelyn were great friends. There is a curious letter written by Evelyn to Godolphin when he was first Commissioner of the Treasury, in 1696, in which he touches upon matters not a little interesting in the present day. Amongst many suggestions there offered, he says, "There is certainly wanting a Council of Trade . . . . composed of a wise, publique-spirited, active, and noble President, a select number of Assessors, sober, industrious, and dextrous men, of consummate experience in rebus agendis . . . . . . To these should likewise be committed the care of the manufactures of the kingdom, with stock for employment of the poore: by which might be moderated that unreasonable statute for their relief (as now in force), occasioning more idle persons, who charge the public without all remedy, than otherwise there would be, insufferably burdening the parishes, by being made to earn their bread honestly, who now eate it in idleness, and take it out of the mouths of the truly indigent, much inferior in number, and worthy objects of charity." Again, "Truly, my Lord, I cannot but wonder, and even stand amazed, that Parliaments should have sate from time to time, so many hundred years, and value their constitution to that degree as the most sovereign remedy for the redress of public grievances, whilst the greatest grievance still remains unreformed and untaken away. Witnesse the confused, debauched, and riotous manner of electing members qualified to become the representatives of a nation, with legislative power to dispose of the fate of
